Fintan Creaven, SJ has just completed a 6-day preached retreat, ‘Journeying into God’. The title drew 22 people who together looked at different aspects of journeying: The Journey of God (the Processions of the Trinity); the journey of Creation (from the Big Bang to now); the Journey of Ignatius; the Journey of Jesus; The Voyage of Prayer; and Peregrinatio (the journeyings on the sea of the ancient Celts). We even looked at journeying on the Wrong Road (moving away from God). Original materials and audio-visuals combined with some lovely weather to make a relaxing and enjoyable event.

Meanwhile Gerry O’Mahony, SJ is currently giving a preached retreat from Monday – Friday to thirteen Columban Missionary priests. Between them they have worked in the Philippines, Brazil, Chile, the United States, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Belgium. Now they are home from the missions, yet still working in parishes in England, Ireland and Scotland.

Philip’s lively and provocative style ensured discussion was engaged and energetic. He approached the topic in three sessions dealing with good and bad aspects of guilt and conscience, the varieties of ways we describe and recognise stories of conversion, and the shape an Ignatian theology of sin might take.

Each session began with a brief orientation from Philip to set up and guide individual reading, space to read and reflect on the (very varied!) texts, discussion of the material in small groups, followed by a plenary where Philip answered some questions and posed more.

Philip presented theology (and historical studies) as a tool to widen horizons rather than narrow them. The response was enthusiastic — even from some participants who were initially a little daunted at the thought of having to think hard for the weekend. A final session looked at some of the ways the weekend might shape our practice as spiritual directors and retreat givers — and surfaced a long list of possible subjects for future study weekends.

The next weekend in the series is 24 – 26, September, 2010. Each weekend is free-standing so if you are involved in Ignatian spirituality and would like to reflect more deeply on its underpinnings do consider coming along.

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.

Stephen led two Ignatian retreats, one a small group retreat in the desert and the other individually directed. By all accounts the project was a great success.

Stephen found his stay extended by volcanic activity and has only just made it back to the UK–where he has launched straight into a week of guided prayer at Reading University.

Meanwhile, Carol Ann Duffy, the Poet Laureate, catches the plane-free mood in a new poem: she can be heard reading “Silver Lining” in this clip from the Today programme.

The eruption in Iceland which has cleared the skies of Europe of all air traffic has had an effect here in Loyola Hall. Brian O’Leary, SJ, due to present our Seminar this weekend, has been unable to get here. Instead we have been working with the text of his talks which he was able to send us. There is a wealth of experience in the gathered group and so far the signs are good that the weekend will be a success — despite not having Brian on hand to answer questions and fill out his ideas.

Next week a third member of their team will be with us to do some thermal imaging of the building. There’s clearly tonnes for us to do, from the simple replacement of light bulbs, to the more costly insulation of cavity walls. Do ask us for a progress report when you next visit! (By the way, energy efficient light bulbs are on our wish-list…)

The review is being funded by ENWORKS, an organisation that coordinates environmental advice, training and support throughout the Northwest.

It’s been my first time and it’s been a true blessing! I enjoyed learning about Holy Week, what the liturgies stand for, and I loved being involved in the planning and in the actual liturgies

Marvellous! I’ve never experienced such a Holy Week before

We were a small group this year, sixteen plus the Loyola Hall team. Perhaps it was the smallness of the group and the fact that we scaled down the amount of liturgy preparation that we all undertook, keeping the liturgies simple, that gave this particular retreat a prayerful and peaceful quality.

There was no shortage of creativity. And there was plenty of time for the participants to deepen their appreciation of the great liturgies of Holy Week, with different team members running sessions on each day of the Triduum that helped us all explore what we would celebrate later in that day. Some one-to-one spiritual direction was offered to all who wanted it.

Thanks to everyone who came and made it such a wonderful celebration of our faith.

Fifty Jesuits and co-workers from 20 countries gathered to reflect on the way Ignatian Spirituality is being practised ‘at the frontiers’. The frontiers in question including the internet, politics, business, health care, urban life. and issues of morality and culture.

Ruth’s own presentation was on giving the Exercises to those who are not Roman Catholic — which, surprisingly, is a frontier issue in some parts of Europe still. Here at Loyola Hall we have a long tradition of giving the Spiritual Exercises to all-comers but it is not universally so across Europe.