Heart of the Mission
October 15 - October 18
- An Ignatian retreat for lay men. Heart of the Mission draws deeply from the wisdom and spiritual movement of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, adapted for men living active vocations in their families, professions, communities, and the Church. It is designed especially for spiritually mature men who desire to go deeper in the interior life.
- Substantial time for silence and prayer. The schedule deliberately creates room to slow down and listen to God through silence, personal prayer, and extended Eucharistic Adoration. Adoration is available throughout each day, with Friday and Saturday mornings observed in silence.
- A serious opportunity for repentance and Confession. Every man is strongly encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the retreat. Multiple priests will be available for individual 30-minute confessions, providing the time for a more deliberate examination of conscience and encounter with God’s mercy.
- A coherent spiritual journey. The retreat moves through some of the central meditations of the Spiritual Exercises: the Principle and Foundation, Divine Sonship, the Call of the King, the Two Standards, Christ’s Passion, and the Contemplation to Attain Divine Love. Together, these meditations move from receiving our identity and purpose from God, to hearing Christ’s call, choosing to follow him, and finally offering our lives back to him.
- Mission flowing from the interior life. Heart of the Mission is not simply about having a powerful weekend; it is about becoming a more prayerful and effective lay apostle. Men will consider how intimacy with Christ should shape their leadership, fatherhood, friendships, evangelization, and concrete participation in the mission of Forge.
- Deep brotherhood with serious Catholic men. Retreatants will journey through the weekend in small groups while also sharing meals, recreation, bonfires, and unstructured time with men from Forge communities across the Midwest. The aim is genuine fraternity: men praying together, speaking seriously about their lives and mission, and building relationships that continue beyond the retreat.
- A retreat ordered toward practical mission. The spiritual arc culminates in Ignatius’s Contemplation to Attain Divine Love: recognizing that everything we have is first a gift from God and asking how we might give ourselves more completely in return. The retreat concludes with the prayer of the Suscipe – “Take, Lord, and receive…”
Check out the retreat schedule here.
Register Now
Space is intentionally limited. HOM is for men ready to move from participation to ownership—from attending the mission to carrying its heart.
Cost: Estimated $250 (meals included).
No man turned away for inability to pay.
Dates: Thursday, October 15th – Sunday, October 18th Retreat begins at 7:30PM on Thursday night and concludes at 10AM on Sunday morning.
Location: Creighton Retreat Center: 16493 Contrail Ave., Griswold, IA 51535
Express Interest: Formal Registration for HOM will launch on April 15th. If you would like to be notified when registration opens, please use this form:
