Excerpts from “Life Goes On”

by Howard Thurman

During these turbulent times 

we must remind ourselves repeatedly that life goes on...

The wisdom of life transcends our wisdoms;

The purpose of life outlasts our purposes;

The process of life cushions our processes.


The mass attack of disillusion and despair,

distilled out of the collapse of hope,

has so invaded our thoughts 

that what we know to be true and valid 

seems unreal and ephemeral...


Let us not be deceived.

It is just as important as ever 

to attend to the little graces 

by which the dignity of our lives 

is maintained and sustained.


Birds still sing;

the stars continue to cast their gentle gleam

over the desolation of the battlefields

and the heart is still inspired 

by the kind word and the gracious deed...


To drink in the beauty that is within reach,

to clothe one’s life with simple deeds of kindness,

to keep alive a sensitiveness 

to the movement of the spirit of God

in the quietness of the human heart 

and in the workings of the human mind—

this is as always the ultimate answer to the great deception.

~an excerpt from “Life Goes On” in Meditations of the Heart by Howard Thurman

Dear Colleagues,

Living amidst turbulent times sends me searching for spiritual anchors. Howard Thurman’s reflection reminding us that life goes on is an important one for me.

 

As spiritual directors, “keeping alive a sensitiveness to the movement of the spirit of God” is an essential part of our ministry. How often do we discern the movement of the spirit in the lives of directees who feel turned around by life’s turbulence? Or seek the quiet space that lies beneath their quivering hearts? Keeping alive our sensitiveness serves as an important antidote to disillusion and despair, Thurman suggests, as we tap into the “purpose of life that outlasts our purposes” and diligently seek “the wisdom that transcends our wisdoms.”


I hope you’ll take some time to explore the wealth of resources this newsletter offers you as a spiritual director navigating these turbulent times. The more complex our spiritual direction work becomes, the more important it is to seek out opportunities for ongoing formation, education and connection.


As we explore new ways of connecting, we’re happy to introduce the Spiritual Directors’ Discussion Forum, a space for contemplative conversation that invites reflection on topics of interest to Ignatian spiritual directors. Take a moment to view our inaugural topics: Spiritual Direction and the Call to Care for Creation and A Conversation Among Spiritual Directors of Color. Your voice is an important part of these conversations, contributing to the ways we grow as Ignatian spiritual directors. So join in!


As we move through autumn, let us remember that birds still sing and stars still shine. Let us remind ourselves to attend to rhythms steeped in kindness and rituals bathed in beauty.


Most of all, let us remember that life, especially life in the Spirit, does indeed go on.

Autumn blessings,


Nancy


Nancy Small

Associate Director for Spiritual Direction Initiatives

Office of Ignatian Spirituality

USA East Province of the Society of Jesus

929-232-3056

nsmall@jesuits.org

 

Deepening Our Engagement

Reflective Practices for Ignatian Spiritual Directors

Three-Part Virtual Series featuring Damian Zynda, Th.D & Ryan LaMothe, PhD

Next Session: Nov. 19, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET

Program Fee: $125 (Scholarships available by clicking here.)

This three-session virtual series explores the theological, psychosocial, and Ignatian foundations for reflective practices along with their pastoral application.


This program is designed for trained spiritual directors and spiritual directors in formation programs. Each session will be recorded and all registrants will receive a copy of each recording.


Click here to register for the remaining session and receive the video of the first two sessions.

 

Back to the Basics and Beyond

Exploring Key Components of Ignatian Spiritual Direction

Program Leader: Anita Wood

Thursday, Feb. 20, 2025, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM ET

Program Fee: $25

The ISDI offers generous financial assistance for those in need of it. Click here to apply.

This program is the first in an annual series exploring the basic building blocks of Ignatian spiritual direction as well as topics that take us beyond the beginnings. This series will provide opportunities for spiritual directors to revisit the basics – which may look different when viewed through the lens of time in an increasingly complex world – and reach beyond. 


This lead-off program will provide an exploration of several key components of Ignatian spiritual direction. It is open to all spiritual directors – new, seasoned and everywhere in-between – especially all who are eager to learn more about Ignatian spiritual direction. It will be recorded and all registered participants will receive a link to the recording.


Click here for more information and to register.


View program leader Anita Wood's bio here.

 

The Call of Christ the King in Conflicted Times

Program Leader: Sr. Boreta Singleton

Saturday, March 29, 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ET

Program Fee: $25

The ISDI offers generous financial assistance for those in need of it. Click here to apply.

The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius invite us to follow Christ the King in a mission “to overcome evil with good, to turn hatred aside with love, to conquer all the forces of death.” 


  • What are the values of the kingdom needed in our times? 
  • How can we animate and activate these kingdom values amidst a climate of conflict and challenge? 
  • How is God calling us to labor for Christ and recognize the presence of Christ laboring in today’s world?  


This virtual program will be recorded and all registered participants will receive a link to the recording. 


Click here for more information and to register.


View program leader Sr. Boreta Singleton's bio here.

