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Spiritual Direction
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- What is Spiritual Direction?
- How do I find a spiritual director?
- Am I Called to Become a Spiritual Director?
- Workshop & Retreat Opportunities
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Spiritual direction is concerned with helping a person directly with his or her relationship with God. It addresses the underlying questions of, “Who is God for me?” and “Who am I for God?” It is a time of holy listening.
He or she is a trained and experienced facilitator of the spiritual journey who is, foremost, grounded in prayer and growing in an intimate relationship with God. Called to the ministry, he or she serves as a vessel of God, the True Director, assisting the seeker to uncover the Divine in their everyday lives.
The director is not a therapist or a counselor but is a spiritual companion. Through deep, contemplative listening, the spiritual director assists the directee in prayerfully discerning the movements of the Holy Spirit and in following the inspirations of grace.
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Check at your own parish and speak with your pastor. There is also a list below to help you as well. For more assistance, email [email protected]
There are places to find a spiritual director that may work for you.
They may ask you some questions to see what you’re seeking in order to help you find someone who is compatible. Some may be more local and others may offer direction over Zoom or telephone. These options are all trained on the discernment methods found in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
For a list of places to find a spiritual director and a few local spiritual directors, click here.
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Am I Called to Become a Spiritual director?
Perhaps you are being called to accompany others in their spiritual journey. If so, begin talking with your own spiritual director about the possibility. The programs below are a good place to begin your search.
Archdiocese of New Orleans Spirituality Center https://nolacatholic.org/asc
Phone: 504-861-3254 Email: [email protected]
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w98c8rLCVW8
Marian Servants of the Incarnate Wisdom, Houston, TX https://marianservantshouston.org/
Phone: 832-322-4541 Email: [email protected]
Emmaus Spirituality Center, Houston, TX https://emmausspiritualitycenter.com/spiritual-direction-institute
Phone: 281-241-9678 Email: [email protected]
Franciscan University, Steubenville https://institutes.franciscan.edu/school-spiritual-direction/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T33lGhw1lkA
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Spiritual Direction Training Opportunities (pdf)
Upcoming Retreats & Workshops (pdf)
Online and In-Person Options
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the ministry of spiritual direction involve?
- Who can apply to this program?
- Do I need my own spiritual director prior to starting the program?
- How are the spiritual direction programs structured?
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The spiritual director helps another discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in the life of the one seeking spiritual guidance. The spiritual director facilitates discernment through prayerful listening.
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The program is best suited for mature Christians and is open to lay people and clergy alike from all backgrounds and lived experiences. Depending on the program, some prior experience may be needed to apply. See each program for further details.
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Yes. The call to becoming a spiritual director needs to be discerned and you need to have an idea of what it is about before being able to offer it to others. This is best accomplished through the accompaniment of one’s own spiritual director. One needs to experience the gifts and graces of spiritual direction themselves before discerning whether or not they’re called into the ministry. See the list on this page to seek out a spiritual director of your own.
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Some programs consist of 3 sessions in consecutive years called “intensives” which run within a 2-week time The months between intensives are dedicated to assigned reading, clinical practice under supervision, one’s own spiritual direction, and in the first year, completion of the 19th Annotation.
Some programs meet once a month for an all-day class for two years, where you actually direct 5-day and 8-day retreats at the end of each year.
Some meet once a week for a few hours for two or three years. This may be a weekday evening or a weekend morning or afternoon.
There are different options for different schedules along with different pricing for each program. These are some topics to consider when researching the school schedule that may fit you.