The Manresa Group: Ignatian Spirituality & Life’s Journey

In-Person

The Manresa Group seeks to gather people into a community, to form people in Ignatian Spirituality, and to journey through life’s transitions. Each session offers a “mini-retreat” where you can participate once, twice, or as many times as you like for a total of eight sessions.

Are you faced with a transition in your life? Are you looking for something more in your prayer and spirituality? Do you sense you are in the second half of life or someplace new? You may ask, “Who am I now? What’s next? How do I handle this change? How do I want to live my life? How do I make the best decision? What’s God’s plan for me? Just know that you are not alone. Know there is a pathway to something new.

After being hit with a cannonball in battle, Ignatius of Loyola’s life changed forever. Eventually, Ignatius found himself as a pilgrim walking from Montserrat to Manresa where he lived in a cave for about nine months. This time of struggle and growth with the Holy Spirit entailed a great shift in Ignatius’s life. Manresa was his time of formation that gave birth to Ignatian Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises. Ignatius received the wisdom to continue his life’s journey.

The Manresa Group combines the wisdom of Ignatian Spirituality—which includes discernment of spirits and decision-making—with the developments of what we know, today, about the journey of life. Life’s Journey topics entail: the dynamics of transition, suffering, death of a loved one, grief, discovering our true self, second half of life movements, caregiving, life shifts, aging, the Hero’s Journey, shadow work, dealing with a life changing diagnosis, and other topics. We walk together on this journey as we discover this new life and direction forming within us.

Each evening entails: (a) in-depth presentations, (b) time for prayer, reflection, individual work, (c) large and small group sharing and conversation, (d) new prayer practices, and (e) applications for daily living.

Join us for new content and wisdom each month:

2025:
September 22, Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm: Ignatian Spirituality: Are You a Tourist or Pilgrim? by Fr. Paul O’Connor, SJ
October 20, Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm: Life’s Journey: Embracing the Divine Spark: Creativity in Spirituality by Lauren Cummins
November 10, Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm: Ignatian Spirituality: Deepening God’s Love & Forgiveness by Fr. Paul O’Connor, SJ
December 1, Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm: Life’s Journey: Life, Death, & Grief by Tom Pussel

2026:
January 19, Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm: Ignatian Spirituality & The 12-Steps: A Journey to Wholeness for Everyone by Joe Cummins
February 9, Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm: Life’s Journey: TBA
March 23, Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm: Ignatian Spirituality: TBA
May 11, Monday 6:30pm-8:30pm: Life’s Journey: TBA

This is a great opportunity for anyone who feels moved to participate in this experience of formation, community, and new life. Please email Fr. Paul O’Connor, SJ, for questions and details: poconnor@jesuitretreatcenter.org.

Registration