June 5, 2020 – The following letter from Fr. George Witt, SJ, executive director of the Office of Ignatian Spirituality, was included in our June 2020 newsletter.

Dear Friends,

My colleagues and I at the Office of Ignatian Spirituality are deeply troubled by the recent deaths of unarmed people of color—George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and far too many others—and we stand in solidarity with all those voicing outrage. The racism and injustice behind these tragedies is further laid bare by the ongoing suffering caused by the pandemic, which we know affects people of color disproportionately.

For those of us who are white, now is a time for prayer, learning, reflection, and action. Racism is a soul sickness, as Fr. Bryan Massingale, writes. It warps the way we see our brothers and sisters and how we and our society treat one another. Racism as a soul sickness is not so much something we either "are" or "are not." It requires ongoing conversion of heart, wherein we hear the cry of the oppressed more loudly and respond in greater love. We all have work to do.

It is important that we turn to God in prayer during difficult times. St. Ignatius reminds us in the Spiritual Exercises that we can recognize the voice of God in how we are drawn beyond ourselves toward others. I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities for prayer, reflection, and action listed here.

May God continue to heal us, fill our hearts with love, and make us instruments of God's justice and peace.

Sincerely In Christ,

Fr. George M. Witt, SJ
Executive Director