“Excuses, People” - Catholic Skits for Retreats

The retreat leader opens the session with energy and a simple request: volunteers for prayer, cleanup, and service. Instead of hands going up, four teens respond with a rapid-fire parade of ridiculous excuses, each one funnier and more outrageous than the last. One claims they “left their comfort zone at home,” another insists they’re “saving their energy for Sunday morning,” and another confidently announces they “already helped spiritually last week,” as if kindness has a weekly limit. The leader keeps trying, growing more confused and amused as the excuses become more dramatic, creative, and oddly specific.

Right when the room is drowning in comedy, a sudden “scripture skit interruption” breaks through the noise. One student steps forward like a “Bible Emergency Broadcast,” quoting short verses about serving others and staying open to the Holy Spirit. The contrast is sharp: the excuses are silly, but the truth lands with warmth and conviction. The leader smiles, resets the moment, and invites everyone to try again, this time, together. The skit ends with a simple win: teens stepping forward, not because they were forced, but because they realized the retreat is something they participate in, not just attend.

Theme

God can turn our resistance into readiness when we stop making excuses and start showing up.

Characters  

(4-5 actors)

• Retreat Leader (LEADER SAM) – upbeat, patient, funny, refuses to give up

• JAY – master of laziness and “creative avoidance”

• MIA – overthinker, turns everything into a complicated “wellness plan”

• RICO – dramatic, athletic, acts like volunteering is a survival challenge

• TESSA – bold “Scripture Interruptor,” joyful, Spirit-led, not afraid to be a little extra

When

Modern day, during a youth retreat opening session.

Props & Costumes

• Microphone (real or pretend)

• Clipboard or paper sign-up sheet

• Trash bag or small broom (for cleanup volunteer cue)

• A Bible (for Tessa)

• Optional: a small cape, sash, or lanyard that says “SCRIPTURE ALERT” (for comedic effect)

Why

Colossians 3:23 – “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…”
Meaning: Serving isn’t about impressing people. It’s worship—showing God love through action.

How

Set the stage like a retreat hall: chairs, a small “front” area, and a sign-up spot. Big reactions, quick pacing, and clean humor.

Time

5 minutes