Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ
Ministry Team
Send Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ an email: jmsparough@jesuitretreat.org
Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ is a retreat leader, poet, story teller and spiritual director at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL. He holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and a Doctor of Ministry from St Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. He is the founder of Charis, a national Jesuit retreat ministry for young adults in their 20s and 30s. For 10 years he trained spiritual directors at Loyola University-Chicago.
A prolific writer and speaker, Fr. Michael has published books, poems, CDs, and DVDs on prayer, discernment, and the sacraments with America Media, Franciscan Media, Paulist Press, Liturgical Training Publications and Audible. His latest co-authored book, published by Loyola Press, is What’s Your Decision? An Ignatian Approach to Decision Making.
Fr Michael is also the President of Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry. His weekly video homilies can be seen online at www.HtoH.US.
Listen to a talk by Fr. Michael.
Upcoming Retreats (9)
Past Retreats (101)
Current Retreat Season (25/26)
Next Retreat Season (26/27)
Retreat Season 25/26 (2)
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
June 19 - 20, 2026
Retreat Season 26/27 (7)
September 18 - 20, 2026
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Tuesday, December 15, 2026
Wednesday, December 16, 2026
January 22 - 24, 2027
Tuesday, March 23, 2027
Sunday, May 23, 2027
Current Retreat Season (25/26)
Previous Retreat Season (24/25)
Older Retreat Season
Select retreat season
Retreat Season 23/24
Retreat Season 22/23
Retreat Season 21/22
Retreat Season 20/21
Retreat Season 19/20
Retreat Season 18/19
Retreat Season 17/18
Retreat Season 16/17
Retreat Season 25/26 (10)
March 27 - 29, 2026
A Retreat with St. Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint (Palm Sunday)
February 20 - 21, 2026
Spiritual Reset: A Winter Respite to Calm Our Minds & Hearts
Friday, February 6, 2026
Couple's Evening of Reflection
January 30 - February 1, 2026
A Retreat with St. Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint
January 6 - February 10, 2026
Discern & Decide Virtual Retreat
Monday, December 15, 2025
Christmas Tea: Fr. Michael’s Stories of the Birth of Jesus
December 5 - 7, 2025
A Retreat with St. Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint
November 21 - 22, 2025
In Gratitude for our Mind, Body, and Spirit
Sunday, October 19, 2025
Veterans "Coming Home" Retreat
September 12 - 14, 2025
Healing of the Heart: Behold I Stand at the Door and Knock
Retreat Season 24/25 (9)
April 17 - 19, 2025
Praying the Passion Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John
Monday, February 17, 2025
What's Next? Discerning Your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
January 10 - 12, 2025
A Retreat with St. Peter: Growing from Sinner to Saint
Saturday, December 14, 2024
Another Cup of Christmas Tea: Stories, Poems, Songs and Traditions
Thursday, December 12, 2024
Christmas Tea With Our Lady of Guadalupe and Thee!
November 22 - 23, 2024
In Gratitude for our Mind, Body, and Spirit
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Day of Healing
September 27 - 29, 2024
Charismatic Retreat: "I Will Send You Another Advocate"
Wednesday, September 11, 2024
Resiliency: How We Proceed in Community
Retreat Season 23/24 (8)
May 3 - 5, 2024
Beyond the Basics: The Places and Spaces for Prayer
February 9 - 10, 2024
Spiritual Reset: A Winter Respite to Calm Our Minds and Quiet Our Hearts
Monday, January 22, 2024
A Day of Healing
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Another Cup of Christmas Tea: Stories, Poems, Songs and Traditions
October 27 - 29, 2023
What are the Spiritual Exercises?
September 29 - October 1, 2023
A Writing Retreat: for Aspiring Writers, Musicians, and those Looking to Expand Their Creativity
September 15 - 17, 2023
Teach Us to Pray - Reflections on The Lord's Prayer
July 28 - 30, 2023
River of Healing Love | A Retreat for the Charismatic Community
Retreat Season 22/23 (12)
Sunday, May 21, 2023
Veterans' Coming Home Retreat
Friday, May 12, 2023
Holy is Her Name
April 4 - 8, 2023
Ignatian Spirituality Institute: Giving Witness Practicum
February 24 - 26, 2023
What are the Spiritual Exercises?
