The Ignatian Spirituality Institute is delighted to announce the renewal of the workshop - Our Way of Proceeding: exploring vision and mission in the Constitutions. We are excited to partner with Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Winnebago, Oshkosh, Wisconsin to offer the workshop November 5 - 8, 2025.
Our Purpose
There are attitudes, values, and patterns of behavior joined together which have become what is called "Our Way of Proceeding" among Jesuits and their collaborators. Our purpose in this workshop is to go deeper into themes of leadership, vision, and mission located in the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, written there by Master Ignatius. We seek to explore key principles and guidance from the Constitutions and their norms, as well as documents of recent General Congregations and letters from Ignatius. Our hope is to discover how our way of proceeding shapes the outlook and the work of Jesuits and lay who labor to fulfill the mission of all apostolic sectors of the Society.
Who will be there
We aim to gather Jesuits and laity active in upper administration, mission, and ministry of universities and high schools, as well as key administrators, board members, key personnel including volunteers of spiritual ministries, social justice institutes and those holding positions in Jesuit provinces. The workshop is specifically designed to encourage and support the discernment of vision and mission in ministry, as well as the formation of leadership for ministry.
How we will work and pray
We recognize the heartbeat of Ignatian ministry is spiritual conversation. This workshop promotes conversation among participants through nine seventy-five minute sessions which include brief input, personal reflection in silence, work in triads, and plenary discussion. The schedule allows space for prayer, reflection, and further spiritual conversation. We will celebrate the Eucharist together each day.
Workshop Logistics
Retreat Workshop cost: $595 per person
Includes workshop materials, all meals and snacks, private en suite room with linens/towels provided
Presenter(s):
Henry Ackels
Henry Ackels has actively practiced law for over 40 years at Ackels & Ackels, LLP. Henry Ackels has experience in a variety of legal areas including, civil, criminal, tax, trusts, real estate, construction, and business entities of all types. He is also an experienced neutral arbitrator and serves on panels, or alone as a single arbitrator, to help others resolve disputes. He represents individuals and small businesses, professionals and health care entities. His practice includes business matters, organizational issues, and litigation. The goal of his practice has been to zealously protect the rights of his clients because legal matters affect the every day lives of all citizens, both personal and corporate. Henry embodies the attributes and attitudes of Ignatian spirituality as a way of proceeding in the world. He has offered courses regarding the Ignatian Way in Business and Life at ISI. He graduated Jesuit Dallas and received his undergraduate degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. He holds a JD from SMU Dedman School of Law.
James Grummer, SJ
Fr. James E. Grummer, SJ entered the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1972. He worked in secondary education, higher education, Jesuit formation, and Jesuit governance before serving as Provincial of the Wisconsin Province. From 2005 until 2017 he was General Counselor and Regional Assistant for Father General. From 2017 until 2023 he served at the Gregorian University as a faculty member and as superior of the Jesuit community. In August 2023 he moved to Saint Paul where he is now the director of novices.
Billy Huete, S.J.
A native of New Orleans, Fr. Billy was the first-born of six sons. After graduating from Jesuit High School of New Orleans in 1970, he entered the Society of Jesus at Grand Coteau. He received his undergraduate degree from Spring Hill College, double-majoring in philosophy and English. He then taught English and geometry at Strake Jesuit in Houston for three years as a scholastic. He studied theology in Rome at the Gregorian University for three years, was ordained a priest in 1982, and followed up with one more year of theology studies in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After receiving his degree from Fordham University in Educational Administration, he was appointed principal of Strake Jesuit, a post he held for six years. From 1991 until 2008 he worked at the Jesuit Novitiate in Grand Coteau, first as the assistant to the Novice Director, and then as Director of Novices for thirteen years. Fr. Billy has served on the boards of Strake Jesuit, Jesuit College Prep of Dallas, and Cristo Rey Jesuit College Prep of Houston. Former rector of the Jesuit Community at Jesuit College Prep, Fr. Billy now serves as Socius of the Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus. He enjoys movies, reading, and music.
Christopher Staab, SJ
Fr. Christopher Staab, SJ is a Jesuit priest and a member of the Midwest Province. He obtained both his Doctorate and Licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Master’s in Ignatian Spirituality at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid. He taught at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and in 2024 he has become Professor of the Practice in Ignatian Spirituality at the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University. As a new professor, Fr. Staab seeks to create a dialogue and reflection in which students and teacher alike enter more deeply into an experiential, critical, and reflective practice of the faith that is informed by the Ignatian sources.
Jack Treloar, SJ
Fr. Jack Treloar, SJ entered the Society of Jesus in 1957 at the novitiate in Florissant, Missouri. He taught high school in St. Louis and was ordained in 1970. Fr. Jack has earned advanced degrees in Philosophy and Dogmatic/Systemic Theology for St. Louis University and a doctorate from Michigan State University. Over the ensuing fifty-five years, as a professor, scholar, lecturer, author and academic administrator, Fr Jack's ministry has taken him back to St Louis University and Marquette University, and to the Jesuit School of Theology. He served a number of years in formation for the provincial office of the Wisconsin Province and currently is on staff at Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh.
Carol Atwell Ackels
Carol is Director of the Ignatian Spirituality Institute. A spiritual director in the Ignatian tradition she serves as retreat director of the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius in various formats. She offers weekend retreats, the Exercises in Everyday Life, and one-to-one directed retreats at Jesuit retreat houses across the United States. Carol regularly gives programs and days of reflection to parish and Church groups. She launched and continues to give workshops to shape persons, Jesuits and lay, who are moving into retreat ministry and spiritual companioning in the Ignatian tradition. Appointed by the Provincial, Carol served six years on the bi-province Commission on Ministry--the group that discerns long-range planning for apostolic work of the Jesuits and their colleagues. Carol co-authored with Joe Tetlow, S.J. the twelve week Ignatian retreat Finding Christ in the World, and worked with Anthony Borrow, S.J. developing the Toward Greater Freedom retreat for parents at Jesuit College Prep of Dallas. Carol holds a J.D. from SMU Dedman School of Law, Dallas and a Master of Art in Theology and Leadership from Gonzaga University, Spokane. She and her husband reside in Dallas and are the parents of five adult children.