Information on ACTS

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JackMcCoy

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What transpired at ACTS retreats?
I have been invited to go for a weekend retreat, but not much specifics on what happens during a retreat.
There is a cost and an investment in days, so I am seeking a more about what happens.
There seems to be a lot of secrecy. I have been told that they don’t want to spoil a surprise.
I am sure that it is spiritual and all, but if I do not a charismatic person or a spontaneous person, I would like the option of being able to leave. I have been told that cell phones are confiscated.
 
From what I have read, people who attend these are told not to talk about what goes on at them. There’s been past threads on this forum criticizing the retreats for the secrecy and a “cult-like” and cliquish atmosphere.

Between that and the confiscation of cell phones, I personally would never attend one of these retreats. I don’t like it when these Catholic lay movements aren’t totally open and honest to all people about what they are doing.
 
That is my feeling, as well. That is why I am apprehensive about participating.
It is probably harmless, but I do not understand the need for secrecy.
 
I did find this on Reddit with one person who did not like the retreat describing what went on at his. I agree that it sounds like indoctrination techniques are used. I absolutely detest that sort of mind game, especially when they are secretive about it. The idea of making people run around short on sleep and not knowing what time it is and then take part in personal sharing and “lovebombing” just turns my stomach. To me this would be like expecting me to pay money and be away 3 days for water boarding sessions.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sou...aw2fx0c7-roY80YHT2owWUhS&ust=1548481007621172
 
I’ve been on such. The idea of secrecy is misunderstood and misrepresented, even by participants and hosts. The thought is if you know too much in advance, you won’t get the “immersion experience” of the retreat. The general agenda for these, though, is a series of individuals who’ve been on prior retreats speaking on their own experiences about specific topics, interspersed with prayer times, other individual and small group activities that may include journaling or discussion, maybe something creative, maybe an opportunity for Confession, Mass, and Adoration. The idea of cell phones being confiscated is two-fold - you need to let go of the concept of schedules and agendas and worldly concern, and you need to disconnect to focus your full attention on your relationship with God.

I don’t think there’s a way to paint a positive picture for everyone, especially those skeptical of the emotional and abstract parts of the faith, but I would highly recommend it to anyone.
 
Cor_ad_Cor said:
I’ve been on such. The idea of secrecy is misunderstood and misrepresented, even by participants and hosts. The thought is if you know too much in advance, you won’t get the “immersion experience” of the retreat. The general agenda for these, though, is a series of individuals who’ve been on prior retreats speaking on their own experiences about specific topics, interspersed with prayer times, other individual and small group activities that may include journaling or discussion, maybe something creative, maybe an opportunity for Confession, Mass, and Adoration. The idea of cell phones being confiscated is two-fold - you need to let go of the concept of schedules and agendas and worldly concern, and you need to disconnect to focus your full attention on your relationship with God.

I don’t think there’s a way to paint a positive picture for everyone, especially those skeptical of the emotional and abstract parts of the faith, but I would highly recommend it to anyone.
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I think CHRP is like that, too.
 
CRHP, Kairos, Cursillo, many others follow similar patterns. In the Protestant world, they have Chrysalis and Emmaus retreats of similar formats. The first two I listed are my experiences. They truly were great!
 
I would be glad to turn off my cell phone, but giving it up would be a non-starter for me. If I got to the retreat designation and did not like the retreat, I would want the option of calling my wife to come and pick me up. I don’t want to be stuck at Son retreat site, an hour or so from my home.
Why the secrecy of the agenda?
I attend Mass regularly and go to confession. I have not been to adoration, but I could do that any day at church.
ACTS does not sound like something that would be beneficial to me.
 
They don’t hold you hostage; they’re just helping you avoid temptation and embrace the experience. We often don’t realize how reliant we are on certain things until we’re asked not to use them - then it’s almost like a dare. I would think you could leave at any time. I’ve seen that happen - and your wife would be aware of how to contact the organizers in the event of emergency.

Again, the secrecy part is so misrepresented. It’s about truly “retreating” from the need to be in charge, the need to be in the know, and the take-charge compulsion most of us have even if we don’t realize we have it. A big part of the experience is to just go with the flow and be taken care of without having to think about it.

I’ve never been on one where anything was forced. If you don’t want to share personal stories or details, don’t. If you don’t want to engage in a particular activity, you’ll likely have the option to step out for some alternative (but remember, going with the flow and stretching our normal comfort zone might be part of what this is about and how you’ll actually benefit from the experience - even though that doesn’t sound all too great to you now). No one is going to violate your personal space or health or privacy, etc. No one will make you drink any Kool Aid 😁 and even if they try to get you on board with something more, you’re always free to decline.

Remember, a retreat is an invitation to go deeper and off the beaten path, spiritually, from what we normally do on our own. Most of us don’t go without an invitation that tugs on us a bit…
 
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With all due respect, your arguments in favor of the retreat, for example
but remember, going with the flow and stretching our normal comfort zone might be part of what this is about and how you’ll actually benefit from the experience
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come off a bit patronizing when you’re talking to another mature adult who is “into” his or her faith enough to be posting regularly on CAF. This is not somebody who just comes and sits in the pew every week, this is somebody who cares enough to be thinking about and exploring their faith online and probably in real life too.

If “the secrecy part is so misrepresented”, then why was the OP even having to post here to find out what goes on at a retreat? Why isn’t there a big web page describing what happens at an ACTS retreat without having to go hunt around on Reddit for a thread?

More importantly, why do you yourself feel a need to advocate for this retreat on here? What’s so great about it apart from the fact that you seem to think people need to be taken out of a “comfort zone”?
 
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If we are bused to a designation more than an hour’s drive from our home, it is no like we can leave at anytime. Is there transportation provided back?
As for confiscating a cell phone and a wristwatch. I can turn my cell phone off. How can use of a watch hurt anyone? This sounds like some sort of power trip to me.
I have heard that retreat goers are told when to go to bed and they are awakened in the middle of the night. Again, sounds like some sort of power trip.
Testimonials and group discussions. I do not want to tell strangers about my personal life and share with them my problems.
And do retreatants have their feet washed?
These are rumors I have heard about, but since there is this an oath of secrecy it is hard to learn anything definitive about an ACTS Retreat.
I believe we fear the unknown.
The stress from that fear would cause anxiety that would make participation a scary prospect.
Should not a retreat be focused on prayer and restful devotion?
 
There was a lot of discussion through the whole thread - I’m not sure if it came from paradocent or others - that indicated some of the activities that happen throughout the retreat, including being in a secluded location with your watch and phone taken away so someone else is in control of your schedule, being rushed from activity to activity, being put in situations where you were expected to speak or perform in front of the group (“sing for your supper”, share personal information), the retreat being paced to encourage an emotional response in people (for me, just not getting enough sleep or being rushed around would trigger an emotional response, probably negative).

These sorts of things are standard techniques done at both religious and non-religious group sessions - for religious groups it would be called a “retreat”, for non-religious it might be called “team building” or “developing your inner potential” - where the idea is to break yourself down internally and rebuild yourself in a “better” way. Military training also uses some of these techniques, but they have much more practical use in the military (for instance, in the military you need to learn to trust your fellow unit members, put your schedule totally in the hands of your commanding officer and function on little sleep). I personally find the use of these techniques in a non-military-training context to be manipulative and upsetting as I don’t want to end up feeling forced to do things or triggered into emotional sharing/ oversharing. I remember a retreat I was made to take in high school and even though it was just one day I ended up very uncharacteristically crying in front of my classmates in the retreat and it was not a pleasant experience.
 
Tis_Bearself, Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut and support in this thread.
On this fantastic Friday, I offer the prayers of the Rosary for you. May you be abundantly blessed through these prayers. 🙏🙏🙏
 
That is the whole point of my original posting to ask for some definitive details of what happens.
If everything is wholesome and spiritual, there is NO need for secrecy. I am not asking for anyone to devolve any private things that were discussed. I am just looking for some general idea of what is done from Thursday to Sunday at this retreat.
 
JackMcCoy said:
That is the whole point of my original posting to ask for some definitive details of what happens.
If everything is wholesome and spiritual, there is NO need for secrecy. I am not asking for anyone to devolve any private things that were discussed. I am just looking for some general idea of what is done from Thursday to Sunday at this retreat.
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I have been in your same shoes, and I had the same reaction, “if its so great, why the secrecy”. If you dig around enough on the internet, you can get an idea
of what goes on in an ACT retreat. I know several people who have attended and say that it is the best thing they ever did. But, it is not for everyone, and I have decided it is most certainly not for me. I think of it as emotional programming geared to kick-start someone’s faith. For some people, this emotional high they end up with causes them to think it is a wonderful thing for all. But the Church has many means of assisting us on our call to holiness. Find the means that help you. Only the sacraments are universally valuable.

They say one is not a prisoner, technically correct. From a practical matter, no car, nor link to the outside world… So if you go, at least know this ahead of time.

I think that pastors like it so much is because they see a lot of people of lukewarm faith, and they see some people who come out of this retreat who are more than that. That’s a good thing.
 
It also has been said that no one is forced to do anything. But there is the pressure that comes from the group dynamic. How many people have the discipline to say no when confronted by a group who are saying yes?
I am not a fan of cooked spinach, but if in a group were confronted and told that everyone would be eating cooked spinach, it would be tough to say, “I don’t like the taste of cooked spinach. None for me please.”
Perhaps my perception of what a retreat should be is different from that of ACTS. My perception is a time to pray, to meditate, and to attend spiritual meetings focused on the Bible. I don’t need to give up my cell phone and wristwatch. I need only turn off my cell phone and not look at my wristwatch ever so often.
 
I started, a few years ago, going on monthly 2 hour evenings of recollection put on by Opus Dei. I remember asking them about it. Now, Opus Dei is accused (falsely IMO) of being too secretive. I was told in detail exactly what would happen. I have been invited to go on an Opus Dei retreat. I am going to do this in the next year or two (hopefully) and am really looking forward to it. I have asked what happens and they answer very openly. There are lots of different types of retreats, find one that works for you. Secrets are not necessary. My cynical nature tells me the real purpose of secrecy is because they could not get people to go without it. I would rather go on a retreat where everyone there wanted to be there.
 
I would highly recommend an ACTS retreat for anyone.

The “secrecy” isn’t to hide anything nefarious. It’s more around confidentiality and surprise.

There are simply some elements of the retreat that are more impactful if they come as a surprise.

I’ve been directly / indirectly involved in many ACTS retreats and seen hundreds of men and women from different parts of the country return from their retreats.

I’ve not yet met anyone who regretted having attended.

Chuck
 
Your thoughts expressed are exactly how I feel.
If the ACTS folks cannot speak definitively about what they do, then it must not be something that a Catholic would normally want to do.
I am sure they mean well, but being without transportation and a cell phone would be a trap for anyone who went and decided the retreat was not for them.
 
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