Editorial. A Newsletter of Scottish Ignatian Groups IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY IN SCOTLAND IN SCOTLAND. December 2010 Issue No. 5

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1 IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY IN SCOTLAND IN SCOTLAND A Newsletter of Scottish Ignatian Groups December 2010 Issue No. 5 General Editor: Eileen Cassidy snd, Ignatian Spirituality Centre, 35 Scott Street, Glasgow, G3 6PE eileen.cassidy@iscglasgow.co.uk Editorial Wikileaks, investigative journalism, public inquiries and coalition government: when the value of these is raised on programmes like the BBC s Question Time, there is a clear division of opinion among panel members; among the audience and, from my own experience, among viewers, even when these are friends. We live in a world divided by ideology and now seem to live in a world where the general public no longer feels able to trust public figures, to quote one member of a recent Question Time audience. It may be for this reason that some individuals take it upon themselves to use what-ever means are at their disposal, including perfectly legal ones such as the Freedom of Information Act, to expose what they feel should be in the public domain. Their actions have the potential for raising awareness of how we operate and for encouraging public figures to refrain from actions of doubtful moral value, if for no other motive than fear of being exposed. The question of motivation, however, is not just for public figures. It applies equally to journalists, whistleblowers, and those who capitalise on freedom of information. What motivates them? Is it a desire to bring others down, or to be a catalyst in creating a more transparent, if not a more moral society? And the question of motivation also applies to the general public who are fed the information. What motivates our interest and what response do the revelations evoke within us? Self-righteousness, a despondent withdrawal from civic duties, or renewed self-awareness, accompanied by appropriate personal change and recommitment to civic responsibilities? It is often said that the only person whom any individual can change is her/himself, since we may effect a change of behaviour in others, but not necessarily a change of heart without which there is no real change. We know, however, from the Gospels, from stories about people, and from personal experience, that love is a powerful agent for change. This means that if we wish change to take place out there, we must begin at the personal level: we must become people who love others as God has loved us in the gift of himself in Jesus. The season of Advent is perfect for engaging with the process of change. It is a season of waiting waiting for a world that operates on the basis of love, truth, justice and peace; it is a season of anticipation as Christians are called to use our God-given gifts to help bring about the desired change; and it is a season of hope based on God s goodness and fidelity, particularly through the gift of his son, a carpenter from a Galilean backwater who, with the power and authority of truth and love, has touched the world in ways far beyond that of any military or political power. To live by truth and love may seem difficult and even counter-cultural in today s world, but it is possible for those who engage with Gospel values and who have a healthy self-awareness and an awareness of the values that surround them. Ignatian spirituality facilitates all of these, and it is heartening to read of individuals and groups both using and making available to others this gift to the church. They hold out hope for change in our world. Let us pray during the remainder of Advent and over the Christmas season for the gift of transparency at all levels, for growth of Good Will among people and for the Peace that follows. Happy Christmas to each and all. - - Eileen Cassidy, snd

2 2 LAUNCH OF NEW PROGRAMME YEAR Unchain My Heart: Freedom in Scripture, Ignatius and Art Led by Fr. James Crampsey, SJ What better way to launch the new programme year than with a gathering of friends old and new! And so the programme got off to a good start on Saturday October 9 th with a day led by Jim Crampsey, SJ. Jim has pastoral experience as a parish priest in Southall in London and is currently parish priest of Sacred Heart Jesuit parish in Edinburgh. He has also taught New Testament Scripture at Heythrop College, part of the University of London. Jim skilfully blended his biblical knowledge, understanding of Ignatian spirituality, and insights into some works of Caravaggio and other artists, to enable us to reflect on aspects of the true freedom to which all human beings are called. One theme that touched many people was the idea of God, not just enabling each one of us as individuals to be free, but also calling us to help unlock or unchain God s spirit as the transforming power for freedom and justice in our world. A group of around forty people attended the day. They were entertained not just by the excellent input but also by an unexpected duet from Jim Crampsey and Tom McGuinness.. a musical reunion that provided a moment of enjoyable reflection for all. - -Tom McGuinness, sj ISC Bookfest The weekend also served as a springboard for our Bookfest, a fundraising sale of donated books, which happened both on the Saturday and the Sunday. For those who braved the elements on Sunday, there was the additional attraction of a welcome hot drink and Sooty s Home-Made Cakes! a home-based creative contribution to our celebrations. It was all very much appreciated by those who came to see the Centre and browse among the books. The Bookfest Day was a good catalyst to encourage a number of people who had not visited us before to come in and see the Centre and talk to one of the team. Donations from the sale of books have enabled us to buy shelving and to create a space for a permanent second-hand spirituality bookshop/library. We hope that this will develop well as a resource for everyone who comes here. When it is established we will once again invite donations of good books and resources in contemporary spirituality. We are very grateful to all who donated books for the original day and to those who worked hard to make the whole weekend a success. - - Tom McGuinness, sj

