The Australian Jesuits announced on October 30 a new expanded operating model and governance structure for their spirituality ministry beginning January 1, 2020, in response to a changing world and an evolving, more spiritually discerning community.
The changes support the first of the Universal Apostolic Preferences of the global Society of Jesus for the next 10 years, and the priorities identified in the Australian Jesuits’ five-year Apostolic Plan.
The ministry, which is a priority under the Apostolic Plan, will transition from a fixed location service based at five centres of Ignatian spirituality around the country to an outreach model staffed by mobile teams that focus on bringing Jesuit and Ignatian spirituality and mission formation to those who seek it, where they seek it.
The changes, which demonstrate the Ignatian maxim of living with “one foot raised” in the direction of greatest need, a 16th century articulation of the modern concept of “agile”, will create new opportunities not only for those seeking an experience of Ignatian spirituality, but also for spiritual directors delivering those services. Ignatian spiritual directors and presenters have until now been largely restricted to physical retreat centres for the delivery of Ignatian spirituality and mission formation. The new operating model draws heavily on the pioneering efforts of the Faber Centre of Ignatian Spirituality in Brisbane and specifically its outreach services delivered through mobile teams and electronically.
“Whilst the idea of spirituality by Skype may seem a little incongruous, the reality is that there is growing demand for a more flexible type of ministry in rural and regional areas and outside of Australia – places where the ministry does not necessarily have a physical presence at the moment,” Australian Jesuit Provincial Fr Brian McCoy SJ said.
“The changes present an opportunity to serve new seekers of spirituality and minister to this need,” he added.
In announcing the changes, Fr McCoy drew on the homily of Fr Bruno Cadoré OP at the opening of the 36th General Congregation (GC 36) of the Society of Jesus in 2016, speaking of the need to “dare the audacity of the improbable”.
Key elements of the new operating model include changing multiple fixed location spirituality centres to a centralised outreach model delivered by mobile teams who engage locally with those seeking an experience of Ignatian spirituality – not only in Australia; establishing a national office for the Ministry at Peter Canisius House in Pymble, New South Wales; investing in one dedicated residential retreat centre at Sevenhill, South Australia; maintaining one conference facility (which can also be used for residential retreats) and ministry head office at Peter Canisius House; and encouraging all Jesuits to work within this province-wide priority in partnership with lay companions.
Drawing on the words of Pope Francis at GC 36, Fr McCoy invoked the Ignatian concept of magis, seeking the “more” or “deeper”, distinguishing a particular aspect of Jesuit and Ignatian spirituality. As Pope Francis reminded the Jesuits: “Initiating processes is different from occupying spaces. The Society initiates processes and leaves spaces. This is important. Other religious occupy spaces, the monasteries. The Society initiates processes.”
“The announcement today is our response to this call. It is this new process, a process that is more open, collaborative and agile, that we are now tasked to implement and develop,” Fr McCoy said.