ACTS retreat comments

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o6louise

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 Just came back from my first ACTS retreat.  I'm starting a new thread here because the archived posts are very out of date.
 I didn't like it, but I could see that many of the women attending were being blessed.  I'd just like to make a distinction between "privacy" and "secrecy", which is an issue with some people who have attended these retreats.  "Privacy" to me means not revealing the contents of any personal sharings or the identities of retreatants--this of course is reasonable.  "Secrecy" at my retreat involved not revealing the agenda, the planned events, the topics of talks, or other info about the content of the retreat.
 I was told that the secrecy was necessary to preserve the surprise, but I couldn't find out why surprising the attendees was considered a good idea.  My questions were answered evasively, and this struck me as rather creepy.
 The content was very orthodox and faithful to the Magisterium.  The schedule was very crowded, unnecessariy so, in my opinion.  Little private time was allowed, even for private visits before the Blessed Sacrament.
 Lots of enforced community, walking in procession, and singing the retreat theme song or the "walking song."
 I stayed through the whole retreat and participated fully because I wanted to give it a fair trial.  I didn't like it, and I won't being doing another ACTS retreat, nor will I recommend it.
 
Welcome! Is there any way you could just type in your thoughts? I don’t know how you got that boxed type on, but it’s very difficult to read. Thanks.
 
Ohh, I figured it was something techie beyond my dinosaur skills.
Guess I was right. 😉
 
Let’s see if this works…
Just came back from my first ACTS retreat. I’m starting a new thread here because the archived posts are very out of date.

I didn’t like it, but I could see that many of the women attending were being blessed. I’d just like to make a distinction between “privacy” and “secrecy”, which is an issue with some people who have attended these retreats. “Privacy” to me means not revealing the contents of any personal sharings or the identities of retreatants–this of course is reasonable. “Secrecy” at my retreat involved not revealing the agenda, the planned events, the topics of talks, or other info about the content of the retreat.

I was told that the secrecy was necessary to preserve the surprise, but I couldn’t find out why surprising the attendees was considered a good idea. My questions were answered evasively, and this struck me as rather creepy.

The content was very orthodox and faithful to the Magisterium. The schedule was very crowded, unnecessariy so, in my opinion. Little private time was allowed, even for private visits before the Blessed Sacrament.

Lots of enforced community, walking in procession, and singing the retreat theme song or the “walking song.”

I stayed through the whole retreat and participated fully because I wanted to give it a fair trial. I didn’t like it, and I won’t being doing another ACTS retreat, nor will I recommend it.
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o6louise said:
I was told that the secrecy was necessary to preserve the surprise, but I couldn’t find out why surprising the attendees was considered a good idea. My questions were answered evasively, and this struck me as rather creepy.
…
The schedule was very crowded, unnecessariy so, in my opinion. Little private time was allowed
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These things above, secrecy and lack of private time, would drive me berserk. Between this and the previous post by someone else about ACTS which also emphasized “secrecy” and “surprise”, I will never go on an ACTS retreat and will actively avoid being around any sort of promotion of them. Nope, no way, non, nein, negatory. Emotionally manipulative.
 
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o6louise said:
Code: 
 Just came back from my first ACTS retreat.  I'm starting a new thread here because the archived posts are very out of date.
 I didn't like it, but I could see that many of the women attending were being blessed.  I'd just like to make a distinction between "privacy" and "secrecy", which is an issue with some people who have attended these retreats.  "Privacy" to me means not revealing the contents of any personal sharings or the identities of retreatants--this of course is reasonable.  "Secrecy" at my retreat involved not revealing the agenda, the planned events, the topics of talks, or other info about the content of the retreat.
 I was told that the secrecy was necessary to preserve the surprise, but I couldn't find out why surprising the attendees was considered a good idea.  My questions were answered evasively, and this struck me as rather creepy.
 The content was very orthodox and faithful to the Magisterium.  The schedule was very crowded, unnecessariy so, in my opinion.  Little private time was allowed, even for private visits before the Blessed Sacrament.
 Lots of enforced community, walking in procession, and singing the retreat theme song or the "walking song."
 I stayed through the whole retreat and participated fully because I wanted to give it a fair trial.  I didn't like it, and I won't being doing another ACTS retreat, nor will I recommend it.
Click to expand...
@o6louise

