Every summer is filled with journeys. Where did this summer take you? For some, it was going to a coast, camp ground, or lake. For others, like our Assistant Director Maria L. Ochoa, it was the MAG+S Ignatian immersion and World Youth Day events in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (you can read her reflection in this month’s Alumni Living the Mission). Wherever you went this summer, there were bound to be moments of joy, excitement, challenge, and learning. As fall starts up, we are excited to see you at Magis programs and hear your summer journey stories.
 
In the meantime, Magis has been planning some new opportunities to better support you in living out Jesuit values in the everyday journey. Among the great new programs starting this fall is Everyday Ignatian: A Young Alumni Retreat Series  kicking-off October 10th. The accessible two-evening and one-weekend day retreat format was designed to integrate Ignatian reflection and learning over a few months. Alumni in their 20’s and 30’s will have an opportunity to explore topics from community to spiritual practices. Magis is also excited to be partnering with the Ignatian Spirituality Center for the third retreat of the series, and is working to bring engaging speakers for this program. See below for more details.
 
Magis is also happy to share that the second cohort of Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA) is well on its way. The two-year journey officially began September 3rd and CLA participants have started to build their community of life-long learners. If you were starting an adventure of learning, what word or image might you carry with you? Share with us on Facebook an inspiring picture from your summer journey, and you may get chosen to win a pair of Magis pint glasses.

Here’s to a great end-of-summer and for future journeying together this year!

The Magis Staff

   

Brazil & Back: A Pilgrimage Reflection
by Maria L. Ochoa, Assistant Director of Magis

Alumni include: Matthew Salazar (Seattle U ‘09), Michael Alcantara (Seattle U ‘09), Andrew Giron (Seattle U ‘09), and Thuong ChuChe (Gonzaga ‘06 & Seattle U ’13)

For three weeks this past July, Maria Ochoa and Matthew Pyrc, S.J. traveled alongside a group of thirteen Seattle University students and alumni to embark on a journey of living the magis. They participated in MAG+S, a pastoral experience of Ignatian immersion for pilgrims from Jesuit institutions leading up to World Youth Day. Among 2,000 other students, alumni, Jesuits and lay partners hailing from over 50 countries, Maria's pilgrim experience could be best described as a joyful mess. Click here to read Maria's reflection.

Everyday Ignatian: Young Alumni Retreat Series
Thursday, October 10, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Mosaic Coffee House, Seattle
Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Student Center 160, Seattle University
Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Location TBD
 
This fall, alumni in their 20’s and 30’s are invited to participate in a dynamic three-part retreat series focusing on faith and spirituality topics as seen through the Jesuit/Ignatian perspective. Topics will be diverse as: discovering your vocation, engaging spiritual practices & integrating Jesuit values into everyday life. Join us for conversation, food, practice, and community! Participants are encouraged to journey for the entire series, but may attend individual sessions. For questions, or more information, contact Assistant Director Maria Ochoa. Be sure to check out our Facebook page for more information on speakers in the coming weeks.

Sponsored by Magis

Magis Mixer: An Evening with Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J.
Friday, October 25, 2013
Pre-event Mixer at 6:00 p.m., Olympia Pizza, Capitol Hill
Event at 7:30 p.m., St. Joseph Church, Seattle
 
Join Magis and other Jesuit-educated alumni for a Mixer-style evening with pre-event food and drinks at Olympia Pizza on Capitol Hill and then a chance to hear Father Greg Boyle, S.J.  Fr. "G" is an internationally acclaimed speaker and founder of Homeboy Industries which helps former gang members redirect their lives and become contributing members of their families and the community by offering hope, training and job skills. They provide free services and programs that provide alternatives to re-incarceration or a return to former gang lives, and is the largest gang rehabilitation program in the country. In recognition of 30 years of providing the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL) in the Puget Sound region, SEEL is hosting this event to raise funds that will support the continuing ministry of SEEL now and into the future. Magis has 30 tickets to offer at a reduced rate of $10 each on a first-come, first-served basis for you and up to one guest. To reserve your spot, email Magis. Tickets are available for purchase directly through Brown Paper Tickets.

