Nearly 120 answer call at Hankinson men’s retreat

Almost 120 men from eight dioceses across three states traveled to the Franciscan Retreat Center in Hankinson on March 18–20 for an Ecclesia Domestica retreat themed, “When Good Men Do Nothing: Answering God’s Call to Defend His Church.”

The retreat called men to stand up as spiritual leaders in their families, churches, workplaces, and communities.

Ecclesia Domestica, Latin for “Church in the Home,” is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit men’s ministry first organized in the Diocese of St. Cloud, Minn. Its mission is to help men recognize the battle for holiness taking place in their hearts and souls. As such, the ministry conducts retreats to encourage men to reclaim their identity as beloved sons of the Father.

Ecclesia’s president, Kevin Olson, started the Hankinson retreat by pleading with men to “stand your post.” He outlined men’s role in marriage as the spiritual head of the family and called for fearlessness in embracing the job. “Our wives want it, and our kids and grandkids desperately need it,” he said.

Attended by nearly 20 priests and deacons, each man had an hour of one-on-one spiritual direction with a cleric. Often this was the first time these men had private time to ask about personal issues, church doctrine, spiritual health, and the like.

During the weekend, priests and deacons provided general talks to the group, including Father Peter Anderl, pastor of churches in Lidgerwood, Geneseo, and Cayuga, and Father Patrick Parks, pastor of churches in Ellendale and Fullerton. Father Parks expanded on the great theme of St. John Paul II: “Be not afraid. Accept Christ’s power into your lives!”

Father Anderl gave the opening keynote talk Friday morning. Using the retreat’s theme about answering God’s call, he called on the men to throw off spiritual slumber and stand up for the church.

Nathan Roy, a first responder from Hancock, Minn. passionately described the wounds men suffer that restrain them from the spiritual responsibilities they have. Kevin Dockendorf, Ecclesia Board member and a businessman from the St. Cloud area, urged the retreatants to stand up to the fight, effectively using the example of Gideon’s army as proof that God will be with us in the battle.

Presenters underscored the Rosary as an anchor in their personal prayer lives. Each retreatant received a blessed Rosary hand-crafted by retreat emcee and Ecclesia board member Deacon Craig Korver of Little Falls, Minn. who echoed St. Padre Pio’s famous line that his Rosary was his “weapon of choice.”

After each talk, small, informal sessions allowed discussion and feedback where men could relate the messages to events in their everyday lives.

Each day, all attended Mass, prayed a Rosary, sang the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, worshiped Christ in all-night adoration, and recited the morning and evening Divine Office. On Saturday, the feast of St. Joseph, Bishop John Folda and six priests concelebrated Mass in a beautiful and transcendent liturgy.

Saturday evening included a powerful praise, worship, and intercessory prayer ministry. As the evening started, Father Anderl consecrated and knighted each man to Mary, our Blessed Mother, to serve in her army. As knights of her Militia Immaculata, each man is part of her work in bringing forth the reign of Christ the King in hearts, homes, and families. While “crushing the head of the serpent underfoot,” the men are following the example of St. Joseph, St. Maximillian Kolbe, St. Louis de Montfort, and other heroes of our faith.

Next year, Ecclesia Domestica has been asked back to the Franciscan Retreat Center for two retreats. In February 2023 they will coordinate a three-day women’s retreat, and in March 2023 they will invite men to Hankinson to learn about and celebrate Catholic manhood through the tools provided by the Catholic Church.