To the Heights
Forming fathers and sons in the spirit of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati after Christ’s example
About the Name:
“To the Heights” is the English translation of the Italian Verso L’alto, a phrase contributed to St. Pier Giorgio Frassati. Frassati wrote the phrase on the back of a photo taken of him during a mountain climb, and became representative of his earthly life: just as a mountain climber strives for the heights of the mountain summit, we ought to strive for the heights of eternal life in union with the Lord.
What the retreat includes:
Our Father and Son retreat is a day long retreat for dads and sons to grow in relationship with the Lord as well as with each other. The day includes opportunities for activity, prayer, and fellowship.
Our Father/Son retreat this year will be on April 26th, 2026 at the Center for Pastoral Leadership in Wickliffe, OH. Our keynote speaker is former NFL and Super Bowl winning quarterback and devout Catholic Elvis Grbac.
Join us for a day of faith, fraternity, food and fun!
About Our Guest Speaker
Elvis Grbac grew up in Willoughby Hills and graduated from St. Joseph High School before taking his talent to Ann Arbor where he went on to play quarterback for the University of Michigan under Coach Bo Schembechler and then his successor Gary Moeller. Following a record setting college career at Michigan, he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in 1993 and went on to play 9 seasons in the NFL. Throughout the span of his football career, Grbac received many accolades and recognition including an AFC West title, Pro Bowl appearance, and Super Bowl XXIX Championship.
Elvis now lives in Chagrin Falls, where he and his wife Lori have three children. He’s also currently working towards his Masters in Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and serves on the Parish Council at Church of the Holy Angels in Chagrin Falls teaching Youth Catechesis.
With all of these great achievements also came sacrifice and failure. Grbac now speaks openly about his American dream, the challenges he’s faced along the way and how he overcame them through faith, hard work and perseverance.
For the past few years, Elvis has been coaching and speaking with teams, organizations, and communities in Northeast Ohio about the importance of developing a proper mindset to give yourself the opportunity to succeed in all aspects of life. Sharing stories from his time in the NFL, family life, and the lessons learned along the way, Grbac offers an authentic, inspiring perspective on the pursuit of the American dream.