Institute for Ministry Formation at
Saint Vincent College & Seminary
Saint Vincent College & Seminary
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Spiritual Direction Program
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The Spiritual Direction Formation Program is open to clergy, religious, and lay students seeking to help others grow in faith through offering them the one-on-one ministry of spiritual direction. This is a two-year program. The curriculum consists of three major areas of study: spiritual direction dynamics, foundations in theology and psychology, and a mentored practicum. The primary purpose of the program “is to equip persons for competent leadership in some form of specialized ministry in congregations and other settings.”— (The Association of Theological Schools Bulletin 50, Part 1, 2012, G-45, B.1.1).
Participation in the Spiritual Direction Formation program can be at two different levels:
- Spiritual Direction Certificate Program for academic credit: All requirements of the program and the individual courses must be satisfied to receive a Certificate. Students must complete each course in the program with a passing grade. Students looking to advance for the M.A. in Ministry with a specialization in Spiritual Direction must be accepted into the Spiritual Direction Certificate Program for academic Credit to satisfy the admissions and credit requirements of the M.A degree in Ministry. Any courses not taken for academic credit would not apply towards the M.A. degree.
- Spiritual Direction Letter of Completion (LOC) Program without academic credit (Pass/Fail): All requirements of the program and the individual courses must be satisfied to receive a letter of completion. Students must complete each course in the program with a passing score (70%).
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- Learning Outcomes
- Admission Requirements
- Program Requirements
- Additional Requirements
- Summer SD1 & SD2 in Latrobe
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Learning Outcomes
- Students will be prepared to serve in a Catholic parish, a religious community, or an apostolate as a Spiritual Director.
- Students will demonstrate skills in the art of spiritual direction so as to support individuals’ interior growth in their relationships with Jesus and the exterior manifestation of that relationship through their specific vocation and their apostolic works in the Church.
- Students will attain competency in the spiritual life, particularly in the knowledge and practice of private, devotional, and liturgical prayer.
- Students will acquire theological knowledge of Catholic doctrine, interpretation of scripture, spirituality, moral teaching, ecclesiology and the sacramental life as ex- pressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and magisterial teaching.
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Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with indication of aptitude for advanced study (only necessary for those seeking credit).
- Completed Verification of Spiritual Direction form, verifying an experience of regular spiritual direction for at least one year immediately prior to application.
- A letter of Recommendation from one’s pastor.
- Two Letters of Recommendation from those who can assess one’s academic goals.
- Criminal background check.
- A personal interview with the Program Director, if requested, for academic assessment and spiritual readiness for the program.
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program requirementsIMSD 600: Principles of Prayer & Catholic Spirituality 3 credits
IMSD 601: Spiritual Direction I: Art of Accompaniment 2 credits
IMSD 602: Spiritual Direction II: Directing Prayer 2 credits
IMSD 630: Praying Sacred Scripture 3 credits
IMSD 650: Sacramental Theology & Ecclesiology for Spiritual Directors 2 credits
IMSD 660: Moral Theology for Spiritual Directors 2 credits
IMSD 697, IMSD 698: Practicum in Spiritual Direction I&II 2 credits
IMSD 700: Psychology for Spiritual Directors 2 credits
Certificate Total: 18 Credits
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additional requirements
Directed Silent Retreat:
An approved directed silent retreat of at least 8 days or the Ignatian “19th Annotation” is required at some point during the program. The student must submit a reflection paper based on the retreat experience highlighting points of self-awareness and spiritual growth. Students are responsible for making their own accommodations for this requirement but must apply for approval to their advisor to ensure acceptability for the program. Fill out the form here to apply for the directed silent retreat.Application for Practicum:
Application for Practicum: After completing two courses in the Spiritual Direction program in addition to the Spiritual Direction I: Art of Accompaniment course and the directed silent retreat, students may apply to begin Practicum I. The application includes questions to ensure a student’s basic competency for meeting with spiritual directees under supervision. Admission to the Practicum requires approval of the Program Director and successful completion of all prior coursework. A successful assessment from Practicum I and completion of the Spiritual Direction II: Directing Prayer Practicum II is possible. The practicum is only open to students in the Spiritual Direction Program.Readiness for Ministry Exam:
After all courses have been completed, students must pass a Readiness for Ministry Exam that consists of an oral exam with professors chosen by the Program Director to determine whether a student is adequately prepared to meet with a wide variety of spiritual directees.
