The Centres of Ignatian Spirituality

Ignatius developed a program of prayer and reflection from his own experience as a poor pilgrim searching how to best serve God. His experiences of sharing God’s love and faith with all sorts of people grew to become the book of The Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius gave three forms of his Exercises and we in turn offer them to you.

This retreat is made in daily life over four weeks for about 21 days. It contains first step exercises for beginners, new visions for searchers and solid food for those desiring more in their interior life. This retreat is about simplicity with depth – simplicity in exercise, depth in desire and relationship. Ignatius gave this retreat to everyone. It offers easily learnt exercises in a structure that aligns one’s desires with faith and service. They are ‘First’ Exercises in that one learns and prays exercises in this retreat that can be used with confidence and ease every day after it. In fact, this is the purpose that shapes the content of this retreat. These Exercises are also known as the ‘Eighteenth Annotation’ Exercises.

ThIs retreat is the full Spiritual Exercises made over about thirty weeks in daily life. One lives and works as usual and yet still makes Exercises. The retreatant commits to prayer and reflection for an hour and a half each day and meets with their spiritual director once a week. These Exercises are also known as the ‘Ninetenth Annotation’ Exercises

This retreat is the full Spiritual Exercises made over 30-40 days in a retreat centre. In an atmosphere of prayerful silence and surrender, one is able to remain deeply in relationship with God through daily prayer, reflection, liturgy and spiritual direction. These Exercises are also known as the ‘Twentieth Annotation’ Exercises.

The Full Spiritual Exercises - 30 Day Retreat 2011

Sun 11 Mar - Sun 15 Apr (Canisius, NSW)
Sun17 Jun - Fri 20 Jul (Campion, VIC)
Sun 24 Jun - Sun 29 Jul (Sevenhill, SA)
Wed 15 Aug - Fri 14 Sep (Ormiston, Faber, QLD)
Sun 7 Oct - Sat 10 Nov (Sentir, VIC - to be held at Santa Casa Queenscliffe)
Thu 11 Oct - Thu 15 (Canisius, NSW)
Nov Fri 12 Oct - Fri 16 Nov (Sevenhill, SA)

The Full Spiritual Exercises are an individually directed live-in retreat made over 30-40 days. In an atmosphere of prayerful silence, you will have time for meditation, reflection and liturgy based on the experience of Ignatius. There will be three rest or repose days built into the retreat. These occur between each of the Four Weeks of The Spiritual Exercises. Please contact your Centre for further information and an application form.

The Full Spiritual Exercises - In Daily Life Anytime at:

One way of making The Spiritual Exercises is through the Retreat in Daily Life. An advantage of making The Spiritual Exercises in this way is that the person making the Retreat is able to live and work in their own environment and yet still pray and make the Spiritual Exercises over a period of 30 weeks.

The meditations and Spiritual Exercises used are those of the 30 Day Retreat. The retreatant would pray for an hour each day and meet with their spiritual director once a week.

The Full Spiritual Exercises - In Daily Life for Priests

In their respective States the directors will come to you at your presbytery. They c

an offer you The Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life for a period of about 30 weeks. This involves: (i) prayer at least five days a week, and (ii) a weekly meeting with Ian or John at your presbytery.

The First Spiritual Exercise Retreats

The CIS Teams are giving these retreats to parishs, pastoral teams, prayer groups, teaching staff and ecumenical groups. Members of the CIS teams and independant Ignatian directors are also giving them to individuals. In the last three years the Spirit has surprised us with the powerful and life giving gifts people have received in making a First Exercises Retreat.

If you would like to experience one of these retreats in your parish, your group or personally, please contact your local Centre of Ignatian Spirituality.

Inner Peace in Divine Love

In this popular retreat we remember all God’s gifts to us. We explore how love is about giving and receiving between two lovers. The weekly themes are ‘Remembering Love’, ‘Dwelling in love’, ‘Love at work’ and ‘Receiving and giving Love’. Through these exercises, the Lord will help us to remember and feel the traces of his love burning it’s way through our heart.

This retreat is a twenty one day retreat in daily life given over four weeks. It is built upon a commitment of daily prayer Monday to Thursday and Sunday Eucharist. Regular spiritual direction will be given in a group or personal relationship, or both, adapted to the particular needs and circumstances of those making the retreat. Many resources will be given to you for on-going use and support after your retreat.

Inner Peace in the Service of God

Ignatius used the phrase ‘Service of God’ in his giving of the First Exercises. For him, Inner Peace is movement forward. The weekly themes are ‘Where I am going and to what purpose’, ‘Inner Peace through relationship’, ‘Inner Peace through desire’ and ‘Inner Peace through loving action’. This retreat frees desires and loosens feet for his service.

Inner Peace in Mercy, Healing and Freedom

The retreat moves through the mysteries of love, sin and mercy, healing and freedom. It tracks through the dark side of our humanity. But, doing so, with God’s tender love, it also provides a surer route to feeling greater love, wholeness and openness to God. Indeed, it leads to a profound friendship with God.