How We Understand the Truth We Live
A Retreat for Gay Priests, Brothers, and Deacons
Monday-Thursday
July 6-9, 2026
Siena Retreat Center
5637 Erie Street
Racine, WI 53402
(near Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport)
Schedule
Monday, July 6, 2026
2:00 pm Arrival and check-in to room
5:30 pm Supper
6:30 pm Welcome, Introductions
7:00 pm How can I be holy and gay?
8:00 pm Evening Prayer
8:30 pm Social
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am Morning Prayer
9:30 am How am I true to myself, my vocation, and others?
10:30 am Break
11:00 am Small group discussion
11:30 am Large group discussion
12:00 pm Lunch
2:30 pm How do I reconcile my vocation with the way the Church talks and debates about Gay priests and religious?
3:30 pm Small group discussion
4:00 pm Large group discussion
4:30 pm Break
5:30 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Evening Prayer
7:00 pm Film
8:30 pm Social
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am Morning Prayer
9:30 am How does my sexuality affect my ministry?
10:30 am Break
11:00 am Small group discussion
11:30 am Large group discussion
12:00 pm Lunch
2:30 pm Is it helpful to think of myself as a member of a minority?
3:30 pm Small group discussion
4:00 pm Large group discussion
4:30 pm Break
5:30 pm Dinner
6:30 pm Evening Prayer
7:30 pm Social
Thursday, July 9, 2026
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am Wrap-up. Hanging questions
10:00 am Evaluation
10:30 am Break
11:00 am Eucharist
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Departure
Retreat Description
James Keenan, SJ will pursue a conver-sation with men who share a vocation in common with him and who frequently face more questions about their authen-ticity than others do. Of course, this is the phenomenon of those who are part of a minority. The norms of conduct of priests, brothers, and deacons are often understood and articulated by others.
Fr. Keenan is interested in the question, “How do each of us understand the truth we live about our vocations and our identities, and how do we live them out?”
Retreat Leader
James F. Keenan, SJ
James F. Keenan, SJ is the Canisius Chair, Director of the Jesuit Institute, and Vice Provost of Global Engagement at Boston College. He founded Catholic Theological Ethics in the World Church, an international network of ethicists. He received the John Courtney Murray Lifetime Achievement Award from the Catholic Theological Society of America and was president of the Society of Christian Ethics, 2020-2021. He has written 13 books including A History of Catholic Theological Ethics (2022) and The Moral Life (2023) and edited another 17 books. Fr. Keenan is the founding editor of the Georgetown University Press Moral Traditions Series.
Registration
Registration Fee: $695
Registration fee includes overnight accommodations and meals.
To Register Online, Use form below
To Register by Mail: Make checks payable to “New Ways Ministry” and send with completed registration form to:
New Ways Ministry, 4012 29th Street, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Cancellation Policy: Prior to June 1st 2026, all but $25 is refundable
Partial scholarships are available before June 1st. Send email explaining the need to [email protected]
Logistics
Location: Siena Retreat Center, 5637 Erie Street, Racine, WI 53402
By Plane: Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport
Please plan to arrive at the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport by 2:00 pm CT on Monday, July 6th and depart after 3:00 pm CT on Thursday, July 9th. We will help to facilitate transportation to/from the airport.