Youth

From middle school to high school, Cooper’s youth events are crafted to meet young people in their unique season of life—sparking curiosity, deepening faith, and building authentic community. Whether it’s helping 7th graders grow in empathy and service, preparing 8th graders to step into their God-given identity, or energizing high school students around the mission of Confirmation and Christian discipleship, each experience is interactive, age-appropriate, and rooted in the Gospel. Perfect for retreats, rallies, and youth ministry kickoffs.

  • A retreat focused on faith, friendship, and the call to serve.

    This experience is built around the themes of community, compassion, and leadership through service. Students engage in dynamic, hands-on experiences that encourage self-awareness, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Christ through love and humility.

    Retreat Highlights:

    Seeing Christ in Others – Encouraging empathy and respect through creative exercises.

    Our Life Impacts Others – Reflecting on how actions influence communities and relationships.

    Building Each Other Up – Reinforcing the value of encouragement and unity.

    Serve Others – Exploring leadership through Christ-like service.

    Prayerful Reflection – Creating space for spiritual integration and personal commitment.

  • A journey of faith, identity, and purpose for students preparing for a new chapter.

    This retreat meets students in a year of significant transition, offering space to reflect on identity, choices, and the call to live with greater purpose. Through scripture, storytelling, interactive activities, multimedia, and guided reflection, students are invited to move beyond comparison and comfort, embracing the deeper truth that they are made for more.

    Retreat Themes:

    • God, the Firm Foundation – Rooting identity in God's love and truth in an uncertain world.

    • Made for Greatness – Exploring personal gifts, the influence of the Holy Spirit, and the courage to live faithfully.

    • Think Bigger – Challenging cultural messages about success and inviting trust in God’s greater plan.

    • Living as Witnesses – Encouraging bold, everyday expressions of faith and love.

  • Not a Graduation… A Beginning.

    Ignite is a high-energy, Christ-centered experience that sparks the hearts of Confirmation candidates and sets them on fire for their faith. Whether offered as a one-day rally or expanded into a full retreat, this flexible format is designed to meet the needs of parishes of any size.

    Through dynamic talks, powerful worship, engaging activities, and authentic storytelling, teens are invited to move beyond the idea of Confirmation as a “finish line.” Instead, they’ll step into their identity as missionary disciples, ready to live their faith with boldness and joy.

    What to Expect from Ignite

    This experience leads Confirmation candidates deeper into relationship with Jesus and prepares them to live their mission in the Church and the world. The day centers around three transformative sessions:

    • A Call to Discipleship
      Understanding that Confirmation is not the end—it's the invitation to begin a lifelong journey with Christ.

    • Becoming the Best You
      Embracing our identity as beloved children of God and recognizing the call to live differently in a world of noise.

    • Live the Mission
      Equipping teens with practical ways to follow Jesus, share their faith, and bring Christ into their daily lives.

    Whether your teens need to be awakened, challenged, or empowered—Ignite will meet them where they are and launch them forward in the Spirit.

  • An Evening of Connection, Mission, and Shared Identity

    This high-energy, interactive workshop is designed to help youth, ministry teams, and parish communities experience what it truly means to be One Body in Christ. Through engaging activities, personal reflection, and joyful fellowship, participants will explore how Baptism calls us not just into faith—but into family.

    This evening gathering centers on three key movements: discovering our identity, understanding our role in the Body of Christ, and celebrating the gifts that each person brings to the community.

    What to Expect

    • Icebreakers & Connection
      From upbeat songs like Allalala to creative get-to-know-you games and meaningful questions, the evening kicks off with laughter and authentic sharing that sets the tone for deeper connection.

    • Who Are We? Why Are We Here?
      Reflect on your personal "why" and the spiritual reality of Baptism that unites us as members of one Church. Scripture and short reflections help ground the evening in faith and purpose.

    • One Body, Many Parts
      In the hands-on "Machines" activity, small groups collaborate to build symbolic representations of community—then bring them to life. Inspired by the words of St. Paul and St. Teresa of Avila, participants discover their unique role in the Body of Christ.

    • Fun & Fellowship
      Roaming Pictionary adds a burst of fun and movement before diving into True Colors, a guided exploration of personality and spiritual giftedness. This powerful session helps participants see how their individual strengths contribute to the health and vibrancy of the community.

    • Faith in Action
      The workshop closes with a fast-paced, team-building game and a renewed sense of purpose: that we belong to one another and are called to carry each other in faith.

    Perfect For:

    • Youth Ministry Kickoffs

    • Confirmation Prep Nights

    • Parish Team-Building Events

    • Catholic Schools and Retreats

    Come ready to laugh, learn, and leave more connected to your faith, your community, and your calling.m description


Families & Parents

Cooper leads powerful, joy-filled events designed to awaken faith, restore connection, and strengthen families. Whether it’s a 3-night parish mission, a one-night parent gathering, or a full weekend retreat, each experience is crafted to meet people where they are—with humor, heart, music, and deeply relatable truth.

