What’s New
Farewell to Inisfada
St. Ignatius Retreat House in Manhasset, New York, better known by its original name of Inisfada, will close in June. Completed in 1920, the 87-room mansion was originally the summer home of Nicholas Brady, a Long Island businessman. After his death, his widow...
Year of Faith
What thoughts and images arise at the words, “Year of Faith?” Information can easily be found on the web, but if we engage in a reflective and imaginative exercise, especially if we choose to be open to the movements of inspiration, we might very well find some...
God at Newtown
Like many Americans, I have struggled to comprehend the event at Sandy Hook Elementary School and have despaired that the “national conversation” (whatever that means) has so quickly devolved into the same old unhelpful clichés and political posturing. While the rest...
The New Year and the Magi
There, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they...
Finding God in all things — even Landlords!!
God is in all things whether we know it or not. The chapter we read in IVC this month from An Ignatian Spirituality Reader by George W. Traub, SJ helps us to know how to find God’s presence while we are working, living and functioning in the world, not removed to a...
From Tears to Context
Why, in the middle of working a crossword or putting mustard on a hotdog, did I suddenly find tears welling up? This had been happening for over a week now, and I finally realized I’d better pay attention. The tears had started in the days after a retreat with...
Once a Day: Gratitude
Some of us take at least one medication every day. Some have habits of coffee every morning, or exercise or quiet time; some have one radio or TV program that is as regular for them as getting a night’s sleep. Whether we take a vitamin, drink a beverage, or engage in...
Reflecting on the Presence of God in our Lives
During our October 2012 monthly meeting of IVC volunteers at the Washington Jesuit Academy, Ginny, our wonderful facilitator, asked us: What is your favorite prayer? We went around the large table in our meeting room quickly and everyone mentioned one or two prayers,...
Community!
Over the last couple of months, I have been meeting weekly with a group of four other people over a meal and learning to be a Christian community. This is not a Bible study group. Nor is it a social club. And it definitely isn’t a substitute for a church. But...