Spiritual Exercises for Our Times:
A Lenten Retreat for Racial Equity
grounded in the Spiritual Exercises
of St. Ignatius
"I firmly believe in these uncertain times we need to invest more fully in one another... It is my persistent hope that sharing the fruit of our prayer will help us grow in trust of one another, and thereby help us grow as communities of discernment.”
"I firmly believe in these uncertain times we need to invest more fully in one another... It is my persistent hope that sharing the fruit of our prayer will help us grow in trust of one another, and thereby help us grow as communities of discernment.”
-Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, Jesuits West Former Provincial
-Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ, Jesuits West Former Provincial
Join us in prayer this Lent! We invite you to a Lenten retreat for Racial Equity grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
Join us in prayer this Lent! We invite you to a Lenten retreat for Racial Equity grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.
This program is inspired by the Universal Apostolic Preference “to show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises” and the Jesuits West Collaborative Organizing for Racial Equity (CORE) initiative.
This program is inspired by the Universal Apostolic Preference “to show the way to God through the Spiritual Exercises” and the Jesuits West Collaborative Organizing for Racial Equity (CORE) initiative.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the retreat begin and how long does it last? The retreat is a seven-week program that runs throughout the Lenten season. Information for prayers and meeting times will be provided before Ash Wednesday.
When does the retreat begin and how long does it last? The retreat is a seven-week program that runs throughout the Lenten season. Information for prayers and meeting times will be provided before Ash Wednesday.
What are the expectations for those making the retreat? Each participant will receive a weekly email with materials for daily prayer and have the opportunity to meet weekly in a small group either in person or online.
What are the expectations for those making the retreat? Each participant will receive a weekly email with materials for daily prayer and have the opportunity to meet weekly in a small group either in person or online.
Can the retreat be done online? Yes, there will be the option to participate in weekly online group sessions with colleagues from other Jesuit schools.
Can the retreat be done online? Yes, there will be the option to participate in weekly online group sessions with colleagues from other Jesuit schools.
Additional Questions? Please contact Robert Stephan at rstephan@loyolahs.edu, Debra Sauvage at sauvaged@bellarmineprep.org, or Janet Perucca-Kleinhofer at jpkleinhofer@bcp.org
Additional Questions? Please contact Robert Stephan at rstephan@loyolahs.edu, Debra Sauvage at sauvaged@bellarmineprep.org, or Janet Perucca-Kleinhofer at jpkleinhofer@bcp.org
Register Now!
Register Now!
Background & Acknowledgements
Background & Acknowledgements
This program was created in response to the call from Jesuits West former Provincial, Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ. Beginning in 2019 a number of new initiatives were launched to deepen the practice of discernment across Jesuit ministries. This discernment process led to the formation of the Collaborative Organizing for Racial Equity (CORE).
This program was created in response to the call from Jesuits West former Provincial, Fr. Scott Santarosa, SJ. Beginning in 2019 a number of new initiatives were launched to deepen the practice of discernment across Jesuit ministries. This discernment process led to the formation of the Collaborative Organizing for Racial Equity (CORE).
In the greater Los Angeles area several members of that discernment process developed a program that examined the key themes of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius through the lens of racial equity. From September 2020 until May 2021, participants met in online sessions for shared prayer, faith-sharing, and discernment for those connected with Jesuit ministries across the greater Los Angeles region.
In the greater Los Angeles area several members of that discernment process developed a program that examined the key themes of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius through the lens of racial equity. From September 2020 until May 2021, participants met in online sessions for shared prayer, faith-sharing, and discernment for those connected with Jesuit ministries across the greater Los Angeles region.
The planning team members for the original 2020-2021 Spiritual Exercises for Our Times program were Angel Mortel, Ann Holmquist, Fr. Brendan Busse, SJ, Fr. Ike Udoh, SJ, and Robert Stephan. They were assisted by Rosa Bonilla, who facilitated the Spanish language sharing group, Dr. Susana Funsten, who reviewed the Spanish translations and suggested Biblical resources, and Jorge Garcia and Oscar Torres, who translated at each session. This updated version was adapted with the help of Robert Stephan, Janet Perucca-Kleinhofer, and Debra Sauvage.
The planning team members for the original 2020-2021 Spiritual Exercises for Our Times program were Angel Mortel, Ann Holmquist, Fr. Brendan Busse, SJ, Fr. Ike Udoh, SJ, and Robert Stephan. They were assisted by Rosa Bonilla, who facilitated the Spanish language sharing group, Dr. Susana Funsten, who reviewed the Spanish translations and suggested Biblical resources, and Jorge Garcia and Oscar Torres, who translated at each session. This updated version was adapted with the help of Robert Stephan, Janet Perucca-Kleinhofer, and Debra Sauvage.
This website presents an abbreviated version of that original program. We hope these materials are helpful to you and your community.
This website presents an abbreviated version of that original program. We hope these materials are helpful to you and your community.