The Holy Spirit is Speaking: A Desire for the Spiritual Exercises
by Joe WilliamsThis story originally appeared in the Winter 2025 issue of JESUITS magazine, published by the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus.
You only need to hear Fr. Tom McMurray, SJ, speak briefly about his current ministry before quickly realizing something special is happening in Worcester with the Spiritual Exercises. But it all started with him saying, “No.”
Eleven years ago, he was new to Worcester and his role with the Jesuit Community at the College of the Holy Cross[CA1] when a small group of lay people [CA2] approached him with an interest in spiritual direction and a desire to promote the Spiritual Exercises locally. Having made the Exercises several years earlier, this group of six (made up of three couples) continued to feel deeply moved and inspired and wanted to share something of that experience with others. They wanted Fr. Tom to help them do that.
“I was new to Worcester, I had a new job I'd never done before, and I said, no.” says Fr. McMurray. “Another one of the group of six spoke to the rector of the community at Holy Cross asking the same thing. He also said “no,” that he was not in a position to do that. Well, the rector and I sort of crossed paths and these requests came up in conversation, and the two of us looked at one another, and said, ‘Do you think the Holy Spirit is saying something here?’”
The Spirit was indeed speaking and now, [CA3] in its ninth year, the Worcester Retreat in Daily Life (RIDL) has facilitated the participation of 154 retreatants in the 19th Annotation, averaging about 17-18 retreatants per year. Like many programs that offer the Spiritual Exercises, the Worcester RIDL runs from the fall to spring each year, with RIDL retreatants meeting as a group once a week in addition to personal prayer, reading and reflection. Dick Kirk, one of the original six lay people, and an integral part of the RIDL planning team, attributes the success and vibrancy of the Worcester program to a few key factors, one of which is creating a distinctly welcoming atmosphere.
“We actually have a group of volunteers who come and set up the room for us and make it a hospitable, welcoming place.” says Kirk, whose role on the team is known simply as the Administrator. Kirk notes other factors that add[CA4] to the program’s welcoming nature, including the ambience of trust and confidentiality that is introduced right from the beginning of the retreat. “Both our prayer companions and the retreatants are assured that what they say stays here. They share very personal reactions to what's going on in their lives as directed by the Exercises,” adds Kirk.
The weekly RIDL gathering offers elements that help build a sense of community among the retreatants. There is a 20-minute sharing circle allowing participants to bring what’s been going on in their lives in that given week, music incorporated into each session and holistic applications of the senses, such as laying on of the hands.
The RIDL depends on the support of an inspired and devoted core group of lay volunteers, and as Kirk puts it, “the collaboration that we have with the Jesuits is nothing short of amazing and what Church should be. We feel incredibly empowered and encouraged to give input. It is our shared program,[CA5] and we are continually affirmed that the gifts of the Holy Spirit come through each and every one of us to make this work better.”
19th Annotation retreats also require trained and dedicated companions who can accompany retreatants on their journeys.
“Anyone who's gone through our 19th Annotation is invited to consider and discern whether or not they are interested in becoming prayer companions.” says McMurray. “That's how we've been sort of growing our pool of prayer companions.”
“It’s a toolbox where you learn all these different things, types of prayer that you can take with you. It’s not something that just ends. You take these experiences and these skills with you. And it continues to build. It’s kind of the retreat that never ends. In a good way.”
The Formation Program of the Worcester RIDL has now evolved into a 4-year Spiritual Direction program, focusing on a specific topic each year. (1st year: Spiritual Exercises with Elements of Spiritual Direction; 2nd year: the Skills and Art of Spiritual Direction; 3rd and 4th years: Dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises.) During the 3rd and 4th years, the student goes into weekly one-on-one supervision as the they accompany one person and in the 5th year, they join the main team for peer supervision once a month. Going forward, Worcester will now be issuing a certificate for spiritual direction for those who go through the entire 4-year program.
The Spirit has been busy. Many other 19th Annotation programs are following similar paths. Recently groups from Syracuse, NY, and Portland, ME, and even one from Montana have reached out to Worcester[CA6] , interested in learning best practices and even to see what kind of collaboration might be possible in the future. These programs are growing as participants discover the special appeal of the Exercises.
Jennifer Hansen, part of the leadership team of the Ignatian Spirituality Partnership of Maine along with Fr. Paul Sullivan, SJ, summed it up best. “It’s a toolbox where you learn all these different things, types of prayer that you can take with you. It's not something that just ends. You take these experiences and these skills with you. And it continues to build. It's kind of the retreat that never ends. In a good way.”
Are you or someone you know interested in making the spiritual exercises?
The Office of Ignatian Spirituality has compiled a list of ministries (including Worcester and Portland) within the USA East Jesuit Province that offer the full Spiritual Exercises, many of which are offered online and can be made from anywhere.
Visit MakeTheExercises.org to find out more!
