Deepening Our Engagement

About This Series

Reflective practices are at the heart of Ignatian spirituality. They are also a key component of an Ignatian spiritual direction practice, cultivating ongoing growth in our ministry of accompaniment while broadening our horizons.

This three-session virtual series will explore the theological, psychosocial, and Ignatian foundations for reflective practices along with the pastoral application of these practices. Ethical considerations such as boundaries and confidentiality as well criteria for effective reflective practitioners will be addressed. Through deepening engagement with these reflective practices, participants will expand their knowledge while gaining a greater appreciation for the essential place these reflective practices hold within a spiritual direction ministry.

The program is designed for trained spiritual directors and spiritual directors in formation programs. Each session of the program will be recorded and all registrants (including those who register after the series has begun) will receive a link to a recording of each session.

Register below.

Sessions:

• Session 1: Sept. 17, 2024 (1pm-3pm ET)

• Session 2: Oct. 15, 2024 (1pm-3pm ET)

• Session 3: Nov. 19, 2024 (1pm-3pm ET)

Program Description:

Session 1: September 17, 2024
This session will lay the context for the essential nature of reflective practices within a spiritual direction ministry and invite exploration of these practices. Similarities and differences of supervision, reflective practices and consultation will be clarified. This session will include a video of a reflective practices’ session (15-20 minutes) with a large group discussion.

 Session 2: October 15, 2024
This session will lay the theological, psychosocial, and Ignatian foundations for reflective practices and broaden participants’ understanding of these foundations.

 Session 3: November 19, 2024
This session will focus on ethical considerations such as boundaries and confidentiality while also entertaining practical pastoral application of reflective practices, such as “getting stuck and unstuck” in a session. Criteria for effective reflective practitioners will be addressed. Examples of assessment rubrics for an effective practitioner will be considered.

To Register:

The cost for this series is $125. You will receive a link prior to each workshop to participate live via Zoom. You will also receive a link to view the video recording after each workshop, in case you are unable to participate live or wish to review the discussion later.

We hope to make this series as accessible to as many people as possible. The ISDI offers generous financial assistance for those in need of it. Click here to apply for financial assistance. If you have questions about the participation fee, please contact us at nsmall@jesuits.org.

About the Program Leaders:

Damian Zynda, Th.D., is Director of Mission and Ministry at McQuaid Jesuit in Rochester, NY and the Director of Ignatian Identity at Canisius High School in Buffalo, 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 and Advanced Jesuit Studies from Boston College.

 In 2023 she inaugurated the Spiritual Directors Institute, a two-year formation process of theological foundations and practicum in Ignatian spiritual direction and discernment that prepares participants to direct the Spiritual Exercises and facilitate individual andcommunal discernment. Since 2004 Damian has been on faculty in the Christian Spirituality Program at Creighton University where she forms spiritual directors in the Ignatian Tradition.

 Damian is an experienced spiritual and retreat director and supervisor who has directed retreats in Spain, Italy, Canada and across the United States. She is the author of Archbishop Oscar Romero: A Disciple Who Revealed the Glory of God (University of Scranton Press, 2010).

Ryan LaMothe, Ph.D is professor of pastoral care and counseling at St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. He received a Master of Divinity degree from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate from Vanderbilt University.

In collaboration with others, Ryan developed the Certificate in Supervision Program in Pastoral Care and Homiletics for St. Meinrad’s Continuing Education Department. His past experience includes serving as a Hospital Chaplain at Memorial and St. Joseph's Hospitals, where he supervised ministry students.

Ryan has published ten books, including The Coming Jesus and the Anthropocene Age (2024), Pastoral Care in the Anthropocene Age: Facing a Dire Future Now (2023) and Heresies of the Heart: Developing Emotional Wisdom (2017). He has also published over 200 articles and book reviews and two edited volumes addressing topics in psychoanalysis, psychology of religion, pastoral counseling, pastoral theology, and pastoral political theology.

In 2017, he received a Springer Publishing Award entitled “Transforming the World One Article at a Time.” He has served on three editorial boards of peer-reviewed journals and as president of the Society for Pastoral Theology. Ryan was invited to give the Jacob Neumann lecture at Princeton University in 2022 and the keynote address at the International Association of Practical Theologians conference in 2023.