This is an in-depth and intensive training course offered in modular format over the course of 32 teaching days spread over 8 four-day modules in two years. There are also 12 Assignments in the first two years and a required 50 supervised hours of giving Spiritual Direction to be completed by the end of the third year. It is currently being offered in 2018/2019/2020. Applications opened on 1 July 2017 and closed on the 15 September 2017. We have 45 participants (from three countries, and coming from six of the nine South African provinces) , and are unable to accept any late applications at this stage. Our next course will commence in 2021. Applications for the next course will open on 1 July 2020 and close on the 15 September 2020. The dates for the current course are:
- 25 January – 28 January 2018
- 12 April – 15 April 2018
- 16 August – 19 August 2018
- 15 November – 18 November 2018
- 07 February – 10 February 2019
- 16 May – 19 May 2019
- 15 August- 18 August 2019
- 31 October – 03 November 2019
To be eligible to apply you must have:
- Completed Hearts on Fire (or an equivalent)
- Successfully completed the Prayer Guide Training and Ngihamba NeNkosi or ideally both
- Been in your own spiritual direction process for at least 2 years
- Have guided on at least 3 Weeks of Guided Prayer or Tsoseletsas.
- It is helpful to have made at least one eight-day directed retreat
- Please note that a selection process applies as we generally have many more applicants than places.
Topics covered include:
- An in-depth understanding of Ignatian Spirituality
- The Use of Scripture in Spiritual Direction
- The History of Christian Spirituality
- An in-depth study of Ignatian Spirituality
- Discernment
- An in-depth study of the Discernment of Spirits
- Multi-cultural approaches to Spiritual Direction
- The Distinguishing between spiritual accompaniment and psychological counselling
- Psychological Issues relevant to spiritual accompaniment (including transference, counter-transference and resistance)
- Helping People to Pray
- Working with image of God
- Effects of Social Media on the Spiritual Life
- “Wondering” questions
- Listening Skills for Spiritual Directors
- Ethics and contracting for Spiritual direction
- Supervision of Spiritual Directors
- Many other topics.
Please note: For a full outline of the syllabus or more in-depth information on this course contact Margaret Backwell on m.backwell@jesuitinstitute.org.za