Reports - Institutional

After spending much of the week collectively discerning ways to demonstrate Ignatian leadership in their communities and jobs, cross institutional groups offered preliminary action proposals at the final session of the week. The following are examples of the ideas that were generated:

A. Higher Education

1. Highlight the good work that is already going on. Ignatian spirituality is deeply connected to Ignatian mission. Support for Ignatian spirituality should stretch beyond our institutions to involve faculty who are interested in it even if they are not at Jesuit institutions.

2. Foster conversation on the polarization of society and church. Strive to do more to support those living and working in Jesuit parishes. Be more conscious of and directed by current options. Focus efforts on junior faculty, students and staff who present mission.

3. Continue to form alumni after they graduate with alumni service programs and spirituality opportunities at our retreat houses.

4. Be bold in asserting our Jesuit and Catholic identity - never divorce these two, but embrace the Catholic intellectual, moral and liturgical tradition in a way that is inclusive and welcoming of other faiths and of faithful dissent. Faculty, staff orientation is key here.

5. Reach out to the cities, particularly to people of color - link the university, high school and middle school in student formation. Help train teachers, perhaps by sending university professors to train middle school science teachers.

B. Secondary Education

1. Create social interactions that bring faculty members out of the divisions of the institution.

2. Establish a local consortium for sharing resources and lesson plans on Ignatian pedagogy. Establish a web space for the same. Eventually open these resources to public school colleagues.

C. Pastoral/Social

1. Use the Georgetown Center for Liturgy's Program "Leading From the Heart: Presiding at Eucharist - A Liturgical Enrichment Opportunity for Presbyters" to improve liturgy and encourage participation which transforms people and empowers them.

2. Prepare lay people to assume parish leadership through adult education programs, parish council discussions, and reporting back from Province Days. Increase the visibility of lay leadership and welcome new parishioners.

3. Increase transparent communication between clerics and lay leaders and parishioners. Educate parishioners on financial accountability by reporting on collections, specifying how the second collection will be dedicated and tying financial needs to the Gospel. Open other committees to new membership. Seek out visitors and involve them quickly.

4. Listen more actively, especially through times of transition and divisiveness. Develop a more explicit evaluative strategy for ongoing ministries with an eye to further evolution. Pay more attention to the call within, drawing strength to overcome/confront obstacles. Remain in close relationship with those whom we're serving.

D. Mixed Groups

1. Reach out to youth in any ministry in our parishes. See that anything we can do for youth is significant, especially listening and asking what they need spiritually. Meet the need for spiritual formation and or retreats. Reach out to other parishes that have accomplished this step successfully in order to plan effectively.

2. Reach young adults and Hispanics. Develop a relationship with JVC and the Hispanic ministries to improve communication and provide companions for the Spiritual Exercises. Seek help in training people to be companions.

3. Initiate dialog for Jesuits and former Jesuits on mission to the poor. Draw on the knowledge of older Jesuits. Calling on scholastics and retired Jesuits, create a sense of identify from community history. Talk about the mission of the Society by talking about the poor.

4. Seek contact with the materially poor. Create a deeper experience of living out of the Spiritual Exercises in a reflective stance. Move from acting out of fear toward moving with courage and boldness.

5. Increase communication between formed Jesuits and those in formation. Develop a structured system of having older Jesuits share their stories with younger Jesuits. Compile stories on a provincial or assistancy level. Get the support of our formators.

6. Integrate the experience and wisdom of older members of the Society into our current experience. By recording people's experiences, we can go from an oral history to a written or recorded history.