Bringing All to God's Table

Bringing All to God's Table

2024 ARC Retreat on Race and Migration

Step into a transformative journey of self-discovery and societal reflection with a September-November program inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. You are invited to profoundly and prayerfully consider how race and xenophobia co-exist, especially to help our parish strengthen our commitments to racial justice and sanctuary. No previous involvement, knowledge, or training is required. You just need an open heart and a courageous spirit!

Over the course of these four-part Exercises, participants will be called to dismantle misconceptions, cultivate empathy, and forge spaces of belonging for people of all colors, tongues, and nations at God’s Table. (Read about the traditional Spiritual Exercises here, and note that Ignatius organized the Exercises into four “weeks,” which are “are not seven-day weeks, but stages on a journey to spiritual freedom and wholehearted commitment to the service of God”.) Our Exercises to empower participants to help the parish continue to discern and act upon how we are called to “welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (Romans 15:7), through the following stages:

• Part One will begin our Exercises in September by reintroducing our St. Ignatius ARC via our parish bulletins and e-newsletters, especially to help us contemplate God's great love for us, and our sometimes flawed response to God's gifts.

• Part Two will immerse ourselves in an on-screen depiction of contemporary US immigrants of color. Through viewing and meaningfully discussing Little America’s “The Indoor Arm” (in-person on Sep 8, after Hospitality; and remotely on Sep 12, 6:30-8pm), we aim to grasp the complexities of racial justice and the Christian mandate to welcome strangers. We see this Christian inclusion as integral to fulfilling Christ's mission. 

• Part Three will be a highlight of our Exercises. For this part of our shared journey, we will build a multicultural, multilingual story circle (Oct 27, after Hospitality). Facilitated by parish immigrants and dedicated members who serve immigrants locally and globally, this “week” will allow us to meditate on the suffering racism and xenophobia create– and to see the common humanity we share across skin colors, nationalities, languages and accents. This is critical to understanding what it truly means to love all our siblings in Christ, and to nourish and be nourished at God’s Table.

• Part Four will conclude our Exercises by inviting participants to delve into any and all of the chaos, wonder, confusion, and awe that has accompanied our experience of these Exercises, and of race and migration justice in our parish. Exercise companions will also be asked to consider sharing some of their reflections throughout November with the wider parish community, to help foster dialogue and collective growth, and inspire continued action and advocacy.

 Register here, to embark on “Bringing All to God’s Table,” where spirituality will meet social justice, and where together, we will learn how each of us is uniquely called to help our parish dismantle racism and xenophobia–from within and without–to help foster a world where every individual is celebrated for our distinctive contribution to our shared humanity. 

Register Today!