The Story of Manresa Way

Nancy remembers… In March of 2005 I was working at St Mary’s Church in Wells, Maine after having finished my theology degree and Spiritual Direction Formation at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, MA. I had completed my own experience of the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola while in Theology School, and I knew then that, when I was given a position in a church setting, the Exercises would be an essential aspect of my ministry. At this time, I had mentioned to Maureen Fulford that I wanted to offer the Exercises but didn’t feel that I had all the necessary formats to begin offering them at St. Mary’s. Maureen asked if I would lead her through them and we could work it out together. I suggested that she find another director to take her through them and we would see how it would go. She went off to do the Exercises and I continued to pray for another collaborator to work with us. God was working on helping me and Maureen to put together the Exercises  because God brought Ellie Flavin into our lives. Ellie had moved to Maine and had presented herself to our secretary, at St Mary’s, to offer her gifts and talents to the parish. She asked who she could speak with to become involved, the secretary told her to contact me and she did. We met and at that time Ellie shared a letter of introduction from Sr. Jody Kearney with me and all I could do was cry with joy! I told Ellie that she was an answer to my prayer and explained to her all that had been happening for me and Maureen. It was Ellie’s turn to cry. We decided we would work together with Maureen and offer the Spiritual Exercises that September. We met with Ellie and we began the process of clarifying what format we would use, and that is where the Mercy Prayer Center became our “mother.” The prayer center gave us all the information, books, prayer sheets, briefing notes and supervision sheets. They encouraged us and supported us in many ways. Our first group took place in September that year. Most of the retreatants were people I was seeing in Spiritual Direction. Between Maureen, Ellie and myself we managed to lead 9 people through the Exercises that year. Not only did we have 9 people with us, but Ellie and I supervised Maureen for the next three years to have her be certified as a Prayer Guide for the 19th. Maureen, Ellie and I have been colleagues and leaders of the 19th for 4 years now and with the help of other guides have lead over 50 people through the Exercises. Each year that we have led the Exercises God has blessed us with more prayer guides and people who are interested in doing them. Two years ago we merged two large church communities into one parish--Holy Spirit--and we have taken the Exercises from our private homes into the parish. The first year of the merger Fr. Thomas Murphy invited us to hold the Exercises at St Mary’s Church and the following year we held them at St. Martha’s Church in Kennebunk. Both worship sites have embraced the Exercises and many of the parishioners have participated in them, making for a more vibrant parish community. Who knew that in four years, from three women’s lived experience of the Exercises, that 50 plus people would come to know, love and serve Jesus—only God.  I think I speak for the three of us when I say we are blessed to be called to serve in this way. Blessings, Nancy Kellar April 2009