SPIRITUAL DIRECTION AND SPIRITUALITY
"Spiritual Direction is, in reality, nothing more than a way of leading us to see and obey the real Director--the Holy Spirit hidden in the depths of our soul." 
     Thomas Merton, Trappist Monk

Spiritual Direction and Spirituality  The certificate program in Spiritual Direction is a formation process designed to support the participant's ongoing personal relationship with God.  Among the goals of the certificate program is the cultivation of a contemplative and reflective way of living and the discernment of God's call and challenges of the ministry of Spiritual Direction.

The Certificate in Spiritual Direction  This is a four-year formation program that includes an annual residential intensive week. During the remainder of the year, candidates are guided by readings, quarterly reflection papers, written self-evaluations, personal spiritual direction and supervision of their work with directees. The program is structured around a four-year cycle of themes:

This residential program is available to laity, religious, and clergy and consists of:

Faculty for Marywood Retreat Center, February, 2008:                                    
                                                      
Maria M. Decsy, Ph.D.   earned a Master of Arts degree in Spirituality and Pastoral Ministry from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Hartford Archdiocesan Spiritual Life Center and a Doctorate in Biochemistry from New York University.

Carol Ludwig, MA   Carol Ludwig is the Director of the Center for Spiritual Care in Vero Beach, FL; she is also a member of the executive board of Spiritual Directors International.  

Sr. Patricia Cook

Rev. James M. Bowler

Mary Lou Mlecko

Program Requirements
To apply for a Certificate in Spiritual Direction for the four-year program, you must complete the application process.  You are expected to be under the guidance of a Spiritual Director.  Applicants need to fill out the application form, submit references, and complete the screening process.  In addition to the annual intensive residential week, the program involves an annual retreat, participation in monthly theological reflection, ongoing discernment, reading, and spiritual direction.  Each participant is expected to guide others in spiritual direction. This is done under supervision, and requires completing verbatim and participating in peer supervision.  A Certificate in Spirituality may be an option for those who, after discernment, choose not to become a Spiritual Director

FOR MORE PROGRAM INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Center for Spirituality and Ministry
Sacred Heart University
5151 Park Avenue
Fairfield, CT 06825-1000 USA
(203) 371-7843 FAX (203) 396-8467
email: CSM@sacredheart.edu
Click here for the Center for Spirituality and Ministry website

** Important Notice: The Center for Spirituality and Ministry that leads to a Certificate in Spiritual Direction is based at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield CT. As part of the program, participants must complete an annual intensive week-long education session. One of these sessions is conducted at the Marywood Retreat Center in Jacksonville, Florida, each year in February. Arrangements for room and board for that session are made and paid separately to the Marywood Retreat Center.

Click here to register online for accomodations at Marywood.