3 3 The Big Silence By now many people will have seen one or all of the three episodes of the BBC2 production, The Big Silence, which followed five volunteers on a journey to discover a depth of quiet in their lives which they had not expected. Fr Christopher Jamison OSB invited them to take the challenge of exploring silence in a number of ways and places. One location for this was St Beuno s Jesuit Retreat Centre in North Wales. Here the participants experienced an eight day silent, individually directed retreat. the end of the programme, we have had some good responses from people enquiring about retreats, spiritual direction and Ignatian spirituality in general not least through our new website. The British Jesuit Province also created a website called Growing into Silence which can be found on This site and its accompanying booklet provide some simple exercises and reflections based on the kind of things the participants would have been experiencing on their retreat. These exercises focus very much on how to find and create spaces of silence in the middle of our busy lives. The five volunteers came from a range of different areas and backgrounds. One, a young father and busy restaurant manager, was from Glasgow and his retreat guide was the Director of the ISC, Tom McGuinness. Before and after their silent retreat, the participants were filmed at home. In the latter part of the process each came for individual interviews to their local retreat guide.. so the ISC is briefly visible in the third programme of the series. All volunteers agreed that it was a very worthwhile if challenging experience and, since We plan to offer some follow-up to the programmes at the Ignatian Spirituality Centre in the New Year Dates will be advertised on the ISC website: -- Tom McGuinness

4 4 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FIOP Is There a Retirement Age for Spirituality? An Evening with Fr. Gerry Hughes, SJ Gerry Hughes SJ has been on many long pilgrimages. Coming from Edinburgh to the ISC in Glasgow on the evening of Monday, November 29 th, turned out to be another such pilgrimage as he braved serious snow conditions to give his talk on 'Is there a retirement age for spirituality?' As he stood for an hour at Edinburgh s Haymarket railway station waiting for a taxi at 10:00 pm, he may well have wished there was indeed a retirement age! in the end is gift, and of the value of gratitude as we reflect on the past. In relation to the struggles of life, Gerry sensed that, by staying with the pain and vulnerability and not running away, something could be revealed that had not been seen before. He was very aware of the need to address the fear of an older person becoming a non-person, overlooked and seen as past it - as in the question, Does he take sugar? - as if the older person is not present. Gerry finished by offering the suggestion that old age could be an invitation into the beatitude Blessed are the poor in Spirit, which means living with a knowledge of our utter dependency on God and trusting in the God of love, compassion and forgiveness. From the wisdom of years and from his experience of accompanying all ages of people, Gerry asked us all at the start of the evening to notice during his talk what struck us in the gut and to notice where our feelings were stirred. That s where the growing edge is, he said. Don't bother about the rest. He then spoke of ageing as a growing process It strips you down to the bare essentials where you can see things more clearly. Diminishments that occur through physical difficulties and memory loss, through ebbing energies and feelings of helplessness, are all forms of being stripped. Gerry saw this as forcing older people to ask again, Who am I? What is really important in my life? While many things are taken away in old age and many constraints are in place, yet there is often still the freedom of the heart to choose to love. The question of what we long for and desire is still important. He suggested that writing one s obituary is a good way for us all to notice what really matters to us. Gerry spoke of old age as being a crisis time in which to discover a new way of seeing. He mentioned the wonder and amazement of the miracle of things, of being aware that everything The way Gerry coped with his travel troubles - remaining cheerful, patient and trusting - was a present testimony to the freedom of his heart. We are grateful that he came to share his thoughts with us in an event that was co-sponsored by Faith in Older People (FIOP) and the ISC. For further information on FIOP, which works to encourage the accompaniment and valuing of older people and their gifts, and to work against ageism, see -- Ali Newell

