We are excited to invite you to be part of Antioch 88, a powerful weekend retreat for high school teens, taking place Friday, October 3rd at 7:00 PM through Sunday, October 5th at 4:00 PM, 2025 at St. Luke Parish in Long Valley.Antioch is a Catholic weekend experience for teens, led by teens, with the support of adult advisors and a priest chaplain. 

Inspired by Acts 11:26 — “It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians” — this retreat offers you the chance to step away from the busyness of life and dive deeper into your faith, friendships, and God’s love.The weekend includes talks, discussions, reflections, prayer, and plenty of fun. Many teens leave Antioch with lifelong friendships, a renewed faith, and a clearer sense of God’s presence in their lives.But don’t just take our word for it — here’s what some past participants have shared:“Antioch opened doors to not only learn more about God, but to see Him in both strangers and friends. Hearing people’s stories reminded me I wasn’t alone, and being surrounded by a welcoming community only amplified my understanding of Jesus’ love.”
“Before I came to my first retreat, I was lost, but through Antioch I realized my purpose, to share the love of God. Antioch let me know that I’m never alone in whatever I’m going through, because God is always there.”
“To me, Antioch is a community built around the love of God. For me, it helped me realize I’m not alone in my faith and that there are others walking with me.”
“Attending Antioch was one of the most meaningful experiences of my life. Before it, my faith was surface level. After, I understood that God has a unique pathway for all of us, and that we are not meant to walk alone.”

We hope you’ll prayerfully consider joining us for this life-changing weekend. Click here to download the application form: Antioch 88 Application PDF

Applications and the $90 fee (scholarships available if needed) are due by Wednesday, October 1, 2025 at 7:00 PM. Forms may be dropped off at St. Luke Parish (265 West Mill Road, Long Valley, NJ 07853) or St. Lawrence Church (375 Main Street, Chester, NJ 07930).If you have questions, feel free to contact Tony Amaral, Antioch Coordinator, at (201) 618-4692. Or, Sean Jenkins, Youth Minister, at sjenkins@stlchester.orgWe can’t wait to welcome you into the Antioch community and see how God will work in your life through this retreat.