Mission
The mission of the Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City is to assist people of varied faith traditions to explore and deepen their relationships with God in Jesus Christ. The Center bases its ministry on the Spiritual Exercises and spirituality of St. Ignatius Loyola.

St. Ignatius of Loyola
For a brief biography of St. Ignatius of Loyola - who founded the Society of Jesus and developed the Spiritual Exercises upon which the Center bases its ministry - please click here.

History of Center and Jesuit Sponsorship
In the latter part of the 1980s, Rockhurst University, St. Francis Xavier Parish, and Rockhurst High School began providing opportunities for people to experience The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola with a prayer companion or guide. Various Advent and Lenten prayer programs followed, employing Ignatian forms of prayer and the materials from the Exercises.

In August 2001 an Ignatian Spirituality Program was formally established in Kansas City with St. Francis Xavier Church serving as its base of operation. The Provincial of the Missouri Jesuit Province appointed Rev. James Blumeyer, S.J., as an assistant pastor at the parish with the operation of this program as his primary responsibility.

During the five years under Fr. Blumeyer's guidance, The Ignatian Spirituality Program grew into The Ignatian Spirituality Center of Kansas City. People throughout the community - on both sides of the state line - have increasingly been listening and responding to the call for personal spiritual growth and a yearning to grow in their relationship with God. With the financial and spiritual support of the Missouri Jesuit Province, as well as the support in time and talents of our many lay and Jesuit volunteers, we are addressing this greater call. We intend that the Center become a focal point for those in the community who seek spiritual growth and direction in Ignatian-centered experiences.

People at the Center
Lay volunteers and Jesuits whose time and talents have made the Center a reality and an important resource in the community serve in various capacities: as members of the Center Planning Committee, as prayer guides, and as both instructors and mentors in preparing our prayer guides.

All of the Center prayer guides have completed the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola and are in ongoing training as well as mentoring. Presently, two Jesuits, together with two lay people, mentor and train our prayer guides.

Contacts
Kate Pope Hodel, Director
816/523-5115, ext. 212

khodel@ignatiancenterkc.org

khodel@ignatiancenterkc.org