By Katelyn Massarelli
Life Teen is a worldwide movement dedicated to bringing teens closer to Christ. It has spread throughout the nation and to different countries around the world. Nativity Catholic Church’s Life Teen group has adapted a family-oriented atmosphere that is dedicated to bringing the group closer through bonding over their love for Christ.
The group has taken advantage of many different retreats where the sole purpose is to bring teens closer together in a different atmosphere away from their daily routines, one of the trips being Covecrest.
Covecrest is a week long retreat for Catholic Life Teen members in Georgia that is devoted to transforming the youth of Life Teen groups. It creates a bonding experience amongst the different Life Teen groups across different parishes.
“[Covecrest] brings teens an encounter with the Lord and a chance to step back from their day to day routine,” said Nativity’s Life Teen Youth Leader, Eryn Lentner. “It’s made for teens and where they are at in their life.”
Nativity’s Life Teen group has been attending Covecrest since around the time it was first launched in 1985. It has continued to act as a way for Nativity’s Life Teen group to be surrounded in their faith and by their friends who support them.
For returning Life Teen member, Chris Kambach, a soon-to-be senior at Jesuit High School, the annual trip to Covecrest has made him a better person who is passionate about his faith.
“[Covecrest] made my faith a bigger part of my life,” Kambach said. “The setting of it allows you to center yourself in your faith and it helps to have people who are there that can relate.”
High school students from different schools living in the area are offered a chance to bond with different people their age and explore their Catholic faith. For Maria Abreu, who finished her freshman year at Durant High School, this will be her first year attending the Covecrest retreat with her Life Teen group.
“I’m looking forward to growing closer to Christ and growing my faith,” Abreu said. “I’m also very excited about getting the chance to build stronger friendships and getting closer to my friends and core members [in the group].”
This year’s Covecrest takes place July 18-23. For more information about Nativity Catholic Church or its Life Teen group, visit nativitycatholicchurch.org.
