IEM Past Events

Breaking Open the Word Lent 2025 Virtual, Global Conversations on the weekly Gospel

IEM hosted 7 weekly Zoom-based Conversation groups in 4 languages (English, Spanish, French and Portuguese) during Lent 2025. With Meeting Leaders and Facilitators from across the world, over 100 participants from 14 countries met weekly to break open the Scriptures and share faith together

World Union of Catholic Women’s Organizations

Ignatian Encounter Ministry has hosted synodal consultations for WUCWO in 2024 and 2025. IEM provided Conversation in the Spirit Facilitator Trainings in 3 languages (English, Spanish and French) two years in a row, preparing over 400 facilitators from 48 countries.

IEM also hosted and facilitated virtual Synod Consultations that included participation from over 1500 women from 78 countries, the largest virtual consultation of Catholic women ever.

Association of US Catholic Priests

Ignatian Encounter Ministry has facilitated 4 virtual Conversations in the Spirit for the AUSCP on topics including: the vocation of young women in the Church, LGBTQ Catholics, Immigration and Lay Leadership. Over 800 participants have attended these events.

St. Michael Parish Glen Allen, VA

Ignatian Encounter Ministry developed and implemented a new synodal process for St. Michael’s. A two-step Conversation process beginning with a virtual Conversation in the Spirit with local LGBTQ Catholics, followed by a parish-wide discernment reflecting on the first conversation responses in light of the Gospel.

Building Bridges, Loyola Chicago University

IEM trained students and young adults in South East Asia to facilitate virtual Conversations with their peers as part of Loyola’s Building Bridges Initiative. The students then met virtually with Pope Francis to share the insight gained from their conversations. IEM was proud and honored to share our training process with Pope Francis.

Catholic Climate Covenant

IEM developed a new synodal consultation process with CCC and the Dicastery for Integral Human Development in 2024. US Catholic college students were invited to watch recorded interviews of climate refugees sharing their stories and then gather for a conversation to consider how young people are called to respond.

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FAQs

  • Breaking Open the Word (BOTW) is a virtual group reflection rooted in prayer and shared reflection. Using the Conversation in the Spirit model, small facilitated groups share their insights on the Gospel and consider together how the Holy Spirit is calling all of us and each of us to live out the Gospel.

  • The initial pilot project will take place during Lent 2025. Groups will meet each week of Lent for 5 weeks. Groups will meet at the same time on the same day each week of Lent. Registration for your day/time and return each week.

  • Register Above at a time right for you.

    You will receive an email with a Zoom link for the first week. (Use the same Zoom link each week. )

    The group begins together with shared prayers, intentions, silence, song and the reading of the Gospel.

    After the reading, you will be invited to join a small group of 5 and a facilitator who will guide you through a conversation where all share and listen together to our thoughts and insights surrounding the scripture and our lives.

  • This pilot is global with groups meeting in 4 different languages: English, French, Spanish and Portuguese. The hope is to foster a truly catholic and universal conversation on our shared faith, finding inspiration and support together. It is meant for anyone who sincerely seeks global fellowship and honest dialogue around experience and scripture.