TESTIMONIALS

Josephine (Jo) Ludwig,
Bridges Retreatant 2007-2008

Bridges is a gift from God to get you to your next stop on the journey. I am a grateful and a blessed member of a community of folks who have had the experience of knowing first hand the love of God through this program.

I begin by stating that I have “known about” God’s unconditional love for me for many years. What Bridges helped me to do was to “know by experience” that the love God has for me, for all of us, is tangible, constant and powerful.

I am Dominican Associate, so engaging in a year of indulgence to the Ignatian World of Spirituality was, for me, a bit of a rebellion of sorts. “Why,” I kept asking myself, “did I need The Exercises?” I have a spirituality, for heaven’s sake, why would I want another one? It is humbling and exciting to report that I need GOD and that there are many beautiful paths by which to enrich and flavor your relationship to God. The Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, as presented by the Bridges program is one of those paths.

The thing that I believe was a significant factor in the transformation that happened to me during this past year was my openness to the process. Once I got past my own resistance to learning something new, I found the principles and concepts that Ignatius discovered life giving. I have become particularly enamored with the prayer of fantasy and using my imagination in prayer. What Bridges did for me was twofold. First, in asking me to pray for one hour every day and by having a plan for each day to ignite my prayer time each morning, I now have a beautiful habit of conversation time I spend with God. Second, having a superb prayer companion that walked “with” my progress and sense of God moving in my own life, rather than coming each week with her own planned agenda for the week of prayer, I was able to reveal and heal one particularly painful memory from my past.

The Bridges experience has brought me to a new place of intimacy in my relationship with Spirit-God-Jesus. I am continuing the habit of prayer now using the readings for the Sunday Liturgies as my prayer starters each morning. I use the Ignatian contemplative style and the prayer of imagination and fantasy, and engage actively in the Scriptures for the coming Sunday. By the time Sunday arrives, I have been drenched in love and my own understanding and prayer experiences with those Scriptures, which opens the way for the liturgy to be much more meaningful.

Would I recommend Bridges? YES! Why? Because it works. Regardless of the place you find yourself in your journey to God, Bridges can take you deeper. Relationship to God and with God is the goal of all Christian living. Bridges is a tremendous and powerful way to engage in deep commitment to improving the most important relationship in a Christian’s life. Therefore, the question really becomes not “why” participate in Bridges, but rather “why not?”

Mary Kathryn Victor,
Bridges Retreatant 2006-2007

I heard about Bridges many years ago, but I was busy raising a son as a single parent and teaching middle school as sole support. I knew I couldn’t be a participate then, but I never forgot about it. When I retired after twenty-nine years of teaching middle school, somehow a flyer “appeared,” and I signed up. I knew it was time.

For years, I never knew what people were talking about when they would relate their experience of a “personal relationship with Jesus.” I first experienced this for myself when I joined Al-Anon and received therapy for the aching and chaotic experience of life growing up in an alcoholic home. This is a journey that I thank God for every day. It led me to recovery workshops, spiritual retreats, women’s retreat days, and my present parish of Sts. Peter and Paul in Soulard, and it planted the seed of someday being able to participate in the Bridges program.

When I first attended Mass at Sts. Peter and Paul, the place was so packed that the only place I could sit was on the steps. My mother had recently died, and I was feeling the pain of bitterness and sorrow. I sat at that Mass on the steps week after week, and the flood of tears emerged each week from the beginning of the Mass to the end. This was my first intense experience of Jesus healing me, and it was powerful. I began to understand more and more that I was developing a relationship with Jesus.

I continued on that journey which led me to Bridges. It was always on the back burner in my mind. Then, one day, Bridges happened for me.

What I expected was to discern what my next step in life was to be. Where do I go now? In what capacity do I serve? The answer came back to me loud and clear, “Do Nothing!” Do nothing? How do I do nothing? This has been the biggest challenge of my life: to sit still and do nothing!

I am now in my second year of Bridges, and I am still obeying the command of “do nothing.” I don’t know what I am going to do when I “grow up.” However, God has sent me little ways to help people, so for now, I am biding my time by “doing nothing” and listening intently for my next move.

One of the biggest challenges of Bridges is allowing myself to be OK with the way that I meditate and receive Jesus’ words into my heart. I am not a “sit still” type of person. I am a doer, and I have had to learn to be a “be-er” in the way that Jesus wishes. (human do-ing, human be-ing)

Being A.D.D. (attention deficit disorder) has it’s advantages and disadvantages. Although sitting still is nearly impossible for me for long, I can do more than one thing at a time. I would find myself washing dishes, but in my mind, I was contemplating something that I had read in my Bridges program. The strange thing was, that although on my feet, I was contemplating this thought for longer and longer periods of time during the day. It was an unconventional way to meditate, but it was all mine. Soon, I became OK with the fact that this is what I had been doing during my long daily walks for most of my life - meditating and forming my own personal relationship with Jesus. I simply needed support and guidance to understand that this, too, was meditation and listening to God, and that it was OK.

One major event that happened during Bridges for me was that for the first time in my life, I realized that Jesus was really human. That He really felt everything physically, mentally and emotionally. That He was going through the same thing that I go through when I’m trying to figure out who I am and where I am supposed to go now. He really didn’t know that He was God from the first. It was discerned bit by bit, in pieces, over time with the help of the Father. Jesus really did go through mid-life crisis. Painful!! And He really did feel physically all the pain that the crucifixion and torture put upon his body. It was His humanity that made Him feel all of this. He really did feel what it was like to be human.

I am now in Bridges II, and have been given so much through the guidance and love of my group, the leaders and the speakers at the monthly meetings. I am still listening, however, and trying to figure out what it is that I am supposed to do when I “grow up.” In the mean time, I am going to prepare to be a prayer companion next year.

Jim Foppe,
Bridges Retreatant 2004-2005

In the summer of 2004 my brother asked me if I heard of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, and if I would consider doing them. At the time my life was about as full as it could be. I was newly married, driving and hour each way every day for work, and trying to get a business with my parents and brother off the ground. I was feeling squeezed. Prayer and meditation was an important part of my life, but had dwindled down to nearly nothing at that point. I was feeling it and it was showing.

At the time my brother was going through some of his own personal challenges, and his friend recommended the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. When my brother asked me what I knew about the Spiritual Exercises, I told him what I knew from the Jesuits through attending St. Louis University. It was a 30 day retreat that was really demanding yet rewarding. It always intrigued me, but I could never take 30 days off from both work and other life responsibilities to do one. Then he explained the Bridges program. It gave "busy" people access to the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.

Then he asked me if I would consider checking it out with him. I had every excuse in the book to say no, but I accepted the invite mainly to support him. But how could I even possibly add that on top of all my other responsibilities? It said it was for busy people, so I accepted my brother's invitation to at least talk to someone at Bridges about it.

At this point in my life I was well along on my spiritual life journey. I grew up attending Catholic school all the way through graduate school. It was positive overall and I attended Church regularly, but more for the rituals than the spiritual food. I thought the church was a bunch of rituals and rules. Prayer was a bunch of "Our Fathers" and "Hail Mary's" or whatever else was memorized and said as fast as possible. I thought the more I could say the fastest would yield the most results. It was all about the quantity. I was not feeling the connection, but I kept doing it because it was what we do as "good Catholics."

I found outside of church how important prayer and meditation were, and without it everything else crumbles apart. I knew this but somehow I still managed to allow all the other life stuff/responsibilities to build up and slowly squeeze out my prayer. I was really discouraged because I could not spend the time either in morning or evening to pray and meditate the way I "should." This was part of the reason I considered my brother's invitation. Somehow I thought if I committed to this guided retreat it would force me to get it back into my daily routine. I thought if I could not pray in the morning in a certain spot at a certain time for specific amount of time, I could not pray at all. So I didn't.

When I signed up for the Bridges program, I wanted to have a breakthrough on this "business" in my life. I was not happy with my job; it was not fulfilling for me and I felt I was not in the right place. I heard the word discernment thrown around in conjuction with the Ignatian Exercises and that word always attracted me, because I wallowed in indecision and second guessing. I yearned for clarity in my life. I only received it a few times for brief moments prior. I admired those who had it and walked through life with a purpose. I was trying everything to find it and digging myself a hole in the process.

So I signed up and attended every week with my brother. I would pick him up before and drop him off after. First I thought like I always "thought" that I was a poor participant because I was not able to keep my commitment of one hour of prayer every day. I struggled with that the whole way through. What I found and had to do as part of my exercise was to learn to bring God with me through out the day. It became clear that previously I thought I could only talk and listen to God at that one time of day at that certain spot with the right music, candles, books, props, etc. Even though this I was doing this my whole life, I got to see this was like only talking to my wife at the dinner table, with certain china, and proper food. I finally saw the insanity in that. I was talking to her all the time whenever we needed to talk we did. Why couldn't I do this with God, plus invite him along with me throughout the day. It sounds so simple, but it was a novel new idea for me.

