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The Gate of the Year
By Minnie Louise Haskins (adapted)
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year:
“Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.”
And he replied:
“Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the Hand of God.
That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.”
So I went forth, and finding the Hand of God, trod gladly into the night.
And God led me towards the hills and the breaking of day in the lone East.
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What do you desire as you step through the gate of this new year?
If you’re like the wise gatekeeper in the above poem, you know how reassuring it is to put your hand into the Hand of God when facing the unknown. After all, it was God’s hands that intimately knit us together in our mother’s womb (Ps. 139:13), the same hands that intricately shape us into the ongoing creations that we are (Is. 64:8).
With God as our guide, we step into a new year of helping those we accompany as spiritual directors to find and grasp God’s hand. It’s a good time to renew our call to this ministry and ponder what kind of ongoing formation we need. Whether it’s exploring Ignatian discernment, seeking or becoming a supervisor or something else entirely, you’ll find a host of great resources in this newsletter. And I hope to see many of you at the Showing the Way to God Spiritual Exercises Conference taking place June 13-15, 2026 at Fairfield University.
Let us step gently into this new year, following God’s lead that is better than light and safer than a known way.
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Blessings,
Nancy
Nancy Small
Associate Director for Spiritual Direction Initiatives
Office of Ignatian Spirituality
USA East Province of the Society of Jesus
929-232-3056
nsmall@jesuits.org
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Back to the Basics and Beyond 2026
Ignatian Discernment ~ Going Deeper
Thursday, Feb. 5, 6:30pm to 8:30pm ET
Program Fee: $30 (financial assistance is available)
Presenter: Rev. Mark Thibodeaux, SJ (view bio)
Register now.
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This program is the second in our annual series Back to the Basics and Beyond: Exploring Key Components of Ignatian Spiritual Direction.
Many spiritual directors are familiar with St. Ignatius’s Rules for Discernment yet also long to find practical ways to draw from the deep well of wisdom these rules offer. This program invites spiritual directors to explore the contemporary applications of St. Ignatius’s Rules as they relate to the ministry of spiritual direction. Drawing from his book Ignatian Discernment of Spirits for Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Care: Going Deeper, program leader Mark Thibodeaux, SJ, will share ideas that have evolved from his practice of employing the Rules in spiritual direction while offering guidance for spiritual directors eager to apply the Rules with their own directees.
Click here to learn more and to register.
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Recorded Series ~ Discounted Price!
Two Languages, One Voice
The Trauma Informed Spiritual Exercises
Three Session Virtual Series
Program Leaders: Rev. Robert McChesney, SJ and Dr. Lisa López Levers, Ph.D., LPCC-S, LPC, CRC, NCC (Session 3 only) (view bios)
Register now to receive the recordings.
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This in-depth series for Ignatian spiritual directors and givers of the Spiritual Exercises took place in the Fall of 2025, with a record-breaking number of registrants. Grounded in Jesuit Fr. Rob McChesney’s pioneering new book The Soul Also Keeps the Score: A Trauma-Informed Companion to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (Liturgical Press), this program increased the skills and knowledge of those who offer spiritual accompaniment to trauma survivors on their path toward healing of mind, body and spirit.
Video recordings of all sessions, as well as resources provided during the program, are now available at a discounted price of $35.00. You can purchase access to all three recordings by clicking here. This program will become available for public viewing free-of-charge in September 2026.
| | What is Your Hope for Spiritual Direction? Series | |
This inspiring series was one of our highlights in 2025! Ignatian spiritual directors offered their hope for spiritual direction in the form of brief monthly audio and video recordings. This was ISDI’s way of honoring the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope.
These recordings lift up the essence of what spiritual direction is and invite reflection on how the Spirit is moving in these times. You can access this entire series free-of-charge by clicking here, or click individual relections below. Taking time to watch or listen to this series is a great way to begin a new year of spiritual direction with hope!
Thanks to all of our contributors who made this series possible!
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SPIRITUAL DIRECTION INTERNSHIP INITIATIVE
A Refresher in Spiritual Direction, Winter 2026
Thursdays, 10:00am to 12:30pm ET
Online via Zoom
COST: Total Series, 4 Sessions: $150; $40/individual session
FOR WHOM
Spiritual Directors, Retreat Directors, Prayer Guides of the Spiritual Exercises
CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION
Training and Experience as a Spiritual Director
PROGRAM TOPICS
- Feb. 5 - Transference and Countertransference in Spiritual Direction
- Feb. 19 - Trauma: Its Presence, Effects, Responses within Spiritual Direction. New cases will be included.
