Catholic Diocese of Biloxi  

WHAT IS SEARCH? 
A Search Weekend is a Christian life experience. It is peer guided and peer given by a Diocesan youth and adult team. 

WHAT GOES ON? 
On a SEARCH weekend there is sharing by the community members, songs, prayer, small group discussions, Adoration, Eucharist, Reconciliation, quiet time and a great fellowship between you and your “new” friends. 

WHEN DOES IT START? 
Weekend usually begin on Friday evenings around 7:30 p.m. and ends Sunday afternoon 4 p.m. 

WHERE IS IT HELD?
The SEARCH weekend will be held at Sacred Heart Retreat Center in Dedeaux. 

WHO CAN COME? 
The SEARCH weekend is designed for high school teens (grades 11-12). Applications will be accepted according to grade levels with SENIORS having first priority. We will accept up to 45 participants for each weekend, and up to 3 to 4 people from each parish. 
 

HOW MUCH? 
Fee for the weekend is $100.00 This fee includes sleeping quarters, meals, and all the materials for the weekend. A non-refundable $50.00 deposit is required with all applications. DON’T LET THE COST BE A DECIDING FACTOR!! IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, CONTACT THE YOUTH OFFICE AND WE WILL WORK SOMETHING OUT. 

WHY SHOULD YOU GO? 
Well, first it is a great gift to you. To get away from all the “things” and to meet and to make a few good friends from throughout the diocese. Secondly, if your life is like a lot of young people, you have some questions concerning yourself, relationships that you are in, prayer, your faith, and the place of Church in your life. We’ll try to give you an opportunity to focus on these and maybe SEARCH and find some solutions. Lastly, maybe GOD wants you to be there, so HE can have a chance to spend a little time with you. Who knows this invitation may have found you for some heavenly reasons!!! 

Started in 1977, the goal is to empower young people to engage each other in building relationships with Jesus and within their parishes.  The team meets weekly after initial formation to plan and write talks for the retreats that take place later int the year.

Formative peer led retreat for 11th and 12th graders guiding young people toward a deeper relationship with Christ. Composed of current Seniors in high school from parishes all over the diocese. Qualifications include that they attended the retreat their 10^th or 11^th grade year and recommended by their peers, pastor and local parish/school leadership.  The SEARCH team is composed of 12-16 young people each giving a talk/witness during the retreat weekend while also leading a consistent small family group in prayer and small group activities.  Guiding the team are a married couple, a single adult leader, and the Youth Minister for the Diocese.  The framework of the adult leaders can change, but this basic pattern is maintained.  Example: We now have a deacon and his wife as the married couple and we have both a male and female single adult team leader.  Previously we’ve had a priest as our single adult team leader with a lay married couple.  We have always strive to have strong adult examples of religious life represented.

One of the big risks with the SEARCH team is that we need each young person to give 100% at every meeting and every retreat.  We can’t have them miss a retreat or that’s one talk we don’t have.  We have a series of commitment ceremonies to instill the importance of their own involvement.  We also make sure they have assessed their other school commitments and other obligations that might interfere.