Our Mission:
To provide experiences and training in practices of synodality and communal apostolic discernment to individuals and faith communities in the United States and across the world.
Our Goals:
To design and implement virtual infrastructure for Conversations in the Spirit for users to participate across all boundaries.
To develop and implement online training sessions for Conversation in the Spirit facilitators and provide resources and support for local implementation.
Using the virtual infrastructure, to create opportunities for synodal dialogue and discernment in common for Catholic communities on all levels including parish, diocesan, provincial, regional, national, continental and universal) in collaboration with other Catholic entities.
To develop resources for constructing and conducting various forms of synodal listening processes, conversations and campaigns in dioceses, parishes, universities and other Catholic institutions
Who We Are
Ignatian Encounter Ministry was founded in 2021 to provide facilitator training in Spiritual Conversation during the local phase of the Synod on Synodality.
We first offered a training to parish leaders in the Diocese of Trenton. Following this, we trained additional facilitators and offered national trainings attended by parish and diocesan leaders from 15 dioceses in the United States.
During the Continental Stage of the Synod, Ignatian Encounter Ministry encouraged and supported the USCCB District XVI consultation of Catholic organizations.
During the current interim phase between the two General Assemblies, we are reconvening our team of facilitators and expanding our offerings to provide virtual Conversation in the Spirit events and facilitator trainings across the Catholic world, following the directives offered by the Synod Delegates.
Ignatian Encounter Ministry hopes to be a dedicated and committed partner promoting the Synodal conversion of the Church by offering experiences of Conversation in the Spirit and other synodal practices to Catholics around the world.
Robert Choiniere, D.Min
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Dr. Choiniere founded Ignatian Encounter Ministry in 2021 to train spiritual conversation facilitator during the local Synod consultation process. He also founded…
Ann Marie Brennan
Board Chair and Co-Founder
Ms. Brennan is Promoter of Christian Life Community (CLC) in the New York region. She is coordinator of the CLC International Ecology working group and serves on the…
Christine Cichello
Board Secretary and Co-Founder
Christine Kamp Cichello has been a Campus Minister at Boston College for the last 15 years, coordinating the Christian Life Community (CLC) Program and is the New England…