Go Fish 2025
The Go Fish Conference is an annual event hosted by the Saint John Society, open to all Catholic college students in the Pacific Northwest. Come to be inspired by Christ and strengthened in community, to deepen in your faith with talks and small group discussion, adoration and mass, all while enjoying the beauty of the Oregon Coast!
Event Details
Where
Twin Rocks Friends Camp
When
April 25th-27th, 2025
Registration
$130
FAQ
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We will experience
Adventure activities and the beach
Keynote talks
Small group discussions
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Holy Mass
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2 nights at the Twin Rocks Friends Camp
5 catered meals (Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch)
Top-quality keynote
An awesome Go Fish t-shirt + conference booklet
Priceless experiences of community and deepening in faith
Adventure activities including
Rock climbing
Kayaking
Extreme Swing
Ziplining
Rosary hikes
Disc golf
Mini golf
Paddleboarding
Basketball
Volleyball
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The registration deadline is April 11th, 2025. You must register by March 30th, 2025 to secure your t-shirt.
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Check it out here
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Click here for this year’s schedule
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Our conference is aimed at serving Catholic college students. If you come from a Protestant background, please contact us at gofish@osunewman.org. We will assess whether GoFish is the right fit for you. If you are a current non-catholic student at Oregon State University, we urge you to check out our other programs here.
If you are an alumni of OSU, there is a registration waitlist for alumni. If spots are not filled by current Catholic students, we will open the waitlist to alumni.
Thank you for understanding.
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Please email us at gofish@osunewman.org
2025 Keynote
The Source of Living Water
God’s immeasurable love comes to us like pure, living water through His various tributaries of grace. You are invited to partake in the Living Water of Christ, our source of holiness, which leads us to salvation and overflows into the world.
2025 Keynoter - Greg Sherwood
Biography
Before becoming Catholic in 2017, Greg was involved with many evangelical ministries serving youth and young adults for nearly 40 years. He now serves in leading several ministries and programs in St. Michael‘s parish in Portland. He is also a frequent instructor across various ministries throughout the Archdiocese of Portland. He has a Master's degree in Spiritual Direction from St. Vincent Benedictine Seminary
In 2001, he founded Mentors360, a college and young professional ministry connecting one generation to the next in the areas of professional development, personal growth and spiritual formation and coached youth sports in PDX for 20 years. Greg recently retired from the investment executive industry after a 35-year career. He and his wife, Debbie, have 5 children and 8 grandchildren.
schedule
Friday
5:00-6:30 pm Registration
7:00 pm Welcome
7:30 pm Keynote 1
8:30 pm Small Groups
9:15 pm Bonfire
Saturday
8:15 am Breakfast
9:15 am Keynote 2
10:30 am Small Groups
11:15 am Mass
12:30 pm Lunch
1:45 pm Activity Period 1
3:00 pm Activity Period 2
4:15 pm Activity Period 3
5:30 pm Dinner
6:45 pm Adoration
8:00 pm Dessert and Concert
Sunday
8:00 am Breakfast
9:15 am Keynote 3
10:15 am Group Picture
10:50 am Rosary
11:10 pm Mass
12:20 pm Lunch w/ Small Group
1:30 pm Closing Remarks + Send off
2:00 pm Departure
This schedule is subject to change through January 2025.
Testimonies
“The dark room was lit with candles, and there was a large image of Jesus on the cross hanging on the wall. When Father Maximo entered with the monstrance, I could feel the atmosphere in the room change. Father later took the monstrance in hand, and began to walk around all of us kneeling on the ground. As he made his way around the room, my gaze shifted from the Eucharist to Father’s face. It is impossible for me to describe the expression on Father’s face. It was a look of the deepest and most sincere love I have ever seen. I fail to create an earthly comparison, because it was the look of a man in the presence of Jesus.”
- Amanda Hoertkorn
“The week after Go Fish, I found myself looking forward to prayer. Every time I walked into the Newman Center I ran into at least one person I had met that weekend. I wasn't a stranger anymore. Catholic was no longer my label, it was my identity, my lifestyle.”
- Chris Anderson
Fundraising
Interested in attending Go Fish but in need of some funding?
Don’t let that stop you from coming to spend time with your fellow college students and growing in your friendship with the Lord! Check out these fundraising ideas below. Let yourself be inspired, pick one or some, grab a friend (because you’re not alone), get creative, and carry it out. Keep your eye on the goal and soon you’ll find yourself on the beautiful Oregon Coast surrounded by friends celebrating the Easter Season!
Remember that nothing is impossible with God!
IDEAS!
ASK FRIENDS & FAMILY FOR ODD JOBS (Walk the dog, Clean, Yard work, etc.)*
FAST FROM SOMETHING (Eating/Drinking out, Coffee, Treats, etc.)
LETTER WRITING (Ask others to support you in attending Go Fish)*
COLLECT BOTTLES/CAN & RETURN THEM (10 cents/can)
BAKE SALE**
GARAGE SALE**
MAKE AND SELL A CRAFT (knit, artwork, pottery, cards, etc.)**
SELL OLD BOOKS TO POWELLS OR USED BOOKSTORES
*When asking friends and family either through a letter or for odd jobs, be sure to explain your goal. If you explain what Go Fish is and why you want to go, people will be much more likely to contribute! Plus, you get the opportunity to share your experiences/testimonies/hopes for it! Be sure to follow up with people who give in this way after the retreat to tell them all about your experience!
**Similarly, if you state the purpose behind your sale, people will be more likely to contribute/purchase something if they know what the funds are going towards!
