Spiritual Direction Certificate Program:

Listening with the Spirit (LWS) – a two year Online Spiritual Direction training program

Application & Interview 

A non-refundable $100 application/interview fee is submitted with your application materials and spiritual autobiography before the interview. The application materials and spiritual autobiography will be the substance of the interview. This fee is different from your deposit-upon-acceptance fee.

Program Fees

Full tuition fees are set on a yearly basis: $2,400 for year 1 and $2,500 for year 2 (which includes 2 individual supervisions). Full payment, half-year payments, or monthly payments are accepted according to a contract.

Interviews will begin in January 2025. We will arrange online (Zoom) interviews. The interview is about an hour in length. We will let you know of your acceptance no later than the end of May.

What time commitment does Listening with the Spirit involve?
Year One
Class meets Wednesday morning from 9 AM-Noon for 24 sessions from October 1, 2025 through April 29, 2026. See Schedule. In Year 1 each session will involve reading some articles and reflection handouts on the topic. Internet access will be important for Zoom online meetings and to receive materials that you will need for each session. You may request or you will be asked to have a discernment interview for your “Call to Year 2” to determine whether you will continue after Year 1 at the end of April. Weekly readings and reflections take about 4-5 hours in addition to class hours.

Year Two
Class meets Wednesday morning from 9 am-noon for 24 sessions from end of September or beginning of October (to be determined) through the end of April 2027. The sessions will be on practical questions of being a Spiritual Director with an internship that requires peer group supervision of written verbatims and contemplative reflections. Online readings and reflection questions will be suggested according to the flow of the material presented. On-going discernment for the ministry of being a Spiritual Director continues. Weekly readings and reflections are fewer than Year 1 since most of the out-of-class hours are spent with the internship.

Outside of class, you will meet with 2 or 3 directees beginning in October. In response, you will write 5 supervision assessments from October through March for peer group supervision. You will be responsible for 2 sessions of individual supervision with staff.

TO SEE LIVE INFORMATION LINKS, copy and paste https://stplacid.org/programs/2718/spiritual-direction-certificate-program-application/

APPLICATION INTERVIEW 2025-27 (PDF)

APPLICATION & INTERVIEW 2025-27  (DOC)

OVERVIEW OF LWS 2025-27 (PDF)

SCHEDULE FOR LWS 2025-26 YEAR 1:

Primary Learning Topics

10/01/25  1. Defining Spiritual Direction; Expectations & overview of formation Yr 1 & 2
10/08/25 2. Faith Sharing/Participant stories of call to be a Spiritual Director
10/15/25  3. Faith Sharing/Participants stories of call to be a Spiritual Director
10/22/25 4. Spirituality of Spiritual Director/Directee; Using Richard Fosters 6 Streams
10/29/25 5. Prayer Overview as it relates to Spiritual Direction
11/05/25 6. Praying with Scripture/Holy Writings as they relate to a spiritual direction session
11/12/25  7. Compassionate, Contemplative Listening in Spiritual Direction
11/19/25 8. Relationship to God and Images of God in prayer
11/26/25 No class (Thanksgiving Nov. 27)
12/03/25 9. Enneagram Dynamics in Spiritual Direction—Lauri Powers (guest)
12/10/25 10. Discernment about Staying with the Movements of God
12/17/25, 12/24/25, 12/31/25 Break
01/07/26 11. Discernment about Resistance to the Movements of GodDirector
01/14/26 12. Wisdom of the Body and Feelings
01/21/28 13. Intimacy, Sexuality, Passion, Love, Gender Issues
01/28/26 14. Communication and using Evocative Questions with the Directee
02/04/26 15. Creativity in Spiritual Direction—S Monika
02/11/26 16. Unconscious, Active Imagination & Understanding of Dreams with Directee
02/18/26 No class on Ash Wednesday
02/25/26 17. Defining Group Spiritual Direction
03/04/26 18. Stages of Faith
03/11/26 19. Loss, Grief, Forgiveness
03/18/26 20. Aging, Dying, and Mental Illness
03/25/26 21. How to help the Directee in Transition; how to help the Director find Directees
04/01/26 No class – Holy Week
04/08/26 22. Creating Hospitality of the Heart by the Director with the Directee
04/15/26 23. Gaining Trust with Directee through Director’s Presence & Attitude of Gratitude and Appreciation
04/22/26 24. Internship Preparation
04/29/26 In-Person Party at St. Placid/Priory Spirituality Center
Vocational Discernment about Call to go to Yr 2—personal discernment (no class)

PAYMENT PLANS:

$2,400 (1 time Oct. 1, 2025) Or $1200 (2 times Oct. 1, 2025/Jan. 7, 2026)
Or $600 (4 times Oct. 1, 2025/Nov. 12, 2025; /Jan. 7, 2026; Mar. 4, 2026) or contact Center Coordinator for a monthly plan.