Question 1

Who can come to SHINE?

Accepted Answer

SHINE is open to anyone entering high school as well as any young adult or college age student up to the age of 20. Once they turn 21, they will be considered an adult and are eligeble to come as an adult chaperone.  
Anyone 18 and over must be in compliance with their Diocesan Safe Enviroment policy.

Question 2

What is RADIATE?

Accepted Answer

RADIATE is a Conference with a Mission designed to grow in the faith through mass, adoration, talks, workshops, music, service projects, a concert and fun and games.

Question 3

What is DRT?

Accepted Answer

DRT stands for Disaster Relief Team. It is something that SHINE has been doing for the past 10 years except now it has a name. It is a week long mission experience open to any high school or college age students who are willing to help those directly affected by some sort of natural disaster.

Question 4

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Determining the cost depends on when you register. The cost of the camp increases monthly, so the best thing to do is:
Know which SHINE week you and your group want to attend
Register for the amount of spots you know you can fill
Send in your deposits
Once we receive your deposits, you are locked in for that price and can add more spots later on if there is still space available (call to check availability).

Question 5

What is SHINE?

Accepted Answer

SHINE is a Catholic-based mission/service retreat based outside of Houston, Texas. SHINE stands for "Servin’ Him In the Needy and the Elderly" and was founded by Augie & Dawn Leal in the summer of 2000. Augie, with his music, youth ministry, and retreat experience and Dawn with her hospitality degree and youth ministry background, both decided back in 1999 to create a ministry that would give teens, young adults, and youth ministers the chance to serve those in need while growing in their catholic faith. Now entering its 20th summer, SHINE has encouraged thousands of teens and young adults from all the country to share the light of Christ with others and live out their baptismal call to serve.
Every SHINE mission week offers daily mass, adoration, service projects, high energy praise & worship, fun team building activities, delicious homestyle cooked meals, nightly skits, youth group prayer time, great guest speakers, a talent show, and a team of really cool and engaging staff members.
"We don't strive to be the biggest...we just strive to be the best."

Question 6

What does the schedule look like?

Accepted Answer

Once you arrive, the contact person will check-in and make sure everyone gets settled into their sleeping quarters. Afterwards, participants will go to the "program area" to learn more about SHINE and its mission, get to know other attendees, receive important team-work skills training, and celebrate the Eucharist with an awesome liturgy. SHINE participants start every day with an early breakfast and morning mass. Once mass is over, each work group will pick up their supplies and leave the school/facility to their work site where they will participate in their project until the afternoon (lunches are taken with the work groups to work-sites).
Participants will then return back to the school/facility and have free time for showering, (showers may be taken at other facilities depending if the school has showers or not) recreation, writing letters, and resting until dinner. After dinner, everyone will meet in the "program area" for evening program which consists of games, ice breakers, skits put on by the "God Squad," jammin' praise and worship with the SHINE Praise Team, motivational speakers, praying, singing, dancing, and fun!
After programming, youth groups will meet for nightly prayer and then have free time to socialize, pray in the chapel, or just hang-out until "lights out." Friday night, there is a "SHINE's Got Talent" show where any participant can sign-up and showcase their gifts and talents for everyone. On Saturday morning, everyone packs up and helps clean the host school/facility before they head home to SHINE!

Question 7

Who can come to DRT?

Accepted Answer

DRT is open to:
Any high school student 14+
Any college students 17+
Any young adult 18+

Question 8

Who can come to RADIATE

Accepted Answer

RADIATE is open to any incoming high school freshman thru college & young adults under 21. At 21 you are considered an adult and can come as a chaperone.

Question 9

What is expected of my chaperones?

Accepted Answer

Each adult chaperone will be assigned to a work group. This adult will be a part of the work team just like the teens. We depend on adults to work side by side with the teens and not just stand around and supervise. Teens need encouragement and the adult leaders need to be willing to encourage their team. We also depend on the adults to supervise their own parish teens while at the school during free time and programming.
 
We require 1 male/female chaperone for every 5 male/female students.

Question 10

What does registration cover?

Accepted Answer

- Mission week selection, organization, and administration by our mission team. 
- Coordination with local social service agencies. 
- All meals during the mission week.
- Lodging at a local high school, church or retreat center. 
- Inspirational, motivational, and faith/relationship building programs. 
- General Liability insurance. 
- Themed mission week t-shirt. 
- Development and organization of future SHINE mission weeks.

Question 11

What about liabilty and safe enviroment?

Accepted Answer

SHINE carries it's own General Liability Insurance policy that covers SHINE and any agencies we work with. It does not cover attendees. Everyone in attendance should have some sort of personal health/medical insurance in the unlikely case medical attention is needed. 
 
- Any participant 18 years and older are required to complete their own diocesan safe enviroment training.
- All adults must sign a notarized Youth Protection Policy (adult volunteers will NOT be allowed to participate without this form).

Question 12

How well supervised and safe is SHINE?