Now as far as the discernment. I believe "God speaks through timing." I prayed for clarity especially with the business. I struggled between the getting the business going and my home life. God granted me the clarity that home was first. So I set forth actions to reinforce that. God acted swiftly, in fact the following morning my wife found out she was pregnant! All I could do was smile for I knew it was the hand of God. I had to make room for the new addition.

Bridges helped me "grow up" spiritually, going from my adolescent views to an adult relationship. It redefined prayer and meditation along with other old ideas I had with relation to the Church and God. It gave me access to communicating with God thus improving our relationship. I learned that prayer is not as much semantics as it is whenever possible, quality not quantity. I participated a lot in athletics growing up and continue to exercise regularly, so the idea of spiritual "exercises" attracted me when it was explained that way. Now, I get to exercise spiritually.

Since Bridges, I left my corporate job and my wife and I moved to Lexington, KY. For the first time in my career, I feel at home in my work (discernment). We have two daughters and now more than ever I practice inviting God with me throughout the day. During the midnight feeding, during the sick times when the baby does not stop crying, etc. I am ever grateful that He is with me at these times.

Jacqueline E. Mitchell,
Bridges Retreatant 1993-1994, Current Prayer Companion

I first heard about The Exercises as a student at St. Louis University. Many years later I felt a need for something more than following Church laws and rote prayer. I read many “how to” books but there was still an emptiness within me. The St. Louis Review had a small announcement that stated The Spiritual Exercises under the name Bridges was being offered. Those interested should call the number given. There was no hesitation on my part. I immediately called. I knew this is what I wanted and the retreat transformed my life.

How Bridges transformed my life cannot be adequately described because each retreatant brings unique experiences and talents. However, The Exercises allowed me to express my inner thoughts in writing and sharing these thoughts with an understanding companion. I learned that God never stops loving me even when I sin. God immediately forgives me even when I sin. I learned that sin stems from disorders with in myself. The retreat gave me the “tools” to identify these disorders. I learned that my challenge was to accept whatever occurs in my life as an opportunity to do God’s will. I learned to see Christ in all people. I learned many forms of prayer and also that prayer is every breath I take. My experience with Bridges led me to want to learn more, and so I participated in Bridges II and the following training to become a prayer companion for the Bridges Retreat.

Over the years being a prayer companion to retreatants has been a privilege. When a retreatant has conquered some obstacle, I rejoice. If the opposite occurs, I hope the seed has been planted that in the future it will sprout and grow. Without exception I have considered it an honor to accompany each retreatant in a life-altering journey.

Mary Funge, SH,
Bridges Retreatant 1996-1997, Current Prayer Companion

My life experience coming into Bridges was that of a member of the Society of Helpers, an international religious order founded in Paris, France in 1856. Our spirituality is Ignatian. Compared with other women's international communities we are small in number but have foundations in 27 countries.

I entered the Helpers in 1953 and during my novitiate in Chappaqua, N.Y. experienced the preached 30-day Ignatian retreat. A Jesuit priest, Fr. Amy, who was kind but extremely disciplined, directed our 30 days leaving an important mark on my eager young person. The decision to remove myself from the center of my life and replace "me" with Christ has remained with me to this day, probably because this election is still challenging.

Before my final vows in 1962 I again experienced the 30 day retreat in France. Pere Voulet, SJ preached in French. The spirit of Council of Vatican II, which opened in October of that year, seemed already to be in the air. I remember the name of this kind priest because, with every suggestion he made, he always added, "Si vous voulez!" (If you wish!).

Some years later I was asked to accompany one of our novices to Spain so that she could experience the 30-day retreat there with a mixed group of religious. We went to Vich where the Claretians have their center. As long as I was to be there for the full experience, I also entered into the retreat. This time it was a directed retreat - my first! My guide was the novice master for the Claretians, Fr. Marty Kirk, CMF. He was very human and holy. It was a freeing experience but my first election remained firm! The final day of our retreat was made with each individual descending from the heights of Montserrat as we made our final meditations culminating with a liturgy in the chapel where the Black Madonna still stands.

