The 19th Annotation Retreat of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius is a a retreat that is open for faculty, staff, and graduate students, they meet weekly with a spiritual director.
To apply or if you have any questions about this program please contact Donal Godfrey S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu
Date & Time: This program beings September 13, 2012 through April 2013
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
The Spiritual Exercises, which are at the center of Ignatian spirituality, grew out of Ignatius Loyola’s personal experience as a person seeking to grow in union with God and to discern God’s will. He kept a journal as he gained spiritual insight and deepened his spiritual experience. He added to these notes as he directed other people and discovered what “worked.” Eventually Ignatius gathered these prayers, meditations, reflections, and directions into a carefully designed framework of a retreat, which he called “spiritual exercises.” Ignatius believed that, just as one can use physical exercises to keep in good shape physically, one could use spiritual exercises to remain in shape spiritually.
One way to make these Exercises is in silence, full-time over one month. Another way to make is them over thirty weeks in a form known as the “19th annotation”.
For the first time in many years University Ministry offered the Spiritual Exercises to Faculty and Staff. Mary Romo, Ellen Kelly Daley, Donal Godfrey, S.J, Roger de la Rosa, S.J., Al Grosskopf, S.J, Don Crean and Radmar Jao, S.J, directed nine faculty and staff through the exercises in this form known as the “19th annotation.”
While each person’s experience was unique, all shared finding the exercises rich and rewarding in so many ways. Here is the reflection of Tom Grossman, Associate Dean of Faculty and Research, School of Management faculty member:
"My experiences in the 30 weeks of the "19th Annotation" retreat were transformative. I came out of these exercises with a richer understanding of who I am and what drives me personally and professionally; increased capacity for gratitude and compassion; and a greater willingness to stand up for things I believe in. The program provided a sometimes-demanding structure of activities that taught me many things, including the meaning of my own resistance to the structure. I was wonderfully supported by a spiritual director who helped me see myself in richer and more compassionate ways, and to notice and appreciate things that I habitually skip past. The director was able to bring to me centuries of Ignatian teachings and wisdom, and to give me a personal understanding of the term "God" that is uncontaminated by the ranting’s of the religious right. There were periods of joy, hard slogging, relief, bafflement, and ultimately a lasting calm. I'm very grateful to have had this opportunity."