- March 5 - Discernment: Rules for the Second Week of the Spiritual Exercises
- March 19 - Sexuality in Prayer and Spiritual Direction
All sessions will include input, case studies, Q&A, reflection, sharing.
FOR AN APPLICATION FORM
Click here to apply online. Or email: ii@csjboston.org or call: 781-227-4730.
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SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER CHURCH
IGNATIAN SPIRITUALITY IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Online Workhop On Giving Spiritual Direction to Older Adults with Barbara Lee
Saturday, Feb. 7, 11:00am to 12:30pm ET
Online via Zoom
This workshop will be recorded.
The ISEL program of Saint Francis Xavier Church is offering this winter continuing education workshop for spiritual directors. Barbara Lee is a spiritual director and holds a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Creighton University. Barbara is an author of three books published by Loyola Press, God Isn’t Finished With Me Yet, Answering God’s Call: Scripture-Based Journey for Older Adults, and Praying Through Pain.
Click here to register.
You may join the Zoom meeting here.
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A Conference for Practitioners of the
Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola
June 13 – 15, 2026
Fairfield University
| | Are You in Need of Supervision? | | |
"Supervision is a method of prayer and evaluation used to help the spiritual director learn how to set him-or herself aside so that, as St. Ignatius puts it, “the Creator can deal directly with the creature” (in this case, the directee). Supervision makes the spiritual director humbler, more open, and more able to understand what happens in the spiritual direction session."
~ Ellen Tomaszeswski,
Peer Supervision: Beyond the Basics
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If you are in need of individual or group supervision,
here are two good resources:
| | (offers group and individual supervision) | |  | (offers referrals for group/individual supervision - limited to spiritual directors living within the Jesuits USA East province – Maine to Georgia) | | |
Comments from two people we recently referred:
“Today was my first meeting with the group you recommended and it was an experience of immense depth and wonderful hospitality. I came away from our Zoom meeting feeling confirmed that I am in the right place for my own spiritual growth and learning how to better accompany those I see in direction.”
“I had a very nice first meeting with the group you recommended. I feel energized.”
| | Together in the Mystery offers supervision training as well as individual and group supervision and continuing education for spiritual directors and supervisors, including podcasts on a variety of topics. | | |
Ideal for:
• Spiritual directors who completed one or more supervision courses without a practicum;
• Experienced supervisors without formal training
The Practicum features:
• a self-paced, asynchronous, four-module orientation to Together in the Mystery’s supervision model.
• Eight individual supervision sessions and mentoring over the course of a school year.
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Foundations of Supervision
Online
Aug. 25, 2026 – May 13, 2027
Program offers an opening and closing intensive, 8 months of individual supervision/mentoring, live Zoom gatherings and asynchronous engagement.
Application deadline: June 1
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Advanced Certificate in Supervision
Online
Oct. 7, 2026 – March 31, 2027
Participants may complete advanced training between Foundations intensives. Also appropriate for Foundations graduates.
Application deadline: June 1
| | Supervision Formation Guidelines | | OIS Catalog of Spiritual Directors | | |
DID YOU KNOW about our spiritual direction referral ministry that connects seekers in the Jesuits USA East Province to trained spiritual directors listed in the OIS Catalog of Spiritual Directors?
Click here to learn more.
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DID YOU KNOW we have a growing number of people seeking a spiritual director? We also have a growing need for trained spiritual directors to accompany them, both in-person and virtually.
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If you are registered in the Catalog and you are available for new spiritual direction referrals, click here if your record needs updating. Please be sure to indicate if you are available to see people in-person, virtually or both.
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DID YOU KNOW that you can be on the ISDI email list without being in the Catalog of Spiritual Directors?
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Being on the ISDI email list means you’ll receive notification of upcoming programs and our quarterly ISDI newsletter. If you received this newsletter directly from the Office of Ignatian Spirituality, then you are on our mailing list. If this newsletter was forwarded to you and you’d like to be added to our mailing list, click here.
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If you registered for the Catalog because you want to receive ISDI emails and you are not interested in receiving spiritual direction referrals, please email spiritualdirection@jesuitseastois.org to request removal from the Catalog. You will remain on the ISDI email list and will continue to receive our newsletter and announcements about upcoming programs.
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If you are listed in the OIS Catalog of Spiritual Directors, you’ve probably heard about our newly-created OIS Catalog of Spiritual Directors Covenant. Introduced in August, 2025, this Covenant is weaving a common thread among spiritual directors registered in the OIS Catalog.
