ISC: The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola
and The Art of Spiritual Direction

Directors

Sr Kathleen Lyons rc [klyons@artsd.org.uk]

Kathleen Lyons is a Cenacle Sister, who has been giving retreats and spiritual direction for many years. She was one of the early teachers of the Ignatian Spirituality Course, present at its inception, and is now one of its directors. Kathleen is also a Psychosynthesis Psychotherapist and is on the staff of the Psychosynthesis and Education Trust.

Revd Andrew Walker [awalker@artsd.org.uk]

Andrew Walker was ordained in 1985 and has worked in parish ministry for some 13 years. He is also a psychosynthesis counsellor and supervisor and his book Journey into Joy is published by SPCK.

First Year

Antonia Lynn: Year Leader [alynn@artsd.org.uk]

Antonia joined the staff of ISC in 2001 after completing the course and has worked on both 1st and 2nd Years. Her own journey has taken her from Anglican ordained ministry (in parishes and school and hospital Chaplaincy) to life as a Roman Catholic lay person most of whose time is spent giving spiritual direction, 19th Annotation retreats, workshops, etc. and offering supervision as well as teaching on ISC and occasionally elsewhere. Antonia lives in Surrey with her husband and dog; enjoys food and drink (preparing and consuming!), walking, reading and listening to music, and being inspired and energised by looking at beautiful things - in nature, especially where there are sea, sky and birds, as well as in museums, art galleries and more unexpected places. She is interested in exploring the creative, imaginative and non-verbal in her ministry, and is excited by connections between Ignatian, Orthodox and Celtic spirituality.

Revd Bruce Batsone

I live in Camden Town; so using the local lingo – working on the first year ‘rocks’! I finished the third year of the Course three years ago. I think the Course, and especially making the Exercises, has been perhaps the single most formative part of my faith history. I am so very enthusiastic about all Ignatius has taught me and thus feel thrilled to have the opportunity to share some of the delights I have been privileged to receive. I’m pleased to be immersed again in the First Year because I can spend some time with the friends in the faith I have gathered along the way: St Francis and St Benedict, Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. For me the joy of the First Year is its breadth. The wisdom of these great names of the Tradition, and of course that of Ignatius, is as relevant today as ever it was. In addition to the Course I offer ongoing Spiritual Direction and the Exercises, Quiet Days and Individually Guided Retreats. Also I am a West End Theatre chaplain, hospital chaplain, and one of the Anglican parish priests in Camden Town. I am a Companion Member of the Oratory of The Good Shepherd. When I’m not doing all this I enjoy reading, swimming, cycling, drinking wine and eating with my friends.

Revd Roderic Ballantine

Since ordination in 1969 Roderic Ballantine has worked in inner city parishes in various parts of London. After initial training in Ignatian spirituality he has combined parish ministry with giving spiritual direction and the Spiritual Exercises. On completing the ISC he joined the staff of the 1st Year (and latterly also the 2nd Year) and is also part of the team of the Spiritual Direction Course at Cockfosters. He is about to take early retirement in order to spend more time working in the field of spirituality and giving the Exercises. Roderic’s interests include music, theatre, dance, visual arts and cooking. He is unmarried.

Annette Giesler

I love working on 1st Year, remembering it for myself as a time when a whole new world of spirituality opened up to me. I learned so much about myself and about the richness of different spiritual traditions, and the introduction to Ignatian spirituality was an experience of discovering great insight into and nourishment for my own longing to journey more deeply with God. It's a great privilege to be part of offering that same experience to others. Outside the course I offer ongoing spiritual direction as well as Individually Guided retreats, 19th Annotations and quiet days, and am on the team of the House of Prayer retreat house. In addition I am an occasional jewellery designer, potter, and caterer, relishing the creative opportunities these pursuits offer. I am mother to two teenage daughters and one (teenage) dog and our home resounds to the drama, as well as the joy of adolescence - they are my greatest teachers.

Second Year

Liz Shedden: Year Leader

Liz first met Ignatian prayer in 1985 with a parish group who were reading Gerard Hughes God of Surprises. She began teaching on the course in 2003. A qualified social worker, she has worked as a family therapist, consultant, and social work manager in social services, and as a manager, trainer, facilitator, consultant and development adviser in a variety of ministry settings. She offers spiritual direction, 19th annotation retreats and supervision as well as serving on the staff team of the course.

