Frequently Asked Questions
"When does the retreat begin and end?"
Participants are asked to arrive after 9:00 on the first day (typically Saturday) and the retreat begins at 9:30 AM. It ends around 5:00 PM on the last day (typically Monday).
"What if I need to arrive late or leave early?"
To fully experience the retreat, participants are asked to arrive on time and to remain onsite for the duration of the weekend. If this is not possible, it would be best to select another weekend.
"I have sent in my application, how come I have not heard anything?"
Once your application is submitted you can assume you have been accepted. Exceptions will be notified by mail immediately. A letter with full details regarding the retreat will be sent to you two weeks prior to your weekend.
"What do I need to bring?"
Mostly you need to bring yourself open and ready for a new experience. As far as "stuff"-- a suggested list is provided here.
"Why won't people tell me about the weekend?"
A TEC retreat is an experience. And like other experiences, seeing the Grand Canyon for example, it means different things to different people and it is often very hard to explain. Your friends and family may just want you to experience the retreat in your own way.
"Is it a cult?"
CM TEC is endorsed and supported by the Diocese of St. Cloud and adheres to
it's policies and teachings. It is deeply rooted in the Catholic faith and
sacraments. Each weekend has oversight from the Bishop and almost always has a Catholic
priest in attendance as part of the weekend's staff. Attending a TEC retreat for many people
can be a life-changing experience. Their excitement to share the encounter with
others can sometimes be misunderstood as "cultish."
"I'm not Catholic, is it for me?"
While TEC is rooted in the Catholic faith, non-Catholics are welcome and do participate. In fact
most weekends have about 20-40% non-Catholics participants.
"I've heard about a 'reunion.' What is that?"
A reunion is a gathering of people that have made TECs in the past. They get together occasionally to fellowship and share experiences.
"Who is the staff?"
The staff is made up entirely of volunteers who have previously made a TEC retreat. They are not necessarily counselors or teachers--they are just people who have had an awesome experience at TEC and want to help out. The retreat leaders have extensive TEC experience and are carefully selected, but are still volunteers of various backgrounds.