The Experience Needs Careful Coordination. Several Elements Are at Play Here

ACTS Manual

Candlelight

The experience needs careful coordination. Several elements are at play here

· Getting the guests into the chapel and ready for the retreatants arrival

· Timing the arrival of the retreatants so that all is ready in chapel

· The “Candlelight experience”—what happens from the time the retreatants arrive until they leave.

The guests

Have the “candlelight crew” (team or other designated people) on hand when the guests arrive to welcome them and show them their destination. If there are people other than team handling this, there needs to be at least one team member who will be the coordinator to make sure that the director is kept apprised of what is happening.

Preparation

The candlelight crew needs to make sure that the chapel (or designated area) is properly set up for the flow of the retreatants and where they will stand.

There needs to be enough candles for all the guests (including “non-candle lights” for the little children).

If song sheets are needed, these should be provided.

There should be a specific program of activity for the guests to help them prepare for the experience. This should include:

· Prayer time—perhaps prayer and scripture

· Singing/music practice

· Some explanation of what has been going on without getting too specific

· Explanation of what will be happening—arrival of the retreatants, etc.

Candlelight, p. 2

Candlelight experience

· The retreatants, following the Christ Candle, will arrive walking into the room in single file (they will have been in a double line for the memory walk), coming to the front of the chapel in the designated area.

· The director or spiritual director will welcome the guests

· There will be a prayer, a short scripture, and a couple of songs.

· The retreatants will begin exiting to singing by all present. The Christ Candle from new fire will lead the way. They will make a complete circle around the room if possible so that they can see family and friends and be seen.

· The retreatants and team proceed to “agape”

Departure

· The “candlelight crew” is to see to the exit of the guests

They are to restore the chapel and put away materials used.