What is ECHO?

ECHO is a Theology of the Body Camp. At ECHO, we dive into, unpack, and process the themes of prayer, our identity, and our mission to love. We are all created to be in personal relationship with God, and each of us are created as a unique, unrepeatable man or woman with a vocation to love like God. At ECHO, we dive into questions like: What does it mean to be a man or woman? What does it mean to be a son/daughter, brother/sister, spouse, father/mother? What does it mean to really love like God? How can dating become a life-giving experience? What does it mean to have authentic, pure, life-giving relationships? And so much more!

What do you do at ECHO?

ECHO is known for being awesomely spontaneous! We follow God wherever He leads us, but some things you can expect to do are:

• Listen to Inspiring Talks and have really great discussions
• Go Hiking
• Have some awesome one-on-one time with Jesus
• Jam out to Live Music and maybe share your gifts and talents
• Engage your competitive spirit in some awesome games and sports
• Receive God’s amazing gift of mercy in the sacrament of Reconciliation
• Attend Daily Mass and receive Jesus every day!
• and experience the Love of God and a community like you've never experienced before!

So, join the Dumb Ox team and a stellar crew of young adult mentors for a week you’ll never forget!

Flyer (PDF)

Who can go to ECHO?

Echo Chicago is open to entering juniors and seniors in High School as well as graduating seniors and young adults. Due to space, overall balance of male/female ratio, and other factors, the camp is necessarily limited.

Young Adult Camp: June 14-17
Teen Camp: June 17-20
Young Adults are welcome to stay June 14-20 and help to lead the teen camp.

How do I apply for ECHO?

The application process for ECHO varies slightly for teens and young adults/adults. For more information on the application process for each age group, please click below.

Young Adult/Adult Application Process Step-By Step Guide (PDF)
Teen Application Process Step-By Step Guide (PDF)

To begin the first step of the application process for young adults/adults, please click here.
To begin the first step of the application process for teens, please click here.
Click here to make your ECHO Early Bird payment.

The Respect Life Ministry will be traveling with Catholics from across the archdiocese to Springfield, Illinois on Wednesday, April 3rd to lobby against legislation recently introduced by the Illinois state government that would violate the sacredness of life. Coach buses will leave from The National Shrine of Maximilain Kolbe at Marytown (1600 West Park Avenue, Libertyville, IL 60048) at 6 a.m., St. John of the Cross Catholic Parish (5005 South Wolf Road, Western Springs, IL 60558) at 5:45 a.m., and St. Damien Catholic Parish (5300 West 155th Street, Oak Forest, IL 60452) at 6:30 a.m. This excursion, which will cost $10, will last from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lunch and training will be provided by the Illinois Catholic Conference. For more information please contact Respect Life Ministries at 312.545.5355. Registration is available by visiting here. To download the flyer, click here.

March for Life Chicago Website (Link)
Chicago Save the Date 2019 (Flyer)

Join us for the 2019 Youth Rally and Mass for Life prior to the March for Life Chicago on Sunday, January 13.

YOUTH RALLY

Expect fun-filled rally activities, energetic music, and inspiring talk led by Steve Angrisano. He is undoubtedly one of the most effective and versatile ministry leaders in the Church today. Always rooted in a spirit of humility and faithfulness, Steve’s easy, honest style of ministry is born from who he is: a committed witness to the life and love of Jesus Christ. The Youth Rally will then end with Mass for Life celebrated next door at Holy Name Cathedral.

Sunday, January 13
Door opens at 8 a.m.
$10 per ticket

The Frances Xavier Warde Catholic School
751 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60654

To register, click here.

Flyer (PDF)

For more information, contact Raymund Pingoy at 312.534.8294 or rpingoy@archchicago.org.

MASS FOR LIFE

Join Cardinal Blase J. Cupich and priests from across the Archdiocese of Chicago for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as we petition the Lord to transform our society from a culture of death into a culture of life. The Mass for Life will be a sending forth to join the official March for Life Chicago held at the Federal Plaza in Chicago, IL.

Sunday, January 13
11 a.m.

Holy Name Cathedral
730 North Wabash Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Flyer (PDF)

Pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. 2019

The Chastity Education Initiative of the Archdiocese of Chicago Office of Human Dignity and Solidarity is providing an exciting 4-day pilgrimage opportunity to join the National March for Life in our nation’s capital.

