{"id":6730,"date":"2021-11-22T14:11:35","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T19:11:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diocesemontreal.wp.vortexdev.com\/en\/news\/news-2\/common-rootedness-ignatian-spirituality-2021-ignatian-retreat\/"},"modified":"2021-11-22T14:11:35","modified_gmt":"2021-11-22T19:11:35","slug":"common-rootedness-ignatian-spirituality-2021-ignatian-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diocesemontreal.wp.vortexdev.com\/en\/news\/news-2\/common-rootedness-ignatian-spirituality-2021-ignatian-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"A Common Rootedness in Ignatian Spirituality: The 2021 Ignatian Retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

From Jesuits of Canada<\/a>
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\nIn the summer 2021, during the Ignatian Year, the Jesuits of Canada offered to all the Ignatian family an eight-day retreat called The Gift of Ignatian Community in a World Experiencing Crisis, inspired by their shared spirituality.<\/p>\n\n

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The year 2021 marks the 500th anniversary of the conversion of Saint Ignatius, a date that is of particular significance for all of us, but particularly for the Society of Jesus and the Christian Life Communities. As such, the Superior General of the Jesuits has announced an Ignatian Year to begin in May 2021 and end in June 2022. But the year 2021 also marks the 400th anniversary of Mary Ward\u2019s Institutum, the first complete plan for what would become the IBVM-CJ communities; the 170th anniversary of the first arrival of Sisters of Saint Joseph in Canada; and the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Xavi\u00e8re Sisters, Missionaries of Christ Jesus by Claire Monest\u00e8s. 2020 was also the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Faithful Companions of Jesus by Marie Madeleine d\u2019Hou\u00ebt. It seemed important, in this context, to invite all the members of the wider Ignatian Family in Canada to celebrate together this Ignatian Year with a common retreat. \u2013 The Gift of Ignatian Community in a World Experiencing Crisis, Introduction<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n


\nWhat was this retreat?<\/strong>
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\n\u201cIt was composed of eight \u201cmovements\u201d that led the retreatant through the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,\u201d explains Fr. Joe Newman, SJ. \u201cA downloaded retreat booklet was available to all, with the structure of each day and of each prayer period: Preparatory Prayer; Composition of Place; the Grace sought; Scripture passages; a dialogue or colloquy; conclusion and review.\u201d
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\n\u201cI was grateful for the opportunity to participate and appreciate all the collaboration and work that went into preparing the booklet, the opening and closing.\u201d \u2013 Sister Ann McGill, FCJ \u2013 Toronto
\nAccording to the testimonies from multiple retreatants, the openness to all the Ignatian family was a gift, and the retreat bore many fruits leading to a renewed commitment to our common mission.
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\nAn Ignatian Family<\/strong>
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\nReflecting on the communities\u2019 charism and the common Ignatian spirituality were appreciated by the participants. Indeed, as Sr. Joanna Walsh FCJ \u2013 Edmonton, explains:
\n\u201cThe Introduction to the Retreat included the reflection that Ignatian community is \u201crooted in an experience of \u2018friendship in the Lord\u2019 that fosters the building of an apostolic body that goes out to share\u2026\u201d 
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\nShe then adds: \u201cDuring the retreat, I found that reading from the documents and experiences of various Founders and Foundresses gave me more insight into what we share because of our Ignatian roots, and therefore how much the \u2018multiplier effect\u2019 is actually happening across Canada as men and women, clergy, religious, and lay, live this spirituality. Those quotations helped fill out for me some aspects of the various Mysteries to be pondered during the retreat.\u201d
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\nSr. Ann Marie Walsh, FCJ, adds: \u201cIt was so enriching to reflect on the various charisms and to see the common rootedness in Ignatian Spirituality. I recognized the embodiment of the Two Standards\u2026with Christ\u202fgathering \u202fpersons and\u202fsending\u202f them to share the Good News. The section on\u202fPartners in Christ\u2019s Mission\u202fhad the same sense of\u202fgathering\u202f and\u202fsending.\u202f In our own FCJ documents, we are\u202fcalled\u202f and\u202fsent \u202fto \u201cengage in whatever work contributes to the salvation of souls and in the manner which appears most conducive to the service and glory of God and the good of the neighbour.\u201d
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\nBeing particularly challenged by the theme of the community charism, Andr\u00e9e Richard, CLC President, was looking forward to this retreat with joy. \u201cThe circumstances in my life that foster an intimate and precious relationship with the Lord, however, have been slower to take shape in community. The readings chosen for this retreat helped me to understand the community charism at a deeper level.
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\nThey invited me to move from \u201cI\u201d to \u201cwe.\u201d My vision and my sense of community life were broadened and blessed with profound graces.
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\nMy identity was enriched by this Spirit-led experience. Knowing that I was accompanied by members of the great Ignatian family of Canada helped me to solidify my sense of belonging to this communion of saints. Family, my CLC community, my parish, work, etc. helps me to feel rooted in a local, national and global family, broadening my desire to serve. There is no shortage of needs and I pray that I will be able to respond to the call that is addressed to me.\u201d
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\nFinally, the openness to all Ignatian groups, including feminine groups, was appreciated, for example by Sr. Susan Donohue FCJ -Toronto:
\n\u201cI appreciated the inclusion of the feminine, also the sense of family and community through the contributions of women religious.\u201d
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\nFruits of the Retreat<\/strong>
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\nBeing with others, linked to all humanity and following Christ seems to have renewed retreatants\u2018 engagement with their mission: the retreat bored great fruits for many participants.
\nMarc-Andr\u00e9 Veselovsky, SJ, writes: \u201cMy retreat this year was a reminder of my call to service. God loves me, and therefore I can love others. Jesuit community is an opportunity for me to witness to the love that God shows us. This was one of the fruits of the retreat. I also wrote a song for the first time in my life, and I thank God for that gift.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

