Wednesday, 03 October 2012 14:47

By Raschelle Jirak
It’s no secret that we live in a world where the mindset is to “do what feels good now and don’t worry about what happens later.”
As adults, we know it’s easy to be swept into this selfish attitude, but how much easier is it for our children to be drug into this illusion of happiness? For ourselves and for the youth of the church, our purpose should be a life-centered on Christ, ever visible in the way we lead our lives and the example we provide.
When we and our children start to develop a habit of hasty judgment rather than prudent decisions, instant gratification rather than temperate actions, and lustful behavior rather than chaste conduct, it is then that we must turn back to the sacraments, become educated on the church’s teachings and make a resolve to lead a more virtuous life. That is the intent and goal of Project Freedom.
Project Freedom is a program offered for eighth graders and their parents to promote a life of prudence, temperance and chastity, vital practices that all too often get brushed aside in this day and age. The program is a parish-based, overnight retreat conducted by a team made up of college-age men and women striving to live these virtues in their own lives.
Project Freedom is unique in that it offers a one-day parent retreat to help couples live prudence, temperance and chastity within their own marriage and help their child to develop and live out these qualities.

Want to host a Project Freedom retreat?
If your parish is interested in hosting Project Freedom or if you are interested in serving on the Retreat Team, contact Raschelle Jirak in the diocesan Office of Faith Formation at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .