Men's Rites of Passage
Embark on a 5-day journey to fully embrace your manhood. Leave with a greater sense of purpose, deeper self-understanding, and a clearer vision for your role in life. Join a brotherhood of men to delve into ancient wisdom, and experience rituals, storytelling, and encounters with the natural and more than human world.
We are a group of men dedicated to the promotion of a strong and healthy male spirituality, based on the work of Richard Rohr and with the support of illuman.org. Through transformative inner work, we help men grow, connect, and make a difference in the world.
All men aged 18+ are welcome, regardless of ethnicity, sexuality, or religious and cultural backgrounds.
Join us in Summer 2025 and embark on your Rites of Passage
Journey
Through the 5 day process of the Rites you will experience drumming, ritual, fire, silence, small groups, wilderness, solo-time, teaching, and more.
When & Where
Wed 23rd July to Sun 27th July 2025, in the beautiful Slí an Chroí venue in Co. Wicklow, Ireland.
Cost
€750. This is our break-even cost; we’re a non-profit voluntary organisation. Financial assistance is available to those who can’t afford it – we turn nobody away over money. If the cost is an issue, just reach out to talk to us and there’ll be a friendly voice there to help.
The MROP is Not:
- A traditional lecture-based retreat.
- An informational workshop about men’s spirituality.
- A sensitivity training or deprivation experience.
- A threatening process that requires participants to engage in anything unsafe.
- A test of physical stamina.
The MROP is:
- A personal discovery about masculine spirituality and “the Great Mystery.”
- A time to savor the healing and awesome power of nature.
- A process to address issues of loss, grief, trauma, and relationships with our fathers, other men, and each other.
- An opportunity to examine life’s priorities and ask courageous questions about your next step.
An invitation to listen to the quiet voice of God, by whatever name you give the transcendent mystery of the universe.
- A chance to return to life with a renewed commitment to your gifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
The initiation of the boy into manhood was deemed absolutely necessary for cultural survival and personal spirituality by primal cultures throughout the world. However the custom in the west is mostly forgotten.
The problem is that if men are not led through an inner journey of powerlessness and transformation, they will inevitably misunderstand and abuse power. Initiation provides the man with the experiences that help shape his deep understanding of his value and place in the world.
This is not about religion, but about spirituality. The MROP has its roots in the Judeo-Christian tradition. However, it focuses on inner spirituality and ancient wisdom traditions that guide us into our true selves and connect us to all human beings and the more than human world. Men from diverse traditions participate. Regardless of faith or lack thereof, all are welcome and will benefit from the profoundly deep impact of this work.
From the kickoff on the Wednesday afternoon until the Closing ritual on the Sunday afternoon there is a packed schedule. We encourage men to go into the experience without knowing exactly what will happen, but example activities throughout the days include:
- morning stretch in nature followed by silence
- drumming
- group rituals
- talks
- council circles
- time in nature in silence
- story telling and music
- time off-site deep in the wicklow mountains
The Rites is held in the Slí an Chroí (Way of the Heart) retreat centre, on the grounds of St. Patrick’s Missionary Society in Kiltegan, Wicklow. This is located within 1hr 20mins of Dublin city centre. The grounds are a beautiful and expansive piece of Irish countryside, with forest strolls and river walks, mountain views and wildlife ponds, nestled away in the lowland foothills of the Wicklow mountains. Initiates will have ample time to roam to grounds and enjoy the beautiful nature surrounding them. All meals are served in the indoor dining area.
We arrange transport by bus from Custom Quay in Dublin City center. There is plenty of parking on site for those who can drive. Closer to the event we help arrange carpooling, so keep an eye out for opportunities to meet with other participants on the way. We can accommodate special requests for men who have trouble with transport- if accessing the venue is an issue, just reach out to us and no doubt we can find an easy solution to get you there! For men flying in from abroad, we can help coordinate transport from Dublin airport straight to our venue.
The retreat is over 5 days, Wednesday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. The accommodation is camping on site – tents can be borrowed. Beds can be provided where there are physical limitations, though camping is an important part of the experience. 3 full meals a day plus tea/coffee/snack breaks (dinner on first evening and breakfast and lunch on last day before departure). We arrange transport from Dublin city centre and Dublin Airport, and can arrange transport from nearby train stations where attendees have specific needs. The bus from Dublin incurs a small additional cost.
No man will be turned away for lack of funds. We firmly believe that investing in the development of men today will have a lasting positive impact on their lives, our community, and society at large. We aim to keep costs as low as possible, and provide a bursary fund for men that may find the fee a real struggle. This bursary fund is funded by donations throughout the year from men who have already gone on their Rites. Readiness to attend is more important than finances – Please feel free to reach out if you would like to be considered for bursary assistance.
Over 10,000 men have undertaken the Rites across Europe, America and Australia since they began in Ghost Ranch, Texas in 1998.
The Rites are run by an experienced team of male elders who have all previously undertaken the Rites themselves. All are volunteers freely donating their time.
If accepted as an initiate, you will attend this event only once. The MROP is a powerful event and most men who complete it go on to build a deep spiritual practice. Initiates are strongly encouraged to stay in touch, as we host get togethers and retreats all throughout the year. All men are welcome to get involved in our local and virtual council groups and our retreats, regardless of having completed the Rites.
All men are welcome in this sacred and safe space. We each bring our own insights, anxieties, and fears into this shared experience, and we respect each man’s right to speak his truth and discern his path. It’s common for participants to discover that we are more alike in our longings and deepest aspirations, than we are different.
Testimonials
Quotes from men who attended previous Rites:
– “It was a very powerful time that I cannot recommend highly enough”
– “…the best thing that I’ve ever done for myself”
– “The whole experience was life changing”
– “I used to feel like a boy, now I feel like a man.”
– “I feel like I woke up, like I had lived my whole life in a dream and now I am awake”