In the WJU retreat program, Ignatian retreats offer the opportunity to find and develop one s relationship with God aided by the inspiration and means provided by St. Ignatius. Three kinds of opportunities presently allow students to deepen their relationship with God following the footsteps of St. Ignatius. Two weekend, silent, Ignatian retreats take place each year at a prominent Center for Ignatian Spirituality. In the past, WJU students have frequented the Canadian Center at Guelph, Canada, for an introduction to directed prayer during October and for a weekend of Ignatian prayer geared to University students in February. This retreat weekend involves leaving the WJU Campus by car on Friday morning in time to be at Guelph for dinner, for the introductory prayer session, and for a group meeting with fellow retreatants and a retreat director.
Students meet individually with their retreat director each day.
The director introduces the students to Ignatian prayer and attempts to help them discover and facilitate the next step in their spiritual growth and development. Eucharistic liturgy takes place on Saturday and Sunday. The rest of the time is spent in silence and prayer according to the schedule worked out with the director. Prior to each retreat, three one hour sessions, on campus, attempt to prepare retreatants for this experience of silence, Ignatian prayer, journalizing, and interacting with retreat director. Over the past several years, students who have attended these weekend silent retreats have realized the need to deepen their experience of God.