Accepted Answer

SHINE takes supervision and safety very seriously. Aside from the SHINE staff and associates, each youth group participating must bring 1 adult chaperone for every 5 teens. Youth participants must be entering high school in the fall. Only adult chaperones listed by their churches as "designated drivers" are allowed to drive to work sites. Due to Diocesan safety policies, 15 passenger vans are no longer allowed. Adult chaperones should provide supervision of their work group at work sites and at the school.
 
- SHINE will not involve or put anyone in jeopardy by putting them in dangerous situations.
- No one under 18 will be allowed to use any kind of power tools.
- No participant is allowed to work on roofs.
- Safety goggles are made available for workers as needed and are required when power saws or drills are used.
- Each participant will try to be matched to a project he/she can handle comfortably.
- First Aid kits will be assigned to every work group. In addition, each participant should drink adequate liquids and are requested to bring and wear protective clothing, shoes, hats, gloves, and sun screen.
- Close adult supervision is built into the program. Youth leaders are requested to bring only responsible and service-oriented young people who will work carefully in the program.

Question 13

What if I have to cancel spots?

Accepted Answer

If you have to cancel any spots, please let us know so we can adjust your balance accordingly.

Question 14

When does it start?

Accepted Answer

Week 1 will start on Monday afternoon and end on Friday morning.
Week 2 will start on Monday afternoon and end on Friday morning

Question 15

Where do we stay?

Accepted Answer

The Shrine Hotel in Belleville, Illinois, just 12 miles from downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It is located within 15 minutes of area sites such as the Gateway Arch, Busch Stadium, Parks Airport and College, Cahokia Mounds Historic Site, St. Clair Square and Scott Air Force Base.

Situated on the beautiful Shrine grounds, the hotel offers a peaceful night’s sleep.

Question 16

What kind of work projects will we do?

Accepted Answer

SHINE partakes in a variety of service projects. These projects can be, but are not limited to, refurbishing homes by doing things such as painting, weatherizing, housecleaning, landscaping, yard work, basic construction, hanging doors, and windows (just to name a few). Participants may also help with cleaning up vacant lots, helping at a day care center for low income families, or working at a shelter. The goal of the service projects is for the participants to build up hope in the community and ultimately search for ways they can go back home and serve in their own communities.

Question 17

How are work projects chosen?

Accepted Answer

SHINE tries its best to cooperate with various agencies such as Habitat For Humanity, Catholic Charities, UMCOR, United Way, and local churches in each city to choose the sites and write up work assignments. Residents who qualify for home repairs must be unable to do or afford repair work on their homes. Typically, residents are elderly, disabled, or unemployed. A SHINE representative will make every effort to inspect the work-sites before the camp and check the safety and appropriateness of the project. SHINE reserves the right to reject any projects that do not meet the qualification guidelines.

Question 18

How do we get there?

Accepted Answer

You are responsible for your own transportation and for getting yourself there. The vehicle(s) you bring will be used to travel to and from the work sites each day. We recommend that you come with a group and that you invite at least one adult to come with you.

Question 19

Can I get a refund?

Accepted Answer

SHINE does not give refunds. You will receive credit for a future SHINE Mission Week

Question 20

Why the name change?

Accepted Answer

When SHINE started in 2000, most service weeks were called work camps. So once SHINE started, it only made sense to call it a work camp. We have called it SHINE Catholic Work Camp for 19 years, but because SHINE is more like a retreat than a work camp, we decided that the time was right to change our name to SHINE Catholic Missions. We still have the same mission, just with a new name.

Question 21

What if we have no experience?

Accepted Answer

As long as you and your group have the "nerve to serve," there really is no concern. There is plenty of work that needs to be done and takes little to no experience at all. SHINE will do a safety session at the beginning of the week and will never ask anyone to participate in projects they are not equipped to handle.

Question 22

How many people come to SHINE?

Accepted Answer

SHINE is a place where we like to get to know as many participants as possible and build good fellowship as brothers and sisters in Christ. In saying that, SHINE mission weeks normally range anywhere between 100-250 volunteers (depending on the amount of sleeping space we have access to).

Question 23

What is the "God Squad?""

Accepted Answer

The "God Squad" is a group of teens who volunteer to be a part of a small skit during evening program. These skits are silently acted out to a song and portray a spiritual message. Those who participate in God Squad can have stage experience or not; just as long as they are willing to share a message thorugh song.
If someone in your group is interested in joining God Squad, please have them include it in their SHINE profile.

Question 24

Where will we be staying?

Accepted Answer

We make arrangements to stay at a local church, retreat center, KC hall or school. But since some of the host facilities are having to deal with some sort of damage, we will most likely stay outside of the area affected and commute daily to and from. It may be 30 min away or up to an hour away. It all depends on where we are going and how far away it is from the area we will be helping in.

Question 25

Where will we shower?

Accepted Answer

Again it all depends on where we will be staying. If it's at a retreat center or a high school there will most likely be plenty of showers. If we have to stay at a parish or a school with out showeres then we will make arrangements to shower at a local school or look at bringing in a portable mobile shower unit.

Question 26

Will my teens be mixed with other teens?

Accepted Answer

At SHINE, we believe that working together as a parish community works best. However, we do try to team your small group with another small groups from another parish. In doing this, everyone has the opportunity to meet others. Each work group consists of 6 volunteers from your parish. There is 1 adult and 5 teeens per group and we leave the dividing up of small groups up to you because you are the one who knows your teens and adults best. There is also adequate free time each afternoon and evening for the teens to hang-out with each other.

