The participants and adult leaders of Lazarus Retreat #8, held Feb. 13-15, are seen at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. COURTESY OF CHARLIE HARDESTY
Lazarus Retreat #8: Friendships that will last
BY CHARLIE HARDESTY, OFFICE OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
“It is like you could feel the Holy Spirit all around everyone,” said Ella Freels from St. Pius X Parish in Owensboro. “The Lazarus Retreat is one of the best retreats I’ve ever been on. All the talks were amazing and the environment was so loving. I have learned so much and I would highly recommend it to everyone.”
The eighth Lazarus Retreat was held Feb. 13-15 at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. There were 20 high school participants on the retreat from 13 different parishes around the diocese.
Catherine Ray, Immaculate Parish, Owensboro: “In just a few short days on the Lazarus Retreat, I experienced so many great things. I made friends that I know will last. The talks about the story of Lazarus and people sharing their witness to God truly opened my mind to the grace of the Lord.”
Dot Schmidt, St. Pius X Parish, Calvert City: “I thoroughly enjoyed this retreat. Being in small groups helped me open up and share my walk with Jesus.”
A girls’ small group smiles while participating in Lazarus Retreat #8, which took place Feb. 13-15, 2026. COURTESY OF CHARLIE HARDESTY
Evlyn Zborowski, Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish, Owensboro: “It helped me to accept myself as God sees me,” she said. “It showed me an amazing community full of loving and supportive people. I loved all of the self-reflection and group reflection and questions. The talks were very interesting and I got a lot of good advice from them.”
John Tuang, Holy Spirit Parish, Bowling Green: “I learned to be patient and that it is okay to make mistakes sometimes because God will always be there for you and that he will always forgive you.”
Dominic Thang, Holy Spirit Parish, Bowling Green: “It was a good experience, I had times where I felt the Holy Spirit and had times of confusion, but that helped me focus even more.”
We would like to thank all the adults who helped make the retreat possible including the staff at Gasper River, Jessy Bennett, Fr. Daniel Dillard, Allison Steen-Baker, Brooke Wilson, Carlyn Gibson, Amy Roach, Tom Lilly, Ramon Ayala, Shanda Purcell, Matt Purcell, and seminarian Juan Carlos Lazo. These retreats are not possible without the generous support of adults.
Lazarus Retreat #9 will take place in February 2027.
Fr. Daniel Dillard, pastor of St. Martin Parish in Rome, Ky., and chaplain for Owensboro Catholic High School, speaks during Lazarus Retreat #8, which was held Feb. 13-15. COURTESY OF CHARLIE HARDESTY
Originally printed in the March 2026 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
