Spirit of Discernment at St. Leo Parish

Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? Last spring, the St. Leo Faith Formation Commission sought to add adult formation content to the calendar. The volunteer committee was unsure what to offer and how to present without a dedicated staff person to plan. Then we heard that the Ignatian Spirituality Center was looking for a place to offer Ignatian Discernment: An Unfolding Story of Love series presented by Marilyn Nash in the South Sound. We had our answer!

With Marilyn’s creative approach, participants explored ways to listen to the spirit in their lives. Through prayer, reflection, and conversations, all were able to consider everyday life examples of inviting God into decisions, large and small. As a Jesuit parish, learning the practices of St. Ignatius in more depth was helpful in matching intuitive senses to actual practices.

What wasn’t on the syllabus was the sense of community the parish was thirsty for after the long stretch of Covid. The parish had fallen out of practice of gathering kindred spirits. The 30-plus participants of primarily St. Leo parishioners enjoyed the social aspects of gathering, including food, milestones, travels, and personal challenges. Person-to-person contact only enhanced the experience offered by the ISC.

Mary Gorman is a member of St. Leo’s Parish in Tacoma, Washington and serves on the Faith Formation Commission. She is also the Lead Spiritual Director for Puget Sound SEEL – Tacoma/online community. And she is a big fan of collaboration!