|
Dear Friend,
Lent begins next week and with it those prayer practices we turn to during the forty days of the season. Penance is one of these practices I have always connected with. It helps "lower my guard" as I am made more open to God's action in my life.
The penance of fasting helps me empathize with those who go hungry. I am made more sensitive to the many people who truly hunger in our world every day.
I feel weaker. I become vulnerable. My guard is lowered. Therefore, I am more open to feeling the need for God's grace in my life.
How about you? How will you lower your guard during Lent? How will you be more open to God during this time?
May this liturgical season help us to open ourselves to God's grace so that he transforms us into a people for others. Below, please find a few resources and programs from OIS and across the Ignatian community to help deepen your prayer this Lent.
| |
Carlos Aedo
Executive Director
Office of Ignatian Spirituality
| | |
|
|
Lenten Audio Reflections
Over 900 people signed up to pray with us during Advent by listening to our weekly audio reflections. We're excited to offer these podcasts reflections this Lent as well.
Click here for more information and to sign up to receive the reflections each week.
These short Ignatian-inspired reflections are written by young adults and presented by Jesuit Connections. Sign up for our weekly emails or follow our podcast feeds:
Apple | Spotify | Soundcloud
| |
Young adults (20's and 30's) are invited to join us for weekly online small group discussions based on these Lenten reflections. Groups will be led by young adult facilitators and begin the week of Feb. 18. Click here for more info and to register! | | |
|
|
IGNATIAN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION INITIATIVE
Exploring Our Lives Through the Lens of Spiritual Freedom: A Lenten Retreat for Ignatian Spiritual Directors
Mar. 14, 2024 1:00pm-4:00pm ET
Spiritual directors are invited to this online event with Vinita Hampton Wright. Join us in a process of self-awareness and hope during which we will tap the deep wisdom of Ignatian spirituality and its invitation to grow in spiritual freedom.
Click here for more information and to register.
| | |
|
|
Message from Pope Francis for Lent 2024
"Prayer, almsgiving and fasting are not three unrelated acts, but a single movement of openness and self-emptying, in which we cast out the idols that weigh us down, the attachments that imprison us..."
Click here to read this Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2024 in its entirety.
| | |
|
|
LOYOLA JESUIT CENTER | MORRISTOWN, NJ
Lightening Our Darkness
Lenten Day of Prayer
Feb. 20, 2024
Lent comes from an Old English word meaning lengthening — the lengthening of days, of daylight, that comes in the season of spring. In our spiritual seasoning, it is a time to mark our movement from the darkness of pride, fear, and despair to the full light of humility, boldness, and hope. Led by Linda Baratte.
Click here for more information about this in person day of reflection.
| | |
|
|
LOYOLA ON THE POTOMAC | FAULKNER, MD
Lenten Virtual Prayer Series
Tuesdays During Lent, 7:00pm ET
The program lasts one hour and includes prayer, a shared reflection, personal prayer time and time for sharing insights and graces.
The programs will be facilitated by Father Jim Conroy, S.J., Father Frank Kaminski, S.J., Sheri Kemp, Sister Pat mensing, SSJ, Elise Gower, and Jim Palmer.
Click here for the Zoom link.
| | |
|
|
JESUITS GLOBAL
Travel Miles with Saint Ignatius
This Lent, Jesuits Global is offering an opportunity to deepen your faith journey using the new Jesuit Pilgrimage App. You will travel to a different destination in each of the weeks of Lent: Pamplona, Loyola, Paris, Venice and Rome.
Each of these locations comes to life, offering stunning audiovisuals and historical content. Let God reach out to you!
Click here for more info and click here to download the app!
| | |
|
|
JESUIT CONFERENCE OF CANADA AND THE U.S.
Traveling the Landscape of Lent
During Lent we are invited to encounter Christ already at work. In this digital pilgrimage series of retreat modules, a community of writers will invite you deeper into the Gospel scene, pulling from their own faith journey while accompanying you on yours.
Click here to receive these meditations every Monday of Lent.
| | |
|
|
GREGORIAN FOUNDATION
Finding and Cultivating Hope in Difficult Times
You are invited to participate in this guided retreat extended over the six full weeks of Lent. There will be two talks per week with reflections based on Scripture, along with suggestions on how to pray over them.
