February 2019
Photograph courtesy of Erol Ahmed
Dear Friends of LIS,

It has been said that the only one who can satisfy the human heart is the one who created it. February is when we’re reminded of our hearts and what’s in them. God is always challenging us to take the plunge and to go deeper into our “feelings” to release whatever’s blocking our blessings. It is in this exploration into the deep that we realize we can fall in love with God and with one another. Just as Jesus told Peter to go back out to the deep water and put his net down to discover abundance, so too are we asked to step out again…go deeper to take inventory of our hearts to peer into its recesses and see what needs attention. It will lead us to our anointing…to our abundance. Ask God to show you what needs tending to so that you can trustfully surrender and rest in his providence. St. Augustine reminds us “…for You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”

Speaking of hearts, our annual Hearts on Fire event honors individuals whose contributions to spirituality, community service and Christian leadership have been inspired by Ignatian spirituality. The recipient of the Hearts on Fire Award is Mrs. Teresa “Tita” Smith, former Mayor of Orange and current Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Orange County. The Writer’s Award in Spirituality will be awarded to Fr. Ron Rolheiser, O.M.I., author and President of the Oblate School of Theology. We are so excited and invite all of you to share in our celebration on May 5, 2019 at the Hilton Anaheim.

Please mark your calendars for the upcoming events this month. Our next Ignatian Morning will be on Sunday, the 10 th, and our Ignatian Weekend Retreat March 15 th to the 17 th. A new series of BioSpiritual Focusing begins on February 17 th. We are also looking forward to hearing the inspiring testimony of Fr. Pat Howell, S.J., who will be our featured Speaker Series guest on Sunday the 24 th. Please check our website for further updates. 

Peace & Blessings,

Lori Stanley
Executive Director ­
AT A GLANCE
Lord, Teach Us to Pray: An Ignatian Morning, is on Sunday, February 10, 2019, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., followed by Mass. Join us for a wonderful morning with Br. Charlie to lean more about Ignatian Prayer and how it can help you in your spiritual life. Click here for a printable flyer.

Join us for BioSpiritual Focusing: A Day of Prayer, on Sunday, February 17, 2019 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. and BioSpiritual Focusing: An Exploration on Tuesday mornings, February 19 through March 19, 2019, 10:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Click here to learn more.
LIS SPEAKER SERIES:
Desire as an Avenue to Mystery: Mental Illness, Stigma, and Healing,
Fr. Pat Howell, S.J., returns to LIS for the next installment of our 2018-2018 Speaker Series.

February 24, 2019, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
Mother Louis Room, Saint Joseph Center
480 South Batavia Street, Orange, CA 92868

Please RSVP to Mr. Ryan Pratt at pratt@loyolainstitute.org, or ext.114

Click here for more information.
IGNATIAN WEEKEND RETREAT: The Lord Is my Shepherd
Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and invites us to follow his voice. Come away with us on this retreat to rest, pray, and listen to the voice of Jesus as he promises to comfort us and confirm our moment in spiritual relationship with God. 
 
March 15-17, 2019
7:00 p.m., Friday to 4:00 p.m., Sunday
 
Pro Sanctity Spirituality Center
205 S. Pine Drive, Fullerton, CA 92833
 
Cost:  $225 single occupancy
$195 double occupancy
$150 commuter
 
To register, please click here .
 
For more information, please contact Ryan Pratt at 714-997-9587 ext. 114 or email pratt@loyolainstitute.org
HEARTS ON FIRE 2019

May 5, 2019

5:00 p.m. Reception & Silent Auction
Followed by Dinner & Award Ceremony

Please note our new venue:
Hilton Anaheim
777 Convention Way
Anaheim, CA 92805


February, A Month of Hearts Everywhere - Sr. Jeanne Fallon, C.S.J.
Hearts on cards and cakes, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, candy hearts for your special “Valentine”…

So where is your heart? 
What does heart signify to you?
           Is it the physical organ that keeps you going?
           Does heart mean love? What kind of love?
           What does it mean to be loved?
What does it mean to be on the receiving end of love? To receive it
and the joy of giving it away?
           Is it a love borne of suffering and self-emptying?
Is it an agape love, caring for the wellbeing of another?
Valentine’s Day celebrates a day of love and affection for one’s beloved. The Church remembers St. Valentine, Roman priest and martyr, who died in the year 270 during the persecution of Christians. In the third century, Roman Emperor Claudius II Gothicus made it a criminal offence to associate with Christians, so when he discovered that Valentinus (a priest) had secretly married young Christian couples who were in love, Claudius had him arrested, imprisoned and condemned to die. 

There is a legend that while Valentinus was in prison, the jailer asked him if he would heal his daughter’s blindness. Valentinus spent time with Julia, teaching her about Jesus, yet he could not cure her blindness. On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a farewell letter to Julia, encouraging her to stay close to God. The next day, February 14, Valentinus was beheaded. When Julia received the note signed “From Your Valentine,” her blindness was healed. Later, this day was named St. Valentine’s Day, a day of exchanging messages of love and affection.

As I was reflecting on “Heart Day” coming up this month, I remembered that our mission at Loyola Institute for Spirituality is

Setting Hearts on Fire with love of God for the World.

How do we try to set hearts on fire? Isn’t Jesus the one who sets hearts on fire? We think back on the disciples on the road to Emmaus. As they were reflecting on their experience of the Risen Christ joining them on their way, they said, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)
So too, with Jesus, we try to set hearts on fire:

We Bring Spirituality to life by:
inviting spiritual seekers to transformation,
fostering Ignatian formation and education,
nurturing discipleship.

May love so touch you that Jesus can inflame your heart to carry out his mission of love and compassion for the whole world.

Our Mission

The Loyola Institute for Spirituality, founded in 1997, 
works to promote a faith that does justice, in the tradition of St. Ignatius.  

We declare our mission to be:
 
Setting hearts on fire with love of God for the world.
 
We bring spirituality to life by:
inviting spiritual seekers to transformation,
fostering Ignatian formation and education,
nurturing discipleship.
LOYOLA INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUALITY
434 S. Batavia Street
Orange, CA 92868
714-997-9587
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