So when I came to Bridges in 1996, I came with a rich background of Ignatian experience. However I had not made the 30-day retreat in everyday life and this turned out to be a very different journey, the one that integrated my daily prayer more deeply into each day. My retreat guide was Sr. Mary Byles, RSCJ, the Society of the Sacred Heart. Many of our best presentations were given by Mary and she had a simple, human touch that was very appealing to me. I was able to relate to her completely with no pretense or hesitancy.

One of the experiences of our meetings was one completely arranged by God! At Christmas time I visited my sister, Patricia, and her family in New Jersey. While there I developed a painful case of shingles. I decided to wait until I returned to St. Louis to go for treatment. As I sat in the airport in Newark, I decided to call Mary Byles as soon as I got home to cancel my upcoming meeting with her. Then, like a vision, who walked into the waiting area - Sr. Mary Byles!! She too had a sister living in New Jersey and had gone there for Christmas. We spotted each other right away and, when I explained my situation, we had our Bridges exchange right there during the hour's wait.

Besides the integrative effect of Bridges into my daily life, especially regarding fidelity to time spent with the Lord, I found the preparation of the next day's meditation and the daily examen to have been more solidly reinforced in my life. With my quiet cat, who dislikes TV very openly, I end my day by sitting with her and reading the next day's Gospel aloud. She seems to love it and I always feel the unfathomable connection with the mystery of our universe and our Creator present right there. It all connects with my election made so long ago - to put Christ into the center!

The other aspect of Bridges has been the inspiring associations I have made through the years both during the retreat and afterwards as I continued on as a prayer companion and attended Prayer Companions (now called Bridges II) for many years. During those years I also coordinated the Weeks of Guided Prayer. So many of the persons I met in Bridges and Prayer Companions became involved with the Weeks. Sometimes I reflect on all these intertwinings and marvel at the plan of God which could only have brought all of this together.

I spent a year and a half in Great Britain and one year in Chicago before returning to St. Louis in 1994. I had learned about and experienced the Weeks of Prayer in both these places. On a visit to St. Louis, where I had lived before, I found out about Bridges and with the encouragement of Joan and Jim Felling, I returned permanently. They were right in thinking that the Weeks of Guided Prayer would be a ministry for many of the persons who, having experienced the year of Bridges, wished to share their experience of God with others. The other factor was that here was a large group of people who had experienced the Ignatian Exercises upon which the Weeks of Prayer were primarily based.

Now in 2008, thirteen years later I am filled with wonderment and thanksgiving to my God for deepening my life with such an integrative, prayer-filled and expansive ministry. Alleluia!!

Rich Sanker,
Bridges Retreatant 2006-2007

It is difficult to say what exactly called me to the Bridges program back in the summer of 2006. I do remember that life seemed very complicated, and it was becoming very difficult to feel the presence of God in my prayer or daily routines. I had participated in the 19th Annotation when I was younger, just out of college, and revisited the Ignation Exercises during my experience in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, which were all helpful in developing my relationship with Christ. However, with the responsibilities of parenthood, marriage and the complexities of the work place, I was facing new and more difficult challenges to my spiritual life. I knew that I needed my relationship with God to be fully present in all that I do at home and work, so I decided that I needed to find a way to make God a focal point in my life again. From my past experiences, I knew that the Bridges program would likely be the best means to achieve this goal.

Even though I was resigned to participate in the Bridges program, I still did so with some trepidation. I knew from my past experiences with The Exercises that the journey during the year would be difficult, and draw me inward into deep reflection. With a wife and family now, I was worried that I may not be fully present to them as I had been. Moreover, I was worried how I would balance all the responsibilities of the Bridges program with my daily routines. Most of all, I was uncertain about reestablishing my relationship with God, and what I would have to face and deal with in participating in the retreat. Nevertheless, the Holy Spirit moved me forward and I found the courage and made the time to participate in Bridges.

I wish that I could say that everything was great and the retreat went smoothly was nothing but a joyful experience, but I fear or have come to learn that God rarely works in such a manner. Thankfully, my prayer companion was wonderful throughout this challenging experience, helping me to navigate some of the more difficult periods. Moreover, my family and friends were very supportive during this experience as well. The retreat actually made me more present to them, and allowed me to love them more deeply and fully, which is one of the aspects of the retreat that I am most grateful.

Though it took some time, prayer and exercises began to focus my spiritual life once again. I am not sure why it is so difficult to really talk to God, or why it is so easy to push God out of my life, but The Exercises gave me a forum in which I was able to reconnect. Actually, I do know exactly why it is so easy to push God out – SIN. Confronting the issues of my sins and spiritual failings certainly was one of the hardest and best parts of the Bridges experience. Humility is always difficult, as well as dealing with the sorrow and shame of dealing with the hurt I caused others. However, God’s loving spirit and grace were with me the entire time, and though it was difficult, it was certainly necessary from me to reestablish my relationship with Christ.

