Heart of the Mission

The Heart of the Mission (HOM) Retreat) is an invitation for a select group of 65 men to step more deeply into the vision, spirituality, and brotherhood of Forge. Hosted at the beautiful Creighton Retreat Center, this weekend is designed to strengthen the interior life while sharpening the external mission—forming men who know who they are and who are ready to lead others to Christ. With daily Mass, confession, and spiritual direction available throughout the retreat, HOM offers both real formation and real encounter.

The most important themes of the retreat include:

1. Identity as sons of the Father — receiving our deepest identity not from achievement, but from beloved sonship.
2. Living discipleship in an apostolic age — embracing the urgency and joy of being missionary disciples in a post-Christian culture.
3. The beauty of Orthodoxy — discovering the coherence, strength, and freedom found in faithful Catholic teaching.
4. Practical tools for leading other men — concrete strategies for inviting, forming, and accompanying men into deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

This retreat is not simply a weekend away—it is a commissioning. The brotherhood forged here is meant to be carried back into Des Moines and Wichita, strengthening small groups, deepening friendships, and advancing the mission on the ground.

Speakers

• John Bishop – Founder of Forge, Catholic speaker and author, John is dedicated to building up the family by forming fathers, grandfathers, and future fathers in authentic, Christ-centered masculinity.
• Pete Burak – Vice President of Renewal Ministries and a nationally recognized evangelist, Pete equips leaders across the country to proclaim the Gospel with clarity, conviction, and the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Sam Halligan – Des Moines City Director for Forge, helping coordinate and strengthen the growing network of men and small groups in Des Moines.
• Eric Doerneman – Wichita City Director for Forge, leading the expansion of Forge’s mission and brotherhood in Kansas.

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)

Dates: Thursday, October 15^th – Sunday, October 18^th  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 15^th. If you would like to be notified when registration opens, please use this form:

I’m Interested!