An ACTS retreat is a three-day and three-night Catholic lay retreat presented by fellow parishioners.  The retreat begins on Thursday evening and ends the following Sunday at a Mass celebrated with the parish community.  Retreats for men and retreats for women are given separately.  The retreat focus is on Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service, from which the ACTS acronym is derived.   Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are the guides for the retreats.  The retreat takes on the traditions and atmosphere of the parish community sponsoring it.  The retreat facilitates the attainment of a new or deeper relationship with the Lord through:

Adoration - the call by, acceptance of, and response to God
Community - the love and caring of each other
Theology - the study of God through scripture and the Catholic Faith
Service - to God and his people

Each retreat is conducted by a retreat "team" of 20-30 individuals who have attended prior ACTS retreats.  Chosen by the retreat Director, the team organizes the retreat and ministers to the needs of the retreatants during the retreat weekend.

An ACTS weekend is designed to help the retreatants enter into a new or deeper relationship with our Lord and fellow parishioners.  This is accomplished through Adoration and daily prayer, the call to Community in one's parish as a member of the Body of Christ, and Theology in encouraging the study of scripture and our Catholic Faith.  All of this will emphasize and encourage the virtue of Service to our Lord, our parish, and one another.

A parish ACTS retreat strives to achieve the directives of Vatican II and goals of the Revised Code of Canon Law of 1983 which emphasize "community and pastoral care" within a parish.  The weekend allows the retreatants to experience God's love and joy.  They return to their parish with a deeper love for each other and a desire to become more involved in their parish faith community.

The retreats are open to any church denomination. Holy Scripture and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church are the guides for the retreats. The retreat takes on the traditions and atmosphere of the parish community sponsoring it.