Revd David Cherry [http://www.stcyprians.org.uk/contact.html#cherry]

David came to the UK from South Africa in 1988. After ordination and eight years in parish ministry he went into Higher Education chaplaincy at the University of Greenwich and is currently Anglican chaplain at the University of Westminster. In recent years his theological understanding has deepened through reading James Alison and other Girardians. He has worked on the 3rd year and this year joined the the 2nd year of the course. He is passionate about re-imagining the 'faith received of old' and catholic liturgy from an anthropological point of view so that it resonates with our felt experience of a desire for God.

Sr Kate Stogdon rc [katestogdon@artsd.org.uk]

Kate has been a Cenacle Sister since 1989. She works as a spiritual director and as a visting lecturer in theology and religious studies. Her interests in spirituality, history, theology and social justice help to inform her approach to her teaching. She recently completed her doctorate at The University of Manchester on the notion of 'self- surrender' in conversation with a feminist theological critique. She joined the staff of the second year in 2004.

Julia Keeling: Assistant

Third Year

Julian Maddock: Year Leader [jmaddock@artsd.org.uk]

Julian has worked on the course since 1995. These days he leads the Third Year team. He works as a spiritual director, facilitator and trainer, as a hospital chaplain in west London, and as a web designer. He has two daughters, Hannah, born in March 2005, and Esther, born in July 2006. You can find out more about him at www.julianmaddock.org.uk.

Ellen Farmer

Ellen first experienced Ignatian prayer in 1991 on a retreat led by the Grail Community. She works as a spiritual director, and in 2007 joined the staff of the Ignatian Spirituality Course. Ellen is married with three grown-up children. She has over 25 years experience of working with adult learners in education and training.

Sr Winifred Morley rc

I am a Cenacle Sister working in the field of retreats and Spiritual Direction. I currently live and work in our retreat house in Netley, Southampton. I have been involved in the course since it began, and enjoy sharing my love and experiences of the Spiritual Exercises

Judy O'Brien [jobrien@artsd.org.uk]

Judy met the exercises in a Week of Accompanied Prayer in 1989. From then her spiritual journey led to participating in the course in 1991. In practicing spiritual direction she encountered psychological blocks in herself and others. Hence the journey into Psychosynthesis leading to an MA in psychosynthesis psychotherapy. She now works as a counsellor in a GP surgery, has a private therapy and spiritual direction practice and has been working in the 2nd year ISC since 1999. With family life including 3 grown up children and an 11 year old foster child this journey is all part of finding God in all things.

Administrator

Sr Anne Dunne [adunne@artsd.org.uk]

It's great to be involved with the course and I enjoy the support work of administration that I do. I also live and work in a House of Prayer in East Molesey, Surrey, owned by my Religious Congregation — The Sisters of the Christian Retreat. There, I practise as a spiritual director and psychosynthesis counsellor. Oh, yes, and I also cook, clean and make beds too! Ah, the joy of a balanced life!! I have just returned from a training course at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Staff on Sabbatical

Annette Barker

A qualified teacher, Annette Barker holds an honours degree in theology from Oxford University, together with qualifications in pastoral theology, spiritual direction and social science. She has been engaged in spiritual direction for some 17 years. She also was chair of trustees and course director of Education For Parish Service (EPS) for which she was awarded a 'Bene Merenti' by the University of Lampeter for services to higher education. She was made a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great by Pope John Paul II in 2001.

Kathleen Hopkins

Diana Tear

Having first met Ignatius at school where she was taught the Ignatian prayer 'Teach us, good Lord,' it was not until many years later that Diana trained on the ISC at Margaret Street. She was subsequently invited to join the staff and spent two very happy years as Tutor on First Year. Diana is a member of SIgN (Southern Ignatian Network) and is serving on the Core Group. Worshipping at her local parish Church, Diana has links with an Anglican contemplative religious community. She is also a member of the Thomas Merton Society. Involved in the Greenbelt Arts Festival for nearly 25 years, Diana was invited to help set up Soul Space, which offers spiritual direction by a team of trained and experienced directors. Her main interests are traditional (New Orleans) jazz, anchorite spirituality, and keeping up with her extended family. Diana is Spiritual Direction Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Guildford.

Webmaster

Julian Maddock (www.jm-web.co.uk) (see also above)

(Yes, me again.) Once-upon-a-time a computer programmer and systems analyst, Julian now offers web design, training and computer support to individuals and organisations, especiality to those involved in aspects of spirituality and religion.