Sunday, September 25, 2011

Winter Retreat 2012

The Men's "In-Motion" Winter Retreat
President's Day Weekend in February.

Men In-Motion Retreat Agenda

Be the Man You Were Created to Be!

Friday (February 17, 2012)

5:00 pm Depart from Our Lady Of Mercy

7:00 pm Arrive at the Retreat Site / Secure sleeping area

7:30 pm Retreat overview / Opening prayer

8:00 pm Fellowship (Snacks / Adult Beverages)
.

Saturday (February 18, 2012)

Early Birds Coffee / Shooting the Breeze

8:00 am Breakfast

9:00 am Morning Prayer

9:30 am Talk #1 - Followed by silent reflection

11:00 am Activity

12:30 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Activity

3:00 pm Talk #2 - Followed by silent reflection

5:00 pm Dinner

6:00 pm Groups – The day in reflection

7:30 pm Fellowship (Snacks / Adult Beverages)

Sunday (February 19, 2012)

Early Birds Coffee / Shooting the Breeze

7:30 – 8:30am Light Breakfast (Please observe 1 hour fast before Mass)

9:10 am Depart for Mass

9:30 am Mass - Our Lady of the Snows (Fellowship after Mass)

12:00 pm Lunch

1:30 pm Activity

3:00 pm Talk #3 - Followed by silent reflection

5:00 pm Dinner

6:00 pm Groups – The day in reflection

7:30 pm Fellowship (Snacks / Adult Beverages)
.

Monday (February 20, 2012)

Early Birds Coffee / Shooting the Breeze

8:00 am Breakfast

9:00 am Morning Prayer

9:30 am Mini Talk #4 – (Putting it all together)

10:00 am Clean up / prepare to depart

11:00 am Retreat concludes – Return Home.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

A Real Men's Retreat (No GIRLS!)

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Men In-Motion (Kayak / Canoe River Adventure)

It is time again for another Men's "In-Motion" Retreat.

We will be leaving Redding on Friday - September 9th at 5:00 pm and ending the journey in Red Bluff on Sunday - September 11th.

For those that can't make the Friday Afternoon Departure, you can meet us at The Sacramento River RV Park (Anderson) Friday evening or early Saturday Morning. (We will be camping at the RV park Friday Night.

There will be a planning meeting on Saturday - September 3rd in the parish hall after the 5:00 pm Mass. We will discuss the specifics of the trip, gear, supplies, and use of Kayaks, Canoes, etc.

There has already been a nice response to this trip and this should prove to be another rewarding and exciting "In-Motion" retreat.

If you are planning to attend, please e-mail me (patkearns@sbcglobal.net) so I can get an idea of the number of men attending for planning purposes. And if you need to borrow a Canoe / Kayak also let me know, Mike Goodyear has a few 2-man canoes that can be borrowed.

Monday, May 30, 2011

A Work'n Man's Retreat

Men's Retreat in Shingletown a Huge Success

On May 28th, 35 men gathered in Shingletown for what was called "A Work'n Man's Retreat." There were chain saws, tractors, shovels, and almost every kind of tool that you could imagine.

The goal was to transform the forest into a spiritual place that could be used for retreats, gatherings, and a sanctuary for private meditation.

The distinct projects were identified:

1. Clearing and thinning of the forest.

2. Beautification and improvement of the amphitheater, including the erecting of a two-story high cross.

3. Completing the outdoor Stations of the Cross with establishing a comfortable walking trail, beautification of each station, and placing numbered posts at each site.

A core group of men with knowledgeable team leaders arrived at 7:00 am and began work. As more and more men arrived they chose a project to join. It wasn't long and the overgrown forest began to take shape.

After five hours of work the lunch bell was rung and the men gathered for a break. As the men nourished their bodies the theme of the retreat was introduced: "Living as Authentic Catholic Men in the World Today." Deacon Pat Kearns (Founder of Catholic Men of the Cross "In-Motion" Retreats) explained the importance of relationships in men's lives, and what type of relationships are needed for our unique journeys. Then the men, now fed, and given some spiritual food to ponder as well, quickly returned to their projects.

Many of the men who attended the retreat did not previously know each other, but there was a bond forming as they worked side by side established friendships.

At 6:00 pm there was no need to ring the dinner bell since God took care of that by delivering an abundance of snow. Escaping the flurry of white powder, the men retreated to the Mary Queen of Peace church that is adjacent to the retreat property and partook in a dinner feast worthy of kings.

