The Office of Mission and Identity is responsible for the promotion of Ignatian Spirituality to the members of the ADNU community and the creation of opportunities for appropriating the ADNU Mission and Vision, and its thrusts for faith and justice.

The Ignatian Formation Center (IFC)
The Ignatian Formation Center is responsible for the overall implementation and continuing development and improvement of the university’s Ignatian Formation Program (IFP) for ADNU’s various sectors and, when applicable, to external community.

The Center has four major goals:
• To provide the members of the University community opportunities for personal growth and integration and move them to commit to serve the kingdom of God and His mission.
• To initiate the formation of a community where members share a strong sense of solidarity in living out the Ignatian ideals and charism.
• To instill a growing appreciation of the vision, mission and goals of the University as a Catholic, Jesuit and Filipino institution functioning in the world.
• To serve as a resource for university initiatives on Ignatian Spirituality.
The Four Program Dimensions and Program Descriptions of ohe Ateneo de Naga University Ignatian

Formation Program (IFP)
1. Personal Dimension
The personal dimension in the framework is described as Personal Spirituality Program. Personal Spirituality focuses primarily on the formation of the individual person, as embodied spirit; created in the image and likeness of God, and his/her relationship with God. Spiritual Exercise 23 lays down the basic tenet that man is called “to praise, reverence and serve God”, and to constantly choose that which would help him/her better fulfill this end.

Ignatian Formation gives primacy to one’s personal spiritual experience through which s/he would attain the grace of inner freedom to authentically respond to the love of God. This personal experience is so important that the formation programs in Ateneo ensure that such opportunities, at appropriate times, are available to the individual persons or members of the community. As St. Ignatius puts it (in SpEx #15), “the Creator will deal directly with the creature, and the creature directly with His Creator and Lord. The Creator and Lord in person communicate Himself to the devout soul in quest of the divine will, that He inflame it with His love and praise, and dispose it for the way in which it could better serve God in the future”.

In the same dimension, opportunities for knowing oneself and appreciating his/her context, including his/her vocation—whether in marriage, religious or priestly life, or single life, or other forms of consecrated life, are given a special attention with the belief that the awareness and understanding of one’s person is essential to the growth in one’s faith life or spirituality.

2. Community/Institutional Dimension
The community dimension in the framework is described as Community and Institutional Spirituality. Community Spirituality focuses on the formation of the person, as a social being, and his relationship with others as a member and educator of the Ateneo de Naga University community whose inspiration and educational principles are drawn from St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. S/he is not created as a solitary being. S/he needs others and grows to full maturity as a person only in relating with and through others. S/he is called to love and live his/her life with others, and respond to the Kingdom as a Christian in community as a Church. As the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II) provides it, “We are called as individuals, and each one must give personal response. But Christ calls us to form a Christian community. He wants the Church to be ‘a communion of life, love and truth, a community of faith, hope and charity’(PCP II, 89, p.36)”. The Ignatian world-view purports this inspiring theme that “the strength of a community working in the service of the Kingdom is greater than that of any individual or group of individuals”. As a member of the Ateneo de Naga University community, it is imperative that every teacher, student or administrator not only manifests competence in his/her academic discipline but s/he must also exhibit deep familiarity with the charism and core values of Jesuit education and share the same passion in the vision and mission of the University. These would enable him/her to continue the ‘Jesuit tradition’ of education and on the part of the institution a way to achieve its ultimate goal of forming ‘men and women for
others’ who will find God in all things and seek to serve first God’s Kingdom.

3. Student Life Dimension

The student dimension in the framework for students is described as Student Spirituality. This is focused primarily on the formation of the individual person as a student, specifically as a learner, insofar as s/he is engaged with the university. This formation enables the students to develop the qualities of mind and heart to, as St. Ignatius puts it (in SpEx 23), “desire and choose what is more conducive to the end for which [they] are created,” or in secular term to aspire to excel at each stage of life, i.e., as a student, dedicates himself/herself to fulfill his/her duties to study and gain the necessary knowledge, experience and competence of his/her academic discipline. Ultimately, this area of formation enables the individual members of the academic community to work with others for the good of all in the “praise, reverence and service” of the Kingdom of God.

4. Social Dimension
The social dimension in the framework is described as Social Spirituality. This focuses on the formation of the person and his/her relationship with the society and the world. As a human person, s/he not only relates with other people or groups but also with the structures and systems of society in the world. S/he affects structures and structures affect him/her, his/her life today and in the future. S/he is called to take active part in the shaping and building of his/her world in such a manner that the Kingdom of God reigns. The Ignatian world-view presents the challenging call for the “total commitment of men and women who, to imitate and be more like Christ, will put their ideals into practice in the real world of ideas, social movements, the family, business, political and legal structures, and religious activities.” As St. Ignatius puts it (in SpEx #230), “love ought to manifest itself in deeds rather than in words,” and (in SpEx #231) that “love consists in a mutual sharing of goods”. The formation programs in Ateneo provide such opportunities for the individual person to share his/her gifts not just to his/her immediate family but to the bigger world as well, especially the poor.

Some Formation Activities for Students:
• Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in different formats:
– 3-Day Group Guided Silent Retreat
– 5-Day Silent Directed Retreat
– Thematic Retreats (Eco-Spirituality Retreat, Enneagram Retreat, Life-Direction Retreat,
Inner Healing Retreat, A Retreat on Personality, Spirituality and Prayer Styles [PSPS] )
– Thematic Recollections
• Praise and Worship Activities
– Holy Hours
– Community Masses
• Prayer-Session
• Conversations on the themes of Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
• Conversation Circles/ Ignatian Circle
• Vocation Discernment Activity
• Self-Awareness Sessions
• Skills Development Training Workshop
• Ignatiana Celebration
• Series of Psycho-Spiritual Integration Workshops
• Series of Thematic Seminars on Catholic Social Teaching (CST’s)
• Alternative Class Program
• Student Rights and Responsibility Advocacy Seminar
• Jesuit Education (JE) Theme Workshops
• Training and Formation of Student Volunteers
• Orientation Program for Students
• Theological Reflections and Study Sessions
• Outreach-Immersion
• Involvements/ Participation in Advocacies/Efforts relating to national issues