Co-ordinator of The Spiritual Exercises Ministry

This role is a 3 year contract full time role.

Founded by St Ignatius Loyola more than 450 years ago, the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits) is an international religious order of priests and brothers within the Catholic Church committed to service in the world in a variety of ways.

The Jesuit presence in Australia began in 1848 and the Australian Province of the Society of Jesus now comprises more than 120 Jesuits.  They work in over 30 ministries in companionship with some 1800 women and men who share the Ignatian vision of the service of faith and the promotion of justice.

This is a newly created role with the establishment of Jesuit and Ignatian Spirituality Australia Ltd (JISA) which is the entity that co-ordinates the Province’s Ministry of the Spiritual Exercises, Mission Formation and Intellectual Apostolate. Initially it has three divisions, Jesuit Spirituality Ministry, Mission Formation and the Intellectual Apostolate. The work of Mission Formation and Jesuit Spirituality Ministries is supported by Mobile Teams of spiritual directors and formators (Jesuit and lay) and by a national Finance and Administration Team.

The Ministry, which is a priority under the Apostolic Plan of the Australian Jesuits, will transition from a fixed location service to an outreach model staffed by mobile teams that focus on bringing Jesuit and Ignatian spirituality and mission formation to those who seek it, where they seek it.

The changes, which demonstrate the Ignatian maxim of living with “one foot raised” in the direction of greatest need, a sixteenth century articulation of the modern concept of “agile availability”, will create new opportunities not only for those seeking an experience of Ignatian spirituality, but also for spiritual directors delivering those services. Ignatian spiritual directors and presenters have until now been largely restricted to physical retreat centres for the delivery of Ignatian spirituality and mission formation. 

The Role

To provide effective leadership and coordination of the Spiritual Exercises Ministry. In consultation with the Delegate and Board of JISA:

• Co-ordinates the giving of the Spiritual Exercises and First Spiritual Exercises (FSE) and;
• Provides a vision and open new opportunities for the expansion of the Ministry of the Spiritual Exercises

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop a close liaison among the Spiritual Exercises Mobile Teams.
• Explore and develop ways of making the Spiritual Exercises more accessible to a greater range of people – both within and outside the Province and its works.
• Ensure that Sevenhill CIS and Faber CIS operates smoothly as Centres of Ignatian Spirituality.
• With the operational support of the National Finance and Administration Team and Mobile Teams, work to ensure that Spiritual Exercises in all their forms are given in as many forms to as many people as possible in as many settings as possible. This should be done in consultation with Delegates of each ministry sector. 
• Oversee for the Spiritual Exercises Ministry activities.
• Supervise and mentor the work of the FSE Leadership Team and the Mobile Teams.
• Supervise and mentor the work of the Spiritual Exercises Ministry Mobile Teams.
• Oversee Faber CIS with respect to Spiritual Exercises Ministry activities.
• Work with the Delegate for Jesuit and Ignatian Spirituality and the Board to set and develop yearly budgets and report on implementation progress as required.
• Oversee the employment, induction, review and professional development of all staff employed or engaged as a contractor in the Spiritual Exercises Ministry.

Ideal Candidate

Ideally the successful candidate will possess and have demonstrable knowledge of the following: 

• A Higher Degree in Theology 
• Formation in Ignatian Spirituality including completion of the Spiritual Exercises
• High Level Management Experience
• Possess demonstrable experience in the development of formation programs
• Possess the ability to deliver and implement formation programs