Guided by the Heart:
Formation for the Ministry of Spiritual Accompaniment
Do you feel called to accompany others on their journey of faith and spiritual growth? Guided by the Heart is designed for those who wish to deepen their understanding of spiritual direction and cultivate the skills needed to accompany others in discerning the movements of God in their lives.
Our program offers:
- Comprehensive Theological Education: Grounded in rich theological and spiritual traditions, with a focus on personal formation and spiritual practice.
- Hands-On Practicum: Gain practical experience in spiritual direction through supervised sessions with seasoned directors.
- Holistic Formation: We offer courses that address the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of being a spiritual director.
Who Should Apply?
This program is ideal for individuals seeking to become spiritual directors, pastoral caregivers, or anyone looking to deepen their relationship with God and others through the art of listening and discernment.
Whether you are a lay leader, religious, or clergy member, Guided by the Heart will equip you with the tools and wisdom to walk alongside others on their spiritual journey.
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More detailed information and application below:
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This three-year program is designed to prepare individuals to serve as spiritual directors within a Christian context. The first year emphasizes spiritual formation, offering a level of education that goes beyond standard adult faith formation but remains distinct from graduate-level studies. Applicants with substantial prior spiritual formation may be eligible to begin directly in Year Two, which is practicum-based, providing hands-on experience in spiritual direction. The third and final year focuses on continuing education and active engagement with the local community of spiritual directors, fostering both ongoing formation and community building.
In Year One, you will:
- Deepen your sense of who you are, and how God created you unique in your own spiritual gifts
- Articulate your own expression of your own belovedness and your response to God’s love in loving service to others
- Integrate diverse spiritual traditions into your prayer life
- Explore theological concepts related to spiritual direction
- Deepen your sense of Christian discernment and how to use it in your life
- Develop a basic understanding of Scripture and its foundations for Christian Spirituality
- Develop practical skills for ministry
- Engage in Theological Reflection to integrate belief with self spiritual understanding.
At the end of Year One, students will engage in a discernment process with the instructional team to determine readiness to continue into the second year.
In Year Two, you will build upon the foundation in a practicum to:
- Apply ministry skills within direction context
- Utilize the tool of group supervision for growth in self-awareness
- Develop skills for spiritual direction in various contexts
- Build upon theological foundations to integrate your spiritual direction practice with the Church’s mission of justice, mercy, and community building
- Navigate ethical issues with competence
18 two-hour gatherings
In the third year, you will meet one-on-one with a supervisor for at least six sessions in order to:
- Enter into the local community of spiritual directors and join with other professionals
- Develop individual plan for continuing education & supervision
- Grow in confidence and competence in offering direction in various contexts
Tuition is structured on a yearly basis and due before classes begin. Financial assistance may be available - please contact erinbishop@sandiego.edu to discuss options.
- Year One: $1,500
- Year Two: $1,750
- Year Three: $500
Directors:
- Erin Bishop, MDiv, Director of Center for Christian Spirituality
- Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ, PhD, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Franciscan School of Theology
Advisory Board:
- John Gillman, PhD, is a chaplain and dually certified supervisor of Clinical Pastoral Education at VITAS Innovative Hospice Care in San Diego and lecturer in Religious Studies at San Diego State University
- Elisabeth Koenig, PhD, Professor Emerita of Ascetical Theology at the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church in New York City
- Peter Bennett, MA, Distinguished Teaching Professor, USD Department of Theology and Religious Studies
For questions or assistance, please contact ccs@sandiego.edu or (619) 260-7936.