Global Outreach encourages every year its students to attend a TEC Retreat, taking place in Green Bay, Omaha, or Lincoln. You can find more information about TEC on the links below.
The GO Class of 2021-2022 traveled from their native countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and the Ukraine) and arrived on Friday, August 30 at the Chicago O'Hare International Airport where they were met by GO staff and volunteers to begin their GO year in Wisconsin and Nebraska. The "yellow school bus" traveled from Chicago to a favorite stop (Culver's) for an evening meal and then made its way to Neenah where the students were welcomed by their arrival (temporary) host families. After spending a couple of days with their arrival host families, the students participated in a five-day new student / arrival orientation at Mount Tabor Retreat Center. The orientation continues to build on the information provided during the virtual Summer Camp, preparing the students for life in U.S.A., i.e., living with an American family, attending an American Catholic high school, participating in the life of their parish and in their community while also getting to know each other - growing together as a class and learning how to be "young, dynamic, Catholic servant leaders". Highlights included daily Mass, morning and evening prayer, volunteering at St. Joseph's Food Pantry, touring the Community Clothes Closet, enjoying a pizza lunch courtsey of Cranky Pat's, hiking, games, and an outdoor Mass at High Cliff State Park, an afternoon at the Neenah YMCA and performing a talent show. On their final day of orientation, the long-waited for "in-person" meeting of their host families became a reality during Mass at St. Mary Catholic Church followed by a pot luck supper. Orientation came to a close with a new beginning on its heels for the students as they traveled to their famiy's home.
The 18 students in the GO Class of 2021-2022 navigated the often unfamiliar, uncertain, ever-changing, ongoing effects and requirements of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic with their eyes focused on God and trusting in His infinite mercy. He brought them to this place in their lives and He will continue to bless them in the days and months ahead.
Our deepest gratitude to our many volunteers who hosted, prepared meals, provided transporation and chaperoning services, offered their wisdom as presenters, and completed sports physicals. You graced our days through your sharing of time, talent, and treasures and made our 2021-2022 GO Class arrival days in America a blessed and successful experience. Thank You!
Mid-Year Gathering 2022 will welcome the GO Students back to Mount Tabor from February 9-12. Mid-Year Gathering gives the students an opportunity to share their experiences and their hopes for the remainder of their year in America, more clearly and confidently identify, define, and commit to a Servant Leaderhip project/activity, spend time together in prayer, and begin to discuss transistioning from life in America and preparing to return to their native country, family, friends, and schools.
Mid-Year Gathering concludes with Taste of Europe - a "scholarship fundraising" evening on Saturday, February 12, 2022. Monies raised through the Silent Auction, European Bake Shoppe, and a Weekend Getaway supports the following years GO students who apply for scholarship monies to particpate in the GO program. Taste of Europe also offers attendees the opportunity to attend Mass with the students, their host families, GO supporters and friends, enjoy foods from the student's countries as well as amazing entertainment provided by the GO students.