The Catholic Morning Show

Teens Encounter Christ Is Back: Die, Rise, Go – Gigi Wilwerding – 10/16/2026

Episode Summary

Gigi Wilwerding, retreat coordinator at the St. Thomas More Center, explains how young people learn "retreat life" and what happens on a Teens Encounter Christ weekend for high school juniors and seniors. Plus: how adults can serve, observe, or sponsor a teen.

Episode Notes

The St. Thomas More Center in Panora is home to Catholic Youth Camp, but its mission of forming missionary disciples runs year-round. Gigi Wilwerding, the center's first full-time retreat coordinator, joins Deacon Mark Campbell to talk about the retreats it hosts on campus and brings to parishes.

Gigi discusses:

What "retreat life" means, and why stepping away from the phone is a skill young people have to learn
Retreats for eighth graders and for freshmen and sophomores (the Journey to Emmaus confirmation retreat)
Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), now back in the Diocese of Des Moines: a three-day weekend for high school juniors and seniors built on the Paschal Mystery, with daily themes of die, rise, go
The "aha moment" when a teen realizes they are made in God's image with a purpose
How TEC alumni, young adults, and adults (who can attend as observers) can help lead future weekends
TEC as a national movement, with Iowa teens heading to Covington, Kentucky, to help grow TEC there

Upcoming TEC weekends: December 5–7, 2026; February 6–8, 2027; and April 3–5, 2027, at the St. Thomas More Center. The weekend costs $190, and scholarships are available so cost is never a barrier. Donations to help a teen attend are welcome. TEC is open to teens from anywhere, not just the Diocese of Des Moines.

Resources:

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