Young women host Ignatian retreat

Twelve young adults participated in a weekend retreat next to Manresa Jesuit Centre of Spirituality in Dublin from Friday 21 October to Sunday 23 October 2022. It was termed a ‘Pre-Exercises’ retreat as the team leaders drew on foundational Ignatian spirituality reflections and exercises, preparing participants to engage in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola in the future. The retreat gave the young adults an opportunity to build some solid friendships and to strengthen their mission and vision.

The Faber Community, the collective of young adults in the Ignatian tradition, were glad to use the young women’s house in Clontarf as a venue for the retreat for the first time. The house opened in September 2022, and the young men’s house in Rathmines opened in August 2019. Chloe Lubinski, an American spiritual director, and Callum Douglas, an Irish retreat facilitator, guided the participants throughout the weekend. They are both involved in different Jesuit ministries, including retreat work in Jesuit schools.

The retreat included an introduction to the ‘Pre-Exercises’, group sharing, written reflections, gardening, quiet time for prayer and creativity, meditations, and sharing meals together. The young adults particularly enjoyed gardening in the grounds of Manresa Jesuit Centre of Spirituality under the guidance of Peter Hannan SJ. The Irish Jesuit gave a history of gardening from a Christian perspective including reference to the Garden of Eden, theology of Saint Augustine, the impact of the Industrial Revolution, and his personal experience of the benefits of gardening.

Participants expressed their thanks to the facilitators and the women’s house for hosting the event. Smaller groups attended Mass at different locations later on the Sunday to top off the weekend. The Faber Community very much look forward to participating in the prayerful schedule of activities over the coming weeks.