M‌inistry Structure 

How It All Started...

S.E.E.D. began with a Christian Life Community family group in Arizona called Nazaret. Every year, the adults in the group attended an Ignatian silent retreat, and when the children saw how their parents came home better parents and spouses, they wondered what this “retreat” was that could have made their parents so much happier. When they asked if they could also go on retreat, their parents realized that children do not have opportunities to attend retreat every year. The earliest chance would be Confirmation retreat, and beyond that they would have to wait until college or adulthood to attend a retreat on their own. Why should a child have to wait to start building their relationship with God?

In a world that is challenging for Christian values, it is all the more important for children to have a space where they can develop a personal relationship with God. The dream of having such a space gave birth to S.E.E.D. Retreat. The first S.E.E.D. Retreat took place in Flagstaff, Arizona in 2006 after Nazaret invited young adults from Mustard Seeds, a CLC group at the University of California Irvine, to create the program. Since then, S.E.E.D. Retreat has been adopted in various states throughout the United States - now providing 7 retreats each summer.

What is S.E.E.D. Ministry

S.E.E.D. Ministry provides retreats based on Ignatian Spirituality for children from incoming 1st grade through senior year of high school. These retreats are planned, prepared, and delivered entirely by young adults who serve as role models for how to live as Catholics in a constantly changing world. What makes S.E.E.D. unique is that it is a family experience that parents, kids, and teens can share year after year. The spirit of S.E.E.D. is to create a space for the youth in our communities to encounter God in laughter, nature, song, and heartfelt prayer – in their everyday lives as kids.

‌S.E.E.D. stands for Search, Embark, Experience, Develop - reflecting the journey that children take as they grow deeper in their experiences with God. Their spiritual development occurs one day at a time with the nurturing of their parents, friends, community, and God. Our ministry strives to provide the environment for this spiritual growth.

Our Mission & Vision‌

- Spiritual formation of children:
  • - To introduce children to encountering God, community, and family by integrating Ignatian spirituality and CLC way of life
  • - To prepare the youth for the spiritual exercises as they enter adulthood.

- To provide an environment in which Đồng Hành youth and young adults can serve and grow in Ignatian spirituality, leadership, and communal community life.

- To provide an environment that integrates community and builds solid Christian family. 

Together in Mission

SEED is one of the 3 national ministries under Đồng Hành Christian Life Community (CLC) - a lay community of Vietnamese Catholics who practice Ignatian Spirituality and the CLC way of life.

S.E.E.D. works together with other ministries of Đồng Hành to share resources ranging from formation to prayer materials. For instance, couples working in Marriage Renewal Workshop Ministry are sometimes invited to give presentations during S.E.E.D. Parent Tracks. Individuals who serve in Lightworks Ministry sometimes provide guidance and materials for S.E.E.D. Leader training and formation.

S.E.E.D. Ministry S.E.E.D. Ministry is headed by a National Coordinating Team that includes the National Chair, 3 Regional Coordinators, and 6 Center Organizers. Center Organizers focus on retreat logistics such as putting together organizer team, site booking, retreat registration, funding, working with parents, etc. Regional Coordinators coordinate the leaders to serve on retreat and work as the leaders' liaison to the Center Organizers. National Chair coordinates logistics between the different regions, carries out the missions & visions of the ministry, and acts as the bridge between the ministry and the bigger DH and CLC Community.

 Meet The Team

A‌ Growing Ministry 

Starting from that one humble retreat in Arizona, S.E.E.D. ministry has grown to 7 retreats annually. We are currently serving God's children in 6 different Centers located in 3 Regions throughout the United States.

‌The 3 regions are Southwest, Midwest, and Northeast. The 6 centers include Northern California, Southern California, Arizona, Denver, Dallas, and Northeast.


To help ensure the ministry is up-to-date with the needs of the church & the community...

S.E.E.D. Summit

SEED Summit is a national gathering that happens every 3 years and includes SEED National Coordinating Team, members of Dong Hanh CLC leadership, and delegates from each SEED region and center. At SEED Summit, the delegate assembly discerns the direction of the ministry for the upcoming 3 years and elects a new National Chair to implement that vision.

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S.E.E.D Source

SEED Source is a 3 day training and formation workshop where potential SEED leaders and organizers get a crash course on different aspects of planning and running a SEED Retreat program. The program also weaves in foundations of Ignatian Spirituality, servant leadership, team communication, and communal discernment to capture the spirit of SEED Ministry. SEED Source is typically offered in the spring each year. For more information, contact your regional coordinator.

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