The Loyola community is offered to take a trip to Spain this summer, where our patron St. Ignatius lived and experienced his conversion.

The trip is being run by Loyola’s Office of Mission and Ministry and Spring Hill College. Vice president of Mission and Ministry the Rev. Ted Dziak S.J., provincial of the New Orleans Province of Jesuits the Rev. Mark Lewis and associate professor of history the Rev. Bob Gerlich S.J. are the spiritual guides for this trip. Originally offered only to Loyola alumni, the trip is now open to the entire Loyola community and will be held from July 16 to 27.

Lewis said that he is looking forward to his role not only as a spiritual director, but also as a pilgrim in Ignatius’s homeland.

“This is one of those wonderful places for Jesuits. It will be a prayerful and spiritually enriching experience,” Lewis said in an email. “The role of a spiritual director is to help the people on the trip to reflect on the spiritual significance of the places we visit. We will also help with prayer experiences and some of the historical background of what we will be seeing.”

However, the price may deter some students from considering the trip. The land and air package, which covers the flight and adventures in Spain, costs $4,368 if paid by credit card. A cash- payment incentive is offered, which lowers the price to $4,159. The land-only package covers room and board and ranges from $3,233, if paid by credit card, to $3,024, if paid in cash. It also requires that travelers make their own plane reservations.

Still, the benefits of journeying to Ignatius of Loyola’s homeland could outweigh the cost, according to Dziak. Travelers will visit many important sites that relate to Catholic history such as the homes of St. Ignatius and St. Francis Xavier. The group will also be visiting Montserrat, which is the home of the Black Madonna, and Manresa, which is the site of St. Ignatius’s conversion. Excursions are also planned to the cities of Barcelona and San Sebastian.

“There’s something very spiritual standing in the room where Ignatius lived and died. It’s a very moving experience and I’m looking forward to sharing it with a group of alumni and those who participate in it,” Dziak said.

Only 30 spots are available for the trip. According to Dziak, 17 spots have already been filled. More information is available on the Jesuit Center’s website mm.loyno.edu/jesuit-center/ spiritual-journey-spain.

Shelby Schultheis can be reached at [email protected]