The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola have provided a treasured spirituality to the modern world. They are the basis of many contemporary “retreat” movements and remain the foundational principle of the church’s largest religious community, the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). Many years ago now, the influential, Canadian scripture scholar, the late David Stanley, authored a widely influential book on the use of scripture in the Spiritual Exercises. Bishop Prendergast will re-visit that work and update its significance for today’s spiritual encounter with god.
Bishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Until recently, Bishop Terrence Prendergast served as professor of New Testament and Dean of the Faculty at Regis College, The Jesuit School o Theology at the University of Toronto. A native of Montreal, he received his bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in New York City, and was granted Master’s and Doctoral degrees from the University of Toronto. From 1981-87, he served as the Rector of the Jesuit community at Regis college in Toronto, and worked, as well in seminary formation at the Atlantic School of Theology, where he taught scripture from 1875-81. He was a resource person for the Canadian Bishops attending the Vatican Synod on priestly formation in 1990 and was the executive secretary for the Vatican-mandated visitation of all Canadian Seminaries from 1992-94. Bishop Prendergast remains very active in ecumenical affairs serving presently as the co-chair of the Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue of Canada; he is also the liaison bishop for the Canadian Catholic Biblical Association. In April 1995, he was ordained auxiliary bishop of Toronto with responsibility for the Western Pastoral region. He presently resides in Mississauga.