We invite high school students, young adults, and adult Parishioners to join us and 500,000+ people from all over our country that gathers to march for life! From the Archdiocese of Chicago, we leave on Wednesday evening, January 16, 2019 and return on Sunday morning, January 20, 2019.

Register now to avail the $350 early bird price!!!
Which includes the round-trip transportation to Washington, D.C. via motor coach, 2 nights at a beautiful hotel, and participation in all activities including the March for Life, time to tour Museums and Monuments, Youth Rally, and many other fun activities!

• Flyer (PDF)
• FAQs (PDF)
• Registration Process Guide for the National March for Life Pilgrimage 2019 (PDF)
• Adult Participant Registration Form (PDF)
• Safe Environment Acknowledgement Form (PDF)
• Teen Participant Registration Form (PDF)
• Group Reservation Sheet (PDF)
• Group Rooming List (PDF)

For more information, please contact Ray Pingoy at 312.534.8294 or email at rpingoy@archchicago.org.

Many of our young people are experiencing hurts and confusion that stem from a profound lack of knowledge and security in our true identity as created in God’s image and likeness. Simply put, we have forgotten the immense love that God has for us and how wonderfully He has created us to love and be loved.

St. Pope John Paul II devoted his Wednesday audiences from 1979 to 1984 to present an in-depth biblical explanation of the mystery of marriage and human sexuality. It is these series of Wednesday audiences that is collectively known as the “Theology of the Body.” With this catechesis, we can begin to discover the very structure and deepest reality of our human identity. It is not only a teaching but a gentle yet bold invitation to begin to find our place in the cosmos and begin to penetrate the mystery of the Trinitarian God. The very moment we dive into this rich teaching of our Catholic Church, we will never see the world and our faith the same way again. This life changing catechesis is by no means a departure from the Church’s heritage, but an authentic development of it. Through the “Theology of the Body,” our teens, young adults, and families can discover, pursue, and live out their own individual call to love with Christ’s love.

If you want to learn more, we invite you to explore the “Theology of the Body” with us. Our young people are searching for answers to deep questions like, “Who am I?” and “Where am I called to go?” We recognize the need to bring forth resources to our Schools and Parishes (Catechetical Program, Family Ministry, Young Adults, and Youth Ministry), as well as to equip ourselves to be able to speak to young people with the lens of the “Theology of the Body.” Please visit our website regularly to be informed of Theology of the Body Events and Trainings in and around the Archdiocese of Chicago. And do let us know if you have a Theology of the Body Parish/School events that we can help promote. Please email rpingoy@archchicago.org and let him know of the details. We look forward to hearing from you.

From September 25 through November 3, 2019, you’re invited to join other Christians for 40 Days for Life – 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion. You’re also invited to stand and peacefully pray during a 40-day vigil in the public right-of-way outside ​Family Planning Associate Medical Group Women’s Health Clinic (4341 North Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641)​, and also to help spread the word about this important community outreach.

If you’d like more information – and especially if you’d like to volunteer to help, please contact:​ Joe Lazar at 847.309.0360 or Joe@vision2020cookcounty.com​ or Terese Halm at 847.276.7894 or hthalm.totustuusmaria@gmail.com or visit our website for more information and to sign up: ​40DaysforLife.com/Chicago​.

We are also holding a 40 Days for Life Vigil in Flossmoor in front of the Planned Parenthood Mega Center: 19831 Governors Highway, Flossmoor, IL.

For More information, contact Richard Mantoan 708.557.0011 or southlandsmiles@gmail.com you can sign up to participate here: 40daysforlife.com/local-campaigns/flossmoor 

An Opening Mass for 40 Days for Life will be held at Holy Trinity Polish Mission Parish 1118 North Noble Street, Chicago, IL 60642 7:30 PM on Wednesday September 25 with Bishop Rojas as the main celebrant. Please come, all are welcome!

A Closing Mass for 40 Days for Life will be held at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church on Monday November 4th at 7:00 PM at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church 1850 North Hermitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60622 with Bishop Casey as the main celebrant. Please come, all are welcome!