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\n\u201cI was called and challenged to recognize myself as part of the web of brokenness in a world in crisis, but I am not alone. I am called into companionship with all humanity and with all creation. Jesus is the Saviour not me! We need community,\u201d shares Sr. Susan Donohue FCJ -Toronto.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n


\nThis sense of companionship was also important to Andr\u00e9e Richard: \u201cThe identity received from God, the call to follow Christ, the reconciliation between the forces of good and evil always being part of my life, the peace in grey times and above all, the serene joy dwelling in me every day are the graces received, renewed in this time of intimacy with the Lord. My sense of community lived in this union of heart and mind in community in Christ gives me great joy. It is knowing that we are all on the road to Emmaus and that our collaboration will contribute to the coming of the kingdom of God that tells me\u2026it is good and pleasant to be together.\u201d
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\nFor others, reading and praying the Scriptures and Ignatian texts was a great consolation during the retreat. \u201cI appreciated the format-especially quotes from our Foundress. It gave me a new appreciation of Marie Madeleine in the context of the Scripture we were reflecting on for that day,\u201d explains Sr. Lois Anne Bordowitz FCJ \u2013 Toronto.
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\nAs for Fr. Newman: \u201cIn my case I had asked for a retreat director, and my director guided me through the basic dynamics of the retreat with some unique concentrations of Scripture passages and graces to seek, taking account of my experience in prayer. Some prayer periods took me back to images from a much earlier retreat, over 40 years ago. My director then gave me passages to pray on, and repeat, that could lead me forwards in the way that God is leading me. An important part of this year\u2019s retreat was the emphasis on community: \u201cloved by God in communion (belonging) with others\u2026\u201d, \u201cTo know Jesus more intimately, who becomes human for us in a human family\u201d\u2026  At Villa Saint Martin, we \u2013  twelve men and women \u2013 were part of a larger community, praying together in three different places hundreds of kilometers apart, one in sharing the gift of Ignatian Community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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