Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality | Spring 2025 Newsletter

DEEPENING

THE GRACES OF IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY

Retreats and Programming for Spring 2025

The graces of our ministry and mission encourage participants to discern how and where God might be inviting greater openness to growth; leading to an increase in faith, hope and love All are welcome!

Monthly Spiritual Direction – An ongoing invitation for people of all faith backgrounds to sit one-onone with a trained spiritual director who will help you find the “life” in your life, to deepen your prayer journey and discover where and how God is inviting you All seekers welcome – no religious background necessary

Ten-Week Ignatian Encounter –

Once a week for ten weeks, this one-on-one prayer journey walking with a trained spiritual director is available to students who are interested in deepening their relationship with God No prior experience with Ignatian spirituality necessary

Aging With Grace –

Open to retirees of all faiths, Aging With Grace meets weekly this Spring Assigned readings and personal reflection guide participants through an exploration of the spiritual dynamics of growing older Participants will be asked to purchase Boundless Compassion Creating a Way of Life by Joyce Rupp Registration fee for this program is $40 To register by mail contact nmigacz@fairfield edu

Men’s Spirituality Group –

The Men’s Spirituality Group meets monthly on Saturday mornings at MCIS Those gathered, spend time reflecting upon a piece of scripture and then sharing how it is reflected in their lives

Married Persons Retreat –

MCIS facilitates a retreat for married couples who are looking to deepen their experience of Ignatian Spirituality It was held at Mercy by the Sea, Madison, CT, January 31February 2, 2025 To inquire about future retreats, please contact MCIS

Lenten Retreat for Women –

Mark your calendar! The Women’s Lenten Retreat is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, March 12, 2025 Registration information will be sent out in February

Lenten Reflections –

You are invited to join our online Lenten Reflection series beginning Ash Wednesday These audio reflections are free and open to faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Fairfield University and Fairfield Prep More information and registration will be sent out in February

AMDG Retreat –

MCIS offers a 3 day silent retreat, February 28-March 2, 2025 held at Mercy by the Sea in Madison, CT A limited number of spaces are available for faculty, staff and students The retreat includes daily meetings with a spiritual director and presentations of key aspects of Ignatian Spirituality Please contact MCIS to register

For more information and to register for programs, email mcis@fairfield edu

MCIS Fact

The Murphy Center is home to over 50 certified spiritual directors coming from diverse backgrounds and faith traditions

MCIS Fact

The mission of the Murphy Center is to deepen one’s experience of God through contemplation, reflection and prayer

Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality

@murphycenterfairfieldu

DOLAN HOUSE

The Murphy Center is located in a building that formerly housed the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, a religious order fairfield edu/map 1 2 3

FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK

This past November, I was graced with the opportunity to talk about the Murphy Center with Fr Arturo Sosa, SJ, the Superior General of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) The presentation was off of the top of my head; and two things that came out of my mouth surprised me First, I said that, like Pedro Arrupe’s prayer, we fall in love at the Murphy Center We do it professionally and with boundaries but we love the people who come through our doors The second thing that I said was that being and working at the Murphy Center is like sitting in the front row of what God is doing in the world It is a privileged place to be These two off of the cuff reflections depict how blessed we are at the Murphy Center I pray in gratitude for all who support the mission of the Murphy Center for we are truly fortunate indeed

Peace,

Rev Denis G Donoghue, S J , Director of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality

MEET THE JESUITS

THREE QUESTIONS FOR... Rev. Garrett Ahlers, n.S.J., Novice of the Society of Jesus, Student Success Program Coordinator at Fairfield Bellarmine Campus, and Spiritual Direction at MCIS

What

have I done for Christ?

Jesushasgivenmeeverything!Tobeginwith,alovingfamilyforwhomthefaithisourbedrock Ihavealsobeengivengreatfriendswhohavebeenpatientwithmeandencouraging Myfamily andfriendshavebeenthemostconsistentinstrumentsofGod’sloveinmylife

Christ has given me the Church, which I have experienced in its particularity and familiarity in my parish life growing up in rural Minnesota But this same Church has expanded my horizons as I have come to experience its universality and diversity across my homeland and far abroad This living communion of men and women reconciled in Christ, members of His Body, and called to holiness it is everything for me I have received much of my education through institutions of the Catholic Church, and this has informed my deepest convictions: the coherence of my life, the integrity of faith and reason, and the interpenetration of the world with the grace of Christ

Within the Church, Christ has called me to minister as a priest, and I love being a minister of through the sacraments and of the Word As a priest I have been able to teach and to accompany others Now, I am discerning a vocation to serve Christ more authentically as a member of the Society of Jesus

And lastly, the Lord Jesus has given me failures and mistakes to show to me His mercy, His kindness, and His strength when I am at my limits

What am I doing for Christ?

Christ is inviting me to trust Him more radically as I discern my vocation to the Society of Jesus as a Novice! And He is inviting me to do this in a spirit of freedom by calling me to serve during these months at Fairfield Bellarmine, at the Murphy Center, and in other ministries in our local parishes

What ought I to do for Christ?

I trust that Jesus will give me the grace for the “next step” in this adventure I am filled with such gratitude at all that I have received from Christ I count on Him giving me the grace I need to offer everything back to Him