The Society of Jesus
in Belize
Do you ever feel like...
- You pray, but your heart is hungry for something more?
- You are at a crossroads in your life and want to turn to God for guidance?
- Something is holding you back from being the loving, compassionate person you want to be?
- You carry a wound in your heart, and you are ready to let God heal it?
If you answered yes to any of these, then we invite you to consider
making the Spiritual Exercises this year!
Dates
Begins with opening days of reflection
September 28-29, 2024
Final gathering
May 29, 2025
Sponsored by the
Guadalupe Mercy Center and the Jesuit Center for Reconciliation
For nearly 500-years, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola have helped men and women the world over to encounter the love and mercy of God in all aspects of their life and, through that encounter, to renew a sense of purpose and mission.
If you feel that God is inviting you to a deeper relationship, then come join us!
What are the Spiritual Exercises?
The Spiritual Exercises are a retreat written by St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century. It consists of a series of meditations intended to help a person draw closer to the heart of God by developing an intimate relationship with Christ. This relationship with Christ is transformative, setting us free from all the inner "attachments" that keep us from giving and receiving love more completely.
Who was St. Ignatius?
St. Ignatius of Loyola was a 16th century mystic from northern Spain, who wrote the Spiritual Exercises and went on to found the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). In his earlier life, he trained to be a courtier and a soldier, but in a fateful battle against a French army, he suffered a life-threatening wound, which changed his life.
How does this retreat work?
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Submit your application materials,
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Attend the opening Weekend of Reflection on September 23rd at Guadalupe Mercy Center,
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Commit to praying 45-60 minutes per day (materials will be given to you for daily prayer),
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Meet one-on-one with your spiritual director every two weeks,
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Attending faith sharing sessions one Thursday per month at Guadalupe Mercy Center with the other persons making the retreat.
Important Dates
Opening Weekend of Reflection
Saturday, Sept 28th, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday, Sept 29th, 8:30 - Noon
This will take place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Mercy Center
Faith Sharing Evenings
Thursday, Oct 31, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Wednesday, Nov 27, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Thursday, Dec 19, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Thursday, Jan 16, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Thursday, Feb 13, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Thursday, Mar 6, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Thursday, Apr 10, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Wednesday, Apr 30, 6:30 - 9:00 PM
Thursday, May 29, 6:30 - 9:00 PM Closing celebration!
All Faith Sharing Evenings will take place at Guadalupe Mercy Center located on St. Catherine Academy campus.
Application Process
Application Form
All applications are due no later than Friday, September 13th.
Click below to download the form.
Once you complete it, email it to
Guadalupemercycenter@gmail.com
Interview
Once you have submitted your application, we will contact you to set up a brief (30 min) interview. To ensure that you are Interviews can be done in person or by zoom.
Fee
We ask you to make a contribution of $500.00 to help us cover the cost of running the retreat.
Scholarships and payment plans are available. Simply indicate on your application form that you would like to receive some help. Money collected helps pay for copies, supplies, food, and overhead.
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Do I have to be Catholic to make the retreat?No, you do not have to be Catholic! Over the years, many people from many different Christian denominations have attended the retreat without any sort of alienation. While there is nothing specifically Catholic about the Spiritual Exercises, they are most definitely Christian in their language and orientation.
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What is spiritual direction?An FAQ section can be used to quickly answer common questions about your business like "Where do you ship to?", "What are your opening hours?", or "How can I book a service?".
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What is faith sharing?FAQs are a great way to help site visitors find quick answers to common questions about your business and create a better navigation experience.
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What if I cannot attend a faith sharing sessionAll faith sharing sessions are considered mandatory. When you are making the Spiritual Exercises, you are asked to make this retreat a priority in your life, even if it is inconvenient. We would ask that you write these dates on your calendar right now, so that you do not double-book yourself. That said, we do understand that life happens. Important matters arise, or sometimes you get sick. If you simply cannot attend, please work that out with your spiritual director.
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Do I really have to pray for 45-60 minutes each day?FAQs can be added to any page on your site or to your Wix mobile app, giving access to members on the go.
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If this is a spiritual retreat, why is there a fee?Fees go toward covering the cost of providing food at the faith sharing evenings, the cost of the daily prayer materials, as well as the cost of maintaining the Center. That said, none of our spiritual directors are paid a salary or stipend for their work on the retreat.
Contact us with any questions!
Guadalupe Mercy Center
SCA Compound
Hutson Street
Belize City, Belize
223-2275 (during regular office hours)
Jesuit Center for Reconciliation
SJC Compound
Princess Margaret Drive
Belize City, Belize