Sponsored by SEEL Puget Sound and Magis

Ignatian Silent Retreat
Friday, November 8, 2013 to Sunday, November 10, 2013
Palisades Retreat Center, Federal Way
 
The Ignatian Silent Retreat provides participants with an opportunity for prayer, silence and renewal in the context of the Christian faith tradition. It is open to alumni, university faculty and staff members and spouses. The retreat draws upon the inspiration of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, the pattern of prayer and meditations developed by the founder of the Jesuits. Seasoned spiritual directors lead retreatants through the weekend, which begins on Friday evening with dinner and ends Sunday at 3:00 p.m. Cost is $100 and includes room and board. For more information, or to register, please contact Magis.

Sponsored by The Office of Jesuit Mission and Identity and Magis

Justice Education Forum
Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Seattle University (Student Center 160)

The Justice Education Forum is an annual program which explores the alumni experience of living a commitment to justice and service. This is accomplished through a day of conversation and learning, and includes a keynote presentation, workshops, as well as an opportunity for small group discussion. More details coming soon!  For more information, contact Maria Ochoa.

Sponsored by Magis

Spirituality on Tap
Meditation: Medicine for the Soul
Thursday, September 5, 2013 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
St. Joseph Parish Center, Seattle
 
Mindfulness and meditation practice are becoming increasingly popular as ways to aid healing for illness and to mitigate the effects of stress from our frantic modern way of life. This experiential evening will help you learn simple ways to incorporate mindfulness and meditation into your day and increase your awareness and gratitude for all that God has given. Contact Emily Davis for more information.

Sponsored by SEYA at Ignatian Spirituality Center
 
Saturday in Service, King County
Saturday, September 7, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
St. Mary’s Foodbank, Seattle
 
Join fellow young adults in Seattle at the food bank at St. Mary's Parish in Seattle to support Central District neighbors. Open to young adults ages 18-39. More information is available at the Facebook event. Contact Bridget Harris for more information.

Sponsored by Office for Youth and Young Adult Evangelization

Theology on Tap: Living Your Faith 7 Days a Week
Wednesdays, September 11 and 18, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
The Chieftain, Seattle
 
This is a three week series exploring how Catholic young adults (20’s and 30’s) in Seattle can live out their baptismal call all week long. From sitting in the pew on Sunday, to cranking through the work week, to meeting friends at the bar on the weekends, explore how to stay connected to God and deepen your faith the whole week through. Pre-event mass at 6:15 p.m. located at the Chapel of St. Ignatius on Seattle University’s campus. RSVPs via Facebook are highly encouraged and appreciated.

Work Hard, Pray Hard: Finding God during the work week
September 11, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
David Unger, St. James parishioner, young adult, husband, and father of two will share his insight on how he has learned to keep his faith alive all week long while working as an economist at KPMG.

From the Party to the Pew
September 18, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.
Deacon Steve Wodzanowski serves as Pastoral Associate at St. Joseph Parish. A former Jesuit volunteer and father to two young adults, he will address the subject crossing every young adult’s mind approaching the weekend.

Sponsored by St. James Cathedral Young Adult Ministry

Local Harvest: A Benefit in Support of the Ignatian Spirituality Center
Friday, October 18, 2013 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. 
St. Joseph Parish Center, Seattle
 
Join Ignatian Spirituality Center for an evening of food, fun and friends! Enjoy local music, food and beverages, and bid on beautiful works of art created by local artists. Test your knowledge of all things Ignatian by participating in Jesuit Jeopardy! For more information, visit ISC online or email Andrea Fontana.

Sponsored by Ignatian Spirituality Center
 
Seattle Catholic Young Adults
Sign up to receive an email digest of general Catholic young adult events in Seattle by contacting John Dogero of Jet City Catholics.
 
