Faculty & Staff Spirituality
UM staff at 2018 Dons Spirit Walk!
Front row, L to R: Zöe Urcadez (Tutoring Assistant), Mauricio Diaz de Leon (Assistant Director for Immersions, Justice and Outreach)
Back row, L to R: Santiago Solorio (Resident Minister), Flavio Bravo (Resident Minister), Don Francisco (USF mascot), Ali Balfantz (Office Manager), Donal Godfrey, S.J. (Associate Director for Faculty and Staff Spirituality), Brian DuSell (Associate Director for Liturgy, Music, and Interfaith Programs)
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 2018
LOYOLA LUNCHEONS
Fridays: September 21, October 19, November 16, 2018, 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Loyola House – Ricci Room
Register for September 21
Register for October 19
Register for November 16
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.
SPIRITUALITY BOOK CLUB
Tuesdays: September 11, 25, October 9, 23, November 6, 2018, 12 p.m.–1 p.m.
Loyola House – Ricci Room
Register for the Spirituality Book Club
Join Donal Godfrey, S.J., our facilitator for a book club at Loyola House, sponsored with Human Resources. Lunch is provided. Faculty and staff of all beliefs are welcomed and encouraged to attend. We invite you to participate in this special series of rich conversations and reflections exploring spirituality in our daily lives. We will be reading Wrestling with God: Finding Hope and Meaning in Our Daily Struggles to Be Human by Ronald Rolheiser. For more information, please email Michele Centrella.
CELEBRATION OF THE CANONIZATION OF OSCAR ROMERO
Wednesday: October 17, 2018, 3pm - 5pm
University Ministry - Toler 122 - Romero Room
Register for the Celebration of the Canonization of Oscar Romero
Faculty and Staff are invited to a wine and cheese reception in University Ministry. Please join us as we celebrate the canonization of Archbishop Oscar Romero. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J.
Coverage of the canonization in America
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES CONTINUED
Ongoing program from September - May
Tuesdays, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
University Ministry Romero Room
Fall 2018: September 11, October 9, November 13, December 11
Spring 2019: February 12, March 5, April 9, May 7
Register for Spiritual Exercises Continued
A program for faculty and staff members who have completed the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (19th Annotation Program or similar) and would like to continue discussing, sharing and learning about the deeper dynamics of Ignatian spirituality and its relevance to our lives and work. We will have a short article to read together for each session in order to focus the conversation. Participants are asked to commit to each session insofar as possible in order to provide continuity within the group. The conversations will be facilitated by Julie Dowd, director of University Ministry. For more information, please email Julie Dowd.
ENVIRONMENTAL RETREAT
Friday, October 5, 2018, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Star Route Farms, Bolinas, CA
Register for the Environmental Retreat
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. Transportation will be provided. This retreat is open to USF faculty and staff. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J.
ST. FRANCIS IN SAN FRANCISCO
Saturday, October 6, 2018
USF / SF
$10 per person
The deadline to register and pay online is October 4, 2018.
Register for St. Francis in San Francisco
Join us for an exploration of San Francisco like you have never seen it before, through the eyes of St. Francis. Over the course of the day, we'll travel through the city, stopping at a coffee shop here and a church there (the exact route will change). This retreat will feature talks and activities at each stop and great conversation en route. In the midst of all the walking is a relaxed and laid back atmosphere; ultimately, the day is about taking a walk with friends and recognizing God's presence there, too. You can expect to meet new people and come away with new insights about your own journey so far and maybe even learn a thing or two about St. Francis. This retreat is open to USF students, faculty, and staff. For more information, please email Cara Annese.
FACULTY LECTURE SERIES
Thursday, November 29, 2018, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lone Mountain Main 100
Register for the November Faculty Lecture Series
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. Lecturers in this series discuss their own spiritual journeys.
The Fall 2018 Faculty Lecture will be given by Professor Sonja Martin Poole. Sonja is an internationally recognized lecturer and researcher on transformative and multicultural marketing strategy and marketing education. With particular emphases on creating and communicating value for nonprofit and public sector organizations and the social impact of marketing, Poole explores topics in the domains of marketing ethics, sustainability, corporate social responsibility, diversity, education, public policy, and social welfare. She also currently serves as President of the USF Faculty Association.
As an associate professor of marketing at USF, Professor Poole shares her expertise in behavioral economics in achieving specific social goals. With the ever-increasing congestion and competition in the arena of online marketing and advertising, Poole helps her students explore innovative ways to interact with, add value, and offer rewards to target audiences, giving students an informed head start as pro-social consumer-focused digital marketers.
Poole lectures internationally on developing marketing strategy for diverse audiences and offers public commentary on issues related to marketing and society. She is a New Orleans native and maintains an active consulting practice in Oakland, California.
For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J.
IGNATIAN HALF-DAY RETREAT
Wednesday, November 28, 2018, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Lone Mountain Main 100
Register for the November Ignatian Half-Day Retreat
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 half-day retreat this semester will be led by Dave Richo. His topic is Embracing the Shadow. David Richo, PhD, MFT, is a psychotherapist, teacher, writer, and workshop leader whose work emphasizes the benefits of mindfulness and loving-kindness in personal growth and emotional well-being. He is the author of numerous books, including How to Be an Adult in Relationships and The Five Things We Cannot Change. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J.
Spring 2019
SPIRITUAL EXERCISES SILENT RETREAT
Tuesday, January 9, 2019 - Saturday, January 12, 2019
The Jesuit Retreat Center of Los Altos
$200 per person
The deadline to register and pay online is December 5, 2018.
Register for the Spiritual Exercises Silent Retreat
You are invited to immerse into silence Spiritual Exercises Silent Retreat. This retreat is a silent, individually-directed retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and includes such activities as one-on-one spiritual direction with a director, film showings, masses, and daily prayers and meditations. This retreat is open to USF students, faculty, and staff. For more information, please email Cara Annese.
MOUNTAIN MEDITATION RETREAT
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Mt. Tam, Mill Valley, CA
$10 per person
The deadline to register and pay online is April 4, 2019.
Register for the Mountain Meditation Retreat
The Mountain Meditation Retreat is an outdoor retreat located at Mount Tamalpais (Tam) and rooted in meditative awareness and practice. Join together with USF students, faculty and staff to focus on the Ignatian motto Cura Personalis ("care for the whole person") and include various multi-faith meditation technique lessons and practices, hiking, and reflection time. The retreat cost includes round-trip transportation, lunch, and snacks. This retreat is open to USF students, faculty, and staff. For more information, please email Cara Annese.
FACULTY LECTURE SERIES
Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lone Mountain Main 100
Register for the May Faculty Lecture Series
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 have included Stephen Privett, S.J., and Dean Judith Karshmer discussing their own spiritual journeys. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J.
IGNATIAN HALF-DAY RETREAT
Friday, May 10, 2019, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Lone Mountain Main 100
Register for the May Ignatian Half-Day Retreat
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. For more information, please email Donal Godfrey, S.J.
Spring 2019 dates for the following events are TBD:
- Loyola Luncheons
- Ignatian Book Club
- Spirituality Book Club