Whether your family is thriving or searching, young or grown, faithful or unsure—there’s a place for you here. And it all starts with one step closer to Christ.

  • Holiness isn’t just for the saints—but for your family, right now, right where you are!

    This 3-night Family Mission is a dynamic, joy-filled, spiritually grounded experience designed to awaken hearts, strengthen relationships, and ignite purpose in every member of the family. Through storytelling, Scripture, music, and practical tools, we’ll explore the call to holiness, the power of relationship, and the urgency of living our faith out loud.

    Whether your family is thriving or struggling, young or grown, faithful or just curious—this mission will meet you where you are and remind you that you are made for more.

    Bring Your Whole Family

    With music, humor, honest stories, and real-life tools, each night is crafted to engage both hearts and minds. This is not just another event—it’s a catalyst for transformation in your home.

    Because your family was Made for More.
    Because holiness starts at home.
    Because the world needs what your family has to offer.

  • A one-night gathering to inspire and equip parents to raise faith-filled families in today’s world.

    Raising holy kids in today’s culture isn’t easy—and it’s not supposed to be. But you’re not alone.

    This evening is designed for parents who are doing their best, whether you feel confident in your role or completely overwhelmed. Rooted in truth, encouragement, and real-life examples, Building a Firm, Holy Foundation in Your Family is both a reminder and a rallying cry: you are the first and most important catechist your child will ever have.

    This gathering offers wisdom, practical tools, and spiritual encouragement for every parent—whether your children are young, teens, or even grown and wandering. Through Scripture, stories, and honest reflection, you'll discover that holiness in the home doesn’t mean perfection—it means perseverance, prayer, and placing Jesus at the center.

    What You’ll Walk Away With:

    • A renewed sense of mission
      You're not a bad parent if your child struggles in faith. Even St. Monica had a St. Augustine. The Holy Spirit is still working.

    • Practical tools for building holy habits
      Learn simple but powerful ways to strengthen your family’s spiritual foundation—like family prayer, intentional conversations, guarding your home’s digital space, and leading by example.

    • Guidance on how to parent with confidence and hope
      With stories, Scripture, and strategies, explore how to build trust, confidence, and deeper relationships with your children through everyday moments.

    • Encouragement for fathers and mothers alike
      A special challenge to fathers to reclaim their spiritual role in the home—not out of dominance, but with love, prayer, and quiet strength.

    • Real reminders that holiness begins at home
      The dinner table. The car ride. Bedtime prayers. All these seemingly small spaces become sacred when Jesus is at the center.

    Whether you're looking for fresh ideas or just need reassurance that you're on the right track, this night is for you. You don’t need to have it all figured out—just a desire to lead your family toward heaven, one faithful step at a time.

    Come be refreshed, encouraged, and reminded:
    Your family was made for more—and holiness starts with you.

  • This isn’t graduation—it’s the next step of a lifelong journey of faith.

    As your child or candidate prepares to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, you are invited into a deeper role—not just as provider, but as spiritual supporter, model, and companion. This workshop equips parents and sponsors to walk alongside their teen or candidate as they receive the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and begin to take ownership of their faith.

    What You’ll Explore:

    Fan the Flame
    Discover what Confirmation really is—a stirring of the Spirit already received in Baptism—and how it empowers young people to grow in grace, identity, and purpose.

    Your Role as Parent or Sponsor
    Reclaim your baptismal promise. Learn how to encourage prayer, service, Scripture, and belonging in the Church in everyday life. Your witness matters.

    Practical Ways to Walk With Your Teen
    From spiritual conversations to acts of service, discover creative and personal ways to support your child or candidate during preparation—and beyond the day of Confirmation.

    Tools, Stories, and Real Talk
    Explore relatable stories, analogies (yes, even about chocolate milk and oxygen masks!), and hands-on ideas to stir faith in both the candidate—and in you.

    Ideal For:
    Parents, sponsors, Confirmation teams, and parish leaders who want to strengthen faith in the home and parish.

    Format:
    Single session (60–90 minutes), includes reflection, witness stories, practical takeaways, and discussion.


Ministry Leaders

Whether you're mentoring teens, teaching in Catholic schools, or leading behind the scenes, ministry leadership is sacred and demanding work. That’s why Cooper offers dynamic formation experiences designed to encourage, equip, and renew those on the front lines of faith.

Cooper helps ministry leaders rediscover their calling, grow in confidence, and lead with clarity. These gatherings blend storytelling, Scripture, and real-world tools to foster personal reflection, strengthen team unity, and offer concrete strategies for lasting impact.

