Companions in Ignatian Service and Spirituality, often referred to as Ignatian Companions or simply Companions, was established at Santa Clara University in 2008. The initiative began when Jim Briggs, then an executive at the university, was approaching retirement. Eager to continue his spiritual growth and to give back to society, he brought together a group of individuals who shared his vision. This group explored various avenues to put their intentions into practice, ultimately committing to a program grounded in Ignatian Spirituality and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. From this commitment, Ignatian Companions was formed. The founding group recruited several individuals to develop "Guide for the Journey," an adaptation of the Spiritual Exercises. This became the foundation for the program’s spiritual component, which also features daily prayer and reflection. In addition, participants make a weekly commitment to accompany the poor and marginalized members of their communities. Other core elements include spiritual direction and one-day retreats held at both the beginning and end of the program year. When the first year was completed, participants had formed a close-knit community and expressed a desire to continue meeting together. In response, the program was expanded to offer a second-year curriculum. After that, groups continued to meet with the dual aim of deepening their spirituality and supporting individuals on the margins of society. In 2010, the program expanded to the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, which is now part of Santa Clara University. Currently, there are 85 active Companions and over 100 alumni.