Jesuit Collaborative

Fairfield University and The Jesuit Collaborative
A Certificate Program in Directing
the Spiritual Exercises
July 2012 - July 2013
General Information and Guidelines for Participation 

An overview of the program:

The aim of this offering is to form people not only to direct The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola but to help form others once the participants have completed the program.  Toward this aim, the program will be an intensive offering, offered over two summers with some work in the intervening fall, winter, and spring.  It will include the following dimensions: 

• A close study of the The Spiritual Exercises;
• An understanding of the historical, theological and biblical elements which underpin the dynamics of the Exercises;
• Intensive work on the practical dimensions of directing a retreat, including attention to interpersonal dynamics, listening skills, developing a facility with the art of discernment, increasing familiarity with the role of supervision in ministry;
• Group work;
• Personal reflection and discernment of one’s call to this ministry;
• Reflection on experience directing under supervision during the period between the two summers, with this being done in one’s own home area.

Program Outline:

• Covering an initial reading list before the first summer module;
• A four-week intensive program, July 2 – July 28, 2012, with each week beginning Monday morning at 9:00AM and ending Friday at 5:00PM (except for Thursday on the 28^th—ending at NOON); arrival will be on Sunday, July 1^st in the afternoon
• A distance education supervised ministry program between September, 2012 and May, 2013, with a weekend visit to the Fairfield campus (or nearby retreat house) in the early spring of 2013 – this phase will also include regular contact by phone or in-person meetings with a member of the program staff;
• A three-week intensive program, July 1 – 18, 2013, with an emphasis on the dynamics of direction and reflection on one’s own call to ministry.

Other details:

• Housing is provided in student apartments or townhouses on campus.  These units have kitchen facilities.  Linens provided.  Meals are on your own.
• Estimated cost for the entire program is $7,500 payable in installments between June 2012 and July 2013.  An exact amount will be arrived at when the cost analysis is completed.
• Faculty include:
  • Brian McDermott, SJ—In depth study of the Exercises 
  • Richard Clifford, SJ, Janice Farnham, RSM, Nancy Dallavalle, PhD, Paul Lakeland, PhD—  Biblical, Historical & Theological elements
  • Kay Hannigan, PVBM, Ellen Keane, SND, Donna Fannon, MHSH—Practicum
    
    Contact Donna Fannon, MHSH sisterdonna.fannon@gmail.com to request an application