The Full Spiritual Exercises

In-Person

The Jesuit Retreat Center in Parma, Ohio offers the full Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola. This 30-day, silent retreat is offered every summer during the month of July. The Spiritual Exercises are for anyone who desires to deepen their relationship with God. In addition, it can be helpful for someone making a decision – whether it is a vocational choice, retirement, or a decision regarding one’s current way of life. It is also an excellent experience for anyone in a time of renewal, sabbatical, or pertaining to a period of life transition.

The Spiritual Exercises were written by Saint Ignatius 500 years ago and were based on his own experience of profound personal transformation. With the guidance of an Ignatian retreat director, the Exercises give each retreatant the opportunity to grow into a more deeply personal relationship with Jesus.

The retreat is a significant investment of time and energy for both the retreatant and the director. A person applying to make the retreat must meet the following conditions:

• Prior experience with silent, individually directed Ignatian retreats of five to eight days in length.
• Daily prayer practice (around 45 minutes).
• Open to new ways of prayer through the Spiritual Exercises.
• Experience of spiritual direction for a year or more that demonstrates awareness of one’s prayer experience, the ability to verbalize it, and the trust to share it with another.
• A letter/email of recommendation that the individual may profit at the present time from this experience from people (for example, a spiritual director or former retreat director) who understand the thirty-day Ignatian retreat as well as the capabilities of the retreatant.
• Two Zoom interviews with the 30-Day retreat directors (sometime February-May).

See the Full Schedule

June 28: Arrival 1:00pm-4:00pm (If flying, land 9:00am-4:00pm), Dinner 5:30pm, Orientation (evening)
June 29: Preparation Day of Formation (then retreat begins in the evening)
June 30-July 29: The Spiritual Exercises Retreat
July 29: Departure 1:00pm (If flying, departure flight 2:30pm or after)

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The price for this retreat is $4,400, which includes a private room (in our new suites with a private bathroom), board (two chefs with Normandy Catering), individual retreat direction, Masses/Liturgies, Ignatian Spirituality formation, housekeeping, grounds and maintenance, and other expenses. The regular price reflects the gratitude and generosity of our benefactors and others. The Actual Cost for this retreat is $6,810, so we appreciate whatever contribution you can make to further the mission of the Jesuit Retreat Center.

Please email Director of Mission & Identity, Fr. Paul O’Connor, SJ, for questions, details, and application requirements: poconnor@jesuitretreatcenter.org.