Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions
- What courses are available?
  What courses are available?
  
  Click here for the list of courses for the upcoming semester.
- Is there a residency requirement?
  Is there a residency requirement?
  
  No. The entire program can be completed online. Weekly classes are conducted synchronously and interactively on Zoom or Microsoft Teams and attendance is required, with the student’s camera on. Some courses include additional recorded lectures that students are required to watch.
  
  We encourage students in our Spiritual Direction Program to take advantage of the in-person, 5-day intensive courses offered over the summer. The courses offered in person are SD1: The Art of Accompaniment and SD2: Directing Prayer. The intensive format offers an immersive experience and opportunity to engage in person with other students.
- Is there financial aid available?
  Is there financial aid available?
  
  Thanks to our generous benefactors we are able to offer financial aid on a case-by-case basis. To apply, complete the IMF Application for Financial Assistance.
- Can I just take one course?
  Can I just take one course?
  
  Yes! You will still need to complete the application and be admitted as an IMF student.
  
  At the Institute for Ministry Formation, we share the treasures of Saint Vincent Seminary with the rest of the Church. We are very happy for anyone who wants to take a course for their ongoing formation.
  
  Enrollment in certain courses may be limited to program students for various reasons including capacity and course prerequisites.
- What can I do with a Certificate or Letter of Completion?
  What can I do with a Certificate or letter or completion?
  
  A Certificate is a credential that indicates you have completed a graduate program of study for academic credit. A Letter of Completion is a credential that indicates that you have completed a program of study on a non-academic-credit bases. You should check with your parish, Diocese, or other ministry/employer regarding the benefits of a Certificate or Letter of Completion for your circumstances.
  
  Our Spiritual Direction Program was designed in consultation with the Saint Vincent Seminary Board of Regents (our constituent bishops) which has indicated their acceptance of spiritual directors trained in our program. Whether a certificate (or letter of completion) in Spiritual Direction is sufficient for a parish or Diocese to formally approve or support someone in offering spiritual director will depend on the parish and the Diocese. We recommend that you determine whether your own diocese or parish has any requirements.
- Can I audit a course?
  Can I audit a course?
  
  In courses with available capacity, we do offer an audit option. The tuition for audited courses in the same as the Letter of Completion tuition. Please note that audited courses cannot be applied toward a Letter of Completion program.
- How much do courses cost?
  How much do courses cost?
  
  Please see our tuition and fees page.
- How do I pursue a Master of Arts in Ministry Degree?
  How do I pursue a Master of Arts in Ministry Degree?
  
  For academic credit participation students, there is an option to pair the Spiritual Direction Certificate or the Catechetics Certificate with a Theology Certificate to earn a Master of Arts (MA) in Ministry Degree with Specialization. For details and additional requirements, please see our Master of Arts in Ministry Degree with Specialization page.
Directed Retreat
What is the directed retreat requirement?
- What is the directed retreat requirement?
  
  An approved, 8-day silent, directed retreat is a required component of the Spiritual Direction Formation Program. The full Ignatian 19th Annotation may be substituted for the retreat.
  
  The retreat serves several purposes:
  It helps to consolidate the spiritual formation that is provided throughout the curriculum and helps it to take root in the spiritual life of the individual student.
  It serves to deepen the student’s prayer life in a significant way. A spiritual director must have a deep and rich, personal relationship with Jesus and a well-formed spiritual life.
  It provides an experience of a model that the student, as a future spiritual director, may be able to offer to others, namely the guidance of daily spiritual direction for an intensive retreat experience.
What are the criteria for the directed retreat?
- What are the criteria for the directed retreat?
  
  It must be a silent retreat, meaning that it takes place in a retreat environment marked by silence and reflection. The retreat need not be strictly silent the entire time, but silence and conduciveness to prayer and reflection must be a defining characteristic of the environment.
  The student must receive daily spiritual direction from an experienced spiritual director on at least the six middle days of the retreat.
  The retreat must be 8 days (at least 7 overnights).
  Optimally, the student will have the opportunity for daily Mass during the retreat.
What is the format of the retreat?
- What is the format of the retreat?
  
  A typical format would be four prayer periods a day, each lasting one hour, in addition to Mass and other times of spiritual reading and reflection. Typically, the spiritual director assigns scriptures for each of the prayer periods and the spiritual direction meetings center around how God was speaking in those prayer periods. There can be a standard progression of assigned scriptures following the Ignatian patterns derived from the 30-day retreat. None of this structure of prayer periods and scriptures is strictly necessary, however, as long as the spiritual director and the retreatant agree on how to proceed.
Where do I make my retreat?
- Where do I make my retreat?
  