I attended the men’s ACTS retreat last year (the format appears to be the same based on what you are saying) and my experience was identical to yours, and I disliked it for the same reasons. I really think they needed to turn it down three notches and the vibe it gave off was mildly cultish. As in “this retreat is amazing and it is going to change your life OR ELSE”. But yes, everything in it was faithful to the Magisterium.
 
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A family member of mine did that retreat or a variation of it. Overall, I don’t think it helped them.

I’m with you on this 👍
 
Just used the CAF search and was reading some old threads. Some people were complaining about the secrecy involved of not telling others about their experiences there in order to have them receive the full experience for themself. It appears to possibly put wedges between spouses if one attends and one doesn’t and the one that went keeps the secrecy…
 
There are plenty of other nice normal prayerful retreats to go on where the people involved don’t have to keep secrets about what happens at them or be in suspense about a “surprise” which, when it occurs, might just be another thing I don’t much like.
 
You know it isn’t good when you type in “ACTS retreat” and google auto fills the word “brainwashing”…

Yeah, the last 10 minutes of reading on these retreats have been…scary.
 
I found a Reddit thread on these types of retreats. The “lovebombing” part sounds particularly grotesque. Especially since I have no loved ones left alive at this point so I don’t know where the organizers would find anyone to write letters to me to read on this dopey retreat. The business about sharing intimate secrets of my faith life with near-strangers and people getting emotional about it just makes me want to run, hide, barf, whatever. Nope, not my steez.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Catholicism/comments/42n583/a_plea_to_retreat_organizers
 
Greetings, 06Louise !

I’m glad the problem with the box type was solved.

The ACTS retreat is a major thing in this diocese, (mostly from the male side) but I have always been put off by the intense secrecy surrounding it.
I have zero interest in spending $200 and giving up three days of my life to be “surprised”. That’s for much younger people IMNAAHO. Retreats are just not my thing anymore and I see that I am not alone in the vibe I received.

Welcome again and thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

ICXC NIKA
 
GEddie said:
That’s for much younger people IMNAAHO.
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I know nothing about ACTS retreats other than what I read on comments threads here at CAF from time to time. One thing no one ever mentions is the targeted age group. It looks to me as though the retreat is designed exclusively for young people up to a maximum age of about 23. Is that correct?
 
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It would not seem that way to me. Most of the males I see enthusing over the retreat and their “ACTS brothers” have been nearer to 35 years in age.

There are, however, ACTS geared to the college and young adult crowd.

ICXC NIKA
 
Hello @o6louise .

It’s a pity you didn’t enjoy the retreat , but perhaps you weren’t meant to enjoy it . Maybe it will bear fruit in time .

Of the retreats I have been on , nearly all of them have been based on Ignatian spirituality . I recommend any such .

Retreats - IgnatianSpirituality.com

Jesuits and other spiritual directors offer retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. Learn where to make an Ignatian retreat.
www.ignatianspirituality.com www.ignatianspirituality.com
 
I’ve noticed that many parishes are now offering one-day retreats in Advent and Lent featuring a good preacher, often a traveling priest who specializes in retreat work or else a priest invited from an order, who speaks and you have Mass, prayer time, confession time, Adoration, breakfast and lunch, and it all takes place during one Saturday so I don’t have to make arrangements for my animals over one or more nights. Flame of Love has also given some great one-day retreats featuring more mystical or charismatic speakers like Fr. James Blount or Msgr. John Esieffe. Cost of these programs is usually between 25 and 40 dollars or sometimes less if you’re bringing your own food, and there’s no small-group “sharing” or any of that, it’s about prayer and reflection. I’ve been to several of these and they work just fine for me.
 
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