One of my surprises was how easy it was to get comfortable with the prayer and exercises involved in the Bridges program. I looked forward to the quiet prayer and reflective experiences that were part of the daily mediations. Though what I meditated upon was not always easy, I always felt more relaxed and less stressed at the end of the day because of The Exercises. It was a great way for me to end the day, with God in my heart and on my mind. Again, I wish I could say that this was always peaceful, but I must admit even when it was not comfortable I know that it was always necessary. As the retreat proceeded during the year, more often than not, I found more peace and special comfort knowing God was present.

Consequently, it became easier during the year to see God’s presence in all that I did and in all whom I had the joy to encounter. My relationship with my family grew with God’s love and grace. My children became (if it was possible) even more special and a greater blessing to me. I have never loved my wife so much. It is amazing how powerful life can be if we can let God be present in all that we do. The Bridges program is great in this aspect. On many retreats in which I have participated, it is easy to find God’s presence on that weekend and at the beautiful and peaceful retreat house, but when I returned to regular life, it would quickly disappear. In the Bridges program, the retreat becomes part of your daily life. As a consequence, I was able to integrate my spiritual life into my daily interactions. I was able to see God everywhere and in all my relationships. This can at times be a little unnerving, but thanks to the retreat, I must admit that I see everyday as a great blessing and gift from God.

I am sure that there is much more that I could say about the Bridges program. I do not want to reveal all the aspects, for I know each journey through the program is unique for every individual, for I guess that is how the Holy Spirit works. What I can say with great certainty is that I am truly grateful for the Bridges program and the organization that allows me to integrate God’s graces and love into my life. It is a wonderful organization, and I hope and pray that the Holy Spirit will give others the courage and fortitude to take the time to participate.

Gay Noonan,
Bridges Retreatant 2001-2002

I first heard of the Bridges program long before I actually participated in it. Although I was interested right away and wanted very much to do the retreat, I was unable to make the commitment. I was a full time high school teacher and wouldn’t have had quality time to devote to such an endeavor. The time was right, however, when I retired from teaching and was able to commit to the daytime program.

My introduction to Ignatian spirituality came from the retreats made at White House over the years. I have always considered myself to be a prayerful spiritual person and throughout my life have sought various and different ways to “improve” my spiritual life. I found in Ignatian Spirituality via White House retreats what seemed to be the a practical way to grow closer to the Lord personally as well as to live in the Lord’s presence in all facets of my life. When I decided to make the Bridges retreat I knew it would provide the means to my goal, but I wasn’t at all sure what it entailed. It seemed demanding and a bit daunting – weekly meetings, journaling, and one hour of prayer each day. Could I commit to that? I basically trusted the Lord believing it was the right place and the right time.

I began the retreat hoping to grow into a deeper relationship with God, to know the Lord more intimately and to come to fuller understanding and love of Scripture. I was not disappointed in any aspect and the blessings I received were abundant. The program takes the retreatant through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius over a nine month period, including privately meeting once a week with a prayer companion and in also in a larger group. It was a continuing probing into God’s incredible love for His people and His desire to gather all of us to Himself. On a personal note, it was the awareness of God’s unconditional love for me that became a crystal clear focal point and because of that understanding I became able to pray with more meaning and intimacy. I was surprised that the hour of prayer once a day became one I looked forward to with joy and anticipation. Scripture became alive as I learned to enter into the life of Jesus and learn about discipleship.

After completing Bridges I, I continued for two years in Prayer Companions, now known as Bridges II. That experience was a further delving into the topics presented in the first retreat. Since that time my relationship with Jesus and God has only deepened and blossomed into one of richness and intimacy. Ignatius has one basic premise: all things in this world are gifts from God and therefore all things provide us with endless opportunities to give reverence and praise to God. The Bridges experience has enabled and taught me how to become attuned to God’s presence in every aspect of my life. He meets us where we are.

There is no doubt that completing Bridges has been one of the most valuable, enriching, and enduring experiences of my life. Not only has it given me the tools with which to cultivate and sustain my relationship with God, but it has enabled me to see the world with new eyes, with awareness that I encounter God everywhere in the course of my days. The only thing asked of me is to recognize and respond to God in all things with gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving.