Fallon Scanlan is a FOCUS missionary who graduated from IMF in May 2024. Through the IMF, she studied Spiritual Direction and now practices spiritual direction in Colorado. Originally born in Texas, Fallon grew up in New Mexico. In college, FOCUS impacted her greatly, and she became a FOCUS missionary after graduating. She served four years as a missionary at Texas A&M.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, engaged with the Institute for Ministry Formation to support and strengthen their parish’s focus on Radical Hospitality. Jane Ann Regan, a member of the parish’s leadership team, shared her experience of working with the IMF:

Every year the Institute for Ministry Formation hosts SD1: The Art of Accompaniment at St. Vincent Seminary. The course is offered in a 5-day intensive format with students staying on campus. The in-person option for this course becomes an immersion retreat in accompaniment with opportunities to participate in the Liturgy of the Hours, chanted by St. Vincent monks and to attend Mass with the monks each morning. This summer, seventeen students gathered at Saint Vincent Archabbey to take the course.

Saint Joseph’s Catholic Community engaged the Institute for Ministry Formation to support us with an Art of Accompaniment series at our parish. Kristin Molitor offered a half-day kickoff in September and served as our main speaker for a 2-day retreat in November. These sessions formed the backbone of a monthly program intended to form parish lay leaders in relational discipleship. The presentations were chock full of information with ideas for practical application. Kristin modeled depth, openness, and vulnerability and facilitated a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for our parishioners. Our group is now primed to work together as prayer partners and to spread knowledge of spiritual accompaniment throughout our parish.

Each year the Institute for Ministry Formation hosts SD1: The Art of Accompaniment at St. Vincent Seminary. The course is offered in a 5-day intensive format with students staying on campus. The in-person option for this course becomes an immersion retreat in accompaniment with opportunities to participate in the Liturgy of the Hours, chanted by St. Vincent monks and to attend Mass with the monks each morning. Listen to Phil’s testimony of his experience:

Here is part 2 of the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community. The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We are excited to share its story with you.

We’re excited to share the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community. The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We can’t wait to share its story with you.

This episode of the Transforming Hearts podcast features Jeanette Meyer, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Minnesota Grief to Grace retreat. Jeanette courageously shares her personal journey of healing from trauma, along with her dedicated work accompanying other survivors through the Grief to Grace program. She highlights the power of vulnerability, compassionate presence, and the work of the Holy Spirit in accompanying others toward healing.

In this episode of the Transforming Hearts podcast, Kristin Molitor interviews Gary Fritsch, Director of Evangelization at Sts. Martha and Mary Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Gary reflects on the power of vulnerability in ministry. Through his own faith journey and stories from those he has accompanied, he illustrates how vulnerability can foster healing, conversion, and lasting transformation. Check out Gary’s blog here: https://www.hookedonjoy.org/ Click here to purchase Gary’s Book: “Catching Fire: Relating the ancient to the everyday – 50 day

Here is part 2 of the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community. The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We are excited to share its story with you.

We’re excited to share the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community. The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We can’t wait to share its story with you.

The Institute for Ministry Formation was honored to serve as one of the sponsors for the 2025 Spiritual Direction Symposium, held last week, June 19-21, at Saint Vincent Seminary. It was an inspiring gathering where spiritual directors from across the nation came together for fellowship and ongoing formation.

We’ve had a grace-filled and exciting week here at the Institute for Ministry Formation! From June 23-27, we were blessed to welcome 31 students for our Summer Intensive courses.

In this episode of the Transforming Hearts podcast, Kristin Molitor interviews Donna Ottaviano-Britt, Secretary of the Secretariat for Pastoral Outreach and Director of the Office of Discipleship and Leadership for the Diocese of Camden. Donna shares about the Gifted Leadership Journey, a coaching initiative for clergy in her diocese, and highlights the impact it has had on the lives of the priests in her diocese.

The Institute for Ministry Formation at Saint Vincent College & Seminary thanks Pope Leo XIV for the appointment of Bishop Mark Eckman as the 13th bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh! Bishop Eckman is an alumnus of Saint Vincent Seminary, class of 1985, and has been an auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh since January 11th, 2022.

Bishop Emeritus Lawrence E. Brandt, J.C.D., who served as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Greensburg from 2004 to 2015, died on June 8, 2025, at the age of 86. Bishop Brandt was the bishop who ordained me to the priesthood and had a significant impact on my life. In addition to placing me in the line of Pope Saint John Paul II (Bishop Brandt was ordained a bishop by Cardinal Justin Rigali, who was ordained a bishop by Pope Saint John Paul II), Bishop Brandt encouraged me in three significant ways.

I had the privilege of making my first trip to South America for a double mission—to minister to my own Benedictine brothers at our dependent Priory in Vinhedo (Archdiocese of Campinas) and to speak at a major charismatic conference a bit farther south in Cascavel, the state of Paraná. I also had the chance for one sightseeing expedition to the Falls at Iguassu, on the border of Paraguay and Argentina (where the movie, The Mission, took place).

In this episode of the Transforming Hearts Podcast, Kristin from the Institute for Ministry Formation interviews Greg Sherwood, a recent IMF graduate who earned his Master of Arts in Ministry with a specialization in Spiritual Direction.

This week, the IMF was excited to welcome forty students to Saint Vincent for the SD1: Art of Accompaniment course! Priests, religious, and lay leaders spent the week learning from Fr. Tom Acklin and Fr. Boniface Hicks. The course provided students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the interior life and dynamics of spiritual growth, as well as to learn the art of listening to others with an open and vulnerable heart.

The Institute for Ministry Formation (IMF) at Saint Vincent Seminary is proud to celebrate the achievements of our graduates who were honored at the 179th Commencement of Saint Vincent College and Seminary, held Friday, May 9, in the beautiful Archabbey Basilica in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.