Jesuit Collaborative Meeting in Baltimore

           Members of 14 parishes from as far as North Carolina and Massachusetts gathered at Holy Trinity Spiritual Center in Baltimore May 7-8 to discuss how Ignatian parishes can foster Ignatian spirituality in a parish setting. It is the first time for such a meeting of Jesuit parishes and attracted about 40 people from the Maryland, New England and New York provinces, as well as Ron Mercier, SJ, and Clare Walsh, MHSH, of the Jesuit Collaborative. The Maryland Province was represented by parishioners from Old St. Joseph's in Philadelphia, St. Ignatius in Baltimore, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez in Woodstock, Holy Trinity in Washington, D.C., Holy Cross in  Durham, St. Peter's in Charlotte, St. Raphael's in Raleigh, and St. Therese in Mooresville.

            Parishes shared how they foster Ignatian spirituality in their parishes ­ everything from days of prayer to year-long series of prayer and spiritual direction ­ and talked about what they thought makes a parish a Jesuit parish. Kevin O'Brien, SJ, of Holy Trinity parish, noted that even the children in his parish's school end school early every day to return to homeroom for the Examen. In a series of small groups and larger reflection and dialogue, the group examined various ways to meet the spiritual needs of their diverse parishes, including youth and a variety of cultures.