Silent Retreat for Men
Faith, hope and love are spoken of by the Church as virtues. Let's explore how we can access, nurture and apply these divine gifts to enhance, support, and transform our lives and to bring ourselves to enjoy God's promises.
Fr. Kevin Ballard, S.J. was born in San Francisco and raised in a traveling military family, joined the Society of Jesus in 1972 and was ordained in 1985. His ministry, mainly in parishes, has also included community organizing, high school teaching, and retreat work. Three years in Kathmandu, Nepal were a highlight and delight. His ongoing interest in Ignatian Spirituality has entailed directing the Spiritual Exercises in their various forms. Since 1981, the blessings of the 12 Steps have been key to life and work. Judaism has been an ongoing inspiration. He is blessed to live sober, one day at a time, since 1981. Kevin is recreated by languages, bird-watching and "staring into space!"
Michael Cheney is a spiritual director and theology teacher. He currently teaches at Jesuit High School in Sacramento where he also serves as the Director of Faculty Development. From 1984-2002, he taught theology at Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He also taught theology and philosophy as an adjunct instructor at Mt. St. Mary's College and Marymount College in southern California. He and his wife, who have been married for 25 years, have three children. With Fr. John Powell, S.J., he co-authored two books, A Life-Giving Vision: How to Be a Christian in Today's World (Thomas More Press) and The Christian Vision of Reality (Resources for Christian Living).
Assisting
Fr. Bernard Bush, S.J. is a spiritual director and psychotherapist by training—background that he believes enables him to see people's lives in a rich and diverse way. He says he enjoys the challenging adventure of helping others find God in their lives— something he recognizes is different for every person. He defines a spiritual director as one who is a servant to others as they grow in their relationship with God.
Born in Humboldt County, California, Fr. Bernie entered the Society of Jesus following graduation from Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA. He was ordained in 1965, and then trained as a spiritual director and psychotherapist, earning a Ph.D. in human science (psychology and theology) from the Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco.
Early in his career, Fr. Bernie taught at St. Ignatius High School, San Francisco, and assisted the chaplain at Alcatraz, San Francisco. For 13 years, he directed the House of Affirmation, a clinical treatment center for emotionally troubled clergy and religious. Fr. Bush is the author of the Book called Living in His Love: Essays on Prayer and Christian Living, and the Editor of Coping: Issues of Emotional Living in an Age of Stress for Clergy and Religious. He joined the Jesuit Retreat Center staff in 1993 after working in the Diocese of Norwich (Conn.), developing continuing education programs in social justice and the prevention of child abuse for the clergy.
Fr. Bernie continues to advocate for children. He also looks back fondly on his piloting days when he was truly "out of reach, looking down on the world a sort of God's eye view."
Assisting
Fr. James Flynn, S.J. was born in 1942 in Los Angeles, CA and attended St. Charles Grammar
School in North Hollywood. After graduating from Bishop Garcia Diego
High School in Santa Barbara in 1960, he matriculated at Santa Clara
University. On September 8, 1961, he entered the Society of Jesus at
Los Gatos.
After the normal course of training at Los Gatos, Fr. Jim majored in
philosophy and English at Gonzaga University, graduating in 1967. He
taught at Loyola High School, Los Angeles from 1967-1970, and after
theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, he
graduated with an M.Div. in 1973. He was ordained a priest on June 15,
1973. That same year he completed a Master's Degree in English
at Loyola University, Los Angeles.
The next 12 years Fr. Jim worked in administration in Jesuit secondary
education: Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs at Loyola High School,
Los Angeles, Campus Minister (1967-81) and Principal (1981-85) at Jesuit
High School, Sacramento. After a sabbatical year at the Jesuit School
of Theology in Cambridge, MA, he pursued graduate studies at Andover
Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA. His concentration was
Ignatian Spirituality and American Jesuit Higher Education: how to maintain
the Ignatian character of the institutions with fewer and fewer Jesuits.
He graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1989. —more about Fr. Jim
Ms. Barbara Nelson is a native of San Francisco, a convert to Catholicism, and a member of St. Agnes Church in San Francisco. She serves as a Lector and provides training for Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers. She is also the former Director of Volunteers and has served three years on the Pastoral Council and four years as a team leader with the RCIA program. Barbara has developed and is a co-presenter for Lenten/Advent Retreats at St Agnes based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She is a Spiritual Director for the 19th Annotation, retreats and general spiritual direction. A dedicated student of Ignatian Spirituality and Scripture, she is a member of the ground breaking Pierre Favre Program at the Jesuit Retreat Center.
