by Amy Reinhardt
Special to The Leaven
WILLIAMSBURG — On March 7, dozens of young adults arrived at Prairie Star Ranch here for the annual Undivided retreat.
Hosted by City on a Hill, a grassroots young adult Catholic community in Kansas City, Undivided is a weekend retreat hosted for young adults.
This was the fifth year for the annual retreat. The Encounter Team, led by Kate and Moses Tinio, planned and executed the weekend. The retreat’s content is adapted each year to give the attendees a brand-new experience.
Kate Tinio explained that Undivided was founded with the purpose of helping young adults cultivate a deeply personal and undistracted relationship with God.
Inspiration for the retreat this year came from the Book of Ezekiel: “I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them” (11:19).
Prairie Star Ranch is the location for this yearly COAH retreat. Moses Tinio said the ranch and its rural setting is perfect for this type of weekend.
“It reinforces the message of the retreat,” he said. “You’re surrounded by nature, with space to think and pray, which makes it easier to step away from distractions and focus on God.”
A lot of prayer went into the flow of the retreat. Under the leadership of the Tinios, a vision was set, a theme was chosen, topics were outlined, logistics were confirmed and small groups were assigned.
Some individuals had attended the retreat in the past. This was Thomas Bagley’s third time. He comes each year, he said, because he needs frequent retreats to keep himself grounded in his pursuit of holiness.
“Undivided really highlights the value of living all aspects of your life for God and giving him all you have,” he said.
On the other end of the spectrum was Sarah Morris. Not only had she not been on the Catholic retreat before — she didn’t even know about City on a Hill.
As someone who was returning to the faith after a period away, Morris wanted to find a Catholic community in Kansas City. After a quick Google search, she found out about Undivided.
With a leap of faith, she signed up. And she was thrilled she did.
“It was such a rewarding experience,” she said. “Being recently back to the faith, it was a great jump-start, especially being around young adults who are dedicated to growing.”
The theme of the 2025 Undivided was: “Finding the Way.” While brainstorming words to capture the essence of the weekend, Kate Tinio said the team landed on the word “journey.”
“The idea [is] that faith isn’t just about believing, but embarking on a real journey with God,” Moses Tinio said.
An important part of the weekend was the speakers. All talks aligned with the vision of hope and were equally inspiring and practical. Topics included “Prayer as the Compass,” “Freedom Through Detachment,” “Virtue and Order,” “The Mystery of Suffering” and “Discernment and Your Next Step.”
After listening to each talk, attendees gathered into small groups and shared what they learned. There were a handful of leaders to guide these discussions, including John Lechtenberg.
This was Lechtenberg’s first time at Undivided. He said he prioritizes giving his entire weekend to Christ whenever the opportunity presents itself.
This year, he said he loved the diversity within his small group. Everyone had a unique story and reason for being on the retreat. He said the different perspectives elevated the group’s conversations.
“The retreat is geared to everybody. Those who come with open hearts receive tremendous blessings,” he said. “Wherever you’re at with your faith, come and just receive.”
But while the City on a Hill retreat had plenty of thoughtful presentations and time for reflection, organizers also built in time for fellowship.
During meals and leisure time, attendees mingled and built friendships. Mass and eucharistic adoration (with optional time for the sacrament of reconciliation) gave everyone time to embrace the silence and connect with God.
By Sunday lunchtime, cars were loaded and the young adults were departing Prairie Star Ranch, equipped with spiritual clarity and a renewed sense of purpose.
If you’re a young adult or know one searching for Catholic community, visit the website at: www.kansascityonahill.org.