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
The Journey to Easter: The Passion and Resurrection According to John
February 10 - 12, 2023
Discerning Your Decision
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Veterans' Coming Home Retreat
January 6 - 8, 2023
Praying with Pope Francis - The Gospel of Joy, Mercy, Love & Care for the Earth
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
A Cup of Christmas Tea: Stories, Poems, Songs & Traditions
Sunday, October 16, 2022
Veterans' Coming Home Retreat
September 30 - October 2, 2022
Discerning Your Decision
July 29 - 30, 2022
Spiritual Reset: Coming Back to Peace in an Uncertain Time
Retreat Season 21/22 (8)
Monday, June 20, 2022
Walking with God in Creation
April 1 - 3, 2022
The Joy of Love: Praying with Pope Francis' Teaching on Marriage
March 3 - 6, 2022
Discerning Your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
January 21 - 23, 2022
Discerning Your Decision (Roche-Zera Group)
Thursday, December 16, 2021
A Cup of Christmas Tea: Stories, Poems, Songs & Traditions
October 16 - 17, 2021
All-Surrounding Grace: Where the Spiritual Exercises Meet Mindful Meditation
Monday, October 11, 2021
Discerning Your Decision
October 8 - 10, 2021
Discerning Your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
Retreat Season 20/21 (12)
May 7 - 8, 2021
Teach Us to Pray: Ignatian Reflections on the Lord's Prayer
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Praying with Mary, the Mother of God
April 9 - 11, 2021
Praying with Pope Francis: The Gospel of Joy, Mercy Love & Care for the Earth
March 26 - 28, 2021
Praying with Pope Francis: The Gospel of Joy, Mercy, Love & Care for the Earth
Sunday, February 14, 2021
Tending the Flame of Love: Candlelight Evening for Married Couples
Monday, December 14, 2020
A Cup of Christmas Tea: Stories, Poems, Songs, and Traditions
Monday, November 23, 2020
The Attitude of Gratitude
November 14 - 15, 2020
Young Adult Retreat on All-Surrounding Grace: Where the Spiritual Exercises Meet Mindfulness Meditation
October 2 - 4, 2020
Teach Us to Pray: Reflecting on the Lord's Prayer with St. Ignatius
Monday, September 21, 2020
Holding onto Hope: Finding God Even in These Times
September 11 - 13, 2020
Teach Us to Pray: Reflecting on the Lord's Prayer with St. Ignatius
Sunday, July 19, 2020
Saying "No" to Give a Deeper "Yes": A Live Virtual Retreat
Retreat Season 19/20 (10)
Monday, March 9, 2020
Forging a Forgiving Heart: Finding Freedom through Reconciliation
Sunday, March 8, 2020
Veterans' "Coming Home" Retreat
Wednesday, February 26, 2020
Ash Wednesday Day of Reflection: "This time, change our hearts..."
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Tending the Flame of Love: A Candlelight Evening for Sacramentally Married Couples
February 7 - 9, 2020
Teach Us to Pray: Ignatian Reflections on the Lord's Prayer
Monday, January 27, 2020
Discerning Your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
Monday, December 16, 2019
Bethlehem Bound: Praying Advent with St. Ignatius
December 6 - 8, 2019
Who Do You Say That I Am?
November 22 - 24, 2019
Ignatian Yoga: Embodying the Spiritual Exercises
Monday, November 11, 2019
Caring for Mother Earth: Prayers and Practices
Retreat Season 18/19 (15)
Sunday, May 5, 2019
Veterans' "Coming Home" Retreat
April 18 - 20, 2019
Holy Week Retreat: The Seven Last Words of Christ
March 22 - 24, 2019
Who Do You Say That I Am?
March 7 - 10, 2019
Teach Us to Pray: Reflecting on the Lord's Prayer with St. Ignatius
Sunday, February 24, 2019
Veterans' "Coming Home" Retreat
Monday, February 4, 2019
What's Next? Discerning Your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
February 1 - 3, 2019
Yoga for Gratitude: Sin, Grace & Acceptance
January 18 - 20, 2019
What's Next? Discerning Your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
December 14 - 15, 2018
Praying Advent with St. Ignatius
Monday, December 10, 2018
Hold Christ in the Manger of Your Heart
Tuesday, October 16, 2018
Entering the Heart of Mary with St. Ignatius
Sunday, October 14, 2018
Veterans' "Coming Home" Retreat
September 21 - 23, 2018
What's Next? Discerning Your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
September 15 - 16, 2018
A Retreat for Young Adults - The Next Chapter: Living through Transitions with Faith
Monday, September 10, 2018
A Retreat for Caregivers: Finding Balance & Receiving Grace in Our Giving
Retreat Season 17/18 (11)
June 20 - 28, 2018
Individually Directed 8-Day Retreat
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Veterans' Coming Home Retreat
April 27 - 29, 2018
Sacramentally Married Couple's Retreat: Growing in Love
Sunday, February 25, 2018
Veterans' Coming Home Retreat
February 23 - 25, 2018
Praying with Pope Francis: The Gospel of Joy, Mercy, Love & Care for the Earth
Monday, February 19, 2018
Discerning Your Decisions - Day of Reflection for Men and Women
January 12 - 14, 2018
What’s Next? Discerning your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Life Lessons: An Advent Day of Prayer with Our Lady of Guadalupe
Sunday, October 22, 2017
Veteran's Coming Home Retreat
Saturday, October 21, 2017
Follow His Lead: A Day of Prayer for Board Members of Jesuit Institutions
October 3 - 5, 2017
What’s Next? Discerning your Decisions in the Ignatian Tradition
Retreat Season 16/17 (6)
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
Veterans' Coming Home Mini-Retreat
Sunday, May 21, 2017
Veterans' Coming Home Retreat
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Kindling the Flame of Love
April 13 - 15, 2017
Holy Week Retreat: Were You There? Companioning Jesus - Then and Now
Monday, March 27, 2017
Coming Home Mini-Retreat
March 2 - 5, 2017
A Retreat with Pope Francis: The Gospel of Joy, Mercy, Love & Care for the Earth