Over 70 spiritual directors have taken the necessary steps to complete the Covenant in the past several months, and we thank them for taking the lead as we implement this important initiative.
Click here to learn more about the Covenant and how to complete the 5-step Covenant process.
PLEASE NOTE
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You have until July 31, 2026 to complete the Covenant process if you meet the criteria. The process includes asynchronously viewing an Ethics in Spiritual Direction video and attending an ethics conversation in January or March. Click here to learn more.
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If you do not meet the Catalog Covenant criteria at this time, we hope you will work toward meeting it and we want to support you. Click here to learn more.
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Some of you who have viewed the ethics training video have expressed interest in sharing it with others. While we appreciate your enthusiasm, the video was designed to train spiritual directors registered in the OIS Catalog. Permission to share it with others has not been obtained or granted. We ask that you please refrain from doing so at this time.
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WORLD ON FIRE
World on Fire Spiritual Direction Formation Program
Begins August 1, 2026
World on Fire Spiritual Direction Formation Program is a four-year certificate program for adults who sense a call to the ministry of spiritual direction. Since 1994, this program has been grounded in the spirituality of St. Ignatius. The theological underpinnings of each year of formation are steeped in the themes of the four "weeks" of the Spiritual Exercises. Candidates may enter at any time in the four-year cycle. We understand the demands of life today and have designed this program for those whose schedules do not permit attendance at daytime, evening or weekend classes or extended periods of residency.
Students are required to attend a one-week, in-person residency intensive each year that includes classroom learning and practicum. For the remainder of each year, learning occurs from home. It is not necessary for candidates to have had experience with Ignatian spirituality or, for that matter, the Spiritual Exercises, to qualify for this program.
Applications are being accepted for the next cohort, scheduled for August 1
through August 7, 2026. Deadline for applications is May 1, 2026. Candidates for admission should be at least 30 years of age, be in spiritual direction for at least one year prior to admission and be engaged in regular spiritual practice, both individually and communally. If you would like to learn more about this formation program or speak to someone directly regarding it, please visit WorldOnFireFormationProgram.com or contact us at info@worldonfireformationprogram.com.
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LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO INSTITUTE FOR PASTORAL STUDIES
Introductory Internship for Ignatian Spiritual Direction
This two semester, five-credit course offers three-hour virtual classes on Thursday mornings in the Fall and Spring semesters. There is a balance of academic reading and praxis-based experience to fully engage the gifts needed to become a spiritual director.
The course welcomes interns from across the United States from a variety of backgrounds. It was originally designed for Jesuits in Formation, a group that continues to be an important part of the cohort. The course also welcomes women religious, lay people working in ministry, retired people, and professionals. All interns need a bachelor's degree and must have completed either the 19th annotation or the 30-day Spiritual Exercises.
For more information please contact Fr. Jason Downer, SJ, at jdowner@jesuits.org or Dr. Lauren Schwer at lschwer@luc.edu, or click here.
| | | | by Carlos Domínguez Morano, SJ | | THE SPIRITUAL LIFE WITH FR. JAMES MARTIN, SJ | PODCAST | | |
Why You Need A Spiritual Director
Podcast episode with Jim Martin, SJ and Patrick Gilger, SJ published by America Magazine.
Listen now.
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IGNATIUS HOUSE JESUIT RETREAT CENTER | ATLANTA, GA
Pastoral Team Member & Bilingual Retreat Director (FT)
Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, a work of the Society of Jesus, seeks a mission-driven Bilingual (Spanish/English) Pastoral Team Member to join its retreat ministry, with a particular focus on Hispanic outreach. This role pays special attention to the Jesuits’ Universal Apostolic Preferences – especially walking with the excluded and journeying with youth – in order to extend Ignatius House’s commitment to offering a sacred place of encounter, accompaniment, and renewal.
Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2026. Click here to learn more.
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"Our ongoing formation as spiritual directors is as important as our initial formation. People are often drawn to this ministry because they’ve had some deep sense of God and want others to have that kind of encounter. In the Ignatian tradition, Sr. Karen Doyle often says the world is full of wounded mystics because there’s no one there to hear their story. We are forming spiritual directors to hold these stories and to deepen them. We are helping them learn to see how God is breaking in through the experiences of life."
~ Marcy Dolan Haley, Associate Director of the Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Fairfield University, and Formator in Developing a Listening Heart Spiritual Direction Formation Program
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