Question 27

Will my teens grow in their faith?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! At SHINE, we encourage and teach everyone, especially the youth, how to live out there baptismal call to serve. You and your teens will spiritually grow and be renewed through songs of praise, celebration of the Eucharist, inspirational witness talks, and God’s amazing love in the sacrament of reconciliation and adoration.

Question 28

How many people will be there?

Accepted Answer

Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic and because we will have to implement a social distance plan, we will take no more than 125-150 each week.

Question 29

Where do we stay?

Accepted Answer

Normally, SHINE will stay at a Catholic high school or church in the area. It will be used for lodging, programming, and meals. Showers are often times available at the host facility, other times they are made available at nearby high school. Participants bring their own sleeping bags, air mattresses, or other bedding (twin only) and sleep in classrooms. Adult chaperones are assigned to their own youth groups according to Local Diocesan Policies. There are separate sleeping quarters for males and females. Meals are prepared in the school kitchen by trained kitchen personnel and participants will eat meals in the host facility cafeteria (balanced, nutritious, and plentiful meals are provided).

Question 30

Do we need to have an adult chaperone?

Accepted Answer

If you are part of a parish youth group, there must be 1 male/female adult for every 5 male/female students.
If you are coming with a group of college students or young adults 18+ we ask that you bring at least one adult to help with making desicions in regards to travel, transportation, payments, etc.

Question 31

How do we get there?

Accepted Answer

Most groups travel in vans and small buses (this depends on the number of people you bring). These same vehicles will also be used to transport groups to and from their work sites. (Due to Diocesan polices not allowing the use of 15 passenger vans to transport teens, you must have a 12 passenger van or a personal vehicle that seats at least 6 passengers). State laws require that all vehicles must be equipped with enough seat belts for all riders. If you choose to fly to a SHINE location, you must arrange to rent vehicles which can be picked up upon arrival at the airport. To keep the cost of registration low, all groups are responsible for all vehicle expenses.

Question 32

Can our priest come?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but they must first send a letter of good standing from their home diocese to the diocese where SHINE is taking place. SHINE would not be able to celebrate mass and adoration or offer the sacrament of reconciliation without our priests.
 
SHINE makes arrangements for the priest to stay in either the rectory of the host parish or in a classroom seperate from the teens.

Question 33

What if we have to leave early?

Accepted Answer

Some groups leave Friday night after programming to get a head start on the road. If you plan on leaving early, please let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.

Question 34

Can I bring my family?

Accepted Answer

Absolutely! Since we are all about doing ministry as a family, we encourage families to come and SHINE together. If you wish to come as a family rather than in a parish group, just give us a call to discuss your options.

Question 35

Is there a "free" day?"

Accepted Answer

Starting in 2022 SHINE will be offering a Free Day for certain events.

Question 36

Do you offer anything for Middle School students?

Accepted Answer

Starting in 2022 SHINE will be offering a parish work camp called HOPE Work Camp that can be modified for middle school students. It is designed as a 3 day event that begins on a Friday night and ends on Sunday afternoon. It can take place in your parish hall and has the same dynamics of a mission week without the overnight stay. There will be music, fun and games, mass, talks, and an opportunity to serve parishoners in need . We bring the production team,
By offering middle schoolers a weekend mission experience, it helps them prepare for summer mission trips later on when they enter high school.
If you are interested in having a HOPE Work Camp at for your parish, call or email us to discuss details.

Question 37

Do you have to be vaccinated to attend SHINE?

Accepted Answer

Due to the severity of the Covid19 variant, we strongly encourage participants to get vaccinated before coming. This will help keep everyone safe without having to worry about spreading the virus. Every participant will be required to sign a Covid19 Liabilty Release Form before coming.

Question 38

Are we required to wear a mask?

Accepted Answer

If you are fully vaccinated you do not have to wear a mask, however if you are not vaccinated we ask that you wear a mask while indoors or if you are working on an indoor project out of respect for those we will be serving.

Frequently asked questions

Who can come to SHINE?

What is RADIATE?

What is DRT?

How much does it cost?

What is SHINE?

What does the schedule look like?

Who can come to DRT?

Who can come to RADIATE

What is expected of my chaperones?

What does registration cover?

What about liabilty and safe enviroment?

How well supervised and safe is SHINE?

What if I have to cancel spots?

When does it start?

Where do we stay?

What kind of work projects will we do?

How are work projects chosen?

How do we get there?

Can I get a refund?

Why the name change?

What if we have no experience?

How many people come to SHINE?

What is the "God Squad?""

Where will we be staying?

Where will we shower?

Will my teens be mixed with other teens?

Will my teens grow in their faith?

How many people will be there?

Where do we stay?

Do we need to have an adult chaperone?

How do we get there?

Can our priest come?

What if we have to leave early?

Can I bring my family?

Is there a "free" day?"

Do you offer anything for Middle School students?

Do you have to be vaccinated to attend SHINE?

Are we required to wear a mask?