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Dear Colleagues,
While this newsletter was produced prior to Pope Francis' passing, we wish to add a note to honor his life and legacy. Since this newsletter is intended for spiritual directors, it seems fitting to honor him with a few of his words of wisdom on the art of spiritual accompaniment, taken from his Catechesis on Discernment 14, Spiritual Accompaniment:
Looking at oneself in the mirror, alone, does not always help, as one can adjust the image. Instead, looking at oneself in the mirror with the help of another, this helps a great deal because the other tells you the truth – when he or she is truthful – and in this way helps you.
Recounting what we have lived or are searching for, in front of another person, helps to bring clarity to ourselves, bringing to light the many thoughts that dwell within us, and which often unsettle us with their insistent refrains... The spiritual accompanier says: “Fine, but look here, look here”, they draw your attention to things that perhaps pass you by; they help you understand better the signs of the times, the voice of the Lord, the voice of the tempter, the voice of the difficulties that you are unable to overcome. Therefore, it is very important not to journey alone.
There is a wise African saying... which says: “If you want to arrive quickly, go alone; if you want to arrive safely, go with others”, go in company, go with your people... In the spiritual life it is better to be accompanied by someone who knows about us and helps us. And this is spiritual accompaniment.
Pope Francis, may you rest in Peace.
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Have you ever watched
A seed burst into life
From a loamy grave,
And gasped in awe
At the miracle of resurrection?
Hope and promise in a garden.
The story of God
Written throughout the earth.
Signposts of love and light and beauty.
| | ~ Christine Sine, Godspace Light Newsletter – Living in Tension - February 27, 2024 | | |
Seeds are bursting into life all around us, visible signs of hope and promise in the garden of life. Lately I’ve seen them sprouting in the field of spiritual direction as well.
Leaders in spiritual direction training programs who gathered in January spoke about their hope for all spiritual directors to have access to affordable foundational training as well as ongoing formation. They shared their hope that more spiritual directors might enroll in formation programs to meet the pressing need for more trained supervisors.
Hope continues to sprout with promise in our ongoing work as well. If you’ve had a chance to watch or listen to our 2025 series What is Your Hope for Spiritual Direction? or read the latest in our Good News of Supervision series, then you know how inspirational these offerings are. Think of them as seeds bursting with the miracle of resurrection to bring new life to the garden of your spiritual direction ministry.
A recent program leader shared her hope that spiritual directors practice self-care while accompanying directees in these trying times. She emphasized the need for us to nurture God’s grace in us so that we can nurture God’s grace in our directees.
How do we do this? By carving out time for rest, re-creation and reflection (including retreat time), participating in spiritual direction and supervision and pursuing ongoing formation. This newsletter provides a variety of formation opportunities, including rich and respected training programs in spiritual direction, the Spiritual Exercises and supervision, some with scholarships available. You’ll also find specialized programs from Ignatian partners to meet the challenges of these times, like Trauma-Informed Spiritual Exercises in June and Sexual Integration and Spiritual Direction in August. Scroll down for a complete listing of programs, and please be mindful of application deadlines.
We’ll be updating our Events Calendar in the coming months with detailed information of some promising programs we’re planning for the 2025-26 year. So stay in touch and please consider forwarding this email to other spiritual directors and to those discerning a call to the ministry of spiritual direction.
As we move with rejoicing through the Easter season, may you be graced by seeds bursting with the miracle of resurrection, both within you and around you.
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Easter 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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Check out the April segment in our 2025 series, What is Your Hope for Spiritual Direction? featuring Rev. George Bur, SJ, University Chaplain and Special Assistant to the President at St. Joseph’s University.
This link includes previous recordings as well, offered in the spirit of this Jubilee Year of Hope. It’s our way of offering inspiration to pilgrims of hope engaged in the ministry of spiritual direction.
Watch/listen now!
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| Trauma Resources for Spiritual Directors | | |
The Invisible Mugged Traveler
Encountering God as Hero or Casualty
by Fr. Robert W. McChesney, SJ
from the January, 2025 issue of The Way
(Used with permission.)
This article offers “a trauma-informed shift in point of view for noticing and supporting soul-wounded survivors of violence” by exploring the Parable of the Good Samaritan through the point of view of the beaten and wounded man. This article is from Fr. McChesney’s forthcoming book The Soul Also Keeps the Score: A Trauma-Informed Companion to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (Liturgical Press, publication date 5-15-25).
Read the full article here.
The Way is an international journal of contemporary Christian spirituality published quarterly by the British Jesuits. Learn more by clicking here.
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The Trauma-Informed Spiritual Exercises: Growing Your Spiritual and Pastoral Caregiving Skills
A Weekend Retreat for Spiritual Directors and Pastoral Caregivers led by Fr. Robert McChesney, SJ
June 13-15, 2025
Loyola Jesuit Center, Morristown, NJ
This weekend workshop will
- Consider Saint Ignatius in light of contemporary trauma theory;
- Examine the significance of "soul-healing" in Christian and Ignatian tradition; and
- Discuss Ignatian spiritual and pastoral practices adapted to those we accompany who may be journeying through posttraumatic growth.
