Participants celebrate and pop confetti during Sunday morning breakfast at the conclusion of this spring’s Lazarus Retreat, which was held Feb. 14-16, 2025, at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Called to new life: Seminarian reflects on Lazarus Retreat as small group leader
BY TOMMY RHODES, SPECIAL TO THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
This past February I was blessed to be a small group leader for the 2025 Lazarus Retreat which took place at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center. During the retreat, I was given the opportunity to accompany many of the youth from the Diocese of Owensboro in following the story of Lazarus, a beloved friend of Jesus, who experienced death and rose to new life at the call of Jesus Christ.
Each day was full of engaging talks; personal reflections; social activities; and, at the very center of it all, He who is the resurrection and the life: Jesus Christ. Participants of this retreat were invited to place themselves in the events of John’s Gospel. There, Jesus is told of Lazarus’s illness, travels to Bethany, witnesses the sorrow of Mary and Martha, weeps for love of Lazarus and his family, has the stone rolled away from the tomb, lifts up his eyes to the Father, and cries with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.”
The group of participants and adult leaders who attended the Feb. 14-16, 2025 Lazarus Retreat are seen in Boone Lodge at Gasper River. COURTESY OF OLIVIA ROMERO
As a small group leader for this retreat, I was able to witness youth from all around our diocese enter into the Gospel reflecting on the events of their own faith journeys to see where Jesus, their beloved friend, was calling them to new life in Himself.
Likewise, I, myself, was privileged to reflect on this story of Lazarus in light of my experiences as a seminarian for the Diocese of Owensboro. I was reminded how I am also called each and every day at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology to draw close to Jesus in personal and communal prayer, listen to Him calling me to detach from the world, die to self, and rise to new life in Him.
As I come to the last semester of my Propaedeutic Year of formation, I am amazed at the wonderful experiences I have been able to take part in within our diocese and am blessed to have been able to work alongside the Lazarus Retreat team to bring the joy of the Gospel to the hearts and minds of the youth.
Tommy Rhodes is a seminarian for the Diocese of Owensboro.
Small groups meet in Boone Lodge during the Lazarus Retreat weekend held Feb. 14-16, 2025, at Gasper River Catholic Youth Camp and Retreat Center in Bowling Green. COURTESY OF KARINA ROMERO
Originally printed in the April 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
