Fiat Family Fest 2025
August 29 – August 31, 2025 | Ponderosa Retreat and Conference Center
Important Welcome Information for Your Reference!
Howdy! With the family retreat in less than a month, we have attached some documents you will find helpful in preparation for Fiat Family Fest! Please click on the bullet points below for more details and specific instructions. Looking forward to an amazing weekend!
General Event Updates
Fire Bans in Douglas County
If there are no fire bans in Douglas County, then we WILL be able to have a campfire each night, and you can use propane stoves!
Family Service Section
The Family Service section is a tab on the Schedule link. Please look at it now to remember how you will help during the weekend. Many hands make light work.
Check-In & Setup Information
Check-In Information
Check in will begin at Braswell Activity Center at 5pm. You can begin arriving to pick up your key for your cabin, and finding the perfect RV or Tent site. For those of you who volunteered to help with set up Friday afternoon, please plan to be at Ponderosa at 4:00 pm and meet at Braswell. If we are not there, please go to the Alison Pavilion.
Venue Guidelines
Important Information
The Alison Pavilion can get loud with 50 families in there, so if you want to have side conversations throughout the weekend, please take those farther from the entrance to the pavilion so others can continue to hear and enjoy the speaker. This is a jam-packed weekend, so please be aware of the times when you need to drop off or pick up your children.
Schedule Access & Information
Schedule Link
Here is the link to the schedule in addition to the view you have on this site, found below:
Anyone with the link can view the schedule.
At the bottom of the schedule you'll see 3 tabs: Adult (adult and main schedule), Teen Tract (***Look here for your teens and where they will be***), and Family Service. Search your name on the Family Service tab to find where you will be helping!
Dress Code & Mass Information
Please wear whatever you feel comfortable in that still gives reverence to our Lord. Don't be a distraction to your brother or sister in Christ by your clothing choices. Feel free to bring kneeling cushions if you'd like. We will have hymn books for you to use.
On-Site Amenities
The coffee shop will be open on the upper floor of Braswell, and will open at 6:45am. They can make all your favorite morning drinks! If you like great coffee, please consider supporting them! The gift shop will also be open.
Closing Thoughts
We're really looking forward to seeing everyone! Please pray for the organizers, volunteers, religious, and families in attendance.
Blessings,
Sean and Jenny Vostatek
Fiat Family Fest Co-Coordinators
719-258-7845
Welcome Letters and Packing List
Childcare Volunteer Information
Preview: Thank you for volunteering to help with the children's program! Please register as a volunteer on the Joyfully Catholic website if you haven't already. Arrive at Ponderosa by 7:45am and sign in at Braswell Activity Center at 8:15am. Kelly Benchoff has prepared programs for the children in your care.
*A PDF Document outlining details can be found if you scroll down to the bottom of this site.
Packing List Essentials
Preview: Cabins include linens and towels, plus a coffeemaker, small refrigerator, and microwave. RV and tent campers should bring sleeping, cooking, and bathing supplies. All attendees should bring modest clothing, water bottles, snacks, Bible, journal, and an openness to the Holy Spirit!
*A PDF Document outlining details can be found if you scroll down to the bottom of this site.
Experience a Weekend Set Apart for Your Family:
Schedule at a Glance
Friday Schedule Details
Saturday Schedule Details
6:00 AM
Saturday Mass-Fr. Nathan (Optional)
Allison Pavilion
6:30-7:30 AM
Silent Prayer/ Adoration (Optional)
Allison Pavilion
6:45-9:00 AM
Ponderosa Coffee Shop open
Braswell Activities Building
7:30 AM
Breakfast
Fleming Dining Hall
8:00-10:30 AM
Childcare for 3 years old-5th grade
Check in: Gym, Check out: Canopy near Pavilion's Fence
8:30-10:00 AM
Adult Tract - Parents Spiritual Talk-Fr. Nathan
Allison Pavilion
8:30-9:10 AM
Teen Tract- MS and HS - "Hope in God's Promises" - Sr. Margaret
Elkhorn Conference Room
9:10-9:20 AM
Teen Tract- MS and HS - Ice Breaker
Elkhorn Conference Room
9:20-10:00 AM
Teen Tract- MS and HS - "Hope in Eternal Life / Resurrection" - Sr. Martha
Elkhorn Conference Room
10:00-10:30 AM
Altar Servers Meet/Mass Set-up/Choir Practice
Allison Pavilion
10:00-10:30 AM
Confessions
Outside Allison Pavilion
10:00-10:30 AM
Break/Mass Set-up/Choir Practice-CHILDREN PICK UP AT FENCE CANOPY
Outside Allison Pavilion
10:45-11:45 AM