 
 
 

New! Spiritual Directors' Discussion Forum

As we explore new ways of connecting as Ignatian spiritual directors, we’re happy to introduce to you the Spiritual Directors’ Discussion Forum. This new section of the ISDI webpage creates a space to reflect on resources that we believe are of interest and import to Ignatian spiritual directors.


The format is simple and user-friendly with just a few steps:

  • Review the Guidelines for a Good Discussion
  • Take some time to view or read the resource we provide
  • Contemplate the reflection question(s) posed
  • Post your response (following the directions provided)


Your voice is an important part of the conversation, contributing to the ways we grow as Ignatian spiritual directors. Please take a moment to explore it here!


You’ll find two important inaugural resources to spark conversation:

Spiritual Direction and the Call to Care for Creation

The September 2024 “For the Cry of the Earth,” Pope Francis Video encourages us to actively care for creation by adopting ecological as well as economic, social and political responses. View the video and reflect: How does this call relate to the ministry of Ignatian spiritual direction?

A Conversation Among Spiritual Directors of Color

In May, the ISDI created space for Spiritual Directors of Color to engage in honest conversation with one another about their experience.


Read about this groundbreaking conversation here and post a comment after considering how you are being invited to respond.

 

Check out the ISDI Online Events Calendar!


This calendar features programs for Ignatian spiritual directors offered by the Office of Ignatian Spirituality and other organizations. Upcoming programs from our partners include Identifying Your Own Voice as a Spiritual Director, SoulCollage® Concepts and Spiritual Direction, an Online Spiritual Direction Inquiry Session and a new Spiritual Direction Formation Program.


Click here to learn more!


The events calendar is a valuable resource for the ongoing formation of Ignatian spiritual directors. Click here if you’d like us to consider posting an upcoming event you are planning for Ignatian spiritual directors.(Make sure to tag the event “SpiritualDirection.”)

 
 

The ISDI Catalog of Spiritual Directors is a rich resource that refers seekers in the Jesuits USA East Province to trained spiritual directors listed in the Catalog. Information in the Catalog is confidential, viewed only by OIS Staff members when referring someone seeking a spiritual director. Click here to learn more.

 

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15th through October 15th), we honor the 52 Spanish-speaking spiritual directors listed in our Catalog and recognize the important contribution they make by offering spiritual accompaniment to members of the Hispanic community. ¡Te celebramos!

More than 50 spiritual directors expressed interest in offering spiritual direction as part of Family Matters, a collaborative effort between Ignatian Young Adult Ministries of OIS and Goodfaith offering an online family community inspired by Ignatian Spirituality. The generous response we received from spiritual directors exceeded the need for spiritual directors this year. We express our sincere gratitude to all who offered to be part of this innovative program and extend our prayerful best wishes to all who will be participating. 

If you are registered in the Catalog and need to update your record, click here (especially if your contact information or your availability to see new directees has changed!).


We are in need of directors in the Scranton-NYC-Baltimore-Washington, DC area who have availability for one or more new directee(s) as we receive a steady stream of requests in these areas. Thank you!

 
 

Spiritual Direction for a Synodal Church


The October issue of The Way, with a focus on Ecclesial Creativity, includes an article entitled St. Ignatius’ Rules for Thinking with the Church: Spiritual Direction for a Synodal Church by Julie Trinidad. (Used with permission.)


“[T]he universal Church and local churches are engaged in fresh discernment about where and how the Spirit is leading us into the future,” writes Trinidad. “The Spiritual Exercises and, in particular, recontextualisation of Ignatius’ rules for thinking, judging and feeling with and for a post-Vatican II, synodal Church, can offer an important resource at this time. ...The experience of Ignatian spiritual direction cannot shy away from its responsibility to be of service to the transformative work of ecclesial reform in a synodal spirit, to serve the needs of our world and offer hope for the future.” [Read the full article here.]


The Way is an international journal of contemporary Christian spirituality published quarterly by the British Jesuits. Request a free sample copy.

God's Field Hospital

Ignatian Spiritual Exercises Healing Wounds of Life

by Michael Hansen, SJ; foreword by Antonio Spadaro, SJ


God's Field Hospital offers treatment by God the healer for those hurt, wounded or ill, and all those who find themselves in the dark, nursing a cold heart, or holding on to a failing life. 


"God's Field Hospital makes Pope Francis's metaphor of the 'church as a field hospital' real. The sixty Ignatian spiritual exercises offer retreatants and directors an effective relationship with God, the healer."—Sr. Anne Arabome, SSS, Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality, Marquette University, and author of Why Do You Trouble This Woman?


Click here to purchase the book from Paulist Press.

 
 

"Spiritual direction is an opportunity to explore one’s understanding of the divine, of self, of others, of life. It can help to ground you in your values and to be informed in your actions, decisions and your way forward, It offers a space of accountability, a space of care and a space of resourcing to be able to deepen all of that for yourself."


~ Pat Cassidy, Contemplating Spiritual Direction video

 

IgnatianSpiritualDirection.org

 
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The Ignatian Spiritual Direction Initiative

is a ministry of the Jesuits East Office of Ignatian Spirituality.