Program Overview

Participants in this program will be able to grasp a deeper sense of the process of spiritual transformation and therefore be able to assist others in deepening their relationship with Christ.

Participant Experience

As an active participant, you’ll:

  • Encounter Christ and grow in intimacy with Him.
  • Develop a spiritual rhythm of walking with God, and join a growing community of believers who will encourage you to mature in Christ.
  • Receive tools to honestly measure yourself by God’s truth.
  • Identify sinful patterns  and blind spots that inhibit your relationship with Christ.
  • Cultivate spiritual practices as a vital element of the Christian life. 
  • Discern God’s working in your life by meeting with a spiritual director as well as participate in a spiritual direction group
  • Learn how to bring God’s love to the oppressed and those in need.
  • Find greater clarity in God’s purpose for your life 
  • Find rest, solitude and silence in beautiful surroundings.

Spiritual Director Certification

Choose to become certified as a spiritual director after completing the two year program. Join others in a one year program you will:

Meet with a small group of peers for supervision and training.

Read biblically informed books about spiritual growth.
Provide spiritual direction in your practicum.
Meet personally with a supervisor to discuss practicum cases.

Learn how to listen to others with humility and discernment.

Retreats

At the retreats, you’ll join with the 25 other members of your cohort at the retreat center, where room and board are provided. You’ll talk about the coursework you’ve done between retreats, and hear lectures from experts.

The current cohort is located at the Carmelite Retreat Center, Darien, Illinois which started on October 2023:

  1. October 27-29, 2023
  2. January 12-14, 2024
  3. March 22-24, 2024
  4. June 7-9, 2024
  5. August 16-18, 2024
  6. November 1-3, 2024
  7. January 3-5, 2025
  8. March 14-16, 2025
The 2024-2026 cohort dates are listed below:
  1. August 9-11, 2024
  2. October 25-27, 2024
  3. January 10-12, 2025
  4. March 28-30, 2025
  5. June 6-8, 2025
  6. August 15-17, 2025
  7. October 31-November 2, 2025
  8. January 16-18, 2026