
Ignatian Spirituality and Leadership Conference
Our 2025 conference will be on Thursday, July 31!
SJU's annual Ignatian Spirituality and Leadership Conference invites you to learn new tools for enhancing self-awareness and methods for personal discernment and healthy group process. Feel energized, inspired and ready to lead for the greater good!
About the Conference

St. Ignatius of Loyola was one of the most effective leaders in human history. His methods and practices allowed him to establish and lead one of the world’s most successful organizations, the Society of Jesus. During this conference you can expect to learn new tools for enhancing self-awareness and methods for personal discernment and healthy group process. Feel energized, inspired and ready to lead for the greater good! A listing of the keynote speakers and break-out sessions are listed below
You can register for the conference using the button below. The cost of the conference is $50 per person. SJU Employees are encouraged to attend the conference at no cost. Catholic School Educators are offered a discounted price of $30.
Our 2025 conference will be on Thursday, July 31!
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Thompson at the SJU Office of Mission Programs:
Email: ethompso@sju.edu
Phone: 610-660-3290
Keynote Addresses
The Power of a Pilgrim's Heart: Insight from the Ignatian Way
Presented by: Christine Marie Eberle '87 - Retreat leader, experienced campus minister, and author of three books of practical spirituality, including the newly released Finding God Along the Way: Wisdom from the Ignatian Camino for Life at Home. Learn more at christine-marie-eberle.com.
When people hear the word pilgrimage, many imagine an arduous journey to a distant holy place. But you and I walk in the footsteps of Ignatius of Loyola, the “pilgrim saint,” who understood all of life as a pilgrimage. This morning’s keynote will explore how leading with a pilgrim’s heart can shape our attitudes, commitments, and aspirations, drawing us ever closer to the heart of God.
Has Pope Francis Left Us a More ‘Ignatian’ Church?
Presented by: Sr. Jessica Kerber A.C.I. - Coordinator and Instructor in the Ignatian Service Minor at St. Louis University; Ignatian spiritual director; Provincial and Formator with the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
In the days leading up to the election of our new Pope, the world wondered if the one called forth would follow in the spirit of Pope Francis or if there would be a significant shift regarding the Church's main concerns and manner of approaching the reality of our time. With the election of Pope Leo XIV, there seems to be an affirmation of continuity. To what extent, then, can we say that it is an affirmation of a more Ignatian Church? We will explore this question and its significance using the framework, dynamics, and wisdom of Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises.
Breakout Sessions
Below are the breakout sessions for the 2025 conference.
Morning Breakout Sessions:
Two Pope Leos: The 135-Year Commitment to Diversity, Social Justice, and Global Inclusiveness Catholic Social Teaching is an enduring element in the Catholic tradition. Examining its impact from the 19th century articulation of Pope Leo XIII to the 21st century papacy of Leo XIV provides us with an arc of reflection that examines both the promulgation of the teaching and its reception. |
Walking in the Footsteps of Ignatius Loyola: Leadership Development on el Camino Ignaciano This breakout session will describe an innovative and uniquely Jesuit leadership development course that the presenter developed and taught along el Camino Ignaciano, the name of the path in Spain taken by Ignatius in his voyage of self-discovery. This session will also provide access to academic and logistical resources so attendees from various disciplines in Jesuit education can adapt and use these resources to create their own courses or immersive experiences along el Camino. |
The Importance of the Eucharist in a Synodal Church Pope Francis emphasized the strong connection between the Eucharist and synodality, viewing both as crucial for the Church's life and mission. He saw synodality as the dynamic expression of the Church's nature as communion, deeply rooted in the Eucharist. He saw synodality as a way of living out the Church's identity as a community gathered around the Eucharist. My presentation will illustrate this belief – both his and mine. |
Being a Contemplative in Action Amid the Current Challenges of Our Time Beyond simply "finding God in all things," how can we locate the courage, energy, and compassion we need to face the current challenges of our time? The invitation of St. Ignatius of Loyola to be a "contemplative in action" is particularly compelling during these days of political shift and global uncertainty. In this session, we will review two Ignatian practices that can help us be attentive to the Spirit's movement while discerning how to take action for the common good. |
Afternoon Breakout Sessions:
Responding to the Green Light: Catholic Reactions to Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum in the United States This session explores how U.S. Catholics have responded to Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum, offering insight into what publicly available data reveals about the broader reception of Pope Francis’s groundbreaking encyclical and subsequent apostolic exhortation. It also considers intellectual critiques and how Catholic communities, parishes, and schools in the United States can advance Pope Francis's ecologically inclusive vision. |
Companions on the Journey: Community, Ignatian Spirituality, and Synodality This session explores the theme of community within the Ignatian tradition and in light of the recent Synod on Synodality. The session is ideal for those who are interested in further developing community in their professional and personal lives. Participants will be invited to reflect on their own circles of community and the ways in which community sustains and enriches their leadership and vocational commitments. Participants will leave with ideas, resources and an action plan for being community builders and collaborators in their personal and professional lives. |
Discernment: Discovering God's Will in Everyday Life Where is God leading me to? Ignatian discernment is the prayerful process of listening to the movements of the heart to recognize God's guidance in daily life and decision-making. This breakout session offers an engaging introduction to Discernment in Ignatian spirituality—an age-old practice of tuning into the movement of the Spirit within your everyday thoughts and emotions. Discover how the principles of Consolation and Desolation can guide you toward deeper purpose, peace, and freedom in decision-making. Whether you’re navigating a crossroads or simply seeking a more attentive spiritual life, this session invites you to begin the journey of discovering God’s invitations through the lens of the heart. |
Empowerment in Higher Education through Synodality In this presentation, ministers who are part of Synodality in Catholic Higher Education in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (SCHEAP) will discuss how empowering young people through the spiritual dispositions and practices of synodality fosters deeper conversations and relationships in both curricular and co-curricular settings. The session will also include a “conversation in the Spirit” and invite participants to make concrete contributions to the synodal process in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. |
Agenda
8:00 am | Business Networking Breakfast |
8:55 am | Opening Prayer |
9:10 am | Opening Keynote:
|
10:15 am | Morning Breakout Sessions |
11:30 am | Lunch |
12:00 pm | Second Keynote: "Will Pope Francis Leave for Us a More 'Ignatian' Church?" by Sr. Jessica Kerber A.C.I. |
1:15 pm | Afternoon Breakout Sessions |
Registration
You can register for the conference using the button below.
- The cost of the conference is $50 per person.
- SJU Employees are encouraged to attend the conference at no cost, but please register ahead of time.
- Catholic School Educators are offered a discounted price of $30.
Our 2025 conference will be on Thursday, July 31!
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Thompson at the SJU Office of Mission Programs:
Email: ethompso@sju.edu
Phone: 610-660-3290