Dr. Erin Luby from Seattle Preparatory School shares how the three-round format of “spiritual conversation” is brought to the school.

While I was at the JSN Colloquium this summer, colleagues from Seattle Prep and I mused about how we could bring the three-round format of “spiritual conversation,” central to the colloquium, back to our school. We knew these conversations – grounded in prayer, rooted in listening, founded upon trust that the Holy Spirit will speak through this intentional practice – would only benefit our community.

All faculty and staff started the year together in August with this communal prayer experience. Fr. Greg Celio and Fr. Ryan Rallanka, colleagues at Seattle Prep, led the meditation and spiritual conversation session (August session outline). Between the cadre of faculty who attended the colloquium and others comfortable leading a variety of prayer practices, we identified facilitators to guide the conversations. They led cross-departmental small groups as part of the two-hour session (August Facilitator Guide).

We launched the new school year in a new way, then decided to go deeper. We used a similar format and groups a month later on our faculty/staff retreat (September session outline / September facilitator guide) and again in Advent toward the end of the semester. Our Board of Trustees did the same at its Fall retreat (September Board session outline).

I was not sure how this would go when planning for the year. However, I trusted that creating space to listen deeply, cultivate relationships, and strengthen our Ignatian spirituality practices would bear fruit. Six months later, I am certain it has.

Resources created by Fr. Greg Celio and Fr. Ryan Rallanka from Seattle Preparatory School.