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The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises—are they for me?
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola are a set of spiritual practices that help you experience the depth of God’s love for you. This comes from reflecting on your life, the life of Jesus and then applying your experience of divine love to work in your life. Recognizing and savoring this unconditional love provides a foundation for discerning and saying “Yes!” to God’s unique call to you.
Who is a good candidate for the Spiritual Exercises? You are if you take your relationship with God seriously, feel drawn to deepen experience of God’s love and presence in your life.
Those who undertake the Exercises sense that a deepening of God’s love will help them with questions many of us encounter in our lives. “Should I change jobs?” “What will I do when I retire?” The Exercises help us reframe decision questions and ask instead “Given God’s love, what does God desire for me at this time?” We pray for a discerning heart to align our choices with God’s presence in our lives.
Who is offering the Spiritual Exercises? The St. Thomas More/UNC Newman Spiritual Direction Ministry is offering the Spiritual Exercises this Fall. Called a retreat in everyday life, the 30-week program is an excellent way to pursue discernment while living everyday life.
When and where will the Spiritual Exercises be offered? The Exercises will be offered on Wednesdays from 5:30 pm to 7 pm in person on St. Thomas More's South Campus and via Zoom at the same time. The program begins October 13, 2021 and finishes May 25, 2022. The program will enroll 20 people (four groups of five). We do not meet during Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter holidays.
What are weekly exercises like? Through biblical meditation and other spiritual practices, you will come to know and love Jesus, yourself and others. You will be asked to pray and reflect 30-60 minutes a day and to share reflections each week in your small group. Past participants have found the Exercises to be a powerful journey into spiritual growth and a way to gain a closer relationship with God.
What is the cost? The cost of the program is $450, including a NON-REFUNDABLE $50 deposit. After payment of the deposit, to reserve your space in the program, the balance may be paid in one or two installments.
Who to contact? For questions or more information, contact Cindy Neely at neelycynthia @gmail.com
Registration ... has been closed. The group size is at capacity.
Participation options:
- In-person: You may be assigned to a group that meets in person on Wednesday evenings 5:30 pm to 7 pm on St. Thomas More's South Campus. Dates: October 13, 2021 through May 25, 2022
- Online: you may participate Wednesday evenings 5:30 pm to 7 pm in an online group that meets via Zoom. Dates: October 13, 2021 through May 25, 2022
All groups are led by a spiritual director from the St. Thomas More Spiritual Direction Ministry.
Register below and indicate your participation preference. Every effort will be made to honor your choice. If you are open to either option, please choose 'no preference.' Once the maximum group size has been reached additional registrants will be placed on a waiting list and will be notified.
Please complete the sections below and be sure to click the "Submit" button.
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Payment Options ($450)
- Pay in Full: $50 deposit (required with registration to reserve your space) plus one $400 payment
- Pay in Installments: $50 depostit (required with registration to reserve your space) plus two $200 payments to be paid at a later date. (Payment one is due on or before Oct 13, 2021. Payment two is due on or before February 1, 2022.)
Please note: The $50 deposit is non-refundable. Refund of $200 or $400 will be paid in full until September 15.Payment Method
- Check: payable to ‘St. Thomas More’, with ‘Ignatian Exercises’ on memo line, and sent to Laura Stewart, St. Thomas More Parish Office, 940 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
- Online with credit card: click here. Please note: A $10 fee will be added for credit card payments.