Join us in praying for the sanctity of life and the closing of the Lenten 40 Days for Life campaign. More information coming soon!

What is ECHO Chicago?

The ECHO Chicago is a Theology of the Body Weekend Retreat for young adults. 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. 

Who can go to ECHO?

ECHO Chicago is for Adults/Young Adults only. Young Adults must be at least 18 years of age and with one year out of high school to qualify.

More information coming soon!

January 24, 2025

The National March for Life is in person this January! Join the Chastity Education Initiative of Respect Life Ministries to march for the sanctity of life in Washington, D.C. Young adults, adults and families are welcome. Any participants who are under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

More information coming soon!

The 2025 Illinois March for Life will be held in Springfield.

More information coming soon!

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 [email protected] and let her know of the details. We look forward to hearing from you.

New Horizon: Leadership Formation 

Are you longing for authentic relationships? Do you truly know who you are? Are you ready for more? Our current Young Adult Generation is looking for the Church to provide real, tangible, meaningful opportunities for growth. Surely, this generation is wanting their faith to intersect the realities of life and desire to address real life issues.

New Horizon meets a need. For decades, the degradation and pulverization of the human person have left generations lost and in desperate need of direction and clarity. Men and women not only lack understanding of who they are, but also whose they are. Through our New Horizon Leadership Formation program, Echo Community wants to partner with dioceses and parishes to form young adults as the mature Christian disciples and leaders that they desire to be and help remind them of who they are while inviting them into a life fully alive and truly free.

Join in on a journey with other young adults desiring the very same thing: to find authentic friendships centered on Christ and to grow in their faith. New Horizon: Leadership Formation is an integrated 2 year formation program:

• Year one includes weekly formation sessions centered on our four key pillars of formation (outlined above). Young adults who commit to the program will be responsible for attending 40 sessions over the year where they will receive time for prayer, formation, and community. This is not an “at your own pace” formation experience; young adults will be invited into community and journey together in person.
• Year two of the program is no longer centered around formation but evangelization. Young Adults who have completed the first year of the formation program will enter into their second year as Mature Christian Disciples and be sent back into their parishes and communities to evangelize the men and women in their community.

This formation program will greatly help young adults grow in specific areas to become mature Christian disciples. The men and women interested in the program do not need specific skills or qualities to enter into the program – a young adult simply needs to be willing to dedicate the time and have docility to the Holy Spirit.

For more information and to sign up, CLICK HERE. 

If you have further questions, email Blanca Rodriguez.

We hope that you will join in on this great opportunity! Space is limited so do sign up and be counted soon.