Continuing Education for Spiritual Directors
Meeting on a monthly basis, trained spiritual directors gather for education and encouragement.
Details and Registration info »Spiritual Direction Groups are for people who are desiring to hear the voice of God in their lives and want the company of others, all seeking to explore their relationship with the God who is Love.
Groups consist of three to four people who gather together for the purpose of listening to God and for God’s movement in their own lives, as well as on behalf of the others in the group. A trained spiritual director guides the process and is responsible for listening as well as providing the structure and atmosphere that encourages the growth of respectful and caring relationships.
The gatherings are monthly, lasting no longer than two hours. The time is structured so that each person has a chance to talk about relationship with God, followed by silence, and then group interaction. When speaking, each participant is encouraged to talk about where God was heard or sensed throughout the past month as well as where God seemed silent or far off.
Honesty is highly valued and the focus is on listening and how each person is responding to what is heard. When listening to another speak, participants are asked to be in a listening, prayerful posture on behalf of the other person and attempt to discern God’s movement along with the person. The interaction following the silence is meant to give a chance for clarifying questions and impressions pertaining to what was just shared.
Spiritual Direction Groups are distinct from counseling groups, Bible studies, or recovery groups. The emphasis is not on a problem to be fixed or a principle to be mastered. Relationship with God; his invitation and our response, is central. The nurturing of that relationship is the focus of the individual sharing, listening, silence, and conversation.
About The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius:
Both Lightworks Groups and Retreat in Daily Life Groups are an experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Spiritual Exercises are a compilation of scripture meditations, prayers, and contemplative practices developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) to help people deepen relationship with God. Participants journey with Jesus through his life, death, and resurrection.
For centuries the Exercises were most commonly given as a “long retreat” of about 30 days in solitude and silence. In recent years, there has been a renewed emphasis on the Spiritual Exercises as a guide for everyday people. The most common way of going through the Exercises now is a “retreat in daily life,” (Annotation 19) which involves a nine month rhythm of daily prayer and weekly meetings with a spiritual director.
There is also a “lighter” version (Annotation 18) of the Exercises, which is a great beginning point for those interested. Through Ambernest, individuals begin with this lighter version, called Lightworks.
Meeting on a monthly basis, trained spiritual directors gather for education and encouragement.
Details and Registration info »