In order to fulfill the hours required by the Archdiocese, the staff at EI provides instruction to teachers through retreats and formation sessions. This year's formation sessions will cover the Acts of the Apostles over the course of 5-6 different sessions throughout the school year. 

​

Faculty and Staff Retreat 

Several schools that we serve request that we provide a day long or half day retreat for the faculty and staff at their school. EI provides speakers that offer insightful topics and guided discussion, as well as time for Mass, adoration, personal prayer, silence, and reflection.  ​ 

​

Session 1 |  Introduction and The Infant Church 

In our opening session for the year, our teachers will receive an introduction to the Acts of the Apostles which will include including information about the author, St. Luke, and the major themes including apostolic succession. Additionally, teachers will be introduced to aspects of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius through his rules for the discernment of spirits. Using the content and method of Fr. Timothy Gallagher, the teachers will go through spiritual awareness and the first two rules looking at how and where we move towards God and away from God. Finally, teachers will spend time in a small group bible study praying with and reflecting on the Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2. 

​ 

Session 2 |  Building the Kingdom 

In our second session, our teachers will delve back into Acts of the Apostles and how the early Church functioned, noting the centrality of the Eucharist, doctrine, and prayer. Continuing with the information on the discernment of spirits, teachers will be introduced to rules 3 and 4 which are crucial for understanding the rest of Ignatian spirituality: consolation and desolation. Teachers will conclude in their small groups taking part in a Bible study on the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts chapter 8.  

​ 

Session 3 |  The Church is Tested 

This third session will look at the various persecutions that the early church suffered, those mentioned in Acts and those not mentioned. This will also lead to the “foundation” of the diaconate from Acts chapter 6. There will be a discussion on contemporary persecutions of Catholics. We will also continue with the rules for the discernment of spirits numbers 5-7 which speak about what we must do when we feel like we are in desolation, and what we must never do. The Bible study for this session will be on the martyrdom of St. Stephen one of the first deacons and the first martyr.  

​ 

Session 4 |  St. Paul Part 1: Called by a New Name 

In the fourth session, we finally come to St. Paul, his background, his conversion as that is recounted in Acts 9, and his early journey of faith that would result in the great missionary work that continues to this day. We will look at St. Paul’s failings and what he learned from them, bringing in some of his writings from the epistles. We will also look at contemporary trends in evangelization and where there are gaps in evangelization. Rules for discernment 8 and 9 are brought up here to round out what it is what we should and should not do in desolation. The Bible study for this session will focus on the story of Peter and Cornelius. 

​ 

Session 5 |  St. Paul Part 2: Missionary Apostle to the Gentiles 

Our fifth session continues with St. Paul, the main “character” of Acts of the Apostles, looking at his missionary travels and his many sufferings on behalf of the Gospel. We will continue to look at contemporary trends in evangelization and where there are signs of hope. Rules for discernment 10 and 11 are introduced here where we will talk about what we do when we are in consolation. The Bible study is about the so-called Council of Jerusalem, an important scene in the history of the Church.

​ 

Session 6 |  Bishop and Prisoner for Christ 

Our final session ends where St. Paul ends, in prison. We look at his trials there as well as some of his letters, noting his love for all those he has brought to Jesus. The final rules for discernment are 12-14 and are practical rules for how to hope to maintain our spiritual lives in the face of the many challenges that face up every day. Our final Bible study will be on St. Peter’s escape for Herod’s prison, tying this into the escape from our own desolations into a more hopeful way of life with the Lord.  

​ 

Optional: Christ the Teacher Retreat 

Each year, the Evangelium Institute offers Catholic school teachers the opportunity to take part in a three-day retreat at the beginning of the summer break. This retreat takes place at the beautiful St. Benedict Center in Schuyler, NE. Each year we have been able to provide this retreat at a minimum cost to teachers because of donations from generous people like you. To help in sponsoring a particular teacher for our 2024 retreat, please contact eiteam@eicatholic.org or make a general donation to that retreat here.