Photograph courtesy of Krysztof Niewolny
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Dear LIS Friends,
As plans for summer vacationing are being made and we’re packing our bags to get away, let’s be sure to unpack the weight of anything hindering our relationship with Christ. Not only will we have lighter bags to carry, but we’ll be able to get along peacefully with others. God never intended us to be weighed down and unfree. It is through Jesus that we’ve received our freedom from the bondage of sin and death. For some reason, we keep forgetting this truth and pack our bag(gage) and carry the heavy weight around with us for days and months. The smallest bags that seem to weigh the most include guilt and regret…from past situations, choices or actions. Jesus wants us to unpack these bags for good and set aside the weight. It’s when we become familiar with the load of being bound in pain and regret that our personal witness is affected. We no longer can spread the Good News to others by our actions and words because we are weighed down. Our testimony is not filled with hope, but with bitterness. God never intended us to carry burdens alone. But when we hold onto unforgiveness of our past mistakes or choices, we are bound with unrest. This behavior affects our entire being, destroys our relationship with God and weakens our faith. We must not forget that we are more than conquerors. Who we are in Christ sets us free. Our freedom in Christ will help us realize our God-given purpose and journey. LET GO and LET GOD take you places you’ve never imagined you’d be able to go!
Peace and Blessings,
Lori Stanley
Executive Director
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The LIS Community gathered on June 1 to present the Love in Action Award to LIS Associates Gloria Espinosa and Caroline Neal in recognition of their commitment and work at LIS. Both Gloria and Caroline are actively involved in various ministries at LIS. They both serve as directors in the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, are involved in retreat ministry, and assist with the Diaconate Formation Programs. We are grateful for all they do to help our mission.
L to R: Gloria Espinosa, Lori Stanley, and Caroline Neal.
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Thirty-two persons graduated from the Ignatian Spiritual Formation Program (ISFP) and the Programa de Formación Espiritual Ignaciana (PFEI) on Sunday, June 2 after completing the three-year programs. We wish them well on their journey as they continue to bring God's love to the world through their various ministries. Congratulations graduates!
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The
Catholic Bible Institute (CBI-Orange)
is a three-year program that involves a comprehensive study of the Sacred Scriptures, with particular focus on methods of biblical study, sharing and praying with scripture, and application of skills in Bible-study leadership.
Year One (Fall 2019 – Spring 2020)
includes an introduction to the
New Testament
, with study of the four Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, Pauline Letters, Catholic Epistles, Book of Revelation, Non-canonical Writings, and New Testament Theology.
Year Two (Fall 2020 – Spring 2021
)
includes an overview of the
Hebrew Scriptures
, with study of the following texts: Pentateuch/Torah, Historical Books, Prophetic Writings, Wisdom Literature, Deutero-canonical Writings, and Hebrew Theology.
Year Three (Fall 2021 – Spring 2022)
combines instruction with a
Practicum
that focuses on developing skills for working with small groups, with an emphasis on adult learning, facilitation skills, group process, Bible-study resources, and leadership training.
A new cohort begins this Fall.
For more information about registration for CBI,
please click here.
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We are now accepting applications for the
Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life
, the 19th Annotation Retreat of the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life. The retreat is from September to May and is comprised of daily prayer, weekly spiritual direction meetings, and monthly faith-sharing meetings. For more information, please
click here.
31 Days to Engage
is coming in July. Look for more information about a month-long celebration of LIS, its mission, and its programs. The festivities will culminate with the celebration of the feast of St. Ignatius on July 31. For more information,
please click here.
Jesus, the Face of God's Mercy
, August 4-11, is an Ignatian 8-day retreat hosted by Mary and Joseph Retreat Center. It will be directed by LIS Staff members: Sr. Jeanne Fallon, C.S.J., Fr. John Galvan, S.J., Br. Charlie Jackson, S.J., and Carlos Obando. For more information,
please
click here.
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A Reflection from LIS Associate Helene Markel
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Thank you for allowing me to share a part of my own story. I came to LIS in 2009 when my daughter decided to study at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. I had just received a postcard from the Institute advertising their programs. I decided to come and take a few classes so I could learn the Jesuit language. That way I would be able to speak intelligently to my daughter. I came looking for information.
I will never forget the first class I attended. At the door I was greeted by the beautiful Sister Barbra Ostheimer who made me feel very welcome; but once inside the classroom I felt a sense of fear run through me. Already seated in the room were men and women of all different nationalities. There was even a priest and a few religious sisters. I was afraid I would not fit in. What in the world would we have in common? Well the weeks went by and we all learned together. A few classes turned into a three-year program where I earned the title of Loyola Institute Associate. The people of all different nationalities became not only my colleagues, but my friends. I came looking for information but what I received was transformation. What I had learned within the borders of the classroom had affected the borders of my heart which had been expanded for new possibilities. My heart experienced an enormous break down of fear. The fear of different people. The fear of different cultures. The fear of my own talents and capabilities and especially the fear of sharing my own spiritual stories. The Loyola Institute helped me to acknowledge my talents and to find my voice. St. Ignatius calls us to “Go and set the World on Fire.” Since my graduation I have tried to follow St. Ignatius’ call. Through the Loyola Institute I have had the honor of guiding others through the Spiritual Exercises. I have used my talents on planning, working and speaking on retreats here at LIS and throughout the county. At LIS I was trained to facilitate Bio-Spiritual Focusing Classes. I was introduced to the Ignatius Spirituality Project where I helped to plan and work on retreats for homeless women. LIS also reached out to Parolees of Orange County, where I along with other associates have offered prayer services and spiritual classes. Three years ago LIS offered me the opportunity to co-teach the Practicum 3
rd
year class. Each of these experiences deepened my transformation and allowed me to witness transformation in others as they began to realize the presence of God is their own lives.
With all this experience under my belt I began reaching out to a few parishes where I offered Spiritual Direction and Ignatian based classes. I am now very proud to be a staff member at St. Timothy Catholic Church. I have found my voice and my desires are being fulfilled as I assist others in finding their voices, their true and loving relationships with God.
I am only one person. The Loyola Institute has over 200 Associates spread across Orange and Los Angeles counties. We are men and women of all ages, young and old coming together from many different cultures and faith backgrounds. We are businesspeople, students, homemakers, doctors, artists, lawyers, priests, deacons, religious sisters, pastors, and teachers. We are American, Hispanic, Vietnamese, Korean, Chinese, Filipino and Nigerian. Although we look different and sound different what is inside is the same. We all desire to serve God. God is within each one of us. He is our Shepherd. He calls us each by name. Together we can all Set the world on Fire!
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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.
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LOYOLA INSTITUTE FOR SPIRITUALITY
434 S. Batavia Street
Orange, CA 92868
714-997-9587
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