Every year we gather as a community of Spiritual Directors for our Network Day. This year we are meeting on Saturday 16th November at St. John’s Church Hoxton.
We are looking forward very much to welcoming friends old and new to our annual gathering and celebration.
We plan to be repeating last year's Network Day where people were able to join on Zoom, so that our members and friends who are unable to join us in-situ, and anyone else who wishes to attend this way, can join in fully with the whole event.
The day will offer the usual mix of timely and stimulating input, news of the Centre, discussion, fellowship and worship. Those following the live-stream will have the opportunity to take part in discussion groups and plenary question time via Zoom.
Our Speaker
Dr Gemma Simmonds CJ is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus, founded by Mary Ward (1585-1609). She is a senior lecturer in pastoral theology based at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge where she is director of the Religious Life Institute. She lectured in Christian Spirituality at Heythrop College, University of London from 2005 until its closure in 2018, specialising in Spiritual Direction in the Ignatian tradition.
An international speaker and lecturer working in the fields of Christian spirituality and ecclesiology, she has been a missionary in Brazil and a chaplain in the Universities of Cambridge and London as well as a chaplaincy volunteer in Holloway Prison for 26 years.
She is a regular broadcaster on religious matters on the BBC. Her book, The Way of Ignatius, was published by SPCK for Lent 2019 and was serialised as the Lenten retreat on Pray As You Go. Her most recent book, Treasuring God’s Word is published by Pauline Books and Media.
Timeline for the day
10:00 Arrival for Tea & Coffee
10:30 Welcome and Community Update
11:00 Identity Session 1
12:30 Lunch
13:30 Identity Session 2
14:15 Plenary
15:15 Liturgy, Blessing and Close
16:00 End of the day