Faculty & Staff Spirituality

Living the Mission at USF

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual direction is an ancient practice of meeting one-on-one with a trained person to discuss one’s spiritual life. Practiced by both lay and ordained women and men, spiritual direction is available to people of all faiths and spiritual traditions. Directors do not impose their own agendas or beliefs on others—rather they listen carefully in order to help others discern the ways in which God or the holy is leading them. Contact Donal Godfrey, S.J. directly if you are interested.

Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (19th Annotation)

The Spiritual Exercises are a compilation of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola to help people deepen their relationship with God. University Ministry offers faculty and staff the opportunity to complete the exercises over the course of the academic year through weekly meetings with a spiritual director. Past participants describe the experience as rewarding and transformative personally and professionally. A prior conversation with Donal Godfrey, S.J. is needed. Register for 19th Annotation online.

Fall 2019

ENVIRONMENTAL RETREAT - FALL 2019
Friday, October 4, 2019
8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Star Route Farms - Bolinas, CA
REGISTER HERE »
Visit beautiful Star Route Farms, the oldest organic farm in California, now part of USF. Spend a quiet day in a beautiful place reflecting on the letter of Pope Francis on the environment, Laudato Si. This retreat is open to USF faculty and staff. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

LECTURE ON THE IGNATIAN IMAGINATION WITH IRISH POET, PÁDRAIG Ó TUAMA - FALL 2019
Monday, September 16, 2019
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | University Ministry Romero Room, Toler 122
REGISTER HERE »
Join Irish poet, Pádraig Ó Tuama, for lunch and conversation in the Romero room. He will discuss the Ignatian imagination. Please register online for this event, as space if very limited. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

LOYOLA LUNCHEONS - FALL 2019
Fridays: September 20, October 18, November 15, 2019
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Loyola House - Ricci Room
REGISTER HERE FOR SEPTEMBER LUNCHEON »
REGISTER HERE FOR OCTOBER LUNCHEON »
REGISTER HERE FOR NOVEMBER LUNCHEON »
Join Donal Godfrey, S.J. and colleagues from across the university at the Loyola House Jesuit Community for lunch and conversation on various mission topics. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

IGNATIAN BOOK CLUB - FALL 2019
Thursdays: September 5, 19, October 3, 17, 31, 2019
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Loyola House - Ricci Room
REGISTER HERE »
Connect with faculty and staff through a book discussion group for people who are interested in our Jesuit mission. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Lunch is provided. Participants must purchase their own copy of the book, The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything by James Martin, S.J., which will be available in the USF bookstore in late August. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

GUIDED MEDITATION - FALL 2019
Thursdays: November 7, 14, December 5, 12, 2019
12 p.m. - 12:30 p.m. | Multifaith Meditation Room - Toler 123 (near University Ministry)
NO REGISTRATION NEEDED »
Join Donal Godfrey, S.J., in these guided meditations. All faiths and beliefs welcome. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

FACULTY LECTURE - FALL 2019
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Lone Mountain Main 100
REGISTER HERE »
Join the USF community over lunch and engage in spiritual dialogue spurred by great USF speakers. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Past lecturers in this series include Dr. Shabnam Koirala-Azad and Dr. Sonja Martin Pool, discussing their own spiritual journeys. The Fall 2019 Faculty Lecture will be given by Professor Bill Hing of USF's School of Law. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

HALF DAY RETREAT - FALL 2019
Friday, December 6, 2019
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Fromm 110 Maier
REGISTER HERE »
Half-day retreats include lunch, presentations on Ignatian spirituality, and the opportunity for reflection and conversation with colleagues. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. The retreat will be led by a women's spirituality musical group, Spiral Muse, inviting participants to encounter the divine feminine in our prayer, meditation. The retreat will include optional opportunities for journaling, drumming and yoga. Join us! Persons of all faiths and traditions are welcome. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

Spring 2020

OFF-CAMPUS IGNATIAN RETREAT OPPORTUNITIES »

