Place: Pilgrim Park in Princeton, IL
Date: August 6-10, 2014
Cost: $550
Contact: Jack Moller, 847-863-7575 or jack.moller81@gmail.com for more information
Apply Now
What is the “Rites of Passage” for men?
America is the land of plenty. For men there is a wide selection: money, sex, power, education, and many voices telling us “you need purpose, fulfillment, success, and happiness.” BUT for most men, both young and old, the question of what it means to be a man is still perplexing and seems to have many different supposed answers. Most men have an innate longing for the support and guidance of other men in their journey towards masculinity, maturity, and a deeper experience with the divine. In ancient cultures initiation rites and vision quests were used to help boys make the journey into adulthood.
Opening the door to this journey can start with the Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP) retreat experience. This 5-day experience can help awaken men to the adventure and mystery of our own masculinity, our deep spirituality, our potential for leadership, and our life’s purpose.
Living a shallow unexamined life is an empty experience. The Journey of Illumination begins with the age-old traditions that teach the five things every man needs to learn before he can fully engage in the adventure and mystery life will bring. In some way either intentionally, by calamity, by a mentor, or by divine appointment, every man will go through an initiation for what lies before him and what purpose he is designed for. The MROP opens the door to the adventure.
The program is a five-day/four-night deeply prayerful and soulful experience that builds on the classic patterns of male initiation through simple and moving rituals and teaching. Each day includes group prayer, major teachings on central masculine spirit-uality themes, quiet time for reflection, and sharing in the context of a “home group.”
This is not about religion, but about spirituality, about age-old traditions that guide us into manhood, about coming to trust that there is something much greater at work in our lives than we could ever imagine.
In the words of the program’s founder, Fr. Richard Rohr:“Men are asked to come with a willingness to participate from beginning to end and not as an observer. All participants begin at point zero with no agendas to live up to or down to. All that is required is for a man to come with a ‘beginner’s mind’ and the readiness of a young novice seeking wisdom. Ultimately, initiation, like life itself, is not a spectator’s sport.”
What the MROP is…
- A personal discovery about masculine spirituality and ‘the Holy Mystery.’
- A time to savor the healing and awesome power of nature.
- A process to address issues of loss, grief, and relationships with father, other men, and others.
- An opportunity to examine life’s priorities and ask courageous questions about your ‘next step.’
- An invitation to listen to the ‘quiet voice of God.’
- A chance to return to life with a renewed com-mitment to your gifts.
What the MROP is not…
- A traditional, lecture-based retreat.
- An informational workshop about men’s spirituality.
- A sensitivity-training or deprivation experience.
- A test of physical stamina.
- A threatening process that requires participants to engage in anything strange or unsafe.
Not sure if you are ready?
This is a common question for those interested in the MROP. Here are some practical ways to help you know. Speak to someone who has made the MROP. If you don’t know someone, emailmenswork@cacradicalgrace.org and we can connect you to someone to speak with in your geographic area or call (505) 242-9588.
Speak to someone who has made the M.R.O.P. or contact Jack Moller at jack.moller81@gmail.com or 847-863-7575.
Obtain one or some of the resources listed below. The books, CDs, DVDs, and tapes provide valuable insight and should give you an idea if what the MROP offers and what you are seeking are a fit.
Masculine Spirituality and Why Males Need Initiation Beloved Sons Series 1&2
From Wild Man to Wise Man or Quest for the Grail - books by Richard Rohr, OFM
Men Matter: A Quest for the True Self - audio recording by Richard Rohr, OFM
For more detailed descriptions and information on how to order, visit www.cacradicalgrace.org
Apply Now
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