Sr Delphine O’Shea MSS was a Missionary Sister of Service who participated in an Ignatian Spirituality Centre program at Canisius College, Sydney, in 1976. Inspired by that experience, she later undertook further formation in Ignatian spirituality overseas and worked alongside Fr John Drury SJ in the ministry of the Spiritual Exercises in Queensland.
Deeply grateful for all that she had received through her Ignatian formation and ministry, Sr Delphine bequeathed her family inheritance to establish a fund dedicated to advancing the ministry of Ignatian spirituality.
The Sr Delphine O’Shea Ignatian Spirituality and Outreach Fund supports the promotion of Ignatian spirituality in Australia by:
- Fostering the formation of people in the study and practice of Spiritual Exercises;
- Increasing access to Spiritual Exercises through outreach initiatives; and
- Supporting the engagement of leading experts in Ignatian spirituality within the Australian Jesuit Province.
The purposes of the fund
- Formation of people in the study and mastery of the Spiritual Exercises who in turn will become leaders and facilitators in this ministry;
- Making the Spiritual Exercises, in all their forms and styles, more accessible through outreach to people “on the margins” who may or may not be aware of the Spiritual Exercises and may not seek to experience them, or who would otherwise not have the opportunity to experience them, because of geographic, social, economic, spiritual or other marginalisation.
- Bringing experts in Ignatian Spirituality to the Australian Jesuit Province, or underwriting the costs of Australian experts to share their expertise across the Province.
Who can apply
Grants are available to Catholic organisations engaged in, or promoting, the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate that their ministry is consistent with the purposes of the Fund. Applications may be made on behalf of an individual or a group.
Grant Application for the year from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2027 are now open from 1 August 2026 and close on 31 August 2026.
How to apply
Fill out the application (in Word.doc or PDF format) below and email to: oshea@sjasl.org.au
Download 2027 Delphine O’Shea application form (Word.docx)
Download 2027 Delphine O’Shea application form (PDF)
Banner photo by Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash.