Join the National Institute for Ministry With Young Adults on Thursday, May 1, 7pm-9pm ET / 4pm-6pm PT, as we remember Pope Francis.

The time between the funeral of a pope and the beginning of the Conclave gathering to elect a new pope is a special time of grace for the Catholic church to call upon the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide the faithful into the future, as well as a time of mourning and grief at the loss of a Holy Father.

We invite you to join us in spending a few hours praying in this space of mourning and anticipation. We will reflect on the gifts of the 12 year papacy of Francis. We will pray through feelings of loss, while reflecting on the joy and hope of Resurrection in this Easter season. We will look to what is next and outline how the process of choosing a new pope works and what we can do to prepare to greet the next successor of St. Peter.

This is a virtual retreat, lead by Nicholas Stein and Paul Jarzembowski, is meant to be taken from the comfort of your own setting. Participants should plan to attend the retreat in real time. Please pay attention to your time zone.

Registration is not required. Click here to access the Zoom link. 

Nicholas Stein is a founder and the International Director of Bon Secours Young Adults, a ministry to people in their 20s and 30s sponsored by the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours of Paris. Nick is also the founding chair of the board of directors of the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults. He has served on several national and international initiatives in the field of ministry with young adults and has been a sought-after speaker and consultant in the field. He lives in Catonsville, Maryland with his wife, Samantha, and 3 children. He holds degrees in Theology from Boston College and Print Journalism/Political Science from the University of Southern California.

Paul Jarzembowski serves as the Associate Director for the Laity at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Paul is the author of Hope from the Ashes: Insights and Resources for Welcoming Lenten Visitors (2022) and Hope for the Holidays: Finding Light at the Darkest Times of the Year (2023). He has been a writer, consultant, trainer, and speaker both nationally and internationally. Originally from Northwest Indiana and the Greater Chicagoland Area, where he received his degrees from Valparaiso University and Loyola University Chicago, Paul now lives in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC with his wife and ministry colleague Sarah.