Ignatian Journey Retreat

January 2-5, 2024

Need a retreat but can't get away? The fully online Ignatian Journey Retreat is a perfect opportunity for a deeply meaningful spiritual experience in a flexible, individualized format. As a result, this retreat is ideal for distance learners, people with family and/or work responsibilities during winter break, and anyone else who benefits from an adaptable, personally-tailored retreat opportunity.

The Ignatian Journey Retreat invites participants to continue their own process of discovery. Each day will focus on a different moment of St. Ignatius’ life and its connections to today, so you will learn about St. Ignatius’ story and the wisdom it may offer for your own life.

This is a flexible retreat that can be done at home, away, on campus, or while working or studying. You will meet with a spiritual director prior to the retreat to talk about your hopes and individual circumstances, allowing you both some time for preparation. You’ll continue to meet daily with your director either in-person or online during the retreat week. In addition, you'll spend individual time in prayer and silence each day and have access to optional daily talks.

The Ignatian Journey retreat offers a unique opportunity to start the new year with a refreshed spirit, be immersed in the compelling story of St. Ignatius, and prioritize intentional time with God, tailored to your unique circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

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What is a spiritual director/spiritual direction?

A spiritual director is someone who is trained and able to offer guidance and companionship to someone who is seeking a deeper understanding of themselves and their relationship with God. Spiritual direction can help us to pay more attention to how God is speaking to us and how we are responding to God.

For more general and in-depth information about spiritual direction, please visit the Ignatian Spirituality website.

How can I have a fruitful retreat at home? How about if I’m working or have classes?

Changing one’s space is helpful for many retreatants, and this can be done even at home. Consider how to change the elements of your room or house to foster a retreat atmosphere. You might place spiritual/religious items more prominently, cover or put away distracting items, or get a white noise app or machine to block out other household noise and conversation. You might set aside a particular chair or room as your “prayer spot.” If you find the outdoors helpful, you could also plan daily walks in your neighborhood or in a favorite park.

Making a retreat amidst work, academic, or family responsibilities benefits from openness and planning. Consider ways you can minimize your household duties during the week, whether by planning and cooking meals in advance, ordering take-out, using the day before the retreat to catch up on laundry and cleaning, arranging an evening or two of childcare, etc.

What is the time commitment for this retreat?

To really enter the retreat, you’ll need 30-45 minutes each day for spiritual direction and an additional 30 minutes per day of time for silence and prayer. More time is beneficial, of course, but an effective retreat can be had with this amount of time. God always meets us where we are.

Can staff and faculty utilize Marquette's retreat leave benefit for the Ignatian Journey Retreat?

Yes. Staff and faculty receive two days per year of retreat leave which may be applied toward the Ignatian Journey Retreat.

 

Open to:
All undergraduate students, graduate students, and Marquette faculty & staff. 

 

Location:

This retreat will take place wherever retreatants find themselves. Retreat gatherings will happen online, and participants can choose whether they would like to do spiritual direction in-person or online. A link and password will be emailed to all participants prior to the retreat.

 

Tentative Schedule:

Tuesday, January 2:

4:00pm – Retreat Opening and Prayer 

Wednesday, January 3 – Thursday, January 4:

9:00am – Talk (will also be recorded to make later viewing possible)

Sometime during the day – spiritual direction and prayer time

 

Friday, January 5:

9:00am – Talk (will also be recording to make later viewing possible)

Sometime during the day – final spiritual direction session and prayer time

4:00pm – Retreat Closing and Prayer

 

Cost:

Free!

 

Register:

Registration for the Ignatian Journey Retreat closes on December 12, 2023.

Registration Form 


Contact
:
Pablo Cardenal - Student contact
Campus Ministry, AMU 236
P.O. Box 1881
Milwaukee, WI 53201-1881
(414) 288-3689

Faber Center - Faculty and Staff contact
Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality, Schroeder Complex 111
(414) 288-4545