The Church of the Gesu supports the spirituality of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and the Jesuit religious order. The staff and their collaborators assist parishioners in deepening their understanding of Ignatian spirituality and foster their spiritual growth through Ignatian practices of prayer, retreats, service and other resources featured below. Saint Ignatius was the founder of the Society of Jesus, which is the order of Catholic priests and brothers that has served Gesu Parish since its founding in 1926.
IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY AND PROGRAMMING AT GESU
Ignatian programs assist parishioners in deepening their understanding of Ignatian spirituality and fostering their spiritual growth through Ignatian practices.
One Book, One Parish Program
Please join fellow parishioners in reading our 2022-2023 One Book, One Parish selection: a simple life-changing prayer: Discovering the Power of St. Ignatius Loyola's Examen, by Jim Manney. Click here to learn more.
Ignatian Prayer & Faith Sharing
Each month, there is a gathering for prayer in the Ignatian traditions of imaginative Gospel Contemplation, Lectio Divina and the Examen. A facilitator guides participants in prayer and reflection with a focus on Sacred Scriptures for the coming Sunday. Contact Marcia Leous for more information.
McGivney Library
Visit the McGivney Library in the Pastoral Center and browse our 500 selections on Ignatian Spirituality, Jesuit history, inspiring lives, prayer, sacraments, the Mass, Bibles, Catholicism and more. To view a list of available titles, click below:
Ignatian Retreats & Programs
These experiences are based on the Spiritual Exercises, a collection of prayers, meditations, reflections and directions that St. Ignatius used to guide individuals who wished to grow in their love for God, others and self. Each retreat or program offers opportunities to meet regularly with a group and/or spiritual companion, and can be adapted to meet the needs of one's daily life commitments. Contact Marcia Leous for more information.
Novena of Grace
This annual nine-day period of prayer honors the anniversary of the canonizations of Saints Francis Xavier and Ignatius of Loyola (1622). Saint Francis was the first and greatest missionary of the Society of Jesus and a contemporary and friend of Saint Ignatius, founder of the Society. The Novena of Grace includes a special Mass, daily prayer services and speakers. Contact Fr. Michael Vincent, SJ for more information.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR EXPLORING IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY
Ignatian Spirituality invites us to pray in a way that allows God to walk with us in the routines of our daily lives. This kind of spirituality is rooted in the Spiritual Exercises, a handbook for how to pray and experience God that was written by St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit religious order. The resources below offer various ways to explore Ignatian Spirituality, and many of the websites also have apps. Enjoy prayer and reflection at your fingertips!
Imagine: A Guide to Jesuit Prayer >
In this podcast, Tucker Redding, SJ, guides you through a form of prayer called Ignatian Contemplation, in which you use your imagination to see and interact with various scenes from Scripture. Drawing upon the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, this series will help you engage with Scripture in a new way by bringing these stories to life.
The Ignatian Way >
How do you find God and determine how best to serve others in your own life? This series of videos sponsored by the Irish Jesuits addresses these questions through the lens of Ignatian Spirituality.
Knowing God's Call >
The way we fulfill our daily responsibilities has changed for many of us during these past few months. This reality may have encouraged us to question whether or not we are doing what we are supposed to be doing, or in spiritual language, whether or not we are following God's call. Author Becky Eldridge answers this question by suggesting that we get "to know the One who calls" and notice "who is already in our life to love." Finally, she invites us to look at our natural gifts and "offer them to God for God's use."
Jesuit Retreat Center (JRC) >
The Jesuit Retreat Center, located in Parma, provides opportunities for reflection, prayer and discernment. Their programs and retreats are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, inspired by the spirituality of St. Ignatius, and are centered in a beautiful sacred setting. JRC offers and hosts retreats and programs for an evening, a day, weekend, 8 days and 30 days. Programs are open to people of all faiths, generations, and backgrounds.
Online Retreat in Everyday Life >
This 34-week retreat sponsored by Creighton University is designed for people who are too busy to make a traditional retreat.
Pray As You Go >
This daily audio prayer session is designed to go with you whenever and wherever you find the time to pray, but particularly when you are traveling to and from work, study, errands, etc. The website also contains prayer tools and retreats.
Jesuit Prayer >
This prayer site offers a daily scripture passage and reflection.
Ignatian Spirituality >
This website, a service of Loyola Press, offers information on and experiences of Ignatian spirituality from Jesuit and Ignatian sources around the world.
3-Minute Retreat >
This "retreat" sponsored by Loyola Press provides a short scripture-based prayer break.
Reimagining the Examen >
This site invites you to review your day with God in gratitude. Explore one of the modern versions of this 500-year-old Examen prayer used by St. Ignatius.
Sacred Space >
This daily online prayer and retreat website is sponsored by the Irish Jesuits.
America: The Jesuit Review >
This weekly national magazine, published by the Jesuits of the United States contains news and opinion about Catholicism and how it relates to American politics and cultural life. It also contains resources for prayer.
The Word Among Us >
This monthly publication includes daily meditations based on the Mass readings of the Catholic Church, essays, testimonies and stories of the saints and other Christian heroes. The Church of the Gesu makes this resource available to parishioners, although it is not a ministry of the Jesuits. Complimentary online access is currently available.