The retreat is complimentary and open to anyone who is interested. For more info and to register, click here.
| | |
|
|
ELAINE IRELAND | PREACHER EXCHANGE
Provisions for the Journey to Jerusalem
In the Spiritual Exercises, the second “week” is spent walking closely with Jesus as he ministers in Galilee. This movement invites us to get to know the human Jesus, to observe what he does and how he responds to the people and situations around him.
Spiritual director Elaine Ireland writes these daily reflections informed by Ignatian spirituality. Click here to visit preacherexchange.com to read and pray with these daily reflections.
| |
|
Last month, an energetic group gathered online for Gathering the Givers of the Retreat in Daily Life, A Special Program for Those who Offer the 19th Annotation Spiritual Exercises Retreat. Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ, responded to questions from participants while offering his own insights on topics of importance to Givers of the Retreat in Daily Life (RIDL) / Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL).
Click here to watch the video from the session.
| | |
|
|
Sharing the Graces of Ministerio Hispano Ignaciano
OIS's Ministerio Hispano Ignaciano and its new website were featured in the winter 2024 issue of JESUITS magazine, published by the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus.
Click here to read more from program participants and leaders as they learn more about the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
| | |
|
|
IGNATIUS HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT CENTER | GA
The Adventure Deepens
Weekend Workshop for Spiritual Directors on the Exercises
Apr. 25-28, 2024
Spiritual directors are invited to a 3-night workshop led by Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ, spiritual director and author of The Ignatian Adventure as we delve into the art of directing the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Click here for more information and to register.
| | |
|
|
BELLARMINE JESUIT RETREAT HOUSE | IL
Ignatian Spirituality Institute: Giving Witness Practicum
Jul. 15-19, 2024
Attend this intensive workshop exploring aspects of retreat planning, unfolding Ignatian themes, and offering talks and presentations that lead others to encounter and prayer. Presenters are: Carol Atwell Ackels and Fr. Michael Graham, SJ.
Click here for more information and to register for free.
| | |
|
|
POPE'S WORLDWIDE PRAYER NETWORK
Pope Francis' Prayer Intention for February 2024
This month, Pope Francis asks us to join him in praying for the terminally ill. We pray that those with a terminal illness, and their families, receive the necessary physical and spiritual care and accompaniment.
Click here to pray.
| |
|
Retreats
Our Retreat Calendar offers a compiled list of retreats presented by OIS and our partners across the Jesuit network.
Click here to add your retreat to the calendar.
| |
|
LOYOLA JESUIT CENTER
MORRISTOWN, NJ
| |
Sacred Pause
March 22-24, 2024
Many would agree that constant “doing” comes at a price, often relational erosion. We can lose an awareness of God, of others, and even ourselves. This weekend we will take focus on these life-giving relationships which we can so easily see erode and retract. Led by spiritual director Anna Graziano.
| |  |
|
LOYOLA ON THE POTOMAC
FAULKNER, MD
| |
Triduum Silent Retreat
March 28-21, 2024
Celebrate the Passion and Resurrection of our Savior. Our Triduum Retreat begins with a Sedar Meal followed by the Mass of the Lord’s Super, Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion and culminates with the Easter Vigil. The silent retreat also includes invitations to prayer and plenty of time for personal prayer.
| | | |
|
THE JESUIT ANTIRACISM SODALITY EAST
A Descendant’s Story: Dr. Lynn Locklear Nehemiah
A JARS Webinar
Saturday, March 16, 11am Eastern
Dr. Lynn Locklear Nehemiah made the surprising discovery of her connection to the GU272 story after taking an ancestry DNA test in 2017. Her paternal fourth great-grandmother, Louisa Mahoney, was listed on the sale docket of the 1838 sale by the Jesuits to plantations in Louisiana. Louisa was warned of the impending danger and hid in the woods along with her aging mother and father, thus escaping the sale. She and her children, documented as the "last of the Jesuits' slaves," remained enslaved by the Jesuits until 1864.
Dr. Nehemiah has done extensive research on her family history which she is able to trace back to pre-colonial Jamestown. Lynn is also a member of the Nanticoke Indian tribe through her maternal side. She is currently the Co-chair of the Sacred Heart/White Marsh Cemetery Restoration committee and a founding member and Vice-President of the White Marsh Historical Society.
Click here for more information and to register.
| |
Did someone forward you this email? | |
Office of Ignatian Spirituality | USA East Province of the Society of Jesus
| | | | |
