Every family, organization, institute or any other unit preserves a precious right to practice, propagate and promote the values and the legacy it enjoys. Jesuits live, promote and propagate the spirituality designed by St. Ignatius and the earlier other companions. These are found in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and in other Ignatian sources. The General Congregations have kept updating these documents with new understanding of them in the contemporary times. It was the noble desire of the Delhi Province to share and promote the Ignatian Spirituality and legacy in a more systematically to the people of North India that inspired them to set up specific institutions of Ignatian Spirituality. The Delhi Jesuit Province conducts two centres of Spirituality: Shanti Sadan in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh and Navjivan Renewal Centre.

1. a) Shanti Sadan (Allahabad, U.P.): It had been the dream of Delhi Jesuits to establish a spirituality centre in the politically and religiously important state of UP. This dream materialized on Dec. 13, 2004 when Shanti Sadan, Ignatian Spirituality Centre was inaugurated at Allahabad. Located at Chatham Lines in Allahabad, a kilometre away from the Ganges, Shanti Sadan offers a serene atmosphere to those who want to spend time in prayer and recollection. The specific purpose of establishing this institute was to promote psycho-spiritual growth of individuals. To this end, Shanti Sadan offers programs such as retreats, seminars, spiritual animation, counselling, formation and leadership programs, and orientations for priests, religious and lay people. It is also available for various religious groups to conduct and organize their own programs.

(Contact: Director, Shanti Sadan, 28-B, Chatham Lines, Allahabad – 211002, U.P.

Ph: (0532) 2544606; Email: ssjesuits@gmail.com )

1. b) Navjivan Renewal Centre (Raj Niwas Marg, Delhi- 110054):

Another request made by many in the Catholic Church in the Northern Region of India to the Jesuits of Delhi Province in its initial stage in late eighties was full filled when the Navjivan Renewal Centre was inaugurated on July 31, 2013 in Delhi. Inspired by the Ignatian MAGIS and trying to respond to the needs of the times, the goal of the Navjivan Renewal Centre (NRC) is to promote new life or renewal/ transformation of life of individuals, groups, and society at large in Delhi Province (North-West Region). Its aim is to animate and renew the spiritual, intellectual, pastoral, educational and social action ministries in the Province. In other words, NRC is a “motivating,” “energizing” and “synergizing” centre for all the ministries. It addresses today’s ecclesial, priestly, Jesuit, Religious, inter-religious, societal, ecological issues of North-West India. Its vision is to enhance holistic human (psycho-spiritual, socio-cultural) wellness of people (individuals, families, communities and groups) especially in Delhi and surrounding states. It has a preferential option for the poor and the marginalised and collaborate with peoples’ movements for justice, equality, freedom, fellowship and harmony. It takes initiatives to enter into dialogue with followers of all religions in the region and cooperate with them to bring about ethical and spiritual transformation of society for a better and integral human living. The ultimate aim of NRC is to facilitate the creation of a life-giving human community animated by the Gospel (human, moral, spiritual) values and Ignatian approaches.

(Contact: Director, Navjivan Renewal Centre, 4, Raj Niwas Marg, Delhi- 110054.

Ph: (011) 23990096; Email: navjivannrc@gmail.com ; directornrc@gmail.com )