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In an era marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity, our world reveals its fractures — environmental crises, social inequalities, and a palpable sense of communal disconnection. The profound wisdom of the Catholic tradition, particularly experienced through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Gospels, offers invaluable insights for navigating these challenging times. It emphasizes discernment, creativity, and leadership as essential tools for addressing the complexities of the modern world. Drawing upon the experiences and reflections of Regis College alumni, let’s underscore the relevance of these spiritual practices concretely in our world.
Jesuit father John Dardis encapsulates the essence of this challenge, emphasizing the need for discernment and creativity in these tumultuous times. He highlights how the Ignatian tradition, with its deep insights and guidance, encourages us to see beyond the immediate, to discern deeply, and to act with compassion and creativity. This approach is crucial for Christian leaders seeking to make a meaningful impact in a world that often feels broken and wounded.
John Dardis highlights how the Ignatian tradition, with its deep insights and guidance, encourages us to see beyond the immediate, to discern deeply, and to act with compassion and creativity.
Sr. Elizabeth Davis, RSM, offers a poignant reflection on the state of our world, saying, “We have a broken, wounded world and we have people in our world who are also broken and wounded. We are endangering Earth herself by our practices and at the same time we are having the greatest impact on the poorest people among us.” Her words echo the urgency of responding compassionately and proactively to the challenges facing humanity and the planet.
The evolving landscape of society and the Church, though daunting, presents a unique opportunity for individuals to lead and effect significant positive changes within their communities. Fr. Dardis asserts, “Our rapidly changing world provides a great opportunity for discernment for Christian leaders. We can’t just do what we did 40 years ago; we must discern new ways forward. We need to be flexible and creative.”
A Hope-Filled Vision in the Midst of Volatility
The significance of theology and the Christian tradition in today’s leadership roles — both within the Church and in the broader world — cannot be overstated. The Ignatian tradition offers a compass for navigating the complexities of modern society, imbuing leaders with the wisdom to guide their communities through turbulent times.
The journey to effective conversion and transformation is enabled by the formation of leaders — a process of learning, deep discernment, and action that prepares individuals to respond prayerfully and compassionately to their world’s needs. This formation is not a solitary endeavour but a communal one, as highlighted by Sr. Davis: “The synthesis document of the recent Synod on Synodality … uses the word ‘formation’ 56 times. All of us need formation, and formation must happen together.” Central to this process is the capacity to listen deeply, to engage with diverse perspectives, and to cultivate inner freedom. St. Ignatius Loyola’s legacy underscores this. Fr. Dardis elaborates, “Ignatius had a gift to see reality in its beauty and in its fragility, and then to discern, asking: What is God trying to do in this situation?”
Noah MacDonald, an Anishinaabe PhD student, echoes the transformative potential of such education, noting, “We are formed by this need for doing theology for good and for community.” His words capture the essence of what Regis College has undertaken as its mission: to equip its future leaders not only with knowledge but with a profound sense of purpose and commitment to the common good.
Fr. Gordon Rixon, SJ, president of Regis College, further elaborates on the role of theology in today’s world, stating, “Theology plays a very important role in helping people see that there is a project larger than any culture or any language. One of the things we do as educators is to help enhance people’s agency and accompany them as they explore those types of questions.” This exploration is vital, helping individuals navigate the diverse landscapes of belief and tradition that they encounter. It’s about enabling them to engage meaningfully with the questions that define their lives and societies.
The Ignatian Tradition as a Compass
The ecumenical and global learning environment of Regis College, as part of the Toronto School of Theology at University of Toronto, enriches this educational journey. Now also studying with fellow students from the University of St. Michael’s College, Regis students from various traditions and numerous countries bring a wealth of perspectives, fostering a learning community that is as diverse as the world’s rich tapestry. “In the years that I’ve been here, we have had students from 56 different countries, connecting with local communities, sharing,” recounts Fr. Rixon, highlighting the college’s role in facilitating conversations that span cultures and continents.
Fr. Dardis shares his own transformative journey, noting, “I’m from Ireland, which is a country where a high percentage of the population comes from a Catholic background. During my studies in Regis, I met with people of different Christian traditions and was challenged to move from a zone of comfort.” This encounter with diversity is not just academic; it’s a profound personal engagement with the multiplicity of ways God is worshipped, how faith is understood and embodied, fostering a broader and deeper view of leadership.
This openness is not only to different cultures but also to different backgrounds, and it is experienced in many ways. For Mr. MacDonald, Indigenous leadership reconciliation is at the core of his work, and he feels supported in it: “People at Regis are taking a genuine interest in my own interests and find opportunities to engage with me. They have even worked towards creating a brand-new policy for my own dissertation, so that an elder can be a part of my supervisory committee.”
For Fr. Rixon, interdisciplinary conversations, as he himself has experienced as a teacher, are mutually enriching. “We have become a space where people meet and where some of these conversations can take place.” Conversations and implications from students are important since “theology comes alive when it is grounded in experience…. Theology provides a service not just to the Church but to society as well.”
The students agree. Sr. Davis went to Regis College to study the Old Testament, because she wanted to use this powerful book to bring about reconciliation and healing “in the part of the world that I am privileged to be a member of.” Mr. MacDonald, the first Indigenous canon lawyer in Canada, chose to do his PhD at Regis because “there’s an express need for Indigenous leadership within the Church, and Regis is a leader in Indigenous education, Indigenous Catholic theology, and reconciliation in Canada, if not North America.”
“There’s an express need for Indigenous leadership within the Church, and Regis is a leader in Indigenous education, Indigenous Catholic theology, and reconciliation in Canada, if not North America.”
A Legacy of Leadership Impact
If formation is key, according to the Synod and Pope Francis, the three leaders are feeling equipped to make a positive change in their contexts. This is a clear mandate given to Regis alumni, as Sr. Davis explains: “I was expected to use the privilege I had of studying at Regis to strengthen how I would be a leader in whatever domain I was in. It really challenged me, reminded me constantly that I was not studying Scripture for the study of Scripture in itself, but to somehow influence the Church and the society.” She carried that mission in her long life of service to many institutions, for example, as president and CEO of the Health Corporation of St. John’s or as a professor. For Fr. Dardis, Regis gave him a lot of self-confidence to think beyond boundaries, to see how important it is that we’re walking together on this Christian journey. “It also helped me not be afraid of my own weaknesses but rather to appreciate how vulnerability enables us to connect with others.” And Mr. MacDonald can already see how his canon law background is intersecting with his actual studies: “There was support for and desire in filling the needs of their students to give them a full, well-rounded theological education to form the leaders of tomorrow, and I feel in many ways Regis is certainly preparing me for that. Knowing how to use the law for our benefit and to promote a truly Indigenous Catholic Church with that structural foundational knowledge was something I didn’t expect to happen, but it did.”
“I was expected to use the privilege I had of studying at Regis to strengthen how I would be a leader in whatever domain I was in.”
