Charis offers retreat materials in the Jesuit tradition designed for those in their 20s and 30s.

About Charis

Charis was founded in 2000 by the then Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus to reach out to young people with the unique gift of Ignatian Spirituality. St. Ignatius of Loyola challenges us to find God in all things.  Charis helps young adults see this grace or charis in the midst of transitions in careers and relationships, in their struggles and joys.

In 2009, the retreat program expanded throughout the country, with the Charis Partner Program training parishes, dioceses, retreat houses, and other communities.

In 2017, Charis became part of Ignatian Young Adult Ministries, a program of the Office of Ignatian Spirituality. Charis continued to train and support partners around the country.

Today, Charis materials are being used in retreats and other prayer and reflection offerings. If you are interested in using Charis materials in your programs, please fill out the form below.

Why Charis?

Designed to meet the needs of a variety of audiences, Charis retreats can be easily adapted to reach young adults where they are. They are designed to be peer-led experiences for young adults in their 20s and 30s. Each retreat can be offered as a one day, overnight, or weekend format, or the materials can be used in other contexts to best serve your community.

There are eight retreat themes (see below), all rooted in Ignatian spirituality, and each includes talk outlines, sample retreat schedules, small-group leadership training, and prayer service scripts.

Retreat Info

Life is busy, stressful and frenetic. If you are in your 20s and 30s, you are in a nearly constant state of transition and facing a multitude of unanswered questions. It’s also hard to find the right opportunity and discipline to take the time to pause.

Charis peer-led retreat experiences give the gift of the “forced pause” to  young men and women: time off to think, reflect, pray and see where God is working in their lives at that very moment. They are rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola and invite participants to share their own lived experiences and their histories with each other through talks and small group discussions.

Retreatants:

  • Connect with peers interested in exploring the role that faith plays in their decisions and relationships

  • Encounter God’s presence in their daily lives

  • Grow in faith, aided by practical and spiritual tools that help them navigate life’s transitions and challenges.

Retreat Themes

*Indicates some retreat materials are also available in Spanish


Register

Register for free using the form below to access the retreat materials. You will receive an email with the login information. Thank you!

Charis is an offering of Ignatian Young Adult Ministries, an initiative of the Jesuits East Office of Ignatian Spirituality.

For more information about Charis, please contact Lauren Gaffey.