Will Warrick

The Flame Keeps Growing

Written by Will Warrick

Every fire needs oxygen to thrive.

My faith journey began in New Jersey, within an Irish-Catholic family. Later in life, I was introduced to Ignatian Spirituality when studying religion in graduate school. With its emphasis on finding God in all things, Ignatian Spirituality helped me embrace my Catholic roots anew.

When I moved to the Pacific Northwest, after the pandemic, I found myself drifting spiritually. I was angry with God. I stopped going to church. And I felt unmoored, with no real sense of purpose.

Healing didn’t come all at once. Gradually, I returned to church and started praying again, mending my relationship with God. However, I sensed something essential was missing.

Midway through 2024, I began returning to books that once lit a fire in me. One such book was Tattoos on the Heart by Fr. Greg Boyle. His reflections on compassion spoke deeply to me. I laughed, cried, and felt the Spirit stirring. This was the beginning of a rekindling.

When autumn arrived, I knew I had to find the Jesuit community here in Washington. I soon found the Ignatian Spirituality Center. Right away, I signed up for the first program I could attend. After attending, I left inspired and nourished.

Since then, I’ve attended many ISC events: the Advent Morning Retreat, the Lenten Evening of Reflection, the Cherished Belonging Book Group, and the Brothers in Ministry Workshop.

What was before a long, smoldering fire has now broken open. Each ISC program has breathed new life into my soul, fostering a deeper appreciation of Ignatian Spirituality and cultivating a genuine sense of belonging with kindred souls.

And so I keep returning. The flame keeps growing. In this community, I’ve found a place to discern, to belong, and to be sent—alive again in the love of God.