FAQ

ASCEND is a large-scale Catholic Eucharistic Revival event happening at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue, WA. Nationally known speakers like Chris Stefanick, Dr. Tim Gray, and the Swaffords will give talks. There's praise music, Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Paul Etienne. It runs all day Saturday, May 16.

ASCEND official website →

Saturday morning: We meet at St. Juan Diego Catholic Church in Cowiche (15800 Summitview Rd) at 3:45 AM. Yes, really. We depart at 4:00 AM to arrive early for Eucharistic Adoration and Confession before the conference. Coffee is your friend.

Sunday evening: After the afternoon at Bellevue Square, we depart around 4:30 PM and arrive back at St. Juan Diego in Cowiche around 7:00 PM.

See the full weekend timeline for every stop.

Mostly. The group covers ASCEND registration, the hotel, gas, and three of the four meals: Saturday lunch (Sizzle & Crunch), Saturday dinner (Chick-fil-A), and Sunday breakfast (Kona Kitchen — optional; come or skip and stay at the hotel, your call). Sunday lunch is on you — each small group picks where to eat near Pike Place. Budget ~$15–25 plus extra for snacks, merch, and offerings.

See What's Included for full details.

Talk to Gaby before the trip. We will figure something out. Money should never be the reason you don't come. No one gets left behind.

There's an interactive packing checklist on the My Retreat page. The short version:

• Photo ID, health insurance card, $40–60 cash/card
• Phone + charger, water bottle, snacks for the 4 AM drive
• Saturday outfit (casual) + Sunday Mass attire (modest) + change of clothes for Sunday afternoon
• Light jacket / layers (Seattle is 50–65°F in May)
• Comfortable walking shoes, pajamas, extra underwear and socks
• All prescription meds labeled in your carry bag — plus allergy and motion-sickness meds if you need them
• Toiletries, overnight bag, pillow/blanket for the car
• Rosary, Bible or prayer book, notebook + pen
• Signed consent form if you haven't turned it in yet

Saturday: Casual and comfortable. You'll be sitting through talks, walking around Bellevue for lunch, and attending Mass in the evening. Nice casual is fine.

Sunday: Dress respectfully for the Traditional Latin Mass. For guys: collared shirt and slacks at a minimum. For girls: something modest — shoulders covered, knee-length or longer skirt/dress preferred. This is a reverent, sacred liturgy and we want to honor that.

No. The group travels together in pre-vetted private passenger vehicles. This is for safety, coordination, and so no one gets lost or left behind. Car assignments are on the travel page; talk to Gaby if you need a switch (e.g., front seat for carsickness).

La Quinta Inn by Wyndham in Lynnwood — recently renovated, 4 stars. Free parking, indoor pool, hot tub, and gym. Clean rooms and friendly staff. It's right off I-5 between Bellevue, Edmonds, and Seattle, which makes it perfect for our weekend loop.

Full hotel details →

Guys and girls are in separate rooms — no exceptions. This is non-negotiable. Room assignments will be shared by Gaby the week before departure. No guests in rooms, and there's an 11:00 PM curfew (Latin Mass is early Sunday morning).

Yes — 11:00 PM lights out Saturday night. We have to be at North American Martyrs by 6:40 AM Sunday for the 7:00 AM Latin Mass, so sleep matters. Curfew is non-negotiable.

Four group meals are planned:

• Saturday lunch — Sizzle & Crunch (Vietnamese), short walk from Meydenbauer in Bellevue. Anyone who wants Din Tai Fung at Lincoln Square instead can — but that one is on you.
• Saturday dinner — Chick-fil-A Alderwood, ~5 min from the hotel
• Sunday breakfast — Kona Kitchen Lynnwood (optional). After Mass we head back to the hotel; you can grab breakfast at Kona with the group or stay at the hotel to rest, pack, and chill. Either way the group covers it for anyone who comes.
• Sunday lunch — on you, in your small group at Pike Place (any spot you like; budget ~$15–25)

Saturday lunch, Saturday dinner, and Sunday breakfast are covered by the group. Sunday lunch is on you — each small group picks where to eat near Pike Place. If you have dietary restrictions, let Gaby know ahead of time — Sizzle & Crunch, Chick-fil-A, and Kona Kitchen all have allergy-friendly options.

Absolutely. We'll stop at the Pilot Travel Center in Ellensburg on the way out (and again on the way back), and you're welcome to bring snacks from home. Coffee is highly recommended for the 3:45 AM meet / 4:00 AM departure.

The Traditional Latin Mass (also called the Extraordinary Form or Tridentine Mass) is the form of the Mass used by the Catholic Church for centuries before the liturgical reforms of the 1960s. It's celebrated in Latin, with the priest facing the altar (ad orientem), and has a sense of deep reverence and beauty.

Don't worry if you've never been — we'll have Latin Mass booklets that walk you through the whole thing. Just follow along, take it in, and let it speak to you. It's a powerful experience.

No. The booklets we'll have include both the Latin text and English translation side by side. You don't need to know a word of Latin. Just follow along and be present.

You're absolutely welcome to come. ASCEND is open to everyone, and you'll experience beautiful talks, music, and community. During Mass, non-Catholics are welcome to come forward for a blessing (cross your arms over your chest) instead of receiving Communion. We're glad you're here.

Yes. We arrive early for a two-hour Adoration session before ASCEND begins Saturday morning, which includes a Confession window. The ASCEND event itself may also have Confession available during the day — check the event program when you arrive.

About 2 hours 30 minutes from Cowiche to Bellevue (~145 miles) over Snoqualmie Pass. The total round trip is about 290 miles, plus the in-Seattle / Edmonds / Lynnwood hops Sunday. We'll have rest stops at the Pilot Travel Center in Ellensburg in both directions, and the group travels together. See the travel page for the full route breakdown.

Usually fine in mid-May, but weather in Washington is unpredictable. We'll check WSDOT pass conditions the night before. If conditions are rough, we'll adjust departure time and add buffer. Safety comes first.

Let Gaby know before departure so we can move you to a front seat in one of the three cars. Bring motion sickness medication (Dramamine, ginger chews, etc.) and avoid heavy food right before the mountain pass. We'll have rest stops along the way.

This website is the retreat app. It has a live timeline that shows where the group is, a private journal for your reflections and talk notes, a guided rosary, a shared group photo gallery, a packing checklist, and daily readings. Create a free account on the My Retreat page to unlock everything.

Yes — only you can read it. Your journal entries and prayer intentions are private. Nobody else in the group can see them. See the privacy policy for the technical details.

Not required. You can browse the timeline, schedule, travel info, and everything else without an account. But creating one (free, takes 30 seconds) unlocks the journal, rosary tracker, photo gallery, and packing checklist. No email required — just a username and password.

Yes — bring your own money for that. Most merch tables accept cards. You can browse ahead of time: ASCEND Merch Store →

Call or text Deacon Enrique immediately: +1 (509) 901-3126. He's the main emergency contact and available 24/7 during the trip. You can also reach Gaby (+1 (509) 823-9987) or Alex (+1 (509) 306-0440). For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 first, then the group leaders.

Talk to Gaby first. We may be able to accommodate them depending on vehicle space and hotel rooms, but it needs to be coordinated in advance — not a last-minute addition. Everyone who comes needs to be accounted for.

Bring all your own medication and let the group leaders know about anything they should be aware of (allergies, conditions, etc.) before departure. If you use a daily medication, pack it in your carry bag — not in your checked luggage — so it's always accessible.