WEBVTT 00:00:00.240 --> 00:00:01.780 Why don't we get started? 00:00:01.840 --> 00:00:04.480 And as people come in, love to hear. 00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:06.180 Oh, Vince from Delaware. 00:00:06.240 --> 00:00:06.960 Good, Vince. 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:08.000 Good to see you. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:11.860 I know we spoke a a couple like, probably last week, I think it was. 00:00:13.365 --> 00:00:13.605 Good. 00:00:13.605 --> 00:00:14.985 Good to see you all. 00:00:15.125 --> 00:00:16.505 Good to have you here. 00:00:16.805 --> 00:00:20.905 So I try to make these webinars informative to all of you. 00:00:21.125 --> 00:00:29.410 So I do give you the opportunity to ask questions, and you'll see there's a q and a box where you can put your questions. 00:00:30.030 --> 00:00:37.470 So please do that, and I will, try to answer them after I've got some done. 00:00:37.470 --> 00:00:44.755 I just try to give you a sense of the program, the context of the program just to kinda start off. 00:00:45.375 --> 00:00:49.395 But then we can go into questions pretty soon after that. 00:00:50.095 --> 00:00:52.815 Just to introduce myself, my name is Maria Brackett. 00:00:52.815 --> 00:00:55.990 I'm the director of the certificate here at the university. 00:00:56.210 --> 00:00:58.470 I'm a spiritual director myself too. 00:00:58.770 --> 00:01:08.365 I've been doing this, this ministry for about I think it's about sixteen, seventeen years now, and, something I really enjoy. 00:01:08.365 --> 00:01:11.265 It's a real privilege and and a joy. 00:01:11.325 --> 00:01:20.145 It's always, it's always a gift for me to talk to, you know, and have these one on one sessions with my directees. 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.960 So let's get started here and just talk a little bit. 00:01:23.960 --> 00:01:34.380 I wanna talk first about what spiritual direction is, because I think that's important when you're looking for a spiritual direction program. 00:01:34.825 --> 00:01:40.125 I think it's important to kinda understand how we understand spiritual direction. 00:01:41.385 --> 00:01:44.185 There's a lot of different understandings out there. 00:01:44.185 --> 00:01:44.685 Right? 00:01:46.585 --> 00:01:51.940 Even though it's, Allison, good to see you. 00:01:51.940 --> 00:01:55.960 And Janine, good to see you too. 00:01:57.300 --> 00:02:01.060 Janine, you asked right off the bat, is this a full time program or part time? 00:02:01.060 --> 00:02:02.920 It's not even part time. 00:02:03.245 --> 00:02:04.865 It's three courses a year. 00:02:04.925 --> 00:02:10.365 I'll I have a little slide that I can show you kinda to explain that. 00:02:10.365 --> 00:02:13.025 Gary, good to have you from here from Illinois. 00:02:14.205 --> 00:02:15.325 So spiritual direction. 00:02:15.325 --> 00:02:16.625 What is spiritual direction? 00:02:16.845 --> 00:02:31.250 Well, there's, I think, there's a lot of different understandings of this according to the faith traditions and also just a core just within the last probably twenty years with coaching and all those different things coming up, there can just be a lot of different understandings. 00:02:31.835 --> 00:02:53.870 The way that we teach, about spiritual direction in our certificate well, first of all, Divine Mercy University is a graduate school, Catholic graduate school for psychologists and counselors, and it's in it went off into and developed this certificate really to try to help people in ministry with this one on one sitting with people and company them. 00:02:54.570 --> 00:02:57.230 We know that spiritual director and surgeon are not psychologists. 00:02:57.370 --> 00:02:59.150 You'll see that right on the slide. 00:02:59.435 --> 00:03:07.355 We know that that spiritual direction is not therapy, that it's real walking with the person as they walk with the lord. 00:03:07.355 --> 00:03:07.855 Right? 00:03:08.635 --> 00:03:10.255 Helping them in their pilgrimage. 00:03:11.035 --> 00:03:37.350 Strengthening them, making things clear for them through the conversation that you have, and maybe your own experience of your relationship with the board, sort of type of mentoring, but most of all, just accompanying them, walking with them, deep listening, assisting them on their path, being there for them, and service both to them and to the Lord. 00:03:37.830 --> 00:03:52.935 In deep listening, it's just very important for us in our program to the direct deed to help them deepen in their experience of the lord and his narrative in their lives so they could be strengthened and encouraged to continue this path of growing closer and closer to him. 00:03:53.735 --> 00:03:55.755 It also has some elements of formation. 