What is MROP?
Men’s Rites of Passage
“You know after any truly initiating experience that you are part of a much bigger whole. Life is not about you henceforward, but you are about life.”
The Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP) is an experience that awakens men to the adventure and mystery of our own belovedness, our masculinity, our deep spirituality, our potential for leadership, and the process of transformation.
MROP participants come from a variety of backgrounds. You’ll find liberals and conservatives, young and old, rich and poor, highly educated and those whose teachers were not found in books. You meet men from all over the United States, and some who come from other countries. You will meet men from all manner of families, from all manner of spiritual and faith traditions. You’ll find classic macho men and bookworms, pacifists and members of the military, straight and gay men. In short, you’ll find an amazing cross section of society, all drawn by a desire for something more, to go deeper and further. We are men who have a restless itch and want more than what we been given.
Over the course of 5 days of soulful experiences, you will move through classic steps of male initiation, through simple and moving rituals and through teachings in the large group. You’ll have plenty of time alone to wander and experience nature. You’ll have time to process your experiences and feelings with a small group of brothers.
The MROP is not about religion. It’s about spirituality. It’s about using age-old traditions that guide us into manhood. It’s about coming to trust that there is something much greater at work in our lives than we could ever imagine.
Originally rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the MROP now draws on poetry, stories, and wisdom teachings from cultures and faith traditions from all over the world. Reflecting on practices many cultures have used for thousands of years to help men become better fathers, sons, elders, brothers, and lovers, the MROP draws a diverse group of men, who are united in our desire to be more authentic, more alive, and more connected.
We ask you to come with a willingness to participate from beginning to end and not as an observer. Trust that this process, which has served others so well, will also meet you wherever you are in life, and will help you broaden and deepen your understanding of yourself, who you are called to be, and what is yours to do as a mature, spiritually grounded, loving, nurturing and generative man.
We warmly invite you to consider joining this journey with us. We know we need each other because none of us can do this journey alone. More information is available here: Why Me? Why Now?
THE MROP IS ...
A personal discovery about the masculine journey, especially for those who are already in or entering the second half of life.
A time to experience and savor the awesome healing power of nature.
A process to identify, process, and address issues of loss, grief, and brokenness in a loving and supportive environment.
An opportunity to examine life’s priorities and muster the courage to ask questions about your next steps.
An invitation to listen to the quiet voice of God.
A chance to return to your life in the world with a renewed energy and commitment to sharing your gifts.
Open to all men.
THE MROP IS NOT...
A traditional, lecture-based retreat.
An informational workshop about men’s spirituality.
A place where you’ll be asked to buy a bill of goods or change your beliefs.
A threatening process that requires participants to engage in anything unsafe, strange, secret, etc.
A test of physical stamina.
Background
Almost 20 years ago, Father Richard Rohr, Stephen Gambill, and several others created a retreat experience in the wilderness that came to be known as the Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP). Tapping deeply into universal truths and practices, the MROP is now regularly offered in Australia, Germany, Great Britain, The Czech Republic, all over the United States, and new countries are being added.
The Men’s Rites of Passage are especially appropriate for those who are spiritually searching. Acceptance to the MROP is based on perceived desire and readiness for a deep encounter with self, others and Transcendent Mystery as you perceive it.
This initiation experience uses images and ritual from a variety of religious traditions. While the Rites were developed from the Judeo-Christian heritage, the universal nature of initiation continually demonstrates that when something is true, it is true universally. The impact of this experience resonates in human hearts, literally all across the world.
Fr. Richard Rohr explained how primal societies have demonstrated that cultural survival is dependent on personal spirituality. Unfortunately, the proven way to lead males on this journey has been lost to the West for a thousand years. Fr. Richard addresses the reality that if men are not led through an inner journey of powerlessness, they will inevitably misunderstand and abuse power.
We are fed by the wisdom traditions of forgiveness and radical inclusivity. The MROP welcomes all men regardless of faith tradition, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, socio-economic status or any other artificial divisions present in our society. We have welcomed men young and old, liberal and conservative, impoverished and wealthy, Christian fundamentalists, evangelicals, progressives, Buddhists, Catholics, Mormons, agnostics, “spiritual but not religious”, ardent pacifists and proud members of the US military, gay men and straight men … to say nothing of ethnic or nationality differences … and in almost every case, these men are all deeply moved despite their broad backgrounds and viewpoints.
Elements of the MROP require a basic mobility and level of health that will allow you to move around and hike on uneven, even mountainous terrain. There is a period of fasting for those who can. However, we have had people in their upper 70’s and those in wheelchairs go through this before successfully. We will work with you.
Though friends and family do come together sometimes, it is preferable if you approach this experience as a lone seeker. Fathers and sons are normally not initiated together. You may come with friends but expect to be grouped separately to start together from zero with your group. (You will actually find this to be an advantage.)
Observations from MROP Participants
“The MROP blew me away. It was so much more than I could have imagined it would be, and it prepared me to face a major trauma, which hit me soon after my trip, putting me in a far better place than I would have otherwise been. Years later I’m still so grateful for the indelible mark this trip had on my life. My spouse and my kids are all glad that I went...”
“I went on a Men’s Rites of Passage with a few friends, joining 102 other guys. I was 59 years old, and life had already initiated me. I didn’t really need to be “initiated,” so I thought. But after the initial obligatory moments of “what in the world am I doing here” and “what have I gotten myself into,” I quickly put away my note pad and realized that this was not just something to observe and take notes on, but something to jump into with my whole self. The deep inner work that began in me that week was not initiated by lecture or words, but by silence in the wilderness and my own struggling to hear more clearly what true new things were longing to be birthed within me. It was an incredible five days that in many ways are still “living” within me.”