In August of 2022, my colleague Rita O’Malley and I heard from many women – what does it mean to be a woman in Jesuit education in 2022? As women in the Church, we felt called to something but were unsure what. We turned to St. Ignatius who calls us to live our lives of faith in the world. That faith is lived experiences understood through reflection to prayerful action. How better to support those calling out than to turn to prayerful listening in the method of Spiritual Conversation.

We led two virtual Spiritual Conversations this fall via Zoom. Open to women and men of the Midwest Province (and guests from other provinces), we followed the three-round method on the prompt “What feeling is stirring within you right now?” The fruits of our prayer lead to a Women’s Advent Retreat, exploring the theme, The Road to Bethlehem. Through scripture, personal reflection, and personal prayer, more than 165 individuals from our schools, retreat centers, universities, parishes, and general public walked the Road to Bethlehem through women’s voices.

In the Spiritual Exercises, we’re challenged to attend to the movements in our soul. Feelings offer direction. Feelings over time begin to prompt us to God’s movement. I have found that Spiritual Conversation is a great way to listen, pray, and be moved to action.