One of the most important facets of the Imagine IVC process is creating a space for our community members to share their honest opinions with each other. To do so, we made sure that our Visioning Process facilitators were experts in not only fostering dialogue and leading discussions but also well versed in Ignatian Spirituality as well.
Elise Gower (she/her) is the Associate Director of Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA). She holds a B.A.
degree in Religious Studies from Marywood University and an M.S. degree in Elementary Education from the University of Scranton. Elise is personally and professionally committed to fostering intentional community around the tradition and values of Ignatian Spirituality. Her career has been focused in ministry, community engagement and leadership development. She has extensive experience working with the Jesuits in higher education and with the USA East Province. Elise is drawn to the art of sacred storytelling. She is committed to individual and collective antiracism work and fostering connections between spirituality and LGBTQ+ identity. Elise proudly calls Baltimore, Maryland home.
As a facilitator of spiritual conversations, Elise is particularly drawn to this model of prayerful sharing in its emphasis on sacred listening. Connected to the invitation in its title, Imagine IVC, we are invited into this process using our imaginations to encounter the Divine in our personal reflections and collective visioning for IVC’s future. We are called to notice God in our gathering and our sharing; to pay attention.
If you have yet to attend a Visioning Session, you can find information about when the next session is taking place and how to sign up here. We hope you will join us for this momentous process.