5 5 New ISC Website The ISC has recently launched a new website. If you have not had a chance to look at it yet, go to: have a browse and let us know what you think. The re-design has given us the opportunity to freshen the look and expand the functionality of the site. Just to give you a flavour: The new site layout helps you easily keep track of the variety of events, courses and retreats offered by the ISC. By entering your address into the Join our mailing list box, you will automatically receive updates from the ISC on upcoming events and news items. The new Resources section allows you to download a copy of the current ISC programme. All issues of this newsletter are also available in this section to view or download. More resources will be added to this section over time. Regular news updates will be added to the new News section which will enable you to easily stay in touch with what s happening at the ISC and the work of the centre. The ISC is most grateful to Justin Reynolds of Lucent Web Design for the time and care put into developing and crafting the site. From the seeds of initial ideas and suggestions from the ISC team, it has been fantastic to see the site taking shape to the point where we were able to go live with it in October. Please feel free to pass the web link on to friends or colleagues whom you think may be interested in any of the events, courses or retreats that are on offer. We hope you find the new site helpful and enjoy using it! - - Julia Ling

6 6 An Invitation to Contemplative Space First Friday Retreat Morning If God arrived in your living room today and said to you I m giving you a morning so that you can spend a little more time with me, how would that feel? You might be tempted to say something like I m sorry, God; I ve too much to do! or God, you know I like to pray, but a whole morning sounds a bit much! or Yeah, God, I would like to do that sometime, perhaps in the spring when the weather s better! Or you might be thrilled to bits and ask where, when and how can I get there? I am not God so I don t know what God would suggest, I can only tell you of one possibility. On the first Friday of each month there is a retreat morning (10:00 am 1:00 pm) at the Ignatian Spirituality Centre. It is a time with prayer inputs, sharing and silence, with some optional creativity thrown in and perhaps a poem or some music. You make the space your own, pray in the way that is most helpful for you, allow God to speak, or just welcome the space and time to breathe in God s presence. All are welcome. There s no need to book. Just arrive for 10:00 am and enjoy the peace and quiet of the ISC until early afternoon. - - Jane MacKichan Taizé On the Hill How would you like to have a whole hour of peace and quietness in a beautiful sanctuary, lit by candles placed on a cross and punctuated occasionally by the sound of chants and short prayers? If your answer is 'yes', then the monthly Taizé meeting at the ISC could be just what you are seeking. Our Taizé meetings are also a source of friendship where people either come early or stay behind after the meeting and chat over a cup of tea or coffee. Some people come regularly, others just appear for a single visit, but all are welcomed in the spirit of the Taizé Community in France, which plays host to thousands of visitors every year from all over the world. We look forward to welcoming you if you can manage to come. Taizé meetings take place at the ISC on the 3rd Monday of the month from September to June, pm. Doors open and tea available from 7:00 pm. The next Taizé meeting is on 20th December and has a Christmas theme. Do come along! - - Caroline Hunter (ISC Associate)

