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Openness, diversity and inclusion: The new Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal by Fannie Dionne
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n July 2021, two Montreal-based Ignatian spiritual centres came together to form the Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal (ISCM) — a bilingual, ecumenical apostolate which is led by different Ignatian religious communities and laypeople. The Villa Saint-Martin and the Wickham Centre (formerly called the “Ignatian Centre” and now named after the Jesuit who helped create the Centre, John Wickham, SJ) decided to unite their strengths to better offer spiritual formation and direction as well as retreats to all people in Montreal and beyond. Fr. Kevin Kelly, SJ, Director of the Villa Saint-Martin; Reta Desfossés, Director of the Wickham Centre; and Lynn Barwell, Director of Formation, explain what the Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal is and how this coming together was led by the Holy Spirit.
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The Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal is a place of exploration, a part of one’s spiritual journey and where God meets and leads each person” — Fr. Kevin Kelly, SJ WALKING WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE MARGINALIZED The Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal aims to reach not only people already familiar with Ignatian spirituality but all people, from different faith traditions or with no religious affiliation. “A lot of the work we do is to help people to first understand where God is acting in their lives,” says Fr. Kelly. “We are trying to support spirituality as a discovery process for individuals using the tools that are central to Ignatian spirituality.” But the new ISCM will also have specific programs to reach marginalized people in Montreal. Fr. Kelly explains: “We are partnering with Jesuit Refugee Service to offer retreats for newcomers in Canada. We are also working with other religious communities and an Indigenous man [who is] well-connected with the Catholic Church in Montreal to bring the Ignatian Spirituality Project to Montreal.
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