Click here for more information. | Click here to register.
| | Sexuality and Spiritual Direction | | |
Holy Fire: Sexual Integration in Spiritual Direction
Hybrid Workshop
Aug. 5, 2025, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
St. Francis Springs Prayer Center, Stoneville, NC, and via Zoom
Registration Deadline: July 25, 2025
This workshop, intended for spiritual directors, supervisors and students in formation, focuses on understanding and fostering sexual integration and developing tools for addressing sexual issues which may arise in spiritual direction.
Click here for more information and to register.
| | Ignatian Spirituality Conference | | |
Hope: Living Between Faith and Love
2025 Ignatian Spirituality Conference
July 24-27, 2025
Ignatian Spirituality Institute | Dallas, TX
The ISI Conference is more than an informational workshop. We seek to draw together lay persons and Jesuits for dynamic exploration of Ignatian spirituality through spiritual conversation, prayer, and communal considerations.
Click here for more information and to register.
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This year the Ignatian Spiritual Direction Initiative is highlighting the importance of supervision through a series entitled The Good News of Supervision. This series offers personal stories of supervision and how it helps to guide spiritual directors to greater interior freedom and inspire personal and professional growth.
Click here to read our current Good News story by Eileen Crusan.
Click here to read more about this series and explore opportunities to share your good news story about supervision.
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| Are you interested in being trained to meet the great need for more supervisors? Limited scholarships are available through Together in the Mystery along with support for raising tax-deductible donations toward the cost of tuition. | | Are You in Need of Supervision? | |
Supervision is “the covenant we make with our spiritual directees,” according to a seasoned supervisor. If you are in need of individual or group supervision, here are two good resources to connect you with a trained supervisor:
Together in the Mystery
Ignatian Spiritual Direction Initiative (limited to spiritual directors living within the Jesuits USA East province – Maine to Georgia)
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Are You a Trained Supervisor
Who Offers Supervision?
| If you are a trained supervisor who is available for individual or group supervision, please click here to complete a registration form detailing your supervision training and the type(s) of supervision you offer. If you have registered with the Ignatian Spiritual Direction Initiative previously as a supervisor, there is no need to complete another form. | | |
Programs Forming New Cohorts | | |
Post-Master's Certificate in Spiritual Formation
Boston College's Clough School of Theology and Ministry
July 14-25, 2025
Brighton, MA | In-person
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until program is full.
Certificate is offered only in the summers and is completed over three summers. Read more about the program here.
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World on Fire Spiritual Directors Formation Program
World on Fire
Charlotte, NC | Mostly online with annual in-person residency
Application deadline: May 16
Next cohort begins August 2025. Read more about the program here.
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Spiritual Direction Internship Initiative
Spiritual Direction Internship Initiative
Brighton, MA | Mostly online with 2 in-person retreats
Application deadline: Up to August 31, depending on availability of space.
Extensive training program is held every Tuesday beginning after Labor Day and continuing through mid-April. Read more about the program here.
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Developing a Listening Heart: Experiencing God in Myself and Others
Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality of Fairfield University
Fairfield, CT | 1-week residency and 8 in-person Saturdays per year, with distance learning.
This two-year certificate spiritual direction formation program in the Ignatian tradition runs from January 2026 to December 2027. Intended for adults with a theological and ministerial background who feel called to serve in this ministry.
For more information click here.
For a copy of the Formation Training brochure, please email mcis@fairfield.edu.
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Tending the Flame Spiritual Direction Formation Program
Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center
Sandy Springs, GA | Mostly online with 3 in-person retreats and 1 in-person residency. Application deadline: November 2025
Next cohort begins March 2026. Read more about the program here.
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Spiritual Exercises Training
for Trained Spiritual Directors
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Summer Intensive on Directing the Spiritual Exercises
Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality at Fairfield University
June 16-20, 2025 | Fairfield, CT | In-person
Program focuses on the theology and practice of giving the Spiritual Exercises. Coursework can be coupled with a practicum in giving the 19th annotation of the Spiritual Exercises the following year to receive a certificate.
Read more about the program here. To register, please contact Colleen Gilbertson at cgilbertson@fairfield.edu.
Scholarships available for members of the MCIS College of Directors.
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Intensive on the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises for Spiritual Directors
Boston College's Clough School of Theology and Ministry
July 14-18, 2025 | Online
Program offers a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises in order to better accompany others through the Spiritual Exercises, particularly in the 19th Annotation format. Read more about the program here.
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Practicum in Giving the 19th Annotation
St. Raphaela Center
Sept. 2025 to May 2026 | Online
Application deadline: July 1, 2025
Practicum will deepen one’s experiential understanding of the weeks of the Spiritual Exercises as they unfold in the everyday life of a retreatant. Participants will grow in their knowledge and understanding of Ignatian Rules for Discernment. Read more about the program here.
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Spiritual Exercises Revisited
Spiritual Direction Internship Initiative
Oct. 2, 2025 to Dec. 11, 2025 (7 sessions) | Online
Discounted fee for registrants before Sept.1.
Expand your knowledge and intensify your experience of the Spiritual Exercises. Refine your art and skill and expand your creativity as a director of the Spiritual Exercises. Deepen your wisdom regarding the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises. Read more about the program here.
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"I’ve been waiting to have this conversation with someone since I was in high school and I’m grateful to have a place where we can talk about this, where we can see how God is showing up in my life and how I might learn to trust that and deepen it and experience it in a way that is authentically and beautifully mine."
~ A Fairfield University student new to spiritual direction
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