"In-Motion" Retreats (Men of the Cross): Men In-Motion Winter Retreat 2011

Monday, January 17, 2011

Men In-Motion Winter Retreat 2011

Check out our adventure

The 2011 Winter Men's Retreat

What a great time being with such a great group of men.

Yes - we did build 3 Quinzies and slept in them.

First you build a foundation.

Then you mark off the floor area.

This is an important step so you can find the floor level once you start digging....

Then you start building the mountain of snow.

Then we had a little help from Mr. Snow Blower......

It wouldn't of been a true men's retreat without a few power tools!

We work as a team.

Time to start digging in and then up to the floor level.

Everyone took turns as the tunnel rat!

It wasn't long and then we had 3 Quinzees.

A little tired but happy with a job well done.

Don't tell the other guys.... but.... our Quinzee was the best.

See, Even Dennis thought our Quinzee was the best.

A few custom features began to pop up.

Go Paul!

What a great day!

Mark and Father Jonathan

Cliff and Mark

The final results

What a blessing to have Mass each day.

We all took turns participating / assisting at Mass.

The Eucharist.... Source and Summit of our lives.

Mass was casual, but reverent and Holy.

It would not have been an authentic "In-Motion" retreat without some motion.

The Cross-country experience.

Snow Shoeing.

Yes... Danger is our middle name.

2 hours later, almost back to the cabin.

Time for Food and Fellowship.

Each meal was a feast.

Those Macho Men can also cook.

Don't you just love the head lamp..... Cooking in the dark is no problem at a Men's Retreat!

Each man was part of a team responsible for one meal prep and cleaning...... Great job guys!

And then we had the "Men Games," how high could two teams of 8 men build a tower in 5 minutes?

and when we looked up, what did we see, but a statue of Mary and the King?????

We could not believe it....... Miracle?

You be the judge....... the men just threw the last chunk of snow on the top in the last few seconds of the challenge to see who could get the highest tower within the 10 minute limit and what does it look like to you?

Who said "We should go sledding?"

I think we mastered the art of downhill sledding.

But all good retreats leave a little time for rest.....

Relaxing by the fire

3 1/2 days of Adventure, Prayer, Fellowship, Good Eating, A few spirits.......And we have be nourished and ready to once again fight the good fight...... Live as Catholic Men: Strong, United, and Fervent for our Faith.

No comments:

Post a Comment

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?