Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius – One to One Format – Virtual or In Person
Application/Registration Closes: May 22nd, 2025 for the Sept 2025- May 2026 CohortAbout
This page contains everything you need to know about the Spiritual Exercises and how to register for our next retreat beginning in September. We look forward to answering any questions you may have, offering any guidance in preparing for the retreat, and journeying with you! Contact us, at any time, with questions: renee@soulcareseattle.com or dan@soulcareseattle.com
What are the Spiritual Exercises – the 19th Annotation, a Retreat in Daily Life?
Written in the 1500’s “The Exercises of St. Ignatius” are just as relevant today as they were 500 years ago. The exercises serve as an invitation to healing through greater intimacy with God and self by experiencing friendship with Christ. The exercises move us from a head knowledge of our faith to a lived experience relationship. This movement is an experience not modeled after teaching or doctrine, but rests on how God longs to self -reveal to each individual based on who God uniquely designed them to be. Realizing that few can slip away from life’s responsibilities for 30 days (the original retreat format), Saint Ignatius wrote the “19th Annotation”, allowing many of us to make the retreat over nine months while living our daily lives.
How Does the Retreat Work?
The Exercises have four movements or “weeks.” Each “week” represents a new invitation to a different stage in Jesus’ life and your life with him. We are invited to explore God’s heart and longing for humanity and His desire to rescue us. We then find ourselves moving into friendship with our “Rescuer”, accompanying him through the life and ministry of Christ, his Passion and death, and finally the hope of his Resurrection.
Once Accepted Into the Retreat, you will be able to begin your six week “warm ups”! Hey, they are called the “spiritual exercises” for a reason. You and your director will pick a time to begin (Spring or Summer). We will meet with you twice during this time to see how things are progressing. In addition to working new spiritual practices, the “warm ups” also serve as a time of discernment as to whether or not this is the right time for you to make the exercises.
Once the Retreat Begins in earnest, you’ll meet three times per month, one-on-one, with Renee Huie or Dan Huie – spiritual directors accredited in offering the exercises. There, you will discuss the specific scripture passages and meditations given for the week, noting the things that stirred in you during your daily prayer and your response. We cannot out give the generosity of God. In other words, for those who fully give themselves to the retreat, God will be even more generous in return.
Why St Ignatius?: The image at the top of this page says a lot. Here we see Inigo de Loyola, the man of nobility and military success, laying down his sword at the alter of Christ. No longer relying on his own resources and ways of doing things, he here surrenders all and receives God’s will in how to move into his life world. This transition of control, power, and understanding and the deepening intimacy with Christ it brings captivated the imagination of our directors.
About our retreat directors: During their own retreat with ‘the exercises’, Renee and Dan met Jesus with deep intimacy, an intimacy that compels them to want to share this retreat with as many as possible. After concluding their own retreat, Renee and Dan both received their certification in Spiritual Direction through Selah – Leadership Transformations and certification in offering the exercises through The Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality.
Prerequisites: For help in developing the the practices (listed below) the exercises requires:
- A genuine curiosity about the mystery of God and humanity.
- A deepening awareness of God’s love for yourself and others.
- Has made at least one silent retreat.
- Comfortable sharing the your prayer experience with a spiritual director.
The Commitment:
Entering into the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life has a time commitment of :
- Warm Ups – a six week prayer series (spring or summer) to begin once you are accepted to the retreat.
- Required Orientation – Sunday, September 7th at 6:00PM
- Retreat Begins – Daily prayer commencing the week of Monday, September 8th,.
- 45 minutes to 1 hour of daily prayer (in meditation and/or contemplation)
- 10-15 minutes journaling (this is your review of prayer)
- Examen at some point during the day
- Weekly meeting (set on either Mondays or Wednesdays: 1hr, three times per month) with a Soul Care Seattle spiritual director to review the last week’s prayer and launch you into the coming week.
- Retreat Ends – the week of May 11, 2026
- Celebration (for those who can make it) Saturday May 16th in Seattle.
Scheduling the Weekly Meetings: Once you have been accepted into the retreat and have completed the warm ups as a final discernment, you and your director will have an opportunity to discuss a day (M or W) and time that will work regularly. Most appointments are weekday during normal office hours. A few evening spots may be available.
Application / Registration Ends: May 22, 2025
Retreat Application and & Fee
To apply for the retreat, complete the application linked below and submit the non-refundable application fee. Once the application packet and fee have been received we will contact you for your interview.
Entering the retreat will be a process of discernment for you and for us, as directors. If it is discerned to postpone the retreat, we will make every effort to offer pathways forward that will deepen your preparation toward making the retreat in the future.
Cost: The cost for this retreat is $1,750 (materials included) plus the $50 non-refundable application fee. If cost is prohibitive, please see “Ignatian Adventures”.
Donations: If you are able to contribute more than the retreat cost, your gifts will help offset the amounts others may not be able to pay for spiritual direction. Please click “Donate” at the top of this page. Thank you!
Application for the 2025-2026 Cohort: CLICK HERE