Unique among the first-century saints, who often represent withdrawal from the corruption of society, Sebastian of Rome believed that union with Christ would redeem his role in public life. Sebastian used his public position to help countless Christians evade persecution, yet he accepted martyrdom twice. In the same spirit, the Sebastian Forum offers laypeople cultivation in a distinctively Christian practical wisdom in their realms of responsibility. It does this primarily through lectures, retreats, conversations, and publications. In the spirit of Saint Irene, who nursed Sebastian back to strength after the first attempt on his life, it offers a place of spiritual and intellectual retreat in the natural splendor of Acadia National Park and opportunities for leaders to extend their teaching, art, and apostolates to summer visitors and the local community. In the spirit of the Roman Forum, it sponsors regular gatherings to expose the community to divine worship, sacred music, and classical art. And, in service of the rich religious history of Acadia, it curates an archive, develops educational materials, and displays historical documents and artifacts that chronicle the Catholic history of Mount Desert Island, one of the earliest missionary sites in the United States.