Men's ACTS Retreat invite

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Last few weeks I’ve been invited by several different men, including a Deacon, Lector, and several of the organizers, to attend the upcoming ACTS retreat the Church is putting together. I’m a brand spanking new convert, never been on a retreat.

When asked, they’ve told me the general purpose, but have refused to give me the details. They all said theres a reason not to give me details - that they don’t want to spoil it. Huh?

Others I’ve asked said its is a life changing thing, I should go. But won’t tell me why.

So whats the scoop? Do I need to go to get the magic decoder ring?

I’ll probably sign up, I have the utmost respect for this Deacon’s faith & service (along with the others who have invited me), its just difficult telling the wife & kids I’m going to be gone for a 3 day weekend, costing a couple hundred, for something I have little idea on.
 
I’ve been invited to ACTS retreats as well, but have always gotten out of it. I tend to prefer more traditional (silent, etc.) retreats. I never knew there was some sort of secrecy involved with ACTS. I must say, I do have a lot of respect for some of those who have attended. but the secrecy thing can be disconcerting.
 
I’ve never been to ACTS but I’ve heard many good things about it.
 
ACTS is a growing movement in this diocese, and the men’s team in particular has been headed by very able men. The general purpose is to assist lay persons in responding to the call of the Holy Spirit to serve in parish ministry or apostolates, and when presented for a particular parish, to help parish leadership work better together. I strongly urge anyone who is invited to participate, with the knowledge that it is not primarily about a 3-day vacation or about your personal spiritual growth, although that is very much present. You will be expected to serve on teams for future retreats in your parish or diocese, and to use what you have been given in service. If you are already involved in a ministry or apostolate ACTS is a tremendous way to refresh and renew your dedication to this work, and to discern future direction for it.
 
Christ Renews His Parish is a program for renewal of parish life leading to evangelization. ACTS has a somewhat different focus, starting point, agenda and method.
 
PKinsale said:
I’ve been invited to ACTS retreats as well, but have always gotten out of it. I tend to prefer more traditional (silent, etc.) retreats. I never knew there was some sort of secrecy involved with ACTS. I must say, I do have a lot of respect for some of those who have attended. but the secrecy thing can be disconcerting.
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My only suggestion would be for you to accept the invitation to go on the ACTS retreat.
Your disconcertion will be a thing of the past.
The ACTS retreats are wonderful !👍

Trick
 
Trick said:
My only suggestion would be for you to accept the invitation to go on the ACTS retreat.
Your disconcertion will be a thing of the past.
The ACTS retreats are wonderful !👍
Trick
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No offense, Trick, but this is a perfect example of the info I’ve received when asking what its all about 🙂

Why is it wonderful?
Why should or would I accept without knowing the intentions?

Curious minds want to know. Thanks!
 
Light_Seeker said:
Last few weeks I’ve been invited by several different men, including a Deacon, Lector, and several of the organizers, to attend the upcoming ACTS retreat the Church is putting together. I’m a brand spanking new convert, never been on a retreat.

When asked, they’ve told me the general purpose, but have refused to give me the details. They all said theres a reason not to give me details - that they don’t want to spoil it. Huh?

Others I’ve asked said its is a life changing thing, I should go. But won’t tell me why.

So whats the scoop? Do I need to go to get the magic decoder ring?

I’ll probably sign up, I have the utmost respect for this Deacon’s faith & service (along with the others who have invited me), its just difficult telling the wife & kids I’m going to be gone for a 3 day weekend, costing a couple hundred, for something I have little idea on.
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This is a big thing in my parents’ parish and my dad has been to one…till now I thought he was talking about “AXE” retreats and totally didn’t get it, har!

After the first retreat at that parish, the men formed their own choir and they sing popular Amy Grant-type tunes at one Mass a month…don’t know if this is an ACTS thing or just this group of guys.

Dad (in his 60s) says he enjoyed the retreat because it was more a guy thing than most church stuff he’s done before. He also says he’s not so sure about the ACTS group because they seem to exclude people…i.e…NO women allowed in the choir loft when they’re singing, no place in the group for men who have not previously been to an ACTS retreat, etc. Dad has gone so far as to call them “nearly separatist” but I don’t know what he means by that. Dad sang with the guys a few times and when Mom refused to even go to that Mass because of the radio tunes they were singing (heard them myself and frankly it was like a bad Life Teen experience), they chucked the idea and went back to their regular Mass time for the weekend.
 
cecilia97 said:
After the first retreat at that parish, the men formed their own choir and they sing popular Amy Grant-type tunes at one Mass a month…don’t know if this is an ACTS thing or just this group of guys.
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Well, we’re in the same Diocese, so now you have me wondering …

If forming a separate choir group has anything to do with ACTS intentions, I’m confident I can utterly destroy, single handed, any future missions. I’ve long known I must have been in another line when our Creator was blessing folks with vocal gifts :o
 
Light_Seeker said:
Well, we’re in the same Diocese, so now you have me wondering …

If forming a separate choir group has anything to do with ACTS intentions, I’m confident I can utterly destroy, single handed, any future missions. I’ve long known I must have been in another line when our Creator was blessing folks with vocal gifts :o
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This was at my parents parish in a diocese south of us.
 
the men’s ACTS teams here do not form their own choirs, but the members do become more involved in their own parishes and in other apostolates within the diocese, which is the point. Did Jesus give John and Andrew a long explanation of his ministry and plans when they asked to see where he lived, or when he called the other apostles? No, he just said come and see, follow me.
 
Light_Seeker said:
No offense, Trick, but this is a perfect example of the info I’ve received when asking what its all about 🙂

Why is it wonderful?
Why should or would I accept without knowing the intentions?

Curious minds want to know. Thanks!
Click to expand...
No offense taken.😉
As for as the intentions of the ACTS retreat please read the following that I saw on a brochure for an ACTS retreat:

"
An ACTS weekend is designed to help the retreatants enter into a new or deeper relationship with our Lord and our fellow parishioners.
This is accomplished through fellowship, daily prayer and Adoration.The call to Community in one’s parish as a member of the Body of Christ, and Theology in encouraging the study of scripture and our Catholic Faith. All of these actions encourage the virtue of Service to our Lord,and one another.
"

I think this is very accurate statement of the intent.
This retreat has certainly allowed me and others to grow in the Love of Jesus and His Church.

God bless,

Trick
 
Light Seeker, what sort of details have ACTS recruiters held back from providing?
 
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