Ignatian Leadership Program

The Ignatian Leadership Program is focused on helping build men and women who are interested in serving others. You may be a candidate if....

• You are interested in community, social, and/or environmental issues

• You already volunteer in some capacity or are in a leadership position

• At this point in your life, you are interested in growing in your faith

Our program works with you to find the opportunities that are best suited to you. This enables you to explore leadership in a way that fits your personality and interests.

In keeping with our Ignatian traditions, the program will help you determine who you are as a person, and what you are meant to do in this world.

But what is the Ignatian Perspective?

Ignatian Spirituality is a five-hundred-year-old model, first developed by St Ignatius of Loyola who founded the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), for understanding the ways that God is active in your life. The Ignatian perspective emphasizes finding God in all things, using reason and imagination for prayer, discerning what choices to make in your life, and becoming “contemplatives in action". 

Ignatian Spirituality is designed to guide people into living a life with greater purpose, found through serving others.

What is the benefit to you?

The Ignatian Leadership Program helps develop your leadership and service skills with a format that is rooted in this Catholic spirituality.

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, then this is the leadership program for you. Talk with us today about how you can begin your leadership journey

Program Requirements

Available to any student enrolled at the University of Manitoba who is also a member of St Paul’s College. The program must be completed during your degree.

To complete the ILP and all its requirements, students must attend the annual workshop and choose one of the following two introductions to Ignatian Spirituality:

• Complete a component of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises as confirmed by a letter from the person leading these exercises OR

• Complete (with a passing grade) the Catholic Studies course “The Jesuits: Their Legacy and Influence” (CATH 2300).

Before completing their university degree, program participants must choose four of the seven program offerings:

1. Be recognized by the Director of Campus Ministry as having volunteered with SPC Campus Ministry for at least two school terms (these do not have to be consecutive)

2. Participate for one term in at least one service learning program that is recognized by the University of Manitoba or Campus Ministry at St. Paul’s College

3. Complete at least one course in any of the following programs at the University of Manitoba: Catholic Studies (other than CATH 2300), Religious Studies or Judaic Studies

4. Participate in an overseas project led by the Near Eastern Biblical Archaeology Laboratory (NEBAL)

5. Complete a Student Leadership Development Program offered by the University of Manitoba

6. Serve on a recognized College or University of Manitoba student council or committee for at least one term

7. Serve as an active member of one of the following listed activities for at least one term with a letter of reference from the organization:

   • UM Toastmasters

   • UM Debating Society

   • A recognized student media outlet (eg. Paulinian, Manitoban, CJUM)

   • Participate in a recognized team sport

   • Volunteer to help with a recognized local charity, including the Winnipeg International Storytelling Festival

Upon completing the minimum requirements for the program, each student will receive a signed document from St. Paul’s College titled “Recognition of Completion of the Ignatian Leadership Program”. This will be received at the Baccalaureate Celebration event in late April.

This is a no-cost program for University of Manitoba students who are members of St. Paul’s College. 

Ignatian Leadership Program application form (PDF)