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Jesuit & Ignatian
Spirituality Australia

31st July 2024

Dear ,


Welcome to our St Ignatius Feast Day newsletter, a special edition with reflections on Ignatius’ legacy, from members of our JISA community. We begin with Ian Cribb SJ…


St Ignatius’ love for Jesus was so passionate he prayed to be placed with Jesus. He wanted to be close to the Lord. God answered his prayer at La Storta, when Ignatius was granted the grace to be placed with Jesus on mission.


Over time Ignatius developed a deep friendship with God. Unlike the human friendships of biblical times, often possible only between the good and among equals, God offered friendships in sometimes shocking ways, to Jacob the trickster, David the murderer and Solomon the idolater.  


Ignatius was gifted with an intimate role in the mission of God. The Spiritual Exercises lead us to the friendship of Jesus. Jesus offers friendship to Zacchaeus the tax collector, Bartimaeus a blind beggar, the cure of the paralytic at Capernaum, the leper, the beggar, to Mary of Magdala and the many women who accompanied Jesus. We are in turn to make friends in the way Jesus does, to offer the friendship of Jesus to others. Not just to our family, friends, those we love and like, but the people on the margins, the poor, victims of war, refugees and the homeless we see on our streets.


When we offer the friendship of Jesus we truly encounter the other and depth our relationship with God. On this feast day of St Ignatius let us pray to deepen our friendship with Jesus and to offer it especially to those most in need.

The Art and Heart of Ignatian Conversation

“…the legacy of Ignatius has so enriched my own life that it becomes a legacy that I in turn hand on to the next generations, especially as they wrestle with ambivalence about the institutional church. In particular, Ignatian conversation has been my godsend – going in their way, to bring them out God’s way.”


Liz Kerr, Spiritual Director and Giver of the Spiritual Exercises from JISA Faber in Queensland reflects on this gift of Ignatius.

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Rediscover or Remember the Importance of Place

“Being attentive to place allows us to comprehend the journey and the relationships where our feet are at any particular time. It allows us to seek and find God in all the things and the possibilities where we find ourselves.”


Jesuit in formation, Isaac Demase SJ shares his reflections on the importance of place at the beginning of the Spiritual Exercises.

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The Spiritual Exercises Transformed My Faith

“This experiential transformation ultimately led me to a place of interior freedom where I was invited by my God to release myself from the pressures of the past that were urging me to conform.”


Maureen Atkins, Ignatian Spiritual Director from JISA Faber in Victoria shares how her personal relationship with God opened a new perspective on her faith.

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Finding God in all things

“Upon reflection at the end of the day my inner eye was opened to see that God had been with me during the day outdoors. And not just tagging along waiting for me to say some prayers…”


Jesuit, Iain Radvan SJ from JISA Sevenhill in South Australia shares his experience of God’s delight and joy in all his daily activities.

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Self-guided online pilgrimage on the life of Ignatius

Experience the gifts of Ignatius’ life and spirituality through a series of stories and prayers of key stages and turning points of his life; and the relevance to our lives, places, and times, including questions to reflect upon.

EXPLORE

Welcome to the JISA Season of Creation Contemplations for 2024


This year we will pray on creation with our senses. These contemplations were first created for IM24 Song of the Senses by Michael Hansen SJ, and have been adapted for you this Season of Creation.


There are five contemplations over five weeks to help you pause, heal and sustain your relationship with Earth, and with God in Earth. Contemplations to help us work together on behalf of all Creation.


We invite you to pause and immerse your senses amongst conferences of God’s creation… with stones, winds, waters, trees, and birds.


You can take these short audio reflections out into Nature… and you can share them with your friends and colleagues…


Complete your registration to receive your contemplation in your inbox each week during the Season of Creation – from Wednesday 4 September to Wednesday 2 October 2024.


Weekly contemplations are offered free of charge. You can also make an optional financial gift to the ministry when you register.

REGISTER NOW

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