Attend a Weekend of Prayer

For more than 90 years, Christians have gathered at Notre Dame each summer to grow in faith together through a weekend of prayer. The annual summer retreat, which has run continuously since 1918, welcomes families and friends to campus for a three-day spiritual journey that promises to strengthen their bonds with God and with each other.

This year’s retreat will be held Aug. 7-9 on campus. Families are invited to attend the three-day event, which will center on the theme “The Family That Prays Together, Stays Together.”

“This is the phrase made popular by Rev. Patrick Peyton, C.S.C. '37, and this is the 100th year of his birth,” says Rev. Steve Gibson, C.S.C., who has been one of the organizers for the retreat for more than 30 years. “He was a member of the Congregation of Holy Cross and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, and we have been celebrating his life and ministry during this centenary year.”

Father Peyton’s cause for beatification has been introduced to Rome and he is now officially called, 'Servant of God, Fr. Patrick Peyton.' 

Participants of the retreat stay in campus residence halls and eat at University dining halls. The retreat will include conferences and presentations to promote family and individual prayer, including Masses at Washington Hall and the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Stations of the Cross along the shores of St. Joseph’s Lake, a candlelight procession to the Grotto, and time to relax with family and friends amid the peaceful ambiance of Notre Dame’s storied campus.

According to Father Gibson, the summer retreat has “changed in nature” over time. “It used to attract nearly 2,000 men, but now it’s primarily a family retreat and we typically have 200-300 participants,” he says. “There are many opportunities for families to take advantage of Notre Dame’s facilities.” 

The retreat is sponsored by Holy Cross Family Ministries, an organization that—under the sponsorship of the Congregation of Holy Cross—champions the belief that “a family that prays together stays together” and promotes the overall spiritual well-being of the family.

Individuals or families interested in attending this year’s retreat should call 800-299-PRAY. The cost of attendance for adults is $175, youths age 6-17 is $125, and $50 for children age 5 and under.