After dinner, the weather improved and the men returned to the forest for campfire fellowship. Enjoying a few beers, stories were exchanged, jokes and laughter emerged, and the men reflected on the day's experience.

Some of the men remained on the property and camped, while others chose to drive home.

Morning came with beautiful clear skies and the final touches of the projects were completed. The men then prepared for the arrival of the Shingletown Catholic community for the planned 11:00 am outdoor Mass and picnic.

Families began to arrive and quickly gathered in the amphitheater. The retreat bell was rung and Father Jonathan Molina (Pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Parish, and Mary Queen of Peace churches) along with Deacon Pat began Mass. The beauty of God's creation surrounded the community with the chirping of birds, the mild breezes whispering through the trees, and as Father shared his homily the sun's rays were as a spotlight beaming upon him and illuminated his being. It was glorious.

After Mass the community enjoyed a traditional Bar-B-Q with hamburgers and hot dogs, and a variety of fixings. Then the forest was filled with the visitors enjoying the fruits of the men's retreat. They were walking the Stations of the Cross and enjoying the newly enhanced trails.

"This is just the beginning for the retreat property" declared Deacon Pat, further stating "This is a holy place that will in time, be a place of healing, rest, and inspiration for thousands."

To watch a short film of the retreat please visit: http://www.deaconpat.net/

For more information about the Corpus Christi Retreat Center please contact Our Lady of Mercy Parish at 530-222-3424.

Monday, April 11, 2011

A Work'n Man's Retreat

Where: Mary Queen Of Peace Retreat Center, Shingletown, CA.

When: May 28th (Sat) and May 29th (Sunday)

Usually you must be 16 or older for the retreats, but since we are stationary at the retreat center, it is open to males 13 and older as long as the 13, 14, 15 year olds are with their dads.

A group of men will gather early Saturday morning at the retreat property for a real Men's Retreat. None of that touchy-feely stuff, but rather, men working side by side in fellowship and doing what men love to do best, work, laugh, and create something.

The majority of the work will be done on Saturday May 28^th and will consist of cutting down some small trees, removing new growth, and cleaning the grounds. It will not be difficult work, but the more hands we have working the more we can accomplish. We would like to invite as many men and male youth to come and participate in the retreat (even for a few hours). Sunday morning we will finalize the projects and prepare for the community outdoors mass and picnic.

Our main projects for the retreat will be:

The dirt road leading to the amphitheater - Clearing brush along the sides and road improvement.

The amphitheater area – clearing brush, over all clean up, sawing level seats on log benches.

Stations of the Cross - clearing brush along the sides of the road and at each station, establishing an upper trail for easy walking to the stations.

Equipment to bring if available:

Chain saws

Pole saws, manual or power

Rakes, leaf

Pruning sheers, Loppers

Shovels

Wheel Barrels
Survey tape

any other related items

We are searching for anyone with:

A power chipper
ATV with cart

Food

(Feel free to also bring anything special you might like)

Saturday

Lunch – Bring your own lunch

Dinner – We will provide a feast
(Taco's, Burritos, Beans, Mexican Rice, Chips, Salsa)

Evening – Campfire Fellowship
We will provide snacks, soda, and beer

Sunday

Breakfast- Food provided for those who camped on the property.

Lunch- Picnic / Bar-B-Q provided by Shingletown community

Camping

You are more than welcome to camp on the retreat center grounds. There is a bathroom but no showers. Please bring your own gear.

*If you live locally: you may also choose to return home Saturday evening and rejoin us Sunday morning.

For more information please call or e-mail Deacon Pat Kearns. 530-224-1499 and patkearns@sbcglobal.net

Agenda

Saturday - May 28th

7:00 am - Arrive at the Retreat Center, Team Assignments

7:30 am - Begin work

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:00 pm Work

6:00 pm Clean -up / Dinner

7:00 pm Evening Reflection

7:30 -Fellowship / Music / Camp Fire / Beer

*Retreatants have the option of camping on the retreat grounds or

driving home and returning in the morning.

Sunday - May 29th

6:30 am - Rise and Eat

7:00 a.m - Morning Prayer

7:15 am -Begin Work

11:00 am - Community Outdoor Mass with Father Jonathan Molina

(Attended by Retreat Men and whole Shingletown Community)

12:00 pm - Community Bar-B-Q / Picnic

3:00 pm - Retreat Concludes

Monday, April 4, 2011

Tommy Shamrock Riding Club

The Kearns Clan and others met in Lincoln, CA. on April 2, 2011 for a spectacular 45 mile bike ride through rolling hills, country roads, and beautiful scenery.

