First Belong To God 2024/2025
INTRODUCTION
Acclaimed journalist and Pope Francis’ biographer, Austen Ivereigh, recently published a book entitled FIRST BELONG TO GOD – ON RETREAT WITH POPE FRANCIS. In and through it he shares retreat material that he offered to Jesuits and other women and men during the Covid 19 pandemic, expanded and updated to incorporate more of Pope Francis’ teachings, both prior to, and since becoming pope.
In the book Ivereigh also draws considerably on the insights and writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. St. Ignatius was renowned in his day for his ability to help women and men recognise God’s presence in their own lives.
When crafting the book Ivereigh adopted an ‘eight-day’ thematic structure (see below). In doing so he was adopting an approach greatly favoured by Jesuits and others skilled in helping women and men deepen their relationship with God.
One of the wonderful consequences of Ivereigh’s endeavours is a book laden with possibility by way of supporting the committed reader deepen their relationship with God, as well as grow in recognising the will of God in their lives.
Mindful of this a small group of adults, eight at this time (four women and four men), who of whom are priests, have expressed interest in taking time out for an afternoon or evening every month during the 2024/2025 school year so as to collectively engage with the book, and to encourage and support one another in doing so.
Might you have an interest in joining them?
Before you decide, we encourage you to acquire a copy of FIRST BELONG TO GOD and see if it speaks to your heart and mind at this time. The book is available from Veritas, Knock Bookshop and via Kindle.
If, when reading, you find that certain sentences speak to your heart and mind, and have availability one Thursday afternoon /evening in the month beginning Thursday 19th September, and you are willing to devote personal time to reading a few pages from the book each month, please get in contact with us (see below).
Participants are also encouraged (but it is not essential) to use this initiative as a means of exploring spiritual direction and / or of returning to or taking up the practice of spiritual direction on a trial basis. More will be said about this at our orientation gathering on Thursday 19th September.
PROPOSED DATES (Thursdays, 4 – 7 pm, unless other otherwise stated) & THEMES
19th September
4- 6 pm, Donamon Castle, concluding with light tea
Session 1 – Orientation
17th October
Session 2 – Wonderfully Made
21st November
Session 3 – To Come Out From Ourselves
12th December
Session 4 – The Lord of the World
16th January
Session 5 – Called, Chosen, Sent
20th February
Session 6 – The Ecology of Mercy
20th March
Session 7 – Around the Common Table
10th April
Session 8 – The Triumph of Failure
15th May
Session 9 – A New Imagination of the Possible
19th June
Session 10 – Afternoon / Evening of Recollection
FORMAT
(Sessions 2 to 9)
4.00 pm
Welcome / Tea / Coffee
4.10 pm
A time of personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament
4.40 pm
Twenty-minute presentation on theme of the session
5.00 pm
Quiet Time
5.05 pm
Facilitated Discussion
5.55 pm
Evening Prayer integrating scripture reflection
6.20 pm
Light Evening Meal, continuing the conversation inspired by earlier sharing.
7.00 pm
Depart Donamon Castle
THE TEAM
The initiative will be facilitated and supported primarily by Fr Pat Hogan SVD, Mary Hunt (Spiritual Director) and Kevin McGeeney.
Fr Pat and Mary, both trained Spiritual Directors highly experienced in spiritually accompanying retreat groups, will seek to support the group’s engagement in a variety of ways. More specifically they will draw on sacred scripture, Ignatian spirituality and group members’own life experiences (in so far as members are happy to share).
Kevin, who is also very experienced in facilitation work vis-a-vis teenage and faith development, will serve as facilitator as the group finds it feet, and continue to exercise a guiding ministry thereafter.
Fr Pat and Mary will also be available to meet interested participants between sessions by appointment.
TO RESERVE A PLACE
Everyone who seeks to reserve a place will be encouraged to peruse FIRST BELONG TO GOD in advance of our orientation meeting on Thursday .
Owing to the nature of the initative the number of places is limited to sixteen, including team members.
Please contact Justin Harkin on 087 6171526 / [email protected] if interested.
COST
Donations will be appreciated.
A Joint Initiative
of the Elphin Diocese’s
Pastoral & Faith Development Services
and
The Divine Word Missionary Community,
Donamon Castle,
Co. Roscommon.
Updated: 23rd August 2024