SILENT IGNATIAN RETREAT - SPRING 2020
Wednesday, Jan 8, 2020, 4:00pm - Sunday, Jan 12, 2020, 2:00pm | El Retiro Jesuit Retreat House, Los Altos
This Ignatian retreat offers an experience of meditation and silence, with personal spiritual direction. Each retreatant will have a spiritual director and must commit to the entirety of the retreat. This retreat is open to USF students, faculty, and staff.
Cost: $100 for students; $200 for faculty/staff
Registration Deadline: Monday, December 9, 2019
REGISTER HERE »
For more information on this retreat, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

LOYOLA LUNCHEONS - SPRING 2020
Fridays: February 7, March 6, April 3, May 1, 2020
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Loyola House - Ricci Room
REGISTER HERE FOR FEBRUARY LUNCHEON »
REGISTER HERE FOR MARCH LUNCHEON »
REGISTER HERE FOR APRIL LUNCHEON »
REGISTER HERE FOR MAY LUNCHEON »
Join Donal Godfrey, S.J. and colleagues from across the university at the Loyola House Jesuit Community for lunch and conversation on various mission topics. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

IGNATIAN BOOK CLUB - SPRING 2020
Thursdays: February 6, 20, March 5, 19, 26, April 2, 2020
12 p.m. - 1 p.m. | Loyola House - Ricci Room
REGISTER HERE »
Connect with faculty and staff through a book discussion group for people who are interested in our Jesuit mission. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Lunch is provided. Participants must purchase their own copy of the book, The Complete Stories by Flannery O'Connor, which will be available in the USF bookstore in late January. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

ST. PATRICK'S DAY OPEN HOUSE FOR FACULTY AND STAFF - SPRING 2020
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
4 p.m. - 6 p.m. | University Ministry Romero Room, Toler 122
REGISTER HERE »
Celebrate St. Patrick along with an Irish blessing and a glass of Guinness or Irish whiskey. All USF Faculty and Staff are welcome. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

AN INVITATION TO SPIRITUAL ACTIVISM: A RETREAT BASED ON THE WORK OF GLORIA ANZALDÚA
Friday, March 27, 4:00 p.m. - Sunday, March 29, 4:00 p.m. | The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos
Retreat Leader: Teresa Marie Cariño, USF alumna and faith formation director at St. Ignatius Parish
Registration deadline: Friday, March 20
REGISTER HERE »
Join us on the path of conocimiento and spiritual activism where we engage in deepening our awareness to the social realities around us and work towards social change and inner transformation. This retreat will draw us into examining the shadows of race, gender, and privilege and lead us on the path to discernment of where to go next as Anzaldúa writes, from "inner works, public acts." A retreat specifically designed for social justice activists and those wanting to explore social activism. This retreat is open to USF students, faculty, and staff. The cost of the retreat is $50; scholarship opportunities are available for those in need. Transportation will be provided. For more information, or questions about scholarship opportunities, please contact Angélica Quiñónez at anquinonez@usfca.edu.

FACULTY LECTURE - SPRING 2020
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Lone Mountain Main 100
REGISTER HERE »
Join the USF community over lunch and engage in spiritual dialogue spurred by great USF speakers. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Past lecturers in this series include Dr. Shabnam Koirala-Azad and Dr. Sonja Martin Pool, discussing their own spiritual journeys. The Spring 2020 Faculty Lecture will be given by Professor Lara Bazelon of USF's School of Law. Professor Bazelon is renowned in the field of restorative justice. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.

HALF DAY RETREAT - SPRING 2020
Friday, May 8, 2020
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | Fromm 110 Maier
REGISTER HERE »
Half-day retreats include lunch, presentations on Ignatian spirituality, and the opportunity for reflection and conversation with colleagues. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Our spring retreat will be Ignatian Yoga led by Bobby Karle, S.J. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J. at godfrey@usfca.edu.