About This Online Workshop

God invites and we respond (or not). That is the dance of the divine-human relationship.  This presentation grounded Christian conversion as a dual movement of spiritual maturation and psychological development. As St. Ignatius intended the Spiritual Exercises as a tool for a “reform of life,” we look at conversion through the Spiritual Exercises as a process of retrieving one’s divine identity. The workshop combined prayer, self-reflection, input, and reflection on the practice of spiritual direction in the Ignatian tradition.

View the presentation slides.
View/download the worksheet.

About Our Presenter

Damian Zynda, Th.D., is Director of Ignatian Identity/Mission & Ministry at McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY. She received a doctorate in Systematic Theology and Christian Spirituality from the Faculty of Theology at the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto School of Theology in 2004.  She holds Certifications in Spiritual Direction from Loyola House, Guelph, Ontario, Supervision of Spiritual Directors from St. Meinrad’s School of Theology in St. Meinrad Indiana, and Advanced Jesuit Studies from Boston College. This summer she had hoped to inaugurate the Spiritual Directors Institute (a two summer Certification in forming people to give the Spiritual Exercises), but due to COVID the opening has been postponed. Since 2004 Damian has been on faculty in the Christian Spirituality and Master of Ministry Programs at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where she has helped form spiritual directors in the Ignatian Tradition.  Damian is the author of Archbishop Oscar Romero:  A Disciple Who Revealed the Glory of God (University of Scranton Press, 2010). Damian is an experienced spiritual and retreat director and supervisor who has directed retreats in Spain, Italy, Canada and across the United States.