ISP Chicago

History

Founded in 1998 in Chicago by Fr. Bill Creed, SJ, and Ed Shurna (formerly Executive Director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless), the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) offers experiences of hope, healing, and belonging to men and women recovering from homelessness and addiction.  By inviting our participants into a deeper encounter with the God of their understanding, ISP retreats and spiritual programs provide the encouragement and empowerment necessary to make real, transformative life changes.

 In the fall of 1998, a group of men gathered for the first ISP retreat, which was led by Bill Creed SJ and a small group of dedicated volunteers. News of the retreats spread quickly and soon the group was offering the retreat in collaboration with several local shelters. As the program grew, it was clear that a similar program could work for women. In 2006, a group of volunteers offered the first ISP women’s retreat in Chicago.

About Us

Today, ISP Chicago boasts one of the largest programs in the Network, with six women’s and four men’s retreats  annually, along with monthly Saturday Days of Reflection hosted with our longtime partner Harmony, Hope & Healing. ISP Chicago also conducts weekly spiritual accompaniment  at a variety of local service providers. The men and women’s teams have grown to include alumni that are taking the ministry in Chicago to the next level.The Chicago women’s team currently participates in the Ambassadors of Hope program. 

For more information about ISP Chicago, email Claire at cdeshotels@ispretreats.org, or learn more about becoming a volunteer.

Contact us


Claire DesHotels, Regional Director – Upper Midwest
cdeshotels@ispretreats.org