St. James Young Adult Ministry provides social, spiritual, and social justice focused opportunities for young adults in their twenties and thirties around Seattle. Sign up to receive updates by emailing Caitlin Lanigan.

The St. Joseph Young Adult Community focuses on building spirituality, friendships, and creating social opportunities in the Seattle area. Sign up to receive updates by emailing Annapatrice Clarke.

“What does integrating the values of Jesuit education in everyday life look like?” This is the question Magis staff and advisory board have been holding as we embarked in a year-long process to revise the organization’s strategic plan. After considering the multi-faceted realities of alumni, vetting through best practices, and cultivating new ideas through conversations and brainstorming, Magis is excited to announce there will be some new initiatives and program updates starting this fall. We hope these changes will provide a greater integration of Jesuit values into your everyday life. The Magis staff would like to thank the Magis Advisory Board for ushering the process with creativity and courage. We are excited to see how the revised strategic plan will better serve Jesuit-educated alumni living in the Puget Sound region.

Among the updates starting September 2013, Magis will offer programming which will fall within three strategic priorities: fostering authentic community, supporting faith formation and spiritual development in the Ignatian tradition, and inspiring a commitment to service and justice. We hope to offer spaces for conversation on what the impact of Jesuit education means to you, and how it is expressed in your life, family, and work. We welcome your feedback if you have any ideas or creative ways we could offer experiences that are relevant and accessible.

In this vein, Magis will also be publishing this eNewsletter on an every-other-month basis. We hope this will streamline information on upcoming opportunities, as well as give the staff an opportunity to foster conversations that are important to you through the use of other media. For example a great way to be updated on a more day-to-day basis is through Facebook. Be sure to follow us in order to see what opportunities are coming down the road, or by joining the conversation and telling us how you are integrating faith, justice, and leadership into day-to-day life (the first one to post on our Facebook page using the hash tag #everydaylife in their post will win a pair of custom made Magis pint glasses to enjoy this season!)

Stay cool and stay tuned for more developments in the months to come,
The Magis Staff

 

 

 
Over the last year, Magis has highlighted some amazing alumni: from newly graduated to seasoned, single to partnered, groups, communities, and families… each and every one of them expressed how important it has been to live the magis beyond their college experience and into their personal and professional lives. Click here to read back on some of these great stories we featured. In the months to come, Magis wants to hear from you about those “Magis Moments” you have experienced post-graduation – you know, the kind where you realized you were called into something more, whether in your family life, work, or service for or with others. Email us and let us know - we would love to share your Magis Moment!
 
   
Magis Mixer
Thursday, August 8, 2013 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Poquitos, Seattle
      
We at Magis invite you to join our staff for a happy hour mixer, where you can connect with Magis staff, learn about our programs, and meet other Magis participants. We will provide some light appetizers for everyone. For more information contact Magis.

Sponsored by Magis
 
Love Into Practice: An Everyday Mini-Retreat Series for Young Alumni
Monday, October 21, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, November 21, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
 
This fall, alumni in their 20’s and 30’s are invited into a dynamic three-part mini-retreat series focusing on faith and spirituality topics as seen through the Jesuit/Ignatian perspective. Topics will be diverse, such as: discovering your vocation, engaging spiritual practices, integrating Jesuit values into professional life, and searching for a faith community. Join us for conversation, food, practice, and community! Participants are encouraged to journey for the entire series, but may attend individual sessions. Locations, speakers, and topics are forthcoming. For questions, or more information, contact Assistant Director Maria Ochoa.

