Ignatian Spiritual Exercises

The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises—are they for me?

This group has two remaining places available.
Contact Jim Hynes below. 

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. Participants will be invited into a brief discernment process to consider their readiness to benefit from the Spiritual Exercises.

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 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm in person at St. Thomas More Church. Most meetings will be in the Sacred Heart Room.  The program begins September 20, 2023, and finishes May 1, 2024. The program will enroll five people . We will not meet during Thanksgiving, Christmas holidays, nor Holy Week.

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 $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 Jim Hynes.

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 September 13, 2023. Payment two is due on or before February 1, 2024.)

Payment Method 

• Check: payable to ‘St. Thomas More’, with ‘Ignatian Spiritual Exercises’ on memo line, and sent to St. Thomas More Parish Office, ATTN: Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, 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.