“Where are you going?” The question seems simple in normal, everyday life situations. Yet it hits a powerful depth when considering the pathway God calls you to take.
Dozens of high school-aged young men will engage in that very question through a retreat and nature camp whose name translates in Latin to that very question, Quo Vadis.
Hosted by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood, the four-day, gathering takes place June 23-26 at Black Rock Retreat Center in Quarryville, PA.
“It’s going to be a fun and packed week with time for rest, for time for discernment, time to encounter God and each other in a normal way, in a fun way for high school kids,” said Father Sean English, vocations director for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The retreat is inspired by the Quo Vadis legend of St. Peter, explained by Grace Murphy, program coordinator for the vocation office.
“Quo Vadis is the legend of St. Peter. He was supposedly heading out from Rome, fleeing Rome, fleeing his persecution, and he ran into our Lord carrying the crucifix on the way,” she said.
“Peter asks Jesus, ‘Dominus quo vadis,’ or ‘Lord, where are You going?’ And the Lord says, ‘I’m going back to Rome to be crucified again.’ Following the footsteps of Jesus, Peter turns around, goes back to Rome, and is eventually martyred there for his faith.”
For the young men attending Quo Vadis, discernment takes place amid prayer, fellowship, and outdoor activities guided by 31 current seminarians. The retreat’s theme, “Anchor of the Soul,” is based on Hebrews 6:19: “This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil.”
“We’ll have daily Mass, daily opportunities for prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours led by the seminarians, and different men from the seminary giving talks all based around the theme of hope,” Murphy explains.
Additionally, attendees will engage in tournament-style water games ultimate frisbee, lake swimming, board games, and a waterslide.
A powerful Eucharistic procession on the final night serves as the retreat’s capstone.
“This is really just a time to soak in all that they’ve learned through each other, through the talks, through prayer throughout the week, and then physically they get up and follow Christ,” says Murphy.
“It’s just a time to bring him all of their intentions, their needs, their desires, and entrust them to the Lord, knowing that He will give them everything they need to follow His footsteps.”
Organizers say participants should prepare for such a balance of prayerful seriousness and outdoor fun with guys sharing similar beliefs and questions. That common experience, and the time for conversation amidst well-renowned hoagies and the retreat center’s tasty chocolate milk, constructs a camaraderie between them as they further discern their calling.
“They develop friendships and almost a fraternity amongst young men they may not have ever met. It’s not like they come with a whole bunch of people that they know. They begin to meet them here. They see them at different activities throughout the year. For many of the men, the majority of them, they come back each year,” said Susan Matour, associate director for the Vocation Office for the Diocesan Priesthood.
“I’ve seen it in our seminarians that they’ll say, ‘Quo Vadis solidified for me the fact that I should enter the seminary,’ or ‘The first time I thought about a vocation was at a Quo Vadis camp.’”
At an age where young men begin contemplating their future, Quo Vadis provides a valuable space for discernment.
“Especially high school age, they’re all trying to follow in the footsteps of someone, and so we hope that this is an encounter with Christ for them to follow in His footsteps, and that we know that He’s asking everyone to follow Him,” said Murphy.
“I think each part of this whole experience is geared towards letting them know their vocation is primarily with God,” Father Sean English added. “Whether that’s going to be called to the priesthood, married life, religious life.”
Registration for the 2026 Quo Vadis begins in January, with organizers expecting to hold the camp in late June. Young men who are interested, and others with any questions about the retreat, can reach out to Grace Murphy by emailing here.
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