Christian Experience Weekends

CEW is a lay movement that provides spiritual enrichment and promotes Christian community in relationship with God, self, and others in a weekend retreat setting.

Christian Experience Weekends started in Dubuque in 1976 and at St. Joseph the Worker in 1980. Since that time, well over 500 parishioners and dozens more non-parishioners have participated in a weekend at St. Joseph the Worker.

What Happens at CEW?

A lay team hosts the weekends, which offer talks and other experiences that help participants develop an awareness and appreciation of the Holy Spirit’s movement in our lives. Weekends begin at 8:00 on Friday evening and conclude by 5:00 on Sunday evening.

While people are sometimes reluctant to take the time away from family and stay overnight, it is an important piece of the weekend, as it allows participants to totally immerse themselves in the experience and builds lasting bonds and community.