Keeping Ignatian spirituality alive in Spain

The Society of Jesus' Centro de Espiritualidad San Ignacio in Salamanca has a mission to keep Ignatian Spirituality alive and provide religious, priestly and lay formation for the Church that is fit for purpose in modern times. We've been helping them to strengthen Christian formation through a pioneering programme that integrates spiritual leadership, psychological and pastoral elements.

Through its Escuela de Formadores ('School of Trainers'), the centre offers a Master's degree in Vocational Discernment and Spiritual Accompaniment available to lay people and religious alike. Taking an anthropological perspective, it addresses conscious and unconscious vocational motivations in a theoretical framework, with training in psychotherapy and practical case-studies. Participants come from all over the world, creating a young and competent network of trainers who move spirituality to the next level once back in their communities.

The centre is strengthening its online formation with readings, audio-visual content, forums and weekly assignments supported by tutors. Three further courses are being offered: Ecology and Spirituality, Psychological Tools for Spiritual Accompaniment, and The Gospels in Spiritual Exercises. It also reaches out to young people through its Music and Spirituality, Art and Prayer and Easter for Youth activities. The aim is to create a new generation of spiritual guides who are well-equipped to address today's challenges, forming a network of agents to multiply the effect of training and create a system-wide impact.