This year marks the 20th anniversary of Marquette University’s Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality. Established in 2005, the center has provided a home to support faculty and staff looking to understand and experience the richness of the Ignatian tradition.
The Faber Center has provided countless opportunities to connect through events and programs such as silent retreats, making the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius — which are the heart of the Ignatian tradition — women’s lunches and reflections, men’s spirituality forums, and “Touchstones: stories of hope and inspiration.”
Dr. Michael Dante, director of the Faber Center, says the center’s vision can be summarized in three words: welcoming, cultivating and transforming.
“It’s about helping people cultivate their own inner life or their own spiritual journey, however they might understand it,” Dante says. “The nice thing about the Faber Center is that we’re open and welcoming to all faiths, seekers and people of goodwill.”
Dante says working at the center and helping others has been a calling and integrative experience where he’s been able to use his leadership and ministry skills. Also, he says, as an individual who is nearly blind, he’s been able to use “intangible gifts of seeing at the level of the heart.”
Life-changing transformations
Before Dr. Danielle Nussberger became the associate director of the Faber Center, she participated in center events for over 15 years as a faculty member and associate professor of theology in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences. She says that Ignatian spirituality, nurtured through the center, helped anchor her during her time at Marquette.
“It’s helped ground and center me to summon the courage and humility to lead boldly, to always learn from everyone around me, and to wholeheartedly offer my talents in service to faculty, staff and students,” Nussberger explains. “Ignatian spirituality, rooted in the Spiritual Exercises, reminds us that we are immeasurably cherished by a loving God who desires the best for us and who longs for us to come together to promote one another’s flourishing. The Faber Center is a place where one truly feels this love and where one authentically undertakes this joint mission for our common well-being; experiencing this at Faber has strengthened and transformed me every step of the way.”
Dr. Manoj Babu, assistant professor of practice of management in the College of Business Administration, was introduced to the Faber Center during a difficult time in his life. He met with Dante, who helped him develop a more holistic and faith-centered approach to life.
“I have been doing spiritual direction after the exercises for about two years now and plan to continue doing them,” Babu says. “The Faber Center offers groups to get involved with like men’s spirituality forum, “Catching Fire” breakfasts and the Asian faculty and staff luncheons. To be honest, I probably would not be at Marquette had it not been for the great work and wonderful people at the Faber Center. The Spiritual Exercises have taught me to be a better person and a more caring individual.”
“People are looking deep within themselves, growing intellectually and experientially, and you know that something is happening,” Dante emphasizes. “There’s a whole sense of transformation, new life, new possibilities, new perspectives and healings that occur.”
The Faber Center will be celebrating the 20-year milestone throughout the year with events and anniversary commemorations. You can find out more information online.