Mass- Most Reverent James Golka
Allison Pavilion
12:00-1:00 PM
Lunch
Fleming Dining Hall
12:45-2:15 PM
Childcare for 3 years old-5th grade
Check in: Gym, Check out: Canopy near Pavilion's Fence
1:15-2:15 PM
Teen Tract- MS and HS – The Bible: God's Call for Heroic Disciples - Fr. Cromly
Allison Pavilion
1:15-2:15 PM
Adult Tract -"Rosemond Revolution: Our Secrets to Raising Children" - Vostatek
Elkhorn Conference Room
2:00-4:30 PM
Ponderosa Snack Shack open
Snack and Gift Shop
2:15-4:15 PM
Family FUN and GAMES! Organized Family Kickball! Mini-Golf-FREE!
Outdoor areas and Softball fields
2:15-5:15 PM
Confession and Spiritual Direction
Allison Pavilion & Outdoor areas
4:15-5:15 PM
Teen Tract- MS and HS Girls- "Vocation's Talk"
Elkhorn Conference Room
4:15-5:15 PM
Teen Tract- MS and HS Boys- "Vocation's Talk"
Gym
4:15-4:45 PM
Children's Adoration--small children in front - School Sisters of Christ the King
Allison Pavilion
4:45-5:15 PM
Children's Adoration-Rosary - St Cecilia Dominicans
Allison Pavilion
5:30 PM
Family Fest Group Photo
Fleming Dining Hall (stairway outside)
5:30 PM
Dinner
Fleming Dining Hall
6:45-7:45 PM
Children and Teen Tract - Kickball Field (Children) and Smushball Field (Teens)
Softball fields
6:45-7:45 PM
Adult Tract - Parents Spiritual Talk-Fr. Nathan
Allison Pavilion
7:50 PM
Family Night Prayer
Allison Pavilion
8:00-8:30 PM
Teen Tract- MS and HS - Confession Prep- Sr. Margaret
Elkhorn Room
8:30-9:30 PM
Teen Tract- MS and HS - Adoration and Confessions
Elkhorn and Buckskin Room
8:00-10:00 PM
Family Campfire/Confessions
Firepit at Allison Pavilion
10:00 PM
Teens back with your family
Allison Pavilion
11:00 PM
Lights Out
Sunday Schedule Details
Important Announcements!
Friday & Saturday Announcements
Quick safety highlights:
  • Please drive slowly on our property and refrain from unnecessary driving in lodging areas. For the safety of all our guests, especially our children, please do not allow your teenagers to drive on premises.
  • For the safety of all our guests, especially our children, please do not allow your teenagers to drive on the premises.
  • No children are allowed to climb on the roof of Allison Pavilion.
  • Middle schoolers and high schoolers will check in and out on their own for each session. If you are not comfortable with this, please let a team member know so that a parent can check them in and out.
  • Please do not bring pets, firearms, fireworks, or any alcoholic beverages.
Restrooms are located at Fleming Dining Hall, The Bath Houses and the two porta-potties at Allison Pavilion.
Childcare drop-off begins at 8:00 a.m. at the Gym next to the Braswell Activities Building. Give yourself extra time to arrive before the 8:30 a.m. program. Children will be escorted to you at the canopies outside Allison Pavilion at 10:30 a.m. for pick-up before Mass.
Quiet hours begin at 10:30 p.m. in the lodging areas. Please be respectful of those who are trying to get some sleep!
Noise control: It is wonderful for our retreat to be outdoors; however, it is not possible to compete with outside noise when a program begins.
Any conversations during a presentation should be held near the port-potties or down the hill
Conversations or children playing directly next to the Allison Pavilion is distracting.
Please ensure that your teenager understands that quiet hours begin at 10:30 p.m. and returns to you immediately after the Teen Tract concludes.
Please remember to bring play clothes for afternoon family sports and games.
Please review the 2025 Schedule:
for up-to-date information and to verify if you volunteered for any facility events, mass services, or to chaperone the evening Teen Tracts.
Please lend a hand by helping to clean up this pavilion and surrounding areas after mass and each evening.
Sunday & Departure Announcements
Those in cabins, remove your belongings from the cabin by 1:00 p.m. and place your keys in the drop box slot in Braswell Activities Building where you checked in.
Nametags are recycled each year, please place those in the boxes on the middle tables as you leave.
Sunday's mass will include an offertory collection that will be earmarked for the religious stipend, room and board.
Mark your calendars for next year's Labor Day weekend Fiat Family Fest, Sept. 4-6, 2026. Registration begins at the conclusion of this event.
Check the back of Allison Pavilion for any lost and found items over the weekend.  
Please lend a hand by helping to clean up this pavilion and surrounding areas after mass. 
For those who purchased lunch today, it begins at 12:15 pm. at Fleming Dining Hall. However, everyone is welcome to stay and enjoy the property this afternoon. 
Featured Speakers

