Ever aspiring to better reflect God’s glory, Jesuit’s faculty are encouraged to find God working in their lives—to continue to form themselves so they can better form others. To this end, Jesuit recently sponsored three second-year teachers, Jason Templet, Jacob Campos ’13, and Marc Gittings, to participate in the New Ignatian Educators retreat held near St. Louis, MO. Jeremy Reuther ’01, Jesuit’s assistant to the president for mission who helped organize these Jesuit teachers’ participation in the event, also made the trip. This professional and spiritual development experience was put on by the UCS (USA Central and Southern) Province, offering an opportunity for new educators in Jesuit institutions to delve deeper into Ignatian spirituality.

Jesuit had the privilege of being among other schools in the UCS province, including Regis in Denver, Rockhurst in Kansas City, Jesuit Tampa, Jesuit Dallas, and Loyola Academy in St. Louis. The retreat was aimed at providing a comprehensive introduction to Ignatian pedagogy and spiritual tradition.

Arriving on October 1, Templet, Campos, and Gittings took part in various activities during their stay, ranging from prayer sessions to thought-provoking presentations. This allowed them to gain a clearer understanding of the spirituality that is integral to Jesuit education.

In addition to spiritual enrichment, the event provided an occasion for networking. The retreat concluded on October 4, with the participants returning not only with a deeper sense of their role as Ignatian educators but also with strategies for realizing these principles in the classroom.

The New Ignatian Educators retreat serves as an opportunity for personal and professional growth for new teachers like Templet, Campos, and Gittings, offering them the resources and community support to effectively carry out Jesuit’s mission.