by Mary Ann Gessner | Jan 29, 2023 | Discernment, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer
“Mary Ann, you speak of yourself as a tired sheepdog constantly watching the edges of the field. What would it look like if you were a sheep?” I could feel myself stiffen, my hands clenched. “What would you be losing if you changed roles? What would the gains feel...
by Vinita Wright | Jan 22, 2023 | Discernment, Faith in Action, Ignatian Spirituality
How I long for people to understand how their gifts are woven through everything. My gifts work within my personality, my history, my experiences. Your gifts work within your desires and loves. This is the way God created us. On the one hand, gifts are natural and...
by Liz Aceves | Jan 15, 2023 | Discernment, Faith in Action, Ignatian Spirituality
The idea of God giving gifts to anyone seemed so foreign to me. I believed God’s gifts were reserved for priests, nuns, saints, and laypeople who devoted their lives to God’s mission. A few weeks ago, I was at Sunday mass at my parish, and Fr. Andrew gave his sermon...
by Vinita Wright | Jan 1, 2023 | Discernment, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer
Keep Christ at the Center: Why? We can cite numerous theological reasons to put Christ at the center of life. But I find it quite effective to look at the alternatives. Why center my life on Christ? Well, if not on Christ, then what becomes my center? Do I want...
by Mary Ann Gessner | Oct 16, 2022 | Discernment, Faith in Action, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer
These past weeks have all been about the search for the “what.” What is God asking of me? St. Ignatius gave us a simple process to know what to do next with our lives. His First Mode of Discernment was to ask questions, get facts to consider, and ask for the grace...
by Gretchen Crowder | Oct 9, 2022 | Discernment, Ignatian Spirituality, Prayer
In college, I majored in Mathematics. Even though I engage less with Mathematics these days, some of the essence of being a mathematician has stayed rooted in me. I love a concrete answer. Even if the path towards it is winding, I love being able to get to an end...
