Detroit, May 12, 2026 — Dozens of people stepped into the Commons at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School on Friday, May 8, for two hours of square dancing, storytelling, and getting to know one another. They came from parishes and Jesuit communities, from Catholic Charities and the University of Detroit Mercy, from neighborhoods across the city. By 9 p.m., when the last dance ended, the room had the warmth of a place that had been together much longer than two hours.

“We are not about square dancing,” Shelly Roder, ISP Detroit’s regional director, told the room as the evening began. “But we are about joy and connection. Tonight, we want you to experience a little bit of that.”

That joy and connection is what people in recovery from homelessness and addiction find on Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) retreats and reflection circles, and what ISP has been bringing to Detroit for 12 years. Step Into The Circle was a chance to share a taste of it with the city.

Check out some of the photos from the evening — click to enlarge them:

The Band, the Squares, and the Stories

Br. Jim Boynton, SJ, and his group of Merrymakers led the dancing. From the very first song, three squares formed on the floor — 24 people at a time on their feet, sleeves rolled up, learning the steps as they went. The rest watched, smiled, and waited their turn.

“I always have fun at these, and it’s always an honor to do them,” Br. Jim said afterward. “But tonight, I can honestly say it was a real honor.”

Between dances, two ISP team members shared their stories. Tara, a new team member in recovery herself, spoke about transformation: how she had been changed by someone she didn’t see coming. Angie Bakley, an ISP alumna, spoke about ISP’s value that recovery is for everyone, that the healing she found in recovery is the same healing all of us need.

Pete Ziedas, from ISP Detroit’s men’s team, took a moment between songs to share an invitation. More team members are needed to keep the work growing.

Christine Curran, ISP’s executive director, closed the storytelling. She spoke about the value that God is still speaking: in this city, in this room, in lives that are being rebuilt. Detroit is rebuilding. ISP in Detroit is rebuilding, too. Friday night was part of that story.

For the rest of the evening, people who had never met traded partners, made mistakes, laughed, and tried again. No drinks to grease the room. No screens. No script. Just music, mistakes, and the work of moving together.

“You really felt like you knew people at the end of it that you didn’t know at the beginning,” Shelly said afterward. “It felt like a five-hour event. That’s the quality of time we try to create on a retreat. We didn’t expect to find it on a Friday night with a band, but there it was.”

What’s Next

Step Into The Circle was made possible by a circle of partners. The University of Detroit Jesuit High School hosted us in the Commons. Coriander Kitchen and Farm provided refreshing mocktails. Manresa Jesuit Retreat House donated a gift bag for the raffle. Trader Joe’s Royal Oak donated floral bouquets (that may or may not have doubled as Mother’s Day gifts on Sunday!). Capuchin Soup Kitchen and On the Rise Bakery prepared the savory and sweet treats. Elaine Manix, of ISP’s Women’s Team, supported the evening with her generosity.

If you danced with us, thank you. If you didn’t, we’d love to welcome you in. ISP Detroit holds men’s and women’s retreats throughout the year. Watch for upcoming dates, and please reach out if you’d like to know more, get involved, or simply stay in touch.