Our Spiritual Leaders

Father Nathan Cromly Retreat Master & Catholic Mentor Father Nathan Cromly, a priest serving in the Archdiocese of Denver, has spent the last 25 years making the truths of the Catholic faith practical and impactful to audiences of all ages. He draws on his personal and entrepreneurial background to minister to young adults, married couples, families, and business professionals, empowering them to Dare Great Things for Christ. Father Cromly is a nationally known speaker, writer, retreat leader, and occasional outdoorsman. He has served as the retreat master of Fiat Family Retreat since its founding in 2017. Father Cromly enjoys traveling, American history, classical music, and playing the blues harmonica.

Meet Our Founders

Sean and Jenny Vostatek Founders of Fiat Family Fest Sean and Jenny Vostatek, parents of eight children, are the founders of Fiat Family Fest. They currently serve as board of directors of Our Lady of Walsingham Academy, the first classical Catholic High School in Colorado Springs. From leading vocation retreats to organizing parish date nights to founding a family retreat – families, marriages and vocations are their focus. Strengthened by the Holy Spirit, they seek to draw the souls of families closer to Our Lord and His Holy Mother by bringing enriching and joyfully catholic events to Colorado Springs.

Religious Communities
Apostolic Sisters of St. John
A contemplative and apostolic community spreading God's light and love in the spirit of St John.
Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia
Known as the Nashville Dominicans, this Roman Catholic community follows St. Dominic's tradition through education, evangelization, and contemplative-active life.
School Sisters of Christ the King
A Catholic religious congregation focused on education and service, inspired by the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Reverend Richard Castro Huergo, MC
Serves as Parochial Vicar at Denver's Cathedral Basilica and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, ministering to college students on the Auraria Campus.
Fr. Jim Williams
Serves as the Vocation Director for the Diocese of Colorado Springs, guiding individuals discerning their call to religious life.
Fr. George Fagan and Fr. Jacon D'sa
Dedicated priests serving the faithful though Sacramental ministry and pastoral care in the community.
What is Fiat Family Fest?
Fiat Family Fest Overview
As Pope St. John Paul II beautifully affirmed, "The family has the mission to guard, reveal, and communicate love." At the heart of Fiat Family Fest is this very mission: to raise the next generation of joyful Catholics by strengthening and renewing the family.
Fiat Family Fest is a unique Catholic family retreat designed to help families escape from the distractions and demands of the world and reconnect—both with God and with one another—through meaningful fun and faith formation. Throughout the weekend, every family member is invited to encounter Our Lord in a personal and transformative way, so the peace, joy, and grace experienced can continue to flourish at home.
The retreat features daily breakout sessions with age-specific programming, engaging talks, and dynamic activities. These are led by renowned Catholic retreat master Fr. Nathan Cromly, along with spiritual guidance and faith formation from some of today's most vibrant and faithful religious communities.
Why Come to Fiat Family Fest?
You Can't Save Your Family Alone
Today, you're competing against cell phones, video games and social media. Your kids need to see other families participating in prayer and sacraments. Gated communities do not save families. Jesus does.
In our increasingly disconnected world, children need to witness the living faith embodied in a community of believers. At Fiat Family Fest, your family will be strengthened by the witness of other Catholic families striving for holiness together. This shared experience creates lasting memories and reinforces that your family's values are not isolated, but part of a greater Catholic community.
Your Kids Need to See Vocations
Is your children's future all about D1 sports, Ivy League colleges and a six-figure salary? We invite you to encounter what truly matters.
At Fiat Family Fest, your children will interact with joyful priests, sisters, and brothers who have dedicated their lives to Christ. These encounters plant seeds that allow young people to consider God's unique call for their lives. Whether called to marriage, religious life, or single life devoted to service, children need to see adults living out different vocations with purpose and joy. This personal interaction with religious communities offers something no textbook or video can provide.
