Loyola Hall: Jesuit Spirituality Centre

Last week, 10^th – 14^th May, six Jesuit Volunteers stepped back from their busy involvements with service projects in Birmingham and Manchester to enjoy the peace of Loyola Hall. A silent individually guided retreat is part of their one year programme which sees them working alongside asylum seekers, the homeless and other people in need.

They began with a couple of days introduction to some themes of Ignatian spirituality — such as imaginative engagement with scripture, discernment of spirits, decision making, and finding God in all things — and then entered into the silent, individually guided retreat.

For most the retreat was a completely new experience, and all relished the time for reflection, and came to treasure the silence and the deepening of their companionship that happened in the silence. For most too the retreat was an opportunity to explore new ways of praying and to give time to their relationship with God. All found the experience of talking to a spiritual director rewarding.