Almost 20 years ago, Richard Rohr and Stephen Gambill, along with others created a retreat experience in the wilderness that came to be known as the Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP).
Tapping deeply into universal truths and practices, the MROP is now regularly offered in Australia, Germany, Great Britain, The Czech Republic, all over the United States, and new countries are being added. Thousands of men have gone through this deeply transformative experience already, and the movement is growing. Now the MROP returns to Oregon after a nearly 20 year absence. Learn more and register below:
MROP 2025
Oregon’s MROP will be held May 13-17th, 2025, at Sky Camp, a wilderness retreat in the Willamette National Forest on the western flank of the central Cascades.
Nearby Eugene, Oregon has lodging and an airport one hour away, and the Portland International Airport is 2 1/2 hours to the north.
The Setting
The land and nearby waterways sit in Lost Valley, the ancestral home of the Molalla and Kalapuya people, specifically the Mountain Band of the Molalla people, who lived along what is now Fall Creek and traveled into the mountains in the summer for hunting and gathering huckleberries and hazelnuts. The land at SkyCamp is protected and under restrictions. We hold a stance of humility, gratitude and respect to be guests on this land and witnesses of the ancient rhythms it holds.
Lodging
The MROP takes place over 5 days and 4 nights, with time indoors, outdoors under cover and outdoors on the surrounding land. Initiates sleep on bunks in chalets, with restrooms and showers on site, and all meals are provided. Dietary restrictions and any medical considerations can be provided on your registration form.
Registration Information
If you are ready, register and pay by hitting “Register Now” below to secure your spot.
Event Admission Standard Price
$650.00
Supported Price (funded by donations)
$495.00
A week or two after you register you’ll be contacted by an elder in our community for a conversation about what has been happening in your life and soul, what you hope for in your Rites, and how we might support you in the work you have been called to.
The elder you are matched with is there to support, to listen, to be curious. This is a man who has been through the MROP, and who has some years under his belt in this journey we call life. These conversations have been very helpful for incoming initiates, and we hope it will be for you.
Your registration process will not be finalized until this conversation of mutual discernment takes place. We will have some questions to guide the conversation: we want to make sure you’re walking into something that will serve you well. We want to ensure the experience is positive and safe for all involved. You may have some questions for us as well, and we welcome them. If it becomes clear the MROP isn’t the right thing for you this year, you will be issued a full refund of your registration fee.
Note the two-tiered fee structure, allowing a supported price should financial circumstances demand. If you would like to fund scholarships above the standard price, there is an option to make a donation. If you need further financial consideration please contact us before registering.
If you are still exploring the MROP for yourself, read below, in particular the section Is The MROP Right For Me? If you have a question that is not addressed in this information provided, please contact us.
What Is It?
Originally rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition, the MROP now also draws on poetry, stories, and wisdom teachings from all over the world. Reflecting on practices men from many cultures have used for thousands of years to help men become better fathers, sons, elders, brothers, and lovers, the MROP draws a diverse group of men, who are united in their desire to be more authentic, more alive, and more connected. At an MROP you’ll find liberals and conservatives, young and old, rich and poor, highly educated and those whose teachers were not found in books…you’ll find men from all over the country, from all manner of families, from all manner of spiritual and faith traditions. You’ll find classic macho men and bookworms, pacifists and members of the military. In short, you’ll find an amazing cross-section of society, all drawn by a sense of something more, some desire to go deeper and farther, some restless itch that wants more than what they’ve been given.
“You know after any truly initiating experience that you are part of a much bigger whole. Life is not about you henceforward, but you are about life.”Richard Rohr, Adam’s Return: The Five Promises of Male Initiation
The Men’s Rites of Passage (MROP) is an experience that awakens men to the adventure and mystery of their own belovedness, their masculinity, their deep spirituality, their potential for leadership, and the process of transformation. Over the course of 5 days of soulful experiences, men go through classic steps of male initiation through simple and moving rituals and teaching. You’ll have plenty of time by yourself, out in nature, you’ll have time with a small group of brothers, and time with the larger overall group.
Men are asked to come with a willingness to participate from beginning to end and not as an observer. Trust that this process, which has served others so well, will also meet you wherever it is you are in life and help you move into wherever it is you need to go. Most of the men who come have little idea about what to expect, and have come based on a trusted friend’s recommendation that “you should really really do this.” Others come because they are seeking a transformative experience and, either through Richard Rohr or other people, stumble upon this event.
Whatever drew you here…you are welcome.