7 7 Epiphany Group Conference November, 2010 The Healing Imagination in C.G. Jung and St Ignatius Loyola Forty one Epiphany Group members and associates gathered at Scottish Churches House in Dunblane for the annual conference, led by John Knowles on the theme of The Healing Imagination in C G Jung and St Ignatius Loyola. John is a Yorkshire man who works as a psychodynamic therapist and spiritual director at St Bede s Pastoral Centre in York, where his acquaintance with the late Bill Broderick sj started him on a journey of integrating the psychological and spiritual through reflection on Jung and the Exercises of Ignatius. Patricia Allen, one of the participants, shares her thoughts on the conference The conference had many welcome elements, not least a wonderful film, At It Is in Heaven, creative prayer periods, and social opportunities. John gave excellent input on the topics of Jung and Ignatius, Religious Differences; Creative Illness in Jung and Ignatius; Jung and Active Imagination; The Healing Imagination in Jung; and Ignatius and the Healing Imagination. I offer only a flavour of what John shared with us. Four centuries separated Jung and Ignatius. Early in his life Jung abandoned the Reformed Church and its belief system, reacting against a sanitised Christianity, and regarding Christ as weak, incomplete and not worthy of trust. Jung equated religion with death. By contrast, God, for Ignatius, was a positive transforming power within the church, and Jesus gave both meaning and direction to his life. Yet despite Jung s negative relationship with religion and the church, when asked if he believed in God, he replied, I don t need to believe. I know. His knowledge was based on scientific observations of his clients journeys towards individuation. At significant moments in their lives Jung and Ignatius experienced a creative illness. They suffered deep emotional and psychological distress, yet paid attention to their dreams and fantasies and discovered the power of the imagination for healing. Jung was healed through active imagination - a meditation technique which serves as a bridge between the conscious 'ego' and the unconscious, and enables greater unity between them - and for him it felt like a grace. Ignatius, through a process of discernment, recognised the distinctiveness of fantasy and imagination, and, through imaginative contemplation of the Gospels, recognised the potential of imagination for opening individuals to the transforming power of God s Spirit. Jung left humanity the legacy of Active Imagination, while Ignatius left The Spiritual Exercises, a journey of transformation rooted in discernment of God s will and leading to service of God. It is impossible to do even minimal justice to any one of these topics, but I hope that the above is sufficient to generate interest in the relationship between these two great fathers of humanity. I m sure I speak for all participants when I say that the journey to Dunblane through snow was most worthwhile.

8 8 A Seminar Series on the Spiritual Exercises Courtesy of the Epiphany Group A Reflection by Jacqui du Rocher Throughout the current programme year the Epiphany Group is running a monthly series of one day training seminars on giving the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola. The seminars are based on the participants personal experience of having made the Exercises relatively recently, and are open to those who either are already engaged in directing them or hope to be so soon. The course is led by Alison Moody, Elizabeth South and Gero McLoughlin, sj. It has attracted 14 people from different parts of Scotland, and takes place in Edinburgh. The current series of one day training seminars on the Spiritual Exercises is now well under way, with a varied group of participants from all over Scotland meeting monthly at the Christ Church Centre in Edinburgh. We are a mixed group of students. Some of us already have experience of directing the Exercises, while others hope to offer them in the future. But one thing we have in common is our personal journey through the Spiritual Exercises, some more recent than others. In preparation for the first meeting we were asked to identify an object that would symbolise our personal experience of the Exercises. This provided an excellent starting point for small group sharing, and for creating the bonds of trust that are so important for this level of conversation. As we shared it became clear that each individual s experience was profound, precious and unique. Indeed, the uniqueness of each journey is continually stressed throughout the seminars. For me this introductory exercise of listening to others as they shared their journey and of being affirmed as I shared mine was very moving. The seminars and the whole course - are challenging in content, but the pace is gentle, and the process is supportive: there is a good blend of input, time for individual reflection, work in small groups and plenary discussion, thus allowing individuals to contribute as they feel comfortable, and students work in pairs to present their topics. In November the first brave pair led us through the annotations and additions in a very creative way a contemplative conversation about their personal experience of these when doing the Exercises, and a speculative conversation about how we, the observers, might relate to them. The second pair was equally creative in a presentation on the First Principle and Foundation, and they managed to integrate both individual and group work into their process. We owe these four a vote of thanks, both for what they shared with us and evoked from us, and for demonstrating and encouraging creativity in a secure and appreciative environment. Of course the staff Elizabeth South, Alison Moody and Gero McLoughlin, sj - have a huge part to play in our effective participation. Not only do they suggest key points with comment - for consideration as we read, but they also provide a very comprehensive list of reading material for each topic, together with their personal reflections on their recommendations. They leave us with much food for thought. Needless to say I am thoroughly enjoying the seminars and I look forward to seeing how the course unfolds in the months to come.

9 9 FOOD FOR REFLECTION Poems for the Season of Epiphany The Journey of The Magi - T.S. Eliot A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter. And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory, Lying down in the melted snow. There were times when we regretted The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces, And the silken girls bringing sherbet. Then the camel men cursing and grumbling And running away, and wanting their liquor and women, And the night-fires going out, and the lack of shelters, And the cities dirty and the towns unfriendly And the villagers dirty and charging high prices: A hard time we had of it. At the end we preferred to travel all night, Sleeping in snatches, With the voices singing in our ears, saying That this was all folly. Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley, Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation; With a running stream and a water mill beating the darkness, And three trees on the low sky, And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow. Then we came to a tavern with vine leaves over the lintel, Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver, And feet kicking the empty wineskins. But there was no information, and so we continued And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon Finding the place; it was (you may say) satisfactory. All this was a long time ago, I remember, And I would do it again, but set down This set down This: were we led all that way for Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly, We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death, But had thought they were different; this Birth was Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death. We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, With an alien people clutching their gods, I should be glad of another death.

10 10 Further Poetry There is a further poem with an epiphany theme - The Bright Field by R.S. Thomas which reflects on epiphany moments in everyday life moments when the sun breaks through. It would be worthwhile trying to find it through Google, and then during the Season of Epiphany, whenever you glimpse epiphany moments moments of the sun breaking through, why not gift yourself with space to turn aside and remain with them. Choose, at least for a few minutes, not to rush on, go your way and forget them. Rather, stay and be present to each pearl of a moment that quietly breaks through to illuminate these coming days, And, in each transitory moment of brightness, may you discover the miraculous treasure of eternity awaiting you. Blessings for this Season of Epiphany! Julia Ling

11 11 ANNOUNCING Courses and Events: January April 2011 See programmes for further details. Please contact by telephone or EPIPHANY GROUP Training Course Coordinator Alison Moody Tel: ISC, GLASGOW The Administrative Secretary Ignatian Spirituality Centre Tel: Events As part of its 10 th anniversary celebration, the Epiphany Group is presenting an art exhibition and competition entitled epiphany. The exhibition will run from 1 st 8 th May 2011 in the Resurrection Chapel at St. Mary s Episcopal Cathedral, Edinburgh. Artists from within and beyond the Epiphany Group are invited to submit work on the theme of epiphany, however they choose and interpret it. As a sign of encouragement a prize of 1,000 will be awarded. At 2pm on each day of the exhibition there will be a 30 minute session of either music, poetry readings or guided reflection. Events Introduction to the Enneagram, Feb 12 th Finding God in the City, Feb 26 th Taizé Evenings, Jan 17 th, Feb 21 st, Mar 21 st, Apr 18 th ((Monday Evenings) Retreat Mornings, Jan 7 th, Feb 4 th, Mar 4 th, Apr 1 st (Friday Mornings) Follow up to The Big Silence Date to be announced on website. Retreats Themed Retreats at Xaverian College, Coatbridge Jan 21 st 23 rd (Winter Gifting) Apr 1 st 3 rd (Longing for Light) Individually Guided Silent Retreats (Skelmorlie) Feb 18 th 20 th Lent Retreats at the ISC: Individually Guided Retreat in Daily Life, Mar 7 th Apr 18 th (7 Mondays) Group Retreat, March 10 th Apr 14 th (6 Thursdays) NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: This newsletter, published three times a year, is free. If you wish to subscribe, please send your full name and address, with the subject Newsletter, to admin@iscglasgow.co.uk. If you know of anyone who might be interested in receiving it by , please invite them to send their details in the same way. If you do not have an address and wish to receive the newsletter, please send your full name and address to: The Administrative Secretary, Ignatian Spirituality Centre, 35 Scott Street, Glasgow, G3 6PE. A donation towards postage would be appreciated. IGNATIAN GROUPS and ROLES in SCOTLAND Epiphany Group Elizabeth South (Coordinator) Tel: Epiphanygroup@yahoo.co.uk Web: Ignatian Spirituality Centre 35 Scott Street Glasgow, G3 6PE Tel: admin@iscglasgow.co.uk Web: Ignatian Spirituality Promotor Gerald McLoughlin sj 28 Lauriston Street Edinburgh, EH3 9DJ Tel: gero@talk21.com The Lauriston Jesuit Centre 28 Lauriston Street Edinburgh, EH3 9DJ Tel: Web: