Annual men's retreat accepting reservations

Friday, Jun. 19, 2015

WEST HEAVEN — A retreat open to all men in the diocese will be hosted by Saint Mary Catholic Church Aug. 7-9. The retreat will focus on “Journey to Heaven,” written by Randy Hain.

“We found that the book spoke to our spiritual needs,” said Bob Shafer, a St. Mary parishioner  and one of the retreat organizers.

This is the fifth year for the retreat; each year the men have used a different book and theme. 

“It’s not that they are ever repetitious; it is more like a continuation. They are always the next logical step in the series that we have been studying,” said Shafer.

Saying that the subject matter of this year’s book strongly speaks to men – its subtitle  is “A Road Map for Catholic Men” – Shafer explained that the retreat is for anyone who is interested; they need not be a member of the parish or even Catholic.

“A men’s retreat has to be focused on things that men can identify with, whether they want to admit it or not. We will have new retreatants this year that will receive the prior books as a gift to them to read at their leisure,” said Shafer. 

Over the four years that the retreat has taken place more than 180 men have participated.

“This year we are probably going to have more than 50 men participating,” Shafer said. “We have people coming from other states and other parishes.” 

Father Gustavo Vidal, pastor of St. Mary Parish, will lead the retreat, which will include lesson periods covering various chapters of the book, daily Mass, recreational activities, meditation, nocturnal adoration and campfire talks.

“If men are changed spiritually, God’s power through them changes the dynamics of the Church,” said Fr. Vidal in past men’s retreats. 

“It’s not coincidental God sent us the direction that allows us to have a conversation of what we have done in the past and taking the next steps that help us to focus on where we go,” said Shafer.

One of the retreat objectives is to build a stronger spiritual relationship with God and each other.

“The end goal [for us] is heaven, and here we focus on what we have to do to maintain and achieve that destination,” said Shafer. “There is too much tendency to take the eyes away from the end goal, and this end goal helps us to get through this crazy life that we have to live.”

The men attending the retreat will be camping on private grounds near Bear Lake. The cost of the retreat is $50.

For information, contact Bob Shafer at 801-628-3768 or robertj_391@msn.com; Jay Recto, 801-540-7853, rozco88@gmail.com; or visit www.stmarysutah.org.