Listening to God Like Ignatius: A Weekend of Prayer and Discernment
by Sindy Collazo
From August 14–16, 19 pastoral leaders from parish communities throughout the Diocese of Raleigh participated in the Ignatian retreat “Listening to God Like Ignatius,” at the invitation of Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama, bishop of the Diocese of Raleigh.
The retreat took place at Trinity Center in Pine Knoll Shores, North Carolina, and offered participants an opportunity to step away from the pace of everyday life, enter into silence and prayer, and become more attentive to God’s presence in their lives.
What is “Listening to God Like Ignatius”?
“Listening to God Like Ignatius” is an experience inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, adapted to the format of a weekend retreat.
Through periods of personal prayer, silence, reflection, and spiritual accompaniment, participants are introduced to some of the fundamental dynamics of Ignatian spirituality: recognizing God’s presence and action in their lives, paying attention to the interior movements of the heart, and growing in their ability to discern God’s voice and invitation.
Rather than simply learning about St. Ignatius, the retreat invites participants to personally experience what Ignatius himself discovered along his spiritual journey: that God communicates with each person, accompanies us along the way, and invites us to respond with greater freedom and love.
Throughout the weekend, participants had opportunities to pause, pray with their own life stories, listen to the Word of God, and share the fruits of their experience in an atmosphere of silence, respect, and community.
We are especially grateful to Bishop Zarama for his initiative and support, as well as to diocesan coordinators Gabriel Hernández, Letti Banda, and Aracely Alcalá, whose dedication and collaboration helped make this experience possible for pastoral leaders from the Hispanic communities of the diocese.
The retreat concluded on Sunday with the celebration of the Holy Mass, presided over by Bishop Luis Rafael Zarama and concelebrated by Fr. Rocco Danzi, SJ, of the Ignatian Hispanic Ministry.
We concluded this weekend with deep gratitude for each participant and, above all, for the opportunity to continue creating spaces where people can pause, listen, and discover the God who continues to speak and work in their lives.
