Servants of the Secret Fire: A Wilderness Adventure for Louisville Catholic Men

Inspired by The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

Featuring incredible talks from Fr. Ben Cameron of the Fathers of Mercy

 

January 10 – 12, 2025

on undeveloped wooded property

 

Whether you are a man who has read or seen The Lord of the Rings or not, this experience is for you! To be a “servant of the secret fire” is about being a real man, a loyal friend, a good brother, a faithful husband, a loving father. It’s about going on adventure, not being afraid of the wilderness dangers because of the strength of Christ supporting you and your brothers.

 

All our fraternities, small groups, fellowship nights, and times with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament have been preparing us for these incredible opportunities to encounter Our Lord in a unique time and place – in the great outdoors — alongside other great men growing in virtue and fortitude.

 

If your father, uncle, brother (in-law), adult son (in-law), or best buddy is able to join you, invite him/them! If you have a minor son(s) at home (age 13+), consider making this a father/son adventure.

 

This is a time of intentional discipleship where some men may experience healing and deliverance. Other men may feel like they are entering a personal rite of passage, while others may come away with the challenge to live differently and to pass on the secret fire of Divine Love into their own families and parishes.

 

Which man are you? Come find out!

 

SPACE IS LIMITED!

TO REGISTER, COMPLETE THE FORM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

 

RETREAT INFORMATION:

DAILY SCHEDULE:

Friday, January 10: Noon – 10pm

Saturday, January 11: 7am – 10pm

Sunday, January 12: 7am – 1pm (departure after lunch)

*Retreat is in the Eastern Time Zone

RETREAT WILL INCLUDE:

• Talks by Fr. Ben Cameron of the Fathers of the Mercy
• Secret Fire Work Projects
• Daily Mass, Adoration, & Confession
• Liturgy of the Hours
• Hikes, Exploration, & Fellowship
• Nightly Bonfire
• Daily Meals [except lunch on Friday / see note below]
• Indoor Bathroom & Shower
• Several priests of the ArchLou have expressed interest and will participate as their schedules permit! 

 

RETREAT LOCATION & ACCOMMODATIONS:

The retreat will be held on 135 acres of undeveloped wooded property in Larue County, Kentucky (address will be provided only to registrants).  A true get-away from suburbia, about 65 miles from the ArchLou Pastoral Center on Poplar Level Road.

A very simple house with electricity, central heat, internet, and indoor plumbing is on the property. Plus a metal storage barn with a gravel floor; the barn has lighting, but no heat.

The sleeping accommodations:

• 10 can sleep in the 2-bedroom house [8 in beds/on sofas, 2 on the floor]
• 8-10 can sleep in the barn
• Tent sleeping
• Priority for sleeping in the house will be given to clergy and those with specific needs; otherwise, sleeping in the barn and then in tents will be assigned by lottery.
• To provide the best experience for all, the retreat will be limited to a maximum of 25 participants (including clergy).

 

WHAT TO BRING:

• Your own lunch/beverage for Friday
• Snacks (sweet and/or savory) to share—must be inside sealed containers
• 2 gallons of drinking water (all water will be stored together and shared — the tap water doesn’t taste good)
• Your own hot beverage thermos and water bottle
• Your own flashlight and extra batteries
• Two changes of warm clothes with layers
• Outerwear, hat, gloves
• Work gloves
• Good hiking shoes
• Personal toiletries
• Bible and/or personal rosary
• Backpack for personal items
• Phone charger if necessary (you are encouraged to leave your phone in your car, and charge it there if possible)

 

HELPFUL TO PROVIDE IF YOU CAN (DON’T BUY): 

• Lanterns
• Ice chests with straps to keep wildlife from opening
• Cots / Air Mattresses for sleeping
• Tents
• Cold weather sleeping bags 
• Cold weather sleeping pads
• Protective eyewear

 

COST:

$99 — Men 18+
$49 — Sons (13+) living in the same household with accompanying father

Daily meals (except lunch/drink on Friday), drinks, talks, activities, and a wonderful experience are included in the cost.

 

REFUND POLICY:

Cancellations must be submitted in writing (via email to [email protected]). Notifications submitted before January 1, 2025 will be refunded 100%. No refunds will be issued after January 1, 2025.

 

PHOTO RELEASE AGREEMENT:

When completing the registration form associated with this retreat, you will be asked to grant or deny permission for Family Renewal Project to use photographs, videos, or other digital media that captures your image and/or the image of your minor child(ren) for use in any and all of its publications (print or electronic). When used, images will not include any names and will be used lawfully for purposes such as  publicity, illustration, advertising, and web content. All images will be used without payment or other consideration and will become the property of Family Renewal Project.

 

RETREAT LEADER, Fr. Ben Cameron, C.P.M.

Fr. Ben Cameron was born in Kokomo, Indiana, and grew up as a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church. During his junior high and high school years, he attended a small Christian school that was operated by a local Baptist church. It was in that non-Catholic environment, where his faith was often challenged, that he began to study the Catholic Faith.

Fr. Ben is a 1991 graduate of Christendom College, a small Catholic liberal arts college in Front Royal, Virginia, where he became involved in a lay apostolate known as the Legion of Mary, which awakened his desire to share his Catholic Faith with others. Upon receiving his degree in Political Science and History, Fr. Ben planned a career in the political arena, but soon found that God had other plans. He joined the Fathers of Mercy in 1992, studied theology at Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut, and was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on May 31, 1997. Fr. Ben has served as Vocation Director, Treasurer, Mission Director and Assistant General of the Fathers of Mercy during his priesthood. He has served as a full-time parish mission preacher and retreat master (2000-2018), and as pastor of St. Helen’s Parish, Glasgow, Kentucky, and its mission church, Our Lady of the Caves in Horse Cave, Kentucky (2018-2022). Currently, he is again serving as a full-time parish mission preacher and retreat master.

The Congregation of the Fathers of Mercy was founded in 1808, originally under the title of the  “Missionaries of France.” The community was founded for the purpose of re-evangelizing the  French people after the Catholic Faith had been subjected to years of attacks and persecution during the French Revolution. It is now an exclusively American community. The Generalate of the community is located a few miles outside of Bowling Green, Kentucky. The primary apostolate of the Fathers of Mercy is to conduct parish missions and retreats, which are now given throughout the United States, Canada and Australia.

During this “Servants of the Secret Fire” retreat, Fr. Ben will encourage and challenge participants to make a stronger, deeper personal commitment to Jesus Christ and His Church and he gives multiple talks on “The Christian Vocation in the Lord of the Rings.”

SPACE IS LIMITED! TO REGISTER, COMPLETE THE REGISTRATION FORM