Men's Rites of Passage

America is the land of plenty. For men there is a wide selection, money, sex, power, education, and many voices telling you, 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 using.

Opening the door to this journey can start with the Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP) retreat. This retreat can help awaken men to the adventure and mystery of their own masculinity, their deep spirituality, their potential for leadership, and their 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 an elder, or by divine appointment, every man will go through an initiation for what lies before him and what purpose he is designed for. MROP opens the door to the adventure.

The retreat 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 participating in group prayer, major teachings on central masculine spirituality themes, quiet time for reflection, and sharing in the context of a “home group.”

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 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.

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.

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 our 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 commitment 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 threatening process that requires participants to engage in anything strange or unsafe.
• A test of physical stamina.

The inaugural MROP in Northern California will be held November 10-14, 2010 at CYO Camp Occidental Retreat Center.  www.cyocamp.org  The CYO Retreat Center is located amidst 216 acres of towering redwood forest and open meadow in historical western Sonoma County, just six miles from the Pacific Ocean and a short walk away from the town of Occidental. 

Rites of Passage Online Registration

Rites Of Passage Application

Rites Of Passage Brouchure