Sponsored by Magis
 
  
A Pilgrimage of the Heart: Summer Ignatian Silent Retreat
Friday, July 26, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. to Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
The Archbishop Brunett Retreat Center at the Palisades, Federal Way
 
Take time this summer to rest, renew your soul, and soak in silence on the shores of Puget Sound with this 3-day Summer Ignatian Retreat. This retreat will offer stirring and relevant presentations based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, followed by abundant time for silent reflection and prayer (suggestions for prayer will be available for each prayer period), opportunities for individual spiritual direction, evening prayer and sharing in the Eucharist. Resident retreatants will have lodging and meals. Commuter retreatants will have meals only. People of all ages, faith traditions and spiritual backgrounds are welcome, especially those with an openness to deepening one's experience of prayer in the Ignatian tradition. Some partial work scholarships are available. For more information, contact Andrea Fontana.  

Sponsored by Ignatian Spirituality Center 
 
Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life
Annual Nine Month Retreat
September, 2013 through May, 2014
SEEL Puget Sound, Seattle  

Would you consider spending the next nine months falling in love with God? If so, join SEEL for a nine month retreat engaging in the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius. This is a nine month experience from September through May and is a powerful, life-changing program of prayer and reflection that can be accomplished by people of varied backgrounds and Christian traditions in the midst of their busy lives. Retreatants commit themselves to praying one hour a day, meeting twice monthly with a Spiritual Director, and to attending monthly Saturday retreat days. Apply online at SEEL Puget Sound’s website. For more information contact SEEL Puget Sound.

Sponsored by SEEL Puget Sound

Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are all, quite naturally, impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new, and yet it is the law of all progress that is made by passing through some stages of instability - and that it may take a very long time.
 
-"Patient Trust," Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, S.J.

Transition is inevitable, and yet, we sometimes forget it is a regular part of life. We at Magis are excited for the many transitions happening for alumni of all ages: starting new jobs, embracing retirement, preparing for graduate school or travel, welcoming children home for summer break…transitions, both big and small, are all around us. They also open us up to possibilities of what paleontologist and Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin would describe as the “not yet” in our lives.
 
Among these transitions is a reminder that these moments of change usher a new way of being (sometimes whether we feel ready or not!) The energy of transition can be wrought with excitement, anxiety, confusion, gratitude, a need to rest, or a sense of preparation. Moving through the threshold of one way of life into another takes active participation, mindfulness, and a large dose of patience and trust. What thresholds are you moving through right now? Perhaps take a moment to recognize what is actively calling you to a new space in your life.
 
In this spirit, Magis would like to bless your transitions, and to also thank you for being active and engaging participants in the process of “living the mission.” Among the alumni we have featured, there have been numerous stories of how they are choosing to embrace the larger transition from student to alumni, seeking the magis as they forge a path in their careers and other pursuits, and embracing opportunities to lead and serve. As Seattle University and our sister universities graduate and send forth men and women for and with others, let us also send blessings to all graduates for courage, resilience, and joy for the countless ways they will ignite the world with the mission of Jesuit education.
 
Summer Greetings,

Brooke, Maria and Liz 

  

 
David and Stan Lance 
  

Father and Son, Stan and David Lance, share more than an affinity for blue blazers, they also embrace cura personalis and prioritize lives of faith, justice and lifelong learning. Click here to read their reflections.
 

Magis Mixer
Thursday, June 6, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Elysian Brewery, Seattle
       
We at Magis invite you to join our staff for a happy hour mixer, where you can connect with Magis staff, learn about our programs, and meet other Magis participants. We will provide some light appetizers for everyone. Happy hour prices apply. For more information contact Magis.

Sponsored by Magis 
 
  
Q-BBQ: An LGBQT BBQ for Students, Staff, Faculty and Alumni
Friday, June 7, 2013 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Seattle University, International Student Center (Pigott Pavilion for Leadership, 160)
 
The Office of Multicultural Affairs is hosting an LGBTQ Barbeque for students, staff, faculty, administrators, and alumni. Come join them this coming Friday for great food and the inaugural Lavender Alumni Awards that will be presented at the barbeque as well. For more information, or to RSVP, email OMA.

Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs

Centering Prayer: Half-Day Retreat
Saturday June 8, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Church, Seattle
 
Praying together as a group is a wonderful way to do centering or contemplative prayer. Join St. Joseph’s Centering Prayer Group for a morning retreat with three prayer sessions and brief readings as well as walking meditations. All levels are welcome. A hosted lunch is offered as well as a facilitated discussion about Fr. Thomas Keating, Trappist monk and centering prayer leader. For more information, or to RSVP, email Jerry Haessly or Tracy Bier.

Sponsored by St. Joseph’s Church  

Yesler Terrace Annual Juneteenth Event: Volunteers Needed!
Friday, June 14, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Yesler Terrace Community Center, Seattle

In anticipation of Juneteenth, celebrating African American freedom, Yesler Terrace Community Center is looking for volunteers to help out one of the most enduring and anticipated events the community center puts on. Volunteers are needed to help out with the day’s activities commemorating the end of the Civil War, which will include guest speakers, picnics, family gatherings, entertainment, arts and crafts, and food from various cultures. For more information, email Don Nguyen

Sponsored by Youth Employment and Service Learning at Yesler Terrace

A Pilgrim Pause: An Examen of Life in the Middle of the Year
Saturday, June 22, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
St. Joseph’s Church, Seattle
 
As part of the Ignatian Spirituality Center’s summer programs, ISC invites participants to take a day to examine one's life journey in the middle of the year. The goal is to look at what is important to you and to consider life’s next steps through short presentations, reflections, and journaling. The cost is $45. All are welcome. For more information or to RSVP, email Emily Davis.
 
Sponsored by the Ignatian Spirituality Center

Christ Alive! Mass for Catholic Young Adults
Sunday, June 23, 2013 at 1:00 p.m.
Magnuson Park, Seattle

Christ Alive! Is a young adult Mass for all Catholic young adults and Catholic organizations to join in the celebration of the Eucharist. Hosted at Magnuson Park, this should be a powerful and religiously deepening experience for all. For more information, or to RSVP, visit ChristAlive online.

A Pilgrimage of Heart: Summer Ignatian Retreat
Wednesday, July 26, 2013 from 2:00 p.m. to Sunday, July 28, 2013 at 2:00 p.m.
Palisades Retreat Center
 
Are you looking for a retreat this summer? Join the Ignatian Spirituality Center for a transformative experience. This silent retreat will offer presentations based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, silent reflection and prayer, opportunities for individual spiritual direction, evening prayer, and sharing in the Eucharist. All are welcome to attend. The cost is $295 including meals and lodging or $195 commuter fee (including meals only). Some partial work scholarships are available. For more information, or to RSVP, email Andrea Fontana.

Sponsored by the Ignatian Spirituality Center

New Job Opportunities:
Education Event Specialist & Communications and Engagement Specialist for Spiritual Directors International
 
Spiritual Directors International is looking to hire two candidates! One as an educational event specialist, and another as a communications and engagement specialist. If you are interested in either position, email Spiritual Directors International with a cover letter stating your salary requirement, and three references. Qualified applicants will be required to a complete a job application as well which be emailed to them later on in the process. All are welcome to apply. Job starts immediately. For more information, email Spiritual Directors International.

Sponsored by Spiritual Directors International

Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life
Annual Nine Month Retreat
September, 2013 through May, 2014
SEEL Puget Sound, Seattle  

Would you consider spending the next nine months falling in love with God? If so, join SEEL for a nine month retreat engaging in the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius. This is a nine month experience with from September through May and is a powerful, life-changing program of prayer and reflection that can be accomplished by people of varied backgrounds and Christian traditions in the midst of their busy lives. Retreatants commit themselves to praying one hour a day, meeting twice monthly with a Spiritual Director, and to attending monthly Saturday retreat days. Apply online at SEEL Puget Sound’s website. For more information contact SEEL Puget Sound. 

Sponsored by SEEL Puget Sound