Silent Retreat for Men
The Second Vatican Council renewed the Catholic Church
and brought it into the contemporary world. On this 40th
anniversary of the completion of the Council, we revisit
its treasures, to reflect and pray over them.
Fr. Joeseph Fice, S.J., spent 25 years as a religious educator in Jesuit high schools in California and Arizona. He taught at Jesuit High School in Sacramento, Loyola High School in Los Angeles, and Brophy Preparatory School in Phoenix. His academic interests evolved from mathematics to a deep interest in scripture and ethics. After earning a B.S. in Mathematics from Loyola University of Los Angeles, he received an M.A. in Philosophy from Gonzaga University and an S.T.M. in Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. A lecturer in Philosophy at Loyola University of Los Angeles from 1967 to 1969, his subsequent high school teaching focused on Scripture and Catholic Christianity.
Assisting
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!"
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."
Ms. Randi Schmidt studied psychology in Oslo, Norway, and worked on research projects there and in the USA and Switzerland. With a spiritual awakening she turned to training and work in pastoral counseling and chaplaincy. Randi holds a certificate in spiritual direction from Mercy Center and an MA in sprituality from Santa Clara University. At present, she is training in the Pierre Favre program at El Retiro.
Fr. Peter Togni, S.J., born in King City, CA, and raised on a dairy farm in Greenfield, graduated from Yale before entering the California Province of the Jesuits in 1975. He has taught in the theology department at USF and served there as an Associate Dean for students' issues.
A volunteer at San Quentin for six years, Fr. Peter helped to set up
and coordinate for the prisoners the offerings of the School of Pastoral
Leadership for the Archdiocese of San Francisco, also teaching in that
program.
Fr. Peter has a deep devotion to the working of the Holy Spirit and wrote his dissertation on a novitiate in the early Society of Jesus.
