Weekly Community Examen

Campus Ministry and the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality have teamed up to offer an examen for our community each week. This invitation is an opportunity to go deeper into a shared text and consider how our mission and Jesuit values guide our work together here at Fairfield and beyond. Each week, a different member of the Campus Ministry or Murphy Center staff will provide a text for us. Video of the reflection can be found on our Instagram and Facebook pages.

From Andrew Mountin, Director of Music & Liturgy

We’ve now reached a point about halfway through the semester. Under normal circumstances, we’d likely be pausing for a fall break right about now. For many of us, this semester has been exhausting. Spending more time inside, unable to go about freely, spending more time in virtual classrooms and meetings, missing regular human interactions that normally give us life… we are, many of us, tired. Soon we will be transitioning from Daylight Saving time, and we will likely feel even more tired in the wake of that shift. And it is okay to be tired, and it is worthwhile for us to examine our lives and reflect on what is giving us life, and what is detracting from our energy.

As we begin our examen, I invite you to find a posture that is relaxed, but not so restful that you are unable to stay attentive to your prayer.

First, let us begin by searching for the good, by beginning with gratitude…

What is giving me energy?

What is nourishing and life-giving?

What do I have to be grateful for, in the midst of a pandemic and a semester and an election?

What gives me joy right now?

Next, let us think about what has challenged us…

What has contributed to my sense of tiredness?

What takes away from my energy, without giving me life?

What has made it difficult to find joy or hope during this time?

As we reflect on those challenges, we must think about how we can grow through them…

Is there anything that is causing my exhaustion that I can control?

Is there anything negative that I can limit or remove from my life?

Have I taken time for proper rest, even if just for a short period each day?

When I have the opportunity to participate in something energizing, have I done so, or have I given in to my tiredness?

What can I do to bring joy and hope into my life, and the lives of those around me?

Finally, how can I resolve myself to staying healthy and caring for myself during these challenging times?

As we complete this time of prayer, I want to affirm you in knowing that in this Fairfield community, you are not alone. Please know that we are all here to support one another, and don’t hesitate to reach out and ask for help if you need it.

For more information, contact Kathleen Byrnes / 2032454000 / kbyrnes@fairfield.edu