True Heroes Require Heroic Sacrifices
Yes, time away from the world costs money, time, and travel. But isn't your family worth it?
In a culture that often prioritizes convenience over commitment, Fiat Family Fest invites you to make a counter-cultural choice. By setting aside a weekend dedicated to spiritual renewal, you demonstrate to your children that faith deserves our best efforts and sacrifices. These moments of family dedication create the foundation for lifelong faith that withstands challenges. The investment you make today will bear fruit for generations to come.
Experience the Sacraments as a Family
Daily Mass, opportunities for Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration form the spiritual heart of Fiat Family Fest. Experiencing these sacraments together as a family reinforces that our Catholic faith isn't just something practiced on Sundays—it's the foundation of family life.
Children who regularly witness their parents prioritizing the sacraments are more likely to maintain their faith into adulthood. The grace received through these sacramental encounters provides the spiritual nourishment families need to face the challenges of everyday life with renewed strength and purpose.
Formation for Every Family Member
Fiat Family Fest offers age-appropriate catechesis and activities for everyone from toddlers to teens, while parents receive inspiration and practical tools for Catholic family living. No one is left behind or simply "along for the ride."
Parents will gain practical strategies for incorporating faith into daily family routines, addressing difficult cultural issues, and fostering virtue. Children and teens engage with the faith at their level through dynamic presenters who understand how to make Catholicism relevant and exciting for young minds. This comprehensive approach ensures that every family member returns home spiritually enriched.
Create Memories That Last a Lifetime
Beyond the spiritual formation, Fiat Family Fest offers fun activities, games, and entertainment that bring families together. These shared experiences strengthen family bonds and create joyful memories associated with faith.
In years to come, your children won't remember every sermon or lesson, but they will remember laughing together, praying together, and the feeling of belonging to something greater than themselves. These positive associations with the faith community help young people develop a Catholic identity that becomes part of who they are, not just something they do.
Special Thanks
Clergy
  • Most Rev. James Golka for supporting our family ministries
  • Fr. Nathan Cromly, retreat master
  • Fr. Richard Castro Huergo, spiritual director
  • Fr. Jim Williams, Diocesan Vocation Director
  • Fr. George Fagan
  • Fr. Jacon D'sa
Organizers & Volunteers
  • Kelly Benchoff - children's program coordinator
  • Erik Benchoff – MC and digital program designer
  • Mark Pokorny (Schola), Trevor Karas (Sound), Angelia Mora (Admin)
  • Luke Vercollone/Inferno Men (Promotions)
  • Page PR & OLW Academy (Marketing)
Religious Communities
  • Teen Tract: Apostolic Sisters of St John - Sr Margaret Therese and Sr Martha Immaculate
  • Children's Tract: Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia and School Sisters of Christ the King
General Information & Contact Us
Venue
Ponderosa Retreat and Conference Center
15235 S Furrow Rd, Larkspur, CO 80118
(719) 481-2482
The Ponderosa Retreat and Conference Center offers a beautiful mountain setting perfect for families to disconnect from everyday distractions and reconnect with each other and with God.
2025 Schedule link:
Contact Us
For more information about Fiat Family Fest or to register for the upcoming retreat, please contact us:
Jenny Vostatek Cell: 719-258-7854
Mark your calendars for next year's Labor Day weekend Fiat Family Fest, Sept. 4-6, 2026.  
Registration begins at the conclusion of this event. We need a minimum of 15 family's sign-up in the next two weeks to secure our reservations. Many ask how they can help. Please spread the word and attract new families.  

Joyfully Catholic

Joyfully Catholic Registration for 2026

 Welcome to the Fiat Family Fest registration portal. Please continue through the registration process and follow the registration prompts in