  • Youth Ministry Core Team Training Day

    Whether you're a longtime youth ministry leader or just beginning your journey, this Core Team Training Day is designed to equip, inspire, and connect those who are walking with teens in faith.

    Through a blend of reflection, practical training, and collaborative workshops, this one-day event will help your team grow in vision, confidence, and creativity. We’ll dive into what makes youth ministry thrive, how to build relationships that matter, and how to plan with purpose.

    What You’ll Experience:

    • Session 1: What’s Missing?
      Discover the essential components of effective youth ministry using the Renewing the Vision framework as a tool for parish evaluation and growth.

    • Session 2: Relational Ministry
      Learn how to meaningfully engage teens through authentic conversation and presence. Workshop strategies for evangelization and building a strong Core Team.

    • Session 3: Who’s Missing?
      Identify team strengths and discern the roles still needed. Using strengths assessment tools, understand how diverse gifts build unified teams.

    • Session 4: Let’s Get Practical
      Share and gather real-world ideas and tools through speed sharing, roundtable discussions, and collaborative planning. Leave with strategies you can use right away.

    • Who Should Attend: Core team members, youth ministers, adult volunteers, and anyone invested in the spiritual lives of young people.

    Let this day renew your call and send you back to your parish with clarity, conviction, and community.

  • A Day to Reflect, Renew, and Rekindle Your Why

    Start the school year with purpose and perspective through this engaging and prayerful Faculty Retreat experience. Rooted in Scripture, community, and personal reflection, this half-day retreat is designed specifically for Catholic school faculty and staff who desire to reconnect with their vocation as educators and mentors.

    Whether you’re in the classroom, in administration, or behind the scenes, this retreat will affirm your calling, remind you of your unique gifts, and offer practical tools to sustain you in mind, body, and spirit.

    What to Expect

    • Session 1: Called and Gifted
      Inspired by John 21, this session reflects on Jesus’ re-calling of Peter and asks each participant to consider how they are being called again—right now—to serve, teach, and love. Through small-group sharing and an exploration of your personal gifts, you’ll rediscover your unique role in the mission of Catholic education.

    • Session 2: A Model of Faith
      What legacy are we leaving through our daily witness? This session focuses on the quiet influence of authentic Christian presence across all roles—from the classroom to the cafeteria. Through story, scripture, and reflection, we’ll explore how being a light to others often starts with simply showing up as who we are.

    • Session 3: Personal Sabbath Practices
      Ministry can’t pour from an empty cup. In this final session, participants will be introduced to the idea of Sabbath as a regular rhythm of rest and renewal. Practical suggestions and personal reflection time will help educators embrace balance, grounding their work in peace and sustainability.

    Whether you’ve been teaching for decades or are stepping into a new role, this retreat offers space to slow down, connect with your colleagues, and be reminded of the deeper purpose behind your daily work.

  • Every phase of a young person’s journey—elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and high school to college—brings both disruption and spiritual opportunity. During these critical transition years, youth are asking big questions about identity, belonging, and faith. 

    This session-based workshop equips ministry leaders to be present before the crisis—offering spiritual grounding, emotional support, and relational belonging right when it’s needed most.

    What You’ll Explore:

    The Why Behind the Drift
    Understand the cultural and developmental shifts that cause young people to disengage—and how we can respond with compassion and clarity.

    The Threefold Lens of Support
    Learn a practical framework for walking with youth through spiritual, emotional, and relational change—before, during, and after transitions.

    Transition-by-Transition Guidance
    Explore the unique needs of students as they move from elementary to middle school, middle to high school, and high school to college—with tools and strategies tailored to each phase.

    Multiplying the Mission
    Identify gaps, plan next steps, and collaborate on how to strengthen discipleship across your parish, school, or diocese.

    Ideal for: Youth ministers, DREs, catechists, Catholic school staff, Confirmation leaders, campus ministers, and parent partners.

    Format: Half-day or full-day. Includes presentations, group discussion, case studies, and resource tools.


CUSTOM EVENT

Don't See What You’re Looking For? Let’s Build It Together.

Every parish, school, and community is unique—so your event should be, too.

If you’re exploring options and don’t see a retreat, workshop, or rally that perfectly meets the needs of your group, I’d love to collaborate with you to create something custom. Whether you're looking to address a specific theme, support a particular age group, respond to a current challenge in your community, or align with your liturgical calendar or pastoral goals, we can craft a meaningful experience together.

From small-group evenings to full-day retreats or multi-session programs, I’m happy to tailor the content, format, and tone to best serve your mission.

Let’s build something that resonates, inspires, and meets your community where they are.

Ready to start the conversation?