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Summer SD1 & SD2 In Latrobe
Course Expectations:
SD1: The Art of Accompaniment and SD2: Directing Prayer are graduate-level, 2 credit courses offered in a 5-day intensive format. While you will have time for liturgies, the coursework will otherwise require your full dedication, including possible late nights or early mornings to complete the coursework. Students are required to attend all lectures, complete daily reading and writing assignments, and engage in accompaniment practice sessions. Students will need a laptop or other device that is adequate for reading course materials and for writing, submitting assignments (document uploads), and posting to the discussion board (iPads are not recommended). These requirements apply to both Pass/Fail (Spiritual Direction Letter of Completion or CE) and Credit (Spiritual Direction Certificate or CE) students.
For students taking the course for credit (Certificate or CE): There will be an exam due Tuesday 11:59 ET, 4 days after classes end. An 8-12 page research paper is due the Monday (11:59 ET) that falls three weeks after classes end.HOUSING, TRANSPORTATION, AND MEALS:
Housing: We have a limited number of rooms available at the seminary, with a suggested goodwill offering of $50 per night. For those making their own housing arrangements locally, we will do our best to facilitate shared local transportation or group housing (Airbnb, etc.) with other students.
Meals charge: Meals-on campus: Based on our current catering estimates, students staying on campus will be charged $400 for meals. We will reduce this cost if we are able. For a better communal experience, we encourage all students staying off-campus or commuting to join us for all meals. Meals-off campus: Student staying off campus or commuting who do not purchase all meals will be charged $155 for lunches for the week.
Transportation: The airport for traveling to Latrobe is Pittsburg International Airport. We will provide transportation to and from the airport for flights arriving on Sunday and for flights departing on Friday after 4:00 p.m.
Questions about course requirements or pre-registration? Please contact [email protected].
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a typical schedule of completion
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Year One:
Summer:IMSD 601: Spiritual Direction I: Art of Accompaniment 2 credits
Fall:
IMSD 600: Principles of Prayer and Catholic Spirituality 3 creditsSpring:
IMSD 660: Moral Theology for Spiritual Directors 2 credits
IMSD 700: Psychology for Spiritual Directors 2 credits
IMSD 696: Directed Retreat 0 creditsTotal: 9 Credits
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Year Two:
Summer:
IMSD 602: Spiritual Direction II: Directing Prayer 2 creditsFall:
IMSD 630: Praying Sacred Scripture 3 credits
IMSD 697: Practicum I 1 creditSpring:
IMSD 650: Sacramental Theology and Ecclesiology for Spiritual Directors 2 credits
IMSD 698: Practicum II 1 credit
IMSD 699: Readiness for Ministry Exam 0 creditsTotal: 9 Credits
Total Program: 18 Credits
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Questions?
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The job of a spiritual director is not to command or pressure you into a vocation. Rather, a good spiritual director will guide, advise, teach and encourage you on your path to sanctity. The relationship you have with your spiritual director is within the internal forum, meaning that it is extremely confidential. A man can pour out his heart and soul to his spiritual director, confident that whatever he says will not be repeated to others. During regularly scheduled meetings, you will be free to discuss not only your vocation but also your strengths and weaknesses, vices and virtues. You will discuss the health of your relationships with family and friends and how to improve them. In addition, your prayer life and love for Jesus are essential areas that must be addressed. Overall, growing in self-knowledge under the guidance of a spiritual director, one becomes freer to discern the life to which the Lord is calling him. Be cautious. Don’t think that spiritual direction will not benefit you. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux understood the necessity of a spiritual guide when he said, “He who is his own master is a disciple of a fool!” In discerning a vocation, the help of a good spiritual director will be indispensable.
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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.
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Are you ready to start your journey with the IMF?
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Delivery Method For The PrograMThe primary means of delivery for coursework will be via online instruction, though, depending on the specific Certificate being sought or the combination of certificates being stacked, there might also be occasional in-person workshops or immersive experiences.
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