S.E.E.L.
What are the Exercises?
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, developed the Spiritual Exercises so that people could retreat for 30 days of prayer and silence to grow in their relationship with God and learn to listen for the voice of the Spirit in their lives.
Eventually, he also adapted these Exercises for people who could not, for various reasons, go away for 30 days. This adaptation, called the 19th Annotation, is the basis of the SEEL retreat. It invites people to experience the Exercises with the guidance of a spiritual director over a period of nine months, while continuing to live their daily lives.
About SEEL Portland
SEEL Portland is a ministry of Jesuits West which gives people the opportunity to experience the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius in their everyday lives over a period of nine months. The Spiritual Exercises are composed of meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius Loyola to help people deepen their relationship with God. The Exercises present a pathway to deeper prayer, good decisions guided by keen discernment, and an active life of service to others.
To learn more about SEEL, please email Jeanette Brugato Grimaldi at
Greetings! My name is Jeanette, and I would like to tell you a little bit about SEEL Portland.
SEEL PORTLAND
What is SEEL?
SEEL is an acronym for the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life, created by Saint Ignatius of Loyola. These Exercises are a spiritual workout in the form of a 9-month retreat that include prayer, meditation, contemplation and sacred listening… as well as scripture, music and poetry.
Who is the retreat for?
For anyone who desires a deeper relationship with God and a closer friendship with Jesus Christ. People who make the retreat are diverse in gender, age, and faith traditions.
All are welcome!
Testimonial from someone who made the retreat – “Through my experience with SEEL, I was able to feel God’s love for me — and for all of creation — in a visceral way. This deep sense of being loved took root in me, opening the way to a more personal relationship with Jesus. I continue to return to the Spiritual Exercises again and again, and they continue to bear fruit.”— J
SEEL Portland is a sponsored ministry of Jesuits West and is a non-profit organization 501(c)(3).