The group had a blast while climbing over 2 thousand feet and then soaring at speeds of 40 miles per hour down the curving country roads.

The Tommy Shamrock Riding Club was initially started in Honor of Thomas Kearns and has grown from his 6 boys to numerous participants.....

Why A "Men's Spiritual Group?"

Most men will not gather for a prayer group or have in-depth discussions with other men on spiritual issues, at least not often. I don't mean to say that men are not spiritual, it is just that men's spirituality is much different than women and youth.

So you can't apply the same programs or approaches that work for youth groups, and church prayer groups (mostly attended by women) to men.

Men are more private and stoic by nature. They have a tendency to internalize private things and quietly evaluate them mentally and often not sharing the thoughts and issues related to such.

However, if you combine work or an activity with spirituality, you allow men to fulfill an innate desire while providing fellowship, friendships, creativity, honor, exercise, accomplishments, etc., while also nourishing the spirit and the soul.

Once men can be connected in a common activity that is purely seen and identified as manly, it not only allows comfort levels to form, but instantaneously allows any protective guards that might have been present to be lowered because the men feel a unity and a bond.

It is at this point that the manly spirituality, or the man's spirit can be nourished, cultivated, and grow in the context of a "Men's Group."

Once the bonds are formed, trust is established, and comfort levels are obtained, then God's word can be accepted and can penetrate into the Men. This penetration is not superficial, it is deep and life lasting. One might assume that men are not spiritual, or at least keep a reserved spiritual demeanor, but I would like to say that one must understand a man's spiritual nature before making such a statement.

Even though the modern world has attempted to blur the unique roles, charisms, and qualities of men and women, blurring them into a somewhat unisex and identical being, their souls and spirits remain as different as ever.

Men are strong, mostly quiet and reserved when it comes to deep feelings, and have an inner desire to protect, provide, and produce. They are deeply spiritual but externally reserved, and many have not had role models that taught them how to be a man and express his spirituality to others. This external expression of love of others and of God is foreign in the modern world, at least foreign to most men.

Yet, when seen, it is awesome. To see a man grounded in his faith, sharing his spirituality with others, confident in his manhood, it is not only exhilarating, but contagious and leaves other men jealous for what he has just seen. This type of Man can change the world.

It was once said: teach a child the faith and it might just rub off on his mother or siblings.

Teach a mother the faith and it just might rub off on some of the family.

But teach the faith to the father, help him live a life of faith, nourish that faith, and the whole family will be converted.

It is Fathers, Men, who can and will change the world that we live in. It is through "Men of Faith" that the world can be seen for what it is and God's light and truth can be made present.

That is why there is such a need for "Men's Spirituality Groups." Gatherings of men with a unique purpose. Men given opportunities to unite, form friendships, partake in projects and activities that are not foreign but familiar and comfortable. To allow opportunities for God's word to penetrate into their being and then be nourished and cultivated forming them into Men of Action, men who begin to look much different than the other men in society. Men who are envied for the confidence they resonate, for the joy that surrounds them, for the fortitude they expel, for the charity that has become such a huge part of their being.

As God grows within these types of men, the evils of the devil begin to diminish.

The sins of:

Lust

Masturbation

Pornography

Pride

Anger

Laziness

excessive drinking, eating, and self-pleasures

begin to lose their hold on these men and are all of the sudden finding themselves free from the bonds that held them as slaves for so many years. Most men will never openly talk about their shortcomings, but they will listen to the truth when presented by a Man that they trust and admire. The might not openly show much emotion when such a sensitive issue is presented, but mark my word, they are listening and it is deeply internalized and applied.

These Groups are more necessary than ever before and the devil with use every weapon he has to try and stop them..... but he will not win! The truth will set us free!

Join a Men's group, a real Men's group. Not just a fraternity, or a club, but a group that looks at the whole man; feeds him, helps him evaluate himself, incorporates activities and pleasure, but always maintains a balance and allows the man to grow spiritually.

Because when it is all said and done, It really has only been about our spiritual journey with God and having Christ close to us, leading us, and showing us the way.

Can you see him? Is He leading you?