Winter Youth Retreat (Grades 9-12) at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery ????? ???? ???????? – Libertyville, IL

Important information for Participants and Parents

?????? ???! Greetings to Participants and Parents,

Thank you for signing up for the 2026 Winter Youth Retreat: " BE NOT AFRAID: Finding peace in Christ amid the storms of life.”

1. Thank you for completing the Retreater Consent Form and for Submitting

Payment. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation! Bellow are the useful

information regarding the retreat.

2. Arrange Transportation

If you are coming from out-of-town and are arriving at the O’Hare or

Midway airports, please text Dn. Jovan Anicic at (312)-659-4723 for

transportation arrangements.

3. Room and Board

This year's 2026 Winter Youth Retreat will be held in person at Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery, Libertyville, IL.

Room and board will be provided by the monastery.

***All Participants are expected to clean up after themselves and

return the rooms as they were when they arrived.

4. Suggested Items to Pack

• Bedding: blanket, sheets, pillows, pillowcases, sleeping bags

• Towels: 3 towels, 3 washcloths

• Toiletries: comb, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant

• Clothing: Weather appropriate clothing (winter coats, hats, gloves),

sweatshirts, jeans, undergarments, socks, t-shirts, pajamas, no tops that reveal

navel/midriff area. Appropriate clothes for church:

• Girls: head scarfs, skirts, blouses, or dresses (dresses and blouses should have

sleeves; skirts and dresses should be knee length. (Nothing shorter)

• Boys: pants and a suitable shirt for church services (jeans, t-shirts, and tennis

shoes are not acceptable for church!)

• **Remember that this is a spiritual retreat that takes place on monastery

grounds, inappropriate clothes will not be tolerated.

CLOTHES FOR CHURCH SHOULD BE WEAR EVERYDAY FOR ALL CHURCH SERVICES

• Misc: Flashlights, Indoor games, instruments

***Please do not bring valuables --- jewelry, etc. We will not be

responsible for their security.

All participants are asked to bring an extra $20 on the day for the needy family project.

• The needy family project has been a Winter Youth Retreat tradition and we

will implement it on our Winter College Retreat as well. Every participant is

given the opportunity to submit a name of a person or family from their

community who may be in need. Participants are given a sheet of paper in

which they are to fill out: the name of the person or family, the name of the

participant who made the submission, and the participant's parish.

• At the end of the retreat, once all submissions are gathered, the retreat will give thanks unto God and pick a name. The name that is selected will be given all of the donations.

• Please bring your instrument if you play. We would love to share in your

music during the retreat. Please bring it and make sure that you keep it safe.

• The general rule is LOVE AND RESPECT, according to First Corinthian chapter 13 verses 4 to 8.

• “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not

proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easilyangered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,

always perseveres.”(Holy Apostle Paul, First Corinthians 13, 4-8)

• Prepare your heart and mind prior to attending the retreat. We ask that all

participants let go of everything that may be burdening on weighing heavily

on them and come to the retreat prepared for healing and love. Any kind of disrespect will not be tolerated. Usage of phones will be reduced to minimum,

since we focus on making real friendships and sense of fellowship.

We are very excited for you to participate in our 2026 Winter Youth Retreat.