The MROP Is…
- A personal discovery about the masculine journey, especially for those in or entering their second half of life;
- A time to savor the healing and awesome power of nature;
- A process to address issues of loss, grief, and brokenness;
- 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;
- A chance to return to life with a renewed energy and commitment to sharing your gifts;
- Open to all men.
The MROP Isn’t…
- A traditional, lecture-based retreat;
- An informational workshop about men’s spirituality;
- A place where you’ll be asked to buy a bill of goods or change your beliefs;
- A threatening process that requires participants to engage in anything unsafe, strange, secret, etc;
- A test of physical stamina.
The MROP is a program developed by Fr. Richard Rohr. Illuman has been entrusted with maintaining the integrity and expansion of this work.
Is The MROP Right For Me?
When you register for the MROP, is assumes you possess a readiness for a deep encounter. The MROP is not an inspirational program or a luxurious, feel-good men’s retreat. It’s not a religious exercise or a psychological self-help setting. It’s also not a place where you will be shamed, burdened with toxic masculine expectations or forced into physical discomfort. Initiation is by its nature uncomfortable enough, often challenging long-held beliefs and assumptions, forcing us to look honestly at ourselves, the things we put in our own way, and perhaps most frightening, the deep beauty and Belovedness of who we are. Initiation invites us to encounter something deeper…something really real, and to really live, perhaps for the first time. If you are reading this, it’s likely your initiation has already begun. Read this page carefully, contact us to ask questions if needed, consider mindfully and prayerfully, and if you are compelled to take this step into the unknown…do it.
About The MROP
The Men’s Rites of Passage are most appropriate for those who are spiritually searching. Though friends and family do come together some times, it is preferable if you approach this experience as a lone seeker. Fathers and sons are normally not initiated together. You may come with friends but expect to be grouped separately to start together from zero with your group. (You will actually find this to be an advantage.)
The Men’s Rites of Passage is ultimately designed as a once in a lifetime event. You may not make this initiation rite more than once, but you may return to help make the experience happen for other men as an initiator.
In the Men’s Rites of Passage, images and ritual are used from a variety of religious traditions. Though our primary orientation has developed from the Judeo-Christian heritage, the universal nature of what the MROP addresses continually demonstrates that if something is true, it is true, and will resonate in human hearts all over this globe.
We are fed by the wisdom traditions of forgiveness and radical inclusivity, and the MROP welcomes all men regardless of faith tradition, sexual orientation, race or ethnicity, socio-economic status or any other artificial divisions present in our society. We have welcomed men young and old, liberal and conservative, impoverished and wealthy, Christian fundamentalists, evangelicals, progressives, Buddhists, Catholics, Mormons, agnostics, “spiritual but not religious”, ardent pacifists and proud members of the US military, gay men and those yet homophobic…to say nothing of ethnic or nationality differences…and in almost every case, these men are all deeply moved despite their broad backgrounds and viewpoints.
Elements of the MROP require a basic mobility and level of health that will allow you to move around and hike on uneven, even mountainous terrain. There is a period of fasting for those who can. However, we have had people in their upper 70’s and those in wheelchairs go through this before successfully. We will work with you.
The MROP blew me away. It was so much more than I could have imagined it would be, and it prepared me to face a major trauma which hit me soon after my trip, putting me in a far better place than I would have otherwise been. Years later I’m still so grateful for the indelible mark this trip had on my life. My spouse and my kids are all glad that I went…
~ Past MROP Participant
Next Steps
Step One – Take Stock
The MROP is not just another event to attend. It is a decision that for many comes out of a sense that they are ready for “something” even if they are unsure what that is; see if in your “gut” God is inviting you into this adventure. You might also talk to others who have gone through the MROP. Contact us if you’d like to be connected with someone.
Step Two – Go Online and Read
When you’re ready check out the resources and videos posted at the bottom of this page. Read and review the application and deeply consider all the questions.
Step Three – Submit Application & Pay
Apply for the 2025 Oregon MROP using the “Register Now” button below. The 2025 MROP in Oregon is one of several such offerings. You can find more info about other locations here.
Step Four – Wait and Pray
The MROP is a life-changing opportunity. Spend the time before an MROP being present to additional inspiration and insight. Be aware of where your life’s journey is calling your attention.
Resources:
Books
- Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality by Richard Rohr
- Adam’s Return – The Five Promises of Male Initiation by Richard Rohr
- Soulcraft by Bill Plotkin
- Nature and the Human Soul by Bill Plotkin
- The Solace of Fierce Landscapes by Belden Lane
- Pilgrim by David Whyte
- Creating Rituals: A New Way of Healing for Everyday Life by Jim Clarke