Companions in Mission

Fostering a sense of common mission and companionship among the first Jesuits was a key priority for St. Ignatius. Despite often being separated by great distances, the early Jesuits were bound together by their mission to share the good news of the gospel with those to whom they ministered. It is that same mission that animates the work of Jesuit educators today and invites us into greater companionship with one another.

The Companions in Mission (CIM) program provides opportunities for Prep faculty and staff to reflect on this mission and deepen relationships with their companions in the ministry of education.  

CIM programs include:

Companions in Mission Book Club
The book club selects a book related to our Ignatian mission to read each year. The group gathers 4-5 times during the year to reflect on the book and pray together.

Companions in Mission Conversations
Once per quarter faculty and staff are invited to gather after school for a conversation about topic related to our Ignatian mission. These conversations might be focused around an article, video, or presentation from a member of the faculty, staff or Jesuit community.

Companions in Mission Mass and Meal
On select dates, faculty and staff are invited to attend mass together (on campus or at a local parish) and share a meal after at a restaurant of the groups choosing.

Companions in Mission Spiritual Direction
Spiritual direction is “help given by one Christian to another which enables that person to pay attention to God’s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of the relationship.” (William A. Barry and William J. Connolly, The Practice of Spiritual Direction)

For interested faculty and staff, the Office of Mission Identity can match people with a spiritual director from the Fordham University Jesuit community or the Province’s Office of Ignatian Spirituality.

Companions in Mission 19th Annotation Retreat
Also known as the Spiritual Exercises in everyday life, the 19th annotation retreat affords retreatants the opportunity to experience the Spiritual Exercises over the course of 36 weeks. Participants dedicate 30 minutes to personal prayer each day and meet with a spiritual director approximately once per cycle.