Retreat FAQs « National Community for Single Catholics

What ages come to the retreat?

Single Catholics of all ages will be participating in the retreat from all over the country – and internationally too! No matter what your age, you will find others in the same age group.

Is this retreat for me?

If you’re a single adult, whether never married, annulled, divorced, or widowed, the answer is Yes!

What if I’m divorced and don’t have an annulment?

Even if you do not have annulment, attending the retreat for the purpose of strengthening your relationship with God and meeting like-minded people who share your faith (and possibly have shared your experiences) is a good thing. There is so much to gain from the entire retreat experience. Our hope is to encourage you in your faith and introduce to you a welcoming community of people. Hopefully the weekend will provide you with some great resources and will inspire you to take that energy back to your local parish.

Understanding the pain that is caused by divorce, we know that choosing to begin the annulment process can be a difficult decision and is very personal. We encourage you to seek out your parish priest or contact your diocesan tribunal office for guidance and to learn more.

What lodging options are available?

Most retreatants will be staying at the Conference Center at University of Saint Mary of the Lake (1000 East Maple Avenue, Mundelein, IL 60060.) The spacious sleeping rooms (with attached bathrooms) accommodate up to two people. During the registration process we provide the option to choose to share a room or have your own room. (Single rooms are more limited in number.)

When the retreat center fills up (or for those who’d prefer to stay at a hotel), there will also be the option to book a room in our NCSC room block at a nearby hotel. More details about the hotel option are coming soon!

What if I am arriving after the official check-in time (4pm-5pm Friday), can I still stay at the retreat center?

Yes! Whether you will be arriving on Thursday evening or after 5pm on Friday, it is still possible to check-in at the Front Desk located on the first floor of the Conference Center Lodging & Registration Building (300P). However, please notify us if you plan to arrive after 11pm – special arrangements would then need to be made.

What is the attire for the weekend?

Business casual/Dressy casual is generally recommended for the retreat.

What is schedule for the retreat?

General schedule can be found here.

When does the retreat begin and end?

Check-in is between 4-5pm on Friday. The Opening Mass starts at 5pm and is followed by dinner and the evening sessions. The retreat ends with lunch on Sunday and departure is between noon and 12:30pm.

Pre and post retreat events will take place Thursday evening, Friday from 9am-4pm (approximately – exact schedule TBA) and Sunday afternoon/evening (between 12:30pm-10pm, depending on which event you choose). These events will be posted on the Pre/Post Excursions page. More info.coming soon!

Where can I stay Thursday night and/or Sunday night if I want to come for the pre/post excursions?

We have rooms reserved at the retreat center for Thursday night, but for Sunday we will be reserving a block of rooms closer to the airport for those who want to go downtown Chicago and then fly (or drive) out on Monday morning. Details will be posted on the Location and Travel page when they become available.

What is included with the registration fee?

Registration includes:

Entrance to all sessions.
Participation in onsite activities (Masses, adoration, opportunity for confession, prayer services, reception and socials).
4 meals: Friday dinner, Saturday lunch and dinner, and Sunday lunch.

Accommodation is an additional fee that you can select and purchase during the registration process. (Or if you have other accommodations you can select the commuter pass.)

What is the best airport to fly into?

Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD). (Midway is also a Chicago airport but is significantly further away from the retreat center.)

What transportation is available from the airport to the Conference Center at University of Saint Mary of the Lake?

USML suggests the following transportation options from Chicago O’Hare Airport:

American Taxi – Average Cost $50 One Way – 1-800-244-1177 toll free; 1-847-673-1000 local; www.americantaxi.com

North Shore Limo Service – Average Cost $50 Per Person Shared Ride – 1-800-543-0037 toll free: 1-847-816-7474 local; www.northshorelimo.com

You can also use these options:

Uber and Lyft estimates can be found at the respective links. Please remember that the time of day affects the price.

Metra Rail – (There is a Metra station just 8 minutes from USML, an easy Uber/Lyft ride. Please read below for details.)

USING METRA TO GET FROM O’HARE TO MUNDELEIN STATION

How do I get to Metra Station from any of the airport terminals? Passengers can reach the station from the airport’s terminals taking ATS (Airport Transit System) to Economy parking Lot E or Kiss-N-Fly. From the Kiss-N-Fly, passengers must drop-off, board the airport shuttle bus service and stop at O’Hare Transfer Station.
What do I do at O’Hare Transfer Station? Passengers can use the O’Hare Transfer Station to reach Metra’s North Central Service trains to go to downtown Chicago and vicinities.
What stop do I make on the North Central Service Line? Mundelein Station.
How long will the ride from O’Hare Transfer Station to Mundelein take? Approximately 30 minutes.
What will the fare be? $6.75 one-way (as of June 13, 2018).
How do I find the train schedule? Please visit this link.
More questions? – please visit the Metra site.

How can I get updates for this year’s retreat and future events?

We would love to stay in touch with you! Just sign up for our newsletter, and we will keep you updated with all of the latest news!

I’m having a hard time registering online. Can someone help me?

Please call 512-766-5798, and we’ll be happy to take your registration over the phone.