About 70 Catholic men from around the country gathered in
Prince William Forest Park in Triangle for four days of
prayer, reflection and sport. It was the King’s Men “Into the
Wild” retreat July 9-12.
The King’s Men is an international group of mostly Catholic
men that was founded in 2004 “to unite and build up other men
in the mold of leader, protector, and provider through
education, formation, healing, and action.”
Two parishes in the Arlington Diocese have King’s Men groups
– St. Louis Church in Alexandria and Sacred Heart Church in
Dale City. But many men from other diocesan parishes came to
the retreat after reading about the group in church
bulletins.
The ministry holds several “Into the Wild” weekends each year
across the country. The weekends are designed to provide an
experience that challenges men to live their lives more fully
as men of God. The weekend is intended to produce a “band of
brothers” united in a common task. Fathers and sons are
encouraged to attend.
The weekend provides an opportunity for daily Mass, rosary,
adoration and spiritual talks. Besides the strong spiritual
emphasis of the weekend, there are secular activities like
orienteering, fishing and archery. On Saturday, a team builds
an outdoor church from materials found on the forest floor.
Mass is celebrated in the makeshift church on Sunday, after
which the structure is returned to the forest floor.
Founder and President Mark Houck said that attendees range
from devout to somewhat devout, Christians. He said that
these weekends allow men to experience a different kind of
spirituality.
“(These weekends) let men take themselves out of the
traditional setting of a church,” he said.
King’s Men Executive Director Chuck Harvey said he was a
nominal Catholic before going on an “Into the Wild” retreat.
His work with his son’s Boy Scout troop let him explore the
meaning of life more closely.
“What’s this God-thing about?” he said.
He eventually quit his job to work for the organization full
time.
Volunteer Jerry Dabrowski said that he, too, was a nominal
Catholic before the King’s Men. Five years ago, he was
invited to a King’s Men retreat.
“I didn’t want to go,” said Dabrowski. “(The conversion)
happened during adoration. It changed my life. Everything I
do now is for His glory.”
Men arrived Thursday evening for Mass, a eucharistic
procession and meetings, and like each day of the weekend,
there was a recitation of the rosary.
Houck spoke to the men about Charles Carroll, the only
Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. He spoke
about Carroll’s leadership and how the Maryland native was
conscious of issues greater than himself. He was a man of
honor, said Houck.
Houck said that men should be the leader of their family.
“God gave you special grace to make decisions for the
family,” he said.
He told the men not to be afraid to make decisions and that
sometimes you’ll fail, but you will succeed more often than
not.
King’s Men chaplain Consolata Missionaries Father Van Hager
said that “Into the Wild” retreats help men reach authentic
masculinity.
“It’s important for men to hear about their Catholic
masculinity,” he said.
Assisting with Mass was Jesuit Father Michael Siconol, the
Catholic chaplain at Marine Corps Base Quantico. Father
Siconolfi said that male spirituality needs to be explored
more and this program is helpful.
July 10 was orienteering day, and after the talks, training
began. Orienteering is a sport that lets participants use a
compass and map to traverse a set course. The team that
completes the course in the fastest time wins. It teaches
people to work together to accomplish a goal.
Not everyone in the group had navigational skills, so a
training course and practice helped the men get ready for the
afternoon competition.
At times, the men looked a bit confused as they tilted maps
and compasses trying to find their bearings. The group went
out to the field before lunch to practice their pacing and
navigation.
A convoy of cars drove to the opposite side of the
25-square-mile park. A brief instructional meeting led by
volunteer Steven Marbach from Holy Trinity Church in
Gainesville got the 11 teams in order and out on the course.
The first team in, Team 2, traversed the course in 30 minutes
– a surprising time by those in the know. The members of Team
2 were Chris Gilbert from Charlottesville, Luis Garcia from
York, Pa., Rob Brown from Pittsburgh and Hector Bird from
Washington.
The weekend had a profound impact on participants.
Carlos Chaves, a parishioner of Our Lady of Angels Church in
Woodbridge, said that he has never been on a retreat quite
like this. It was the mixing of the spiritual with the
outdoor exercises that made the difference.
“I sharpened my idea of what it is to be a man,” he said.
Borowski can be reached at [email protected]
or on Twitter @DBorowskiACH.
