Two Retreats for Catholic Men this August

Back to School can be a time of renewal even for adults years past their school days. We have two retreat opportunities for Catholic Men this August at the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center. 

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). 

Rooted: A Men’s Retreat, 5 pm Friday, August 16 to 11:30 am, Saturday, August 17, $90. Register before August 9th. Sign Up Here. 

Men’s Silent Retreat, 7 pm, Friday, August 23, 2019 to 3 pm, Sunday, August 25, 2019, $170. Register before August 16th. Sign Up Here. 

Our Men’s Silent Retreat is based off of Ignatian principles from St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises and led by our Spiritual Director Fr. David Huemmer. Guests at a silent retreat weekend arrive on Friday night and begin with a series of talks that help to acclimate them to praying relationally with scripture.  The talks include what relational prayer is, tools that help the retreatant to engage in relational prayer, Ignatian meditation and contemplation, and how to structure a holy hour and journal. Scripture is given to the retreatants to pray and on the conclusion of optional night prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours, silence begins.  
 
Over the course of the weekend, the retreatant will make seven holy hours with different scripture passages for each one.  Meals are also eaten in silence.   

Our silent retreats are limited to 10 participants to allow each retreatant a scheduled time for spiritual direction and reconciliation to discuss the ways that the Lord is moving them in the scriptures with which they pray.  There is also an evening formal holy hour with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament plus Benediction. During the day there is time for Mass and optional times to pray Morning, Daytime, and Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours.   

Our new Rooted Retreat for Men is an overnight retreat where men will discover (or rediscover) the liberating truth that in Christ they are sons of God the Father. Rooted in Christ and secure in the Father’s love, they are able to serve His mission in their families, and in the world.  

Led by Leighton Drake, Director of Children's Faith Formation / Junior High Ministry at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church and Fr. David Huemmer, Spiritual Director at the St. Joseph Retreat & Conference Center, this retreat will guide men in living out their Christian mission with more integrity and developing a deeper relationship with Christ and his Church. 

The retreat begins Friday evening with a session on men’s Relationship and Identity in Christ followed by time for adoration, personal reflection and social time. Men will learn their identity comes from their relationship with God, not their mission. After prayer and mass Saturday morning, men will gather to discuss Mission as the living of the vocation to holiness. Time for reconciliation, adoration and personal reflection wraps up the retreat.