Men's Rites of Passage (MROP)
The Cosmic Importance of Male Initiation
...with so many clear examples of how men have hurt women, other men, the earth and ourselves, Fr. Richard Rohr offers clarity, suggestions and insight in regards to how the Men's Rights of Passage can be part of the deep personal and community healing so much needed...
What is the Rites of Passage?
Men's Rites of Passage 2019
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.
Below is a listing of the Men’s Rites of Passage opportunities for 2022.
Illuman of Arizona
Men’s Rites of Passage
April 27 – May 1, 2022
Contact: Al Selder
East Coast
Men’s Rites of Passage
May 3 – 7, 2022
Illuman of Washington
Men’s Rites of Passage
May 25-29, 2022
Illuman of Illinois
Men’s Rites of Passage
August 10-14, 2022
Contact: Bob Colaresi
Illuman of Texas Men’s Rites of Passage –
Umbrales [Spanish-speaking MROP]
October 5-9, 2022
Contacts: Bruce Clay and Ed Blalock