Rooted in reflection: The impact of Ignatian Spirituality on our parenting

“There is no way to be a perfect parent but a million ways to be a good one.”

– Jill Churchill

Active listening and participation from attendees of the Workshop on Ignatian Spirituality and Parenting at the Loyola Retreat House, Angono, Rizal

Learning never truly ends and this past weekend was a beautiful reminder of that. My wife and I were deeply grateful to be invited to the Workshop on Ignatian Spirituality and Parenting (WISP). It was a weekend well spent filled with AHA moments, meaningful insights, shared values, laughter, bonding, blessings, and so much more.

Exceptional WISP speakers Fr Bert Ampil SJ, Dr Ixie Alejo, and Ms Remy Rivera.

Seeing the Jesuit priests who helped shape me in my younger years was a powerful experience. It reaffirmed why I’ve always hoped my children would be formed by Ignatian values, the values rooted in discernment, reflection, and service. The retreat house was excellent, the food was great, and our batch was filled with inspiring individuals. The WISP coordinators made the entire experience truly memorable.

The biggest takeaways I brought home were:

Above all, make your children feel seen and loved and everything else will follow.

It’s our sacred responsibility to lead them toward a personal relationship with the Lord. We won’t always be by their side, but He will be. They need someone to turn to when life gets heavy and that someone is God.