Where is God Calling Us? Building an Ignatian School Community

ContextI co-teach an Ignatian Global Scholars class, and we begin each day with a "re-set, " inviting students into a few minutes of silence before our work starts-to consider where we have been in our day, as well as inviting learners to consider ways in which they will participate in our upcoming class."Maybe you can use this time to re-set, clear your mind.Perhaps, think about, reflect on, or pray about how you' d like to engage with the material and the class today." Sometimes I say, "Perhaps now is a perfect time to ask God for the grace you wish to receive today during class."What are the graces we wish to receive today?Where is God calling us?It is in this context that at De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis, MO) we developed ideas around our school's latest Strategic Plan in the spring of 2022.In the beginning, our president, Fr.Ronny O'Dwyer, S.J., began by asking our school community: "Where is God calling us?" Explicit in O'Dwyer's question is the word us, which implies that when we move in God's direction, we move . . .when we reflect on where our deepest desires meet God's desires for us-to think and act in new ways in the world in which we live guided by the Holy Spirit-we move together.Few things in our Ignatian charism are done in isolation; rather, we are companions and collaborators.Hopefully, too, as we prayerfully consider this question-where is God calling us-we might also consider where we find joy in what we do, be-