RISE Ohio

The NACSAM board is thrilled to announce that registration is open for the second retreat and immersive summer experience (RISE) event scheduled to take place this summer from June 29 - July 2, 2026 at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, OH. This year's theme is Our Reckoning and Our Hope: Racial Justice and Reconciliation and will examine the spirituality of racial justice efforts with immersive experiences in Cincinnati and nearby Kentucky. From these experiences, participants will have an opportunity to pray, reflect, and develop a call to action that will inspire efforts in their respective agency, diocese, or parish.  

Title:
Our Reckoning and Our Hope: Racial Justice and Reconciliation 

Dates:
June 29 - July 2, 2026

Location:
Jesuit Spiritual Center
Milford, OH

Registration:
$650.00
Registration includes retreat fee, all materials, lodging (private bedroom, shared bathroom), most meals (two lunches will be offsite and on your own), entrance fees into the museums, and transportation to the museums. 

Schedule:
*subject to change*

Monday, June 29

• 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM -  Arrival / Registration

• 2:30 PM - Opening Remarks by NACSAM planning team members, Dcn. Paul Kipfstuhl, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Cleveland and local host Andrew Musgrave, Archdiocese of Cincinnati

• 3:00 PM - Mass with Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry, retired auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese of Chicago, assisted by Dcn. Royce Winters at the Jesuit Spiritual Center

• 4:00 PM - free time / socializing / gathering / access to the Sacrament of Reconciliation 

• 5:00 PM - Dinner

• 6:00 PM - Evening Retreat Preparatory Talk/Reflection (preparation for immersive experience) by Jillian Foster, Archdiocese of Cincinnati

• 6:30 PM - Depart for St. Andrew Parish (less than 10 minutes from the retreat center)

• 7:00 PM - The Life & Legacy of Venerable Augustus Tolton with Most Rev. Joseph N. Perry, retired auxiliary bishop, Archdiocese of Chicago

• 9:00 PM - Personal Prayer/Reflection (with questions in program)

Tuesday, June 30

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast

• 7:45 AM - Morning announcements/gathering 

• 8:00 AM - Depart Jesuit Spiritual Center

• 10:15 AM - Thomas Merton Center with split programming 

  • Thomas Merton and the Civil Rights Movement: Models of Friendship for Our Time with Mr. Mark Meade, Assistant Director of the Thomas Merton Center

  • Called by Name: Identifying Black Catholics in St. Louis Cemetery with Dcn. Ned Berghausen, St. Agnes Catholic Community 

• 11:45 AM - Walk to chapel

• 12:00 PM - Mass with the Most Rev. Shelton J. Fabre, archbishop, Archdiocese of Louisville at Our Lady of the Woods Chapel, Bellarmine

• 1:30 PM - Lunch on your own 

• 2:30 PM - Keynote presentation and book signing with Dr. Lewis Brodgdon, Executive Director, JustFaith Ministries and author of The Gospel Beyond the Grave 

• 4:00 PM - Depart from Bellarmine 

• 6:00 PM - Arrive back to the Jesuit Spiritual Center

• 6:45 PM - Dinner (sponsored by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Secretariat of Justice and Peace 

• 7:45 PM - One-on-one prayerful processing and unpacking of the day 

• 8:45 PM - Conclusion of the day

Wednesday, July 1

• 7:00 AM - Breakfast

• 8:00 AM - Overview of the day

• 8:45 AM -  Departure from retreat center

• 9:15 AM - Arrival at St. Joseph’s Parish

• 9:30 AM - Mass with Most Rev. Robert G. Casey, archbishop, Archdiocese of Cincinnati with Dcn. Royce Winters assisting

• 10:15 AM - Conversation with Archbishop Casey

• 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM - Ignite Peace riverfront tour 

• 12:30 - 2:00 PM - lunch on your own
  *Additional optional recommendation to walk the Black Music Walk of Fame*

• 2:00 - 4:15 PM - self-guided tour at Underground Railroad Freedom Center

• 4:30 PM - Depart for Jesuit Spiritual Center 

• 6:00 PM - Arrival at Jesuit Spiritual Center

• 6:45 PM - Dinner 

• 7:45 PM - Prayerful processing/unpacking of the day (small group) 

• 8:45 PM - Conclusion of the day

Thursday, July 2

• 7:30 AM - Breakfast

• 8:30 - 9:30 AM - check out

• 9:00 - 10:00 AM - Sacrament of Reconciliation available 

• 9:30 - 10:15 AM - Call to Action / Large group processing

• 10:30 AM - Closing Mass and commissioning (Fr. Jim Schutte presiding, assisted by Deacon Winters preaching)

• 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Lunch

• 1:00 PM - Departure

Register Now

Top Three FAQ's

1. Airport
   The Jesuit Spiritual Center at Milford (located at 5361 S. Milford Rd., Milford, OH 45150) recommends flying into CVG/ Cincinnati-N. Kentucky airport.  It is 20 miles from the retreat center, and we will be recommending that people ride share from the airport. 

2. Ride Sharing
   If you are interested in ride sharing from the airport, please contact Catherine directly.

3. Dress
   Business casual is recommended for when we will be offsite as we will be attending Mass, but casual is recommended for while we are at the retreat center. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes!