Franciscan Renewal Center

OVERVIEW

This two-year ecumenical program is designed to provide training, resources, and support for individuals called to do spiritual direction.  Development of spiritual gifts within a community of believers is the primary objective of the program.

This program emphasizes the process of developing a greater sense of spiritual discernment and presence through the practice and understanding of contemplative traditions and disciplines.  The substance of the program includes individual participation in the following:

• Spiritual Direction
• Sixteen monthly integrative seminars
• Four retreats
• Personal prayer and study
• Supervised practicum under the guidance and advisement of trained Spiritual Directors

The Arizona Ecumenical Institute for Spiritual Directors (AEISD) is blessed with an academically and spiritually diverse faculty.  Faculty members include leaders from various faith traditions, clergy, religious, professional psychologists and counselors, and educators in religious studies and spirituality.  The director, in collaboration with a Board of Directors, facilitates various administrative, advisement, admission and organizational parts of the program.

CURRICULUM

Year One:

September - Gathering Retreat

October - Intro to Spiritual Direction

November - Prayer & Spiritual Direction

December - Ethics & Professional Boundaries

January - Discernment in Spiritual Direction

February - Scripture & Spiritual Growth

March - Culture & Religious Diversity in Spiritual Direction

April - Human Relationships & Spiritual Direction

May - Spiritual Direction Skills Closing Retreat

Year Two:

September - Opening Retreat

October - Supervision & Spiritual Direction

November - Psychological Dimensions

December - SD Tools & Life's Challenges

Christian Traditions of Spirituality - Three Parts:

January - I. Christian Mysticism

February -  II. The Franciscan Tradition

March - III. Protestant Spirituality

April - Spirituality in Action

May - Drawing It All Together Closing Retreat

QUALIFICATIONS

This program is open to individuals who feel called to the ministry of spiritual direction.  Candidates may include lay people, clergy, vowed religious and professionals representing diverse vocational backgrounds and faith traditions.  Spiritual and academic expectations for qualified candidates include:

• Openness to receiving personal spiritual direction
• Involvement in a Christian faith community
• Participation in faith sharing with others
• A desire for deeper faith and an intimate relationship with the Divine
• Committed and disciplined prayer life
• Foundational understanding of Psychology and Christian Spirituality

Pre-requisite courses needed for successful completion of certificate requirements include:

• Introduction to Christian Spirituality
• Christology
• Introduction to Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament)
• Introduction to Christian Scriptures (New Testament)
• Psychological Dimensions of Spirituality (Human Growth and Faith Development)

AEISD offers all of the pre-requisite courses.

ADMISSION PROCEDURE

AEISD will process admission of candidates into the program on the basis of a formal application, an oral interview, review of references and student transcripts.  Successful applicants will receive a formal letter of acceptance.

Fees:

Application Fee: $35.00

Interview Fee: $150.00

Annual Tuition: $1700.00

Additional costs include required texts, retreat fees and personal liability insurance.  Limited scholarships are available.

For more information or to request an application, please contact:

Sr. Marilyn Bever, CSA, Director

480-948-0707, ext. 125

or: Send an email

Web: www.aeisd.org