Staff Spirituality Day

GRATITUDE THROUGH AN IGNATIAN LENS.

The formation of our staff is extremely important to us in a Loreto school. It is an opportunity to look at why we exist in Catholic Christian context and how we operate through the Ignatian and Mary Ward lenses. Staff Spirituality days provide opportunities to deepen our understanding of what we are called to do by Jesus and how to find the magis in our own lives. The theme for 2020 was Exploring and Practicing Gratitude - Through an Ignatian Lens. The day allowed staff an opportunity to pause, to be in community and to look after themselves and each other.

It is said that “‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. ‘Thank you’ expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” Indeed, Brené Brown reminds us in her research that “both joy and gratitude were described as spiritual practices that were bound to a belief in human interconnectedness and a power greater than us.” As a staff, we took the time to go back to some of the basic Ignatian practices to remind us that gratitude is one of the most important duties we have. After everything that we have experienced as a staff this year, one thing for which we were truly grateful on the Spirituality Day was the weather. It may seem simple, but the weather allowed us to gather outside together, not on Zoom behind an impersonal screen. We were armed with a fold-up camp chair, a picnic rug, a hat, a small booklet of readings on gratitude and a Listening Book. In order to lean into the experience of the day, we took the time to begin with prayer and then moved through either meditations, Tai Chi or walking gently around the oval. You may be wondering what a Listening Book is and why we would give it to staff. A Listening Book is like a close friend. It allows a person to record their feelings or reflections on experiences. You can then close it and later revisit it to listen to how you were feeling, tuning in to the ebbs and flows of your inner life. Each staff member focused on several readings and in their Listening Books reflected on the key elements of the article, discussing these with their colleagues. Inspired by Pope Francis’ call to make the church more like a ‘Field Hospital,’ Michael Hansen SJ has adapted the First Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. In this body of work, Michael provides over 80 Ignatian spiritual exercises and resources that address all ‘ailments’ faced by the individual, written specifically to respond to COVID-19. Some of the exercises include the Art of Sharing Stories, Antibiotics of Generosity, Bandage of Kindness Accompanied, Imaging Compassion and the CPR of Peace. We completed several individually in our Listening Books and then chose one to discuss in small groups. The most important aspect of our Staff Spirituality Day was undoubtedly the way it brought our staff together. This year the pandemic has challenged us in ways we would never have imagined. There have been few opportunities for us to ‘just be’ with each other in companionship, or share a meal in close proximity, have a laugh and engage in a deeper level of conversation with a focus on gratitude. We are grateful to have a stable job in this time of uncertainty where many others have not; however, it has also required strength of character and adaptability to provide the same level of professional care and support for our students and each other. It has been difficult at times to maintain this level of agility; we have needed to have our spirits renewed and to be reminded to start each day with a grateful heart. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lit the flame within us this year and our Spirituality Day gave us the spark we needed.

REVIEW MRS LIBBY PARKER DIRECTOR OF MISSION