Encounter Days are facilitated by teams made up of 10 - 12 people. They travel the country going from diocese to diocese, church to church, school to school leading approximately six encounter days a week. The team members challenge young people to love Christ and embrace the life of the Church. They first do this by their Christian witness of faith through prayer, sacraments, fellowship and service

The Encounter Days consist of different parts that break open the Gospel message in large group presentations, small group discussions, dramas, contemporary christian music, mass and reconciliation, and most importantly, prayer time. The team members pray with each young person, asking for their intentions and prayers to be answered, and inviting them to pray and deepen their relationship with Christ. Through this time, the youth often experience conversions through the actions of the Holy Spirit.

Because of the training that each team member has received, the encounter days are led in a dynamic way, giving the young people an opportunity to hear about the message of the Gospel in their own language. In this way, they are comfortable with the team's challenge to live a life of the Gospel in tough times. But most important of all, they are given a chance to encounter the living Christ in a tangible way.

NET Encounter days range in length from four hours to several days. Using a variety of themes, team members conduct these days for hundreds of youth. Though the format and theme of the retreats may vary, the basic message is always the same: "In Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, who died and rose from the dead, salvation is offered to all, as a gift of God's grace and mercy." (Evangelization in the Modern World, Pope Paul VI).

Encounter Days, typically for youth in grades 7-12, are high-energy experiences which combine talks,experiential learning activities, music, drama and personal faith sharings with one-on-oneprayer, and the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist to help young people respond to Christ's call to live a life in the Church. Since 1981, NET teams have conducted over 16,500 retreats and ministered to over one million young people in 11 countries.

We are now offering several of our Encounter Day themes in a graduating format. Jesus who?, Homecoming, Camouflaged, as well as all three incorporated into a overnight/2 day Encounter can now be adapted specifically for your graduating class. Check out the descriptions of all the themes located under Encounter Day Themes.