Program Overview

Two-Year Spiritual Direction Certificate Program

The Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality of Fairfield University offers a two-year certificate spiritual direction formation program in the Ignatian tradition. This program is designed for adults with a theological and ministerial background who feel called to serve in this ministry.

Program Overview

The program is designed for individuals whose schedules do not permit attendance at daytime or evening classes or extended periods of residency. After an annual one-week residency, the remainder of each of the two years is spent in distance learning from home, in addition to eight Saturday meetings.

Program Requirements

• One residential week each year in January at Mercy Center in Madison, Conn.
• Eight Saturdays each year: February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December
• Monthly personal spiritual direction
• Regular individual supervision, with students responsible for paying for 12 supervision sessions with an independent supervisor
• Two in-depth self-evaluations per year
• Quarterly meetings with a faculty mentor
• Assigned readings and reflection papers throughout each year

Program Content

The program content includes:

• Coursework: Aspects of Ignatian Spirituality, with authors such as G. Aschenbrenner, W. and N. Au, W. Barry, W. Connelly, J. English, T. Gallagher, R. Haight, J. O'Malley, J. Melloni, J. Ruffing, M. Silf, J. Tetlow, M. Thibodeaux, J. Veale
• Special Topics: Discernment, Developmental Spirituality, Schools of Spirituality, Sexuality and Spirituality, Critical Psychological Issues, Enneagram, Dreams
• Practicum: Case Studies, Verbatim, Peer Supervision, Role Play, Individual Direction/Supervision

Eligibility

Candidates should:

• Be a minimum of 30 years of age
• Have an appropriate background in theology and ministry
• Have received regular spiritual direction over a significant period of time
• Be an active member of a faith community

Participants

• The program is open to 15 participants
• Participants must be in their own direction and supervision
• During their formation, each participant will have two or three directees whom they see once a month
• The growth of each participant, both as a director and directee, will be monitored by their faculty mentor

Expenses

• Tuition of $3,500 covers the two-year certificate program, including eight Saturday seminars each year and quarterly phone meetings with faculty mentors
• Additional costs include:
  • Room and board for the week-long intensives each January at the Mercy Center in Madison, Conn. ($750 each year)
  • Spiritual direction fees
• Financial aid is available to those with a legitimate need

Faculty

• Rev. Denis Donoghue, S.J., is the director of the Spiritual Director Training at the Murphy Center
• Ms. Marcy Haley is the Associate Director of Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality and a trained Spiritual Director and retreat leader