Our Mission
We are a center for experiential education, rooted in the Gospels, encouraging the transformation of human consciousness through contemplation, and equipping people to be instruments of peaceful change in the world.
Letter from Matt Sholler | November 2011
Dear Brothers,
Greetings from New Mexico!
Fr. Richard's profile continues to enter the mainstream on the heels of his two most recently published books, Falling Upward and Breathing Under Water. Check out his interview by PBS for its "Religion & Ethics Newsweekly" program.
And exciting plans are underway for what will be Fr. Richard's last trip to Europe next May. We invite you to consider joining him and co-presenter Cynthia Bourgeault in Assisi, Italy for an eight-day series of teachings, contemplative offerings, and experiencing the Franciscan heritage first-hand. Our time in Assisi will also allow Fr. Richard to share the specific vision of the CAC with our European leaders, as well as help us continue gathering support for launching his dream in 2013, a "Living School" based in New Mexico.
In this issue of the Drumbeat, we are blessed to have contributions from a number of men across our network. Previewed last month, the Inner Work Guidebook for the Journey of Illumination is a very useful resource for 11 spiritual practices available to all men. And in our Passage and Verse section, we have photography and poetry submitted by Santosh Verma and a fellow from Texas who goes by the name "Señor Cactus."
Finally, remember that The Drumbeat considers submissions from ALL of our readers. If you have a short essay, poem, song, movie review or other expression of your spiritual journeying, email it to menswork@cacradicalgrace.org!
Peace and Fire,
Dear Brothers,
We extend a special welcome to the men who recently completed the Men’s Rites of Passages in the United Kingdom and Australia. Combined with the MROPs held elsewhere in the US and internationally earlier this year, we are close to surpassing 5,000 Initiated Men worldwide! The MROP remains a cornerstone of the Men As Learners and Elders program and we encourage all men who may be interested to consider applying to upcoming MROPs in New York (this September!) and Texas (November). Spaces are still available!
As the summer begins transitioning to fall, the CAC has a couple of important announcements which are also of interest to the MALEs community. First, we are saying good-bye to Stephen Picha, former CAC executive director. The CAC and the MALEs community extend their deep gratitude to Stephen for all of his expansive contributions over the last ten years. You can read the full announcement here.
Second, we are thrilled to announce the release of Fr. Richard’s latest book, Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps. Check out our Featured Resource section to read Richard’s reflection on the book’s message and sign up for our upcoming webcast.
Finally, I urge you to continue looking for our Men in Profile section in each Drumbeat. In it we feature a short interview with men who are serving the MALEs mission in different parts of the world. This month’s profile is on Mike Bennett, one of our newly-appointed members of the MALEs Council of Elders.
