MISSION AND MINISTRY | Last weekend, 30 LMU faculty and staff left the hustle and bustle of Super Bowl weekend to travel to the hills of the Palos Verdes peninsula for the annual Faculty and Staff Weekend Retreat, sponsored by the Center for Ignatian Spirituality. Facilitated by Randy Roche, S.J., and Wayne Negrete, S.J., the weekend-long retreat offered participants the opportunity to slow down, disconnect from daily obligations, and reflect on the relevance of Ignatian themes in their lives.
From Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, participants explored the grounds of the Mary and Joseph Retreat Center perched on the hills overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The peaceful setting facilitated not only quiet solitude, but opportunities to reflect and share with one another on such themes as “Calling,” “Desires,” and “Service.” The retreat also incorporated a variety of tools from the Ignatian tradition for reflection and discernment, engaging not just participants’ minds but their senses and imaginations.
This was the first time Patrick Furlong, associate director of the Center for Service and Action, had attended the retreat. “Near the end I couldn’t help but reflect on what goes into making such a beautiful and meaningful weekend possible,” he said. “It’s an investment of resources, financial and human. But as I had the chance to meet colleagues I didn’t know well, or deepen relationships with colleagues that are such a meaningful part of my LMU experience, I found myself grateful to be in a place that makes a mission-filled experience like this open to all staff and faculty. It was a brief weekend, but I think I returned to campus Monday renewed in gratitude for the work I get to do with our students here at LMU.”
“The retreat was such a welcome break and time to breathe,” said Kat Brown, director of mission and identity programs. “I’m grateful for the accompaniment in reflection and discernment, and I left refreshed and inspired for the semester ahead, with new ideas and insights.”
In addition to the annual Weekend Retreat, a variety of programs are available from the Center for Ignatian Spirituality at no cost to LMU faculty and staff. To learn more about future offerings or to sign up for the mailing list, visit lmu.edu/cis or contact Father Randy Roche, director, at rroche@lmu.edu.