  Retreats are not offered through the IMF. It is the responsibility of the student to make arrangements for their own retreat. There are many options for retreat centers and retreat directors. Some recommended options include St. Joseph Retreat Center in Milton, MA, Our Lady of Divine Providence Retreat center in Clearwater, FL, Broomtree Retreat and Conference Center in Broomtree, SD, The Joseph and Mary Retreat House in Mundelein, IL, Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center, Atlanta, GA, and Jesuit Retreat Center in Parma, OH.
When do I make my retreat?
- When do I make my retreat?
  
  You can make your retreat at any time during the program; however, in order to register for the Practicum, you will need to have completed the Directed Retreat course no later than the semester prior to the Practicum.
Does my retreat have to be approved?
- Does my retreat have to be approved?
  
  Yes. Before making your retreat, you should complete the application for approval.
How does my retreat get applied toward the retreat requirement of the Spiritual Direction Formation Program? What is the Directed Retreat course?
- How does my retreat get applied toward the retreat requirement?
  
  You will need to register for the IMSD-696 Directed Retreat course in order to get credit for your retreat. The course includes a required reflection paper that is due two weeks prior to the end of the semester. IMSD-696 Directed Retreat can be taken in any semester. The application for approval of the retreat includes a request for registration for the IMSD-696 Directed Retreat course.
Learn More
What should I expect in the Practicum Courses?
- What should I expect in the Practicum Courses?
  
  The Practicum enables students to learn and practice the art of spiritual direction under the supervision of a mentor. The mentor will meet regularly with students, one on one, to shape their practice of spiritual direction. The practicum also helps students to grow in self-awareness, sensitivity, compassion, and understanding, while being challenged to reflect on their faith understanding, theology, and experiences in relation to those to whom they minister.
  
  The student will be expected to meet with directees for at least four hours per month during the Practicum. The student is responsible for recruiting their own directees. (A limited number of referrals may be available to practicum students). Students are expected to participate in monthly online meetings with their assigned mentor during the Practicum.
  
  Registration for the Practicum requires an application which will be provided to eligible students.
  
  IMSD-697 Practicum in Spiritual Direction I (1 credit)
  Prerequisites:
  IMSD-601 SD1: The Art of Accompaniment
  IMSD-602 SD2: Directing Prayer
  IMSD-696 Directed Retreat
  At least 5 additional credits in the spiritual direction program
  
  IMSD-698 Practicum in Spiritual Direction II (1 credit)
  Prerequisite:
  IMSD-697 Practicum in Spiritual Direction I
What is the Readiness for Ministry Exam (IMSD 699)?
- What is the Readiness for Ministry Exam (IMSD 699)?
  
  The IMF Spiritual Direction program requires a final Readiness for Ministry Exam. This is the final requirement of the program and so this Exam can only be taken after all the other requirements of the program have been completed. The Readiness for Ministry Exam is offered only in the Spring semester. Students should apply to be registered for this exam during Spring registration in the final semester of their program.
  
  The Readiness for Ministry Exam is an online oral exam consisting of three scenarios drawn at random which a student must answer before a panel including the Director of the Spiritual Direction program and one or more professors in the program. They present some typical spiritual direction scenarios, and the student is expected to describe his or her thought process for how to approach those scenarios. Each question lasts approximately ten minutes and so the exam should require at most a half hour.
Where can I log into Schoology?
- Where can I log into Schoology?
  
  You can log in here.
What if I’m not able to log into my email or Schoology account?
- What if I’m not able to log into my email or Schoology account?
  
  For technology problems, including logging into Schoology or email, contact [email protected] or 724-805-2297 (Mon-Fri 8:30AM- 4:30PM EST)
How Do I Find a Spiritual Director?
- How Do I Find a Spiritual Director?
  
  Begin your search by praying for a spiritual director who will aid your discernment. Next, contact a priest whom you trust such as your parish priest. If he is unable to become your spiritual director, he may be able to point you in the right direction, perhaps even recommend a potential spiritual director to you.
  
  Upon completion of our IMF Spiritual Direction program, we encourage our alumni to register with SeekDirection, a computer-based matching of spiritual directors and those seeking direction. If your parish priest is unable to provide you with spiritual direction himself or to suggest a potential director, you may visit https://seekdirection.app/ to be matched with a potential spiritual director.
How do I pay my tuition bill?
- How do i pay my tuition bill?
  
  You can access Self Service through the SVC portal. From here, click the Student Finance button to view your latest statement and make a payment online. If you’re having trouble paying your bill online, you can visit the business office on the 1st floor of Alfred Hall. Additionally, you can call Susan Skoloda, the Director of Student Accounts, at 724-805-2577 or email her at [email protected].