Mercy Center

SPIRITUAL DIRECTION INSTITUTE

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ART & PRACTICE OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION YEARS 1 AND 2

The 2-year Art & Practice of Spiritual Direction program is designed for men and women who are seeking formal training in spiritual direction. We welcome people from diverse faiths, yet our program remains rooted in Christian traditions. Please review our course content and other program criteria.

The content of the theoretical, practical, and interactive sessions includes:

 

NATURE OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
One-on-one spiritual direction
History and Assumptions/Theologies of
   Initial Meeting and Closure Group
Spiritual Direction and Retreat Direction
SOCIAL DISCERNMENT
Relation of faith and works
Mindset of directors
Social analysis/Experience cycle
Culture and spiritual direction
BECOMING A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
Discerning a call
Integration of knowledge and practice
Developing a contemplative attitude
Professional issues/development
PRAYER
Styles of prayer
Practical helps in prayer
Stages of growth in prayer
THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD
God's action in the world/in life
Theology of the experience of God
Identifying religious experience in direction
Listening to the experience of God
THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE OF GOD
Finding God in the human experience
The director's theological perspective
Relationship of psychology and spiritual direction
ADULT HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Graced History
Male/Female Spirituality
SUPERVISION OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Individual supervision
An experience of peer group supervision
DISCERNMENT
Noticing interior stirrings of mind/heart
Origin/fruit of key interior stirrings
Christian/Ignatian Discernment
GUIDELINES FOR ETHICAL CONDUCT

 

Worship segments at all sessions include guided imagery, scripture, meditation, and quiet prayer.

 

CRITERIA TO ENTER YEAR ONE:

  • Completion of the Sacred Journey program.
  • Monthly spiritual direction for a MINIMUM of one year; and currently in direction.
  • Active participation in a faith community.
  • Some educational background (e.g., workshops, courses in scripture, contemporary theology, spirituality, psychology) that grounds and supports the ministry of spiritual direction.

Once accepted and enrolled in the Art & Practice of Spiritual Direction Program you will be required to:

 

  • Participate in all scheduled sessions at Mercy Center starting Saturday, Sept 18, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 pm
  • Make a silent directed retreat at least once during the two years. Options:

    Five-day summer home directed retreat
    Annual six-day silent Ignatian Retreat (June)
    30-week Ignatian Retreat (Spiritual Exercises)
    Two- or three-day silent directed retreat; and
  • Attend one Don Bisson workshop at Mercy Center Burlingame each year.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD APPLICATION

 

Learn More about Spiritual Direction

Read the Introduction to Sacred is the Call, a book of essays on the practice and teaching of spiritual direction. Sacred is the Call was edited by Suzanne M. Buckley, director of Mercy Center Burlingame, and is available for purchase from the Mercy Center Bookstore. Visit the SDI International website.