The Bon Secours Spiritual Direction Institute offers a nationally-recognized training program in the art and skill of spiritual direction. Participants gather three sessions, each time for an intensive week.
Session 3 for Cohort 6 of the Spiritual Direction Institute will focus on dealing with particular populations, such as victims of abuse and LGBTQ+ persons. A session on setting up a spiritual direction practice will be included. Each student will present two case studies of spiritual direction from their practicum in the previous months.
REQUIRED PREREQUISITE:
Completion of the previous two week-long sessions (April 2024 and October 2024) or permission of the instructor.
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
– To explore the breadth, depth, and language of spiritual life in order to understand the context of spiritual direction ministry.
– To examine and understand the core principles of effective spiritual direction, noting the implications for both the director and the directee.
– To enhance and practice the basic interpersonal skills necessary for the exercise of this ministry, such as maintaining appropriate boundaries, dealing with transference and counter-transference, etc.
– To explore a range of issues that may surface among those seeking spiritual direction: loss, grief, spiritual darkness, alienation from the church, and abuse.
A certificate of completion will be awarded upon completion of the entire program, which includes three week-long sessions and the required course work.
Check-in begins at 4pm. A gathering will be held at 7pm after dinner.
To register for the VIRTUAL OPTION for this program, please click here.
For a Commuter Option, please email Doris.Gallagher@BonSecoursRCC.org.
Program Directors are Kathy Brown and Sr. Bernie Claps.
Sessions are facilitated by Kathy Brown and others.
Kathleen Hope Brown, D.Min. is Director of Pastoral Care Services at the Saint Luke Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland. Her doctorate in Adult Spiritual Formation is from Catholic University. She lectures on spiritual direction in programs throughout the country.
Sr. Bernadette Claps is a Sister of Bon Secours and provides spiritual direction and spiritual companionship at the Bon Secours Retreat & Conference Center. She holds graduate certificates in Spiritual Direction, Spirituality, and Aging. She has done graduate studies in theology and received a Master of Social Work from New York University.