Spiritual Exercising in Advent
A Weekly Ignatian Prayer Group for Adults
November 30 - December 21, 2025
Program Cost: $100.00
Summary
God loves things by becoming them. It began 13.8 billion years ago with a massive explosion we refer to as the Big Bang. It continued to evolve until what we Christians might call the second Big Bang, when God fully became human in the person of Jesus 2,000 years ago. Today, God continues to become what God loves, and that includes you and I as part of the Christmas miracle.
Spiritual Exercising in Advent is a three week at-home experience rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and inspired by the theology of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. It invites participants to explore the mystery of Incarnation through daily prayer, weekly spiritual exercises, virtual community gatherings, and one-on-one “Soul Chats” with trained spiritual companions.
Description
The three weeks of spiritual exercising in Advent will include:
- Four consecutive Sunday gatherings for teaching, prayer and sharing: 4-5:30pm CT; Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec. 14, Dec. 21 -- 2025
- Each week in between focuses on a unique dimension of Incarnation:
- Week One: Incarnation as the Cosmos
- Week Two: Incarnation of the Holy Family
- Week Three: Incarnation in Me
- Three to four guided exercises per week, along with access to media resources like music and meditations.
- Large group Zoom gatherings on Sundays and smaller “Holon” groups midweek for faith sharing.
- Two opportunities to meet one-to-one with a spiritual director (online or in person).
Retreat Leader
Al Gustafson
Al Gustafson is a spiritual director, retreat leader and creator of the online prayer chapel at Old St. Patrick’s Church. He is founder of the Career Transitions Center of Chicago, a not-for profit-organization serving the needs of those who are unemployed and in the throes of job transition. He serves on the board of the Institute for Catholic Bioethics at St. Joseph University in Philadelphia. He holds a doctorate of Ministry from Catholic Theological Union as well as degrees in accounting and theology.