Having grown up in the catechetical...

Having grown up in the catechetically-challenged 1970's, I've experienced my share of silly gimmicks at youth retreats. I remember single in kind ice-breaker where we were given yarn necklaces with a pom-pom upon one end. These, we were told, were "warm fuzzies" (i.e., religious feelings). We had to advance around pulling out bits of yarn and tying them onto other people's necklaces while introducing ourselves.

Then came the 80's and university-age retreats. At undivided agonizing introductory session (the 'circle of affirmation'), each participant had to state his name, followed by way of three nice things about himself,