Retreats and Programming for Fall 2025
The graces of our ministry and mission encourage participants to discern how and where God might be inviting greater openness to growth, leading to an increase in faith, hope and love. All are welcome!
Monthly Spiritual Direction – An ongoing invitation for people of all faith backgrounds to sit one-onone with a trained spiritual director who will help you find the “life” in your life, to deepen your prayer journey and discover where and how God is inviting you. All seekers are welcome–no religious background necessary.
Ten-Week Ignatian Encounter – Once a week for ten weeks, this one-on-one prayer journey walking with a trained spiritual director is available to students who are interested in deepening their relationship with God. No prior experience with Ignatian spirituality necessary.
Aging With Grace – Open to retirees of all faiths, Aging With Grace continues and will meet weekly this Fall. Assigned readings and personal reflection guide participants through an exploration of the spiritual dynamics of growing older. Participants will be asked to purchase. Seeing with the Heart by Fr. Kevin O’Brien, SJ. Program registration fee is $40. To register, please email MCIS.
Men’s Spirituality Group – The Men’s Spirituality Group meets monthly on Saturday mornings. Those gathered, spend time reflecting upon a piece of scripture and then sharing how it is reflected in their lives.
Women’s Spirituality Group – Sacred Seasons invites women in midlife to gather monthly beginning this fall for reflection, conversation and spiritual growth. To register and for more information, please email MCIS.
Advent Retreat for Women – Mark your calendar! The Women’s Advent Retreat is scheduled for the evening of Thursday, December 11, 2025. Registration information will be sent out in early November.
Advent Reflections – You are invited to join our online Advent Reflection series beginning the first Sunday of Advent. These audio reflections are free and open to faculty, staff, alumni and friends of Fairfield University and Fairfield Prep. Registration information will be sent out in November.
For more information and to register for programs, email mcis@fairfield.edu
The Murphy Center sees over 500 people monthly in spiritual direction.
Ignatius was the youngest of 13 children born into an aristocratic family in the Basque region of Northern Spain.
Located at the top of the Dolan House cupola sits an elephant weathervane.
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@murphycenterfairfieldu
FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK
These are interesting times that we live in: war, famine, economic uncertainty, homelessness, poverty … and so on and so forth. However, God abides! This last sentence elicits great gratitude from me, and I hope that it does for you as well. No matter how thick the darkness of the world that surrounds us is, God continues to create, sustain, heal and redeem our lives, our communities, our country and the whole universe. What a blessing! But how does one trust in God’s presence and action amidst the chaos of suffering, violence and injustice? I think that it comes down to fidelity and intentionality in our relationship with God. Trust can only emerge when there is a vibrant and safe connection between the two parties in relationship together. The same is true with God. In this light, our challenge, in this ever so busy and chaotic world, is to take time in prayer, reflection and silence to keep our connection with God vibrant so that we can surrender in trust amidst these difficult times. So, may you accept the grace to deepen your relationship with God so that this trust can ground and focus you as we journey together through our broken but beautiful world.
Peace,
Rev. Denis G. Donoghue, S.J., Director of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality
MEET THE JESUITS
THREE QUESTIONS FOR... Rev. Paul Rourke, S.J., Vice President, Mission and Ministry
What have I done for Christ?
For most of the time I have worked in higher education. For five years I worked at the Georgetown University Law Center as director of Mission and Ministry there. After nearly a year of tertianship in Australia, the final stage of Jesuit formation in preparation for final vows, I came to Fairfield where I started as director of Campus Ministry for two years before starting my current position as Vice President for Mission and Ministry.
What am I doing for Christ?
As Vice President for Mission and Ministry I oversee the Murphy Center and Campus Ministry. Fortunately, both areas have wonderful teams so most of the time I just have to stay out of the way of their great work. In addition, I try to provide opportunities for students, faculty, staff, and administration to reflect more fully on our Catholic, Jesuit mission. Sometimes that involves big marquee events like the recent Quick Center event with Cardinal Dolan, but often it involves meeting for coffee or lunch to discuss aspects of that mission. I am also a conversation partner with our president and Board of Trustees in the ongoing work of living out our mission.
What ought I to do for Christ?
Follow the Gospel! Strategic plans, however essential, never match the foresight and wisdom of Jesus in the Gospels. The only real success is striving every day more and more to make my way closer to His way. In ministry there is no other way.