00:03:56.135 --> 00:04:05.195 Just, as we're walking with the lord, he teaches us, and a spiritual director just tries to to help the director to see what's going on. 00:04:05.500 --> 00:04:21.945 It's not that a spiritual director has special glasses, but the job of a spiritual director is really to be a very good listener and have their heart kind of turned towards the directee, the ears of their heart turned towards the directee, but also the ears of their heart turn towards God. 00:04:22.485 --> 00:04:27.625 And, just help the directee to hear better, through these conversations. 00:04:28.245 --> 00:04:36.230 In the program, we as I said, a big emphasis is on deep listening, so you are taught skills of listening. 00:04:36.610 --> 00:04:42.230 And you're you you definitely go through exercises just to help you to be a better listener. 00:04:48.775 --> 00:04:49.095 Sorry. 00:04:49.095 --> 00:04:50.135 I thought that yeah. 00:04:50.135 --> 00:04:51.035 There we go. 00:04:53.415 --> 00:04:55.735 So that's what spiritual direction is. 00:04:55.735 --> 00:05:03.690 Now let me just skip here until so a little bit about the program just quickly so that you can have an understanding. 00:05:03.690 --> 00:05:05.390 It's six online courses. 00:05:05.850 --> 00:05:09.550 We call them asynchronous, which means not in real time. 00:05:10.650 --> 00:05:17.470 So you do enter the certificate in each course with a cohort, a group of people, a class. 00:05:18.465 --> 00:05:21.765 It's usually about, 16 to 18 people. 00:05:23.105 --> 00:05:32.165 Although in some of the, courses where we do more, work, small group work, the the cohorts might be a smaller size. 00:05:33.730 --> 00:05:36.290 And asynchronous means not real time. 00:05:36.290 --> 00:05:44.310 So, you go through the material that's online, the readings, the videos, all the different ways that we have to teach you online. 00:05:44.690 --> 00:05:46.610 You go it by week by week. 00:05:46.610 --> 00:05:48.710 Every course is eight weeks long. 00:05:49.365 --> 00:05:57.225 And you, and you do the homework in the times that you have. 00:05:57.445 --> 00:06:05.750 Of course, there are opportunities to get online with the instructor and your classmates, but none of those opportunities are obligatory. 00:06:06.050 --> 00:06:11.990 There's always another way to do those assignments, and they always record those meetings. 00:06:12.050 --> 00:06:14.710 So it just helps you to kind of have flexibility. 00:06:15.385 --> 00:06:22.745 Although, as you could imagine, most of the students love to get online, but sometimes it's just not possible. 00:06:22.745 --> 00:06:26.205 You know, we have our lives and other things that we need to do. 00:06:26.345 --> 00:06:28.925 So six online courses and two residencies. 00:06:29.145 --> 00:06:34.580 The residencies are an integral part, of the third course and the fifth course. 00:06:34.960 --> 00:06:36.580 They happen here in Virginia. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:41.140 They're from a Wednesday evening to a Sunday lunch. 00:06:42.080 --> 00:06:46.505 We're very close to the airport, to Dallas International Airport. 00:06:46.965 --> 00:06:53.785 Here, it's really not even more than ten minutes away, so it's very easy to get in and out, also major highways. 00:06:56.645 --> 00:07:00.425 And then another part of the program are sixty practicum hours. 00:07:01.020 --> 00:07:05.200 This is after you've done a considerable amount of the program, almost two thirds of it. 00:07:05.820 --> 00:07:08.300 You start in the fifth and the sixth course. 00:07:08.300 --> 00:07:26.505 You start seeing people in spiritual direction as a spiritual director in training, and, you need to log forty eight hours of seeing people in spiritual direction, then the rest of that those practical outcome hours are twelve hours of supervision that we give you in our program with our instructors. 00:07:27.680 --> 00:07:34.100 And that makes up the sixty hours that you're required to have in order to complete the program. 00:07:34.640 --> 00:07:36.580 All the courses are pass, fail. 00:07:37.920 --> 00:07:42.020 There aren't any exams, but there are evaluations as you go along. 00:07:43.885 --> 00:07:51.405 And you can, it's you can not pass two of the assignments and still pass the course. 00:07:51.405 --> 00:07:57.025 But if you don't pass more three or more, you have to take the course again. 00:07:57.260 --> 00:07:59.680 You can take a course up to two times. 00:08:00.140 --> 00:08:11.180 We don't usually let people repeat residencies because they're so time consuming, and they just you know, they're a significant cost per year and everything like that. 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:14.785 So we try to do the best and really give you feedback in those moments. 00:08:17.645 --> 00:08:19.265 These are the six courses. 00:08:20.205 --> 00:08:22.285 As I said, each course is eight weeks long. 00:08:22.285 --> 00:08:24.065 So so these are the six courses. 00:08:24.445 --> 00:08:28.170 In our website, we've got, the course descriptions. 00:08:28.790 --> 00:08:33.770 If you wanted that, you know, it's about a paragraph about each course, so it helps you. 00:08:33.830 --> 00:08:59.350 But as you can see, they pretty much go between, spiritual theology, which is really the spine of the program, which is how does a person grow in grace and their relationship with God, and then human development and those, you know, how how do how does a person develop, how do human relationships develop, and then those skills that you need for spiritual direction. 00:08:59.350 --> 00:09:02.810 So the 300 and the 500 really are around those skills. 00:09:03.270 --> 00:09:13.885 The 200 is the human development for spiritual direction, and then the 400, 500, and 600, and the 100 really has that theological content. 00:09:15.225 --> 00:09:18.525 But as you're going along, of course, you're integrating all this together. 00:09:18.585 --> 00:09:19.065 You know? 00:09:19.065 --> 00:09:33.680 I don't know if you all know much about the university, but it was started twenty five years ago by a group of Catholic psychologists and Christian psychologists and counselors that were looking to integrate faith and the human sciences. 00:09:34.540 --> 00:10:08.205 So the university is continually, being true to faith and true to science and weaving that the wisdom of the Christian the Catholic Christian tradition with the human sciences trying to be true to both and and trying to those theories of psychology that just don't match with the Christian understanding of the person really just to train their counselors and psychologists to understand the the difference and what what is going to help a person really to grow and the truth of who they are. 00:10:10.365 --> 00:10:15.105 So the spiritual direction course, of course, we're not training you to be counselors or psychologists. 00:10:15.165 --> 00:10:22.305 So it's not a heavily, psycho psychological, but it does teach you about the human person and human relationships. 00:10:22.525 --> 00:10:30.220 And, you know, and, like, that 200 course is always taught by a counselor or a psychologist. 00:10:33.160 --> 00:10:37.955 Just because we do you know, Saint Thomas Aquinas says, grace builds on nature. 00:10:38.175 --> 00:10:42.515 And so we've gotta understand that human nature that works with grace. 00:10:42.655 --> 00:10:42.895 Right? 00:10:42.895 --> 00:10:48.515 That's kind of like the, the matter, you know, that that works with grace. 00:10:49.370 --> 00:10:55.630 So that the, you know, the collaboration that we have with the Lord and his grace. 00:10:56.250 --> 00:10:56.750 Right? 00:10:59.610 --> 00:11:01.790 So these are just some pictures of the residencies. 00:11:02.010 --> 00:11:06.725 It It just talks about them, the how they're two four day residencies here in Sterling, Virginia. 00:11:07.265 --> 00:11:14.865 They're just a opportunity to put in practice the skills that you're learning and under the supervision of spiritual directors and therapists. 00:11:14.865 --> 00:11:20.910 So it's a lot of small group work, a lot of coaching, giving you feedback on how the skills are developing. 00:11:21.530 --> 00:11:40.035 Really great great opportunity for just some real in person learning, and that we always have a retreat on Saturday morning just to give you some quiet time to reflect and be with the Lord and, just get a better sense of where he is at work in your own life too. 00:11:41.375 --> 00:11:46.355 So, you know, we talked about them being eight courses and eight weeks. 00:11:46.415 --> 00:11:46.815 Right? 00:11:46.815 --> 00:11:49.290 Each course is eight weeks long. 00:11:49.830 --> 00:11:51.690 You take one course at a time. 00:11:52.070 --> 00:11:59.930 Typically, requires six to ten hours of, commitment in when you're in your courses studying them. 00:12:00.390 --> 00:12:07.785 And there's roughly a six to ten week break between each term, and you complete the certificate in two years. 00:12:07.845 --> 00:12:12.245 So let me just show you a little bit more of how that actually works, the terms. 00:12:12.245 --> 00:12:12.745 Right? 00:12:13.045 --> 00:12:16.840 This is a question that we get, so we created this this. 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:17.080 You know? 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:18.360 So when are we in class? 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:19.240 When are we not? 00:12:19.240 --> 00:12:19.740 Right? 00:12:19.800 --> 00:12:26.760 The next term that starts, you'll see, we have a term that starts on May and actually starts this year and on May 21. 00:12:26.760 --> 00:12:33.015 So the summer term and the fall term is really what I'm working with people right now to apply for. 00:12:34.435 --> 00:12:38.375 You know, the January term, we just finished it actually this week on Tuesday. 00:12:39.555 --> 00:12:42.510 So that's the one that's early January to early March. 00:12:42.990 --> 00:12:46.350 So there are three starts, we say, for the program. 00:12:46.350 --> 00:12:47.630 So you can start in January. 00:12:47.630 --> 00:12:48.910 You can start in late May. 00:12:48.910 --> 00:12:50.030 You can start in August. 00:12:50.030 --> 00:12:53.410 We're always offering all the courses, so you just move right along. 00:12:54.605 --> 00:12:59.885 But you see, these are when the courses are held, and then these are the breaks between terms. 00:12:59.885 --> 00:13:15.590 So from early March, like, the the students are on break as of yesterday, to to late May, They'll start classes again on May 21, then they've got another break from mid July to the end of August. 00:13:17.170 --> 00:13:19.990 Usually, classes start, like, the third week on August. 00:13:21.010 --> 00:13:27.515 And then the downtime in act is the middle of October to early January. 00:13:29.015 --> 00:13:43.190 So this just helps you to kind of do life, and, we just want kind of slow learning, not to be too slow, of course, but just to allow you to kinda grow into this ministry and discern and pray. 00:13:43.330 --> 00:13:49.250 And, the students use the you know, from the third class on, you kinda have homework from the courses. 00:13:49.250 --> 00:13:54.635 So that's really also what you do sometimes on your breaks going, you know, on a retreat. 00:13:54.635 --> 00:13:58.655 We ask you to do at least a five day spiritual exercise experience. 00:14:00.555 --> 00:14:06.200 You know, you could have done it at least two years before the program starts or you do it during the program. 00:14:06.500 --> 00:14:08.280 So sometimes students do that. 00:14:08.420 --> 00:14:10.660 And then you start seeing people in spiritual directions. 00:14:10.660 --> 00:14:13.160 So that that takes also time in your break. 00:14:13.780 --> 00:14:14.280 Okay? 00:14:14.340 --> 00:14:16.900 So let's see if there's anything else. 00:14:16.900 --> 00:14:18.645 I think let's go to questions. 00:14:18.645 --> 00:14:27.065 I'm gonna stop sharing because I can't see your questions when I'm sharing, and then we'll come back to the, presentation if we need it for one thing or another. 00:14:28.965 --> 00:14:29.465 Okay. 00:14:29.525 --> 00:14:33.360 So good to see you all here. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:33.680 Gosh. 00:14:33.680 --> 00:14:35.860 Now I'm seeing that there's a good amount of you. 00:14:36.160 --> 00:14:46.260 So, please, any questions that you might have, put them in the q and a box, so that I can pull them up. 00:14:48.395 --> 00:14:50.015 That would be a great help. 00:14:55.115 --> 00:14:57.135 Or just put them in the chat box. 00:15:12.865 --> 00:15:15.105 So, Gabriela, how long are the classes? 00:15:15.105 --> 00:15:16.465 And it is one per week. 00:15:16.465 --> 00:15:19.685 So, Gabriela, remember what I said about synchronous? 00:15:21.345 --> 00:15:28.590 Synchronous means that you asynchronous means that you're doing the classwork on itself on yourself. 00:15:28.970 --> 00:15:32.430 Sometimes the teachers do hold weekly meetings. 00:15:32.490 --> 00:15:32.990 Right? 00:15:33.850 --> 00:15:36.670 So if they do, it it would just be one per week. 00:15:36.985 --> 00:15:43.465 It's not obligatory, but it you'd you know, there is that. 00:15:43.465 --> 00:15:50.445 You can, there is that meeting that can be held that you could attend, or you could just listen to the recording. 00:15:53.670 --> 00:15:57.770 Janine, is it true a student needs one year spiritual direction prior to starting? 00:15:58.150 --> 00:15:58.550 No. 00:15:58.550 --> 00:15:59.350 It's not true. 00:15:59.350 --> 00:16:15.595 That used to be how the program was, but from our experience of running the program for three years, we realized that sometimes people have been in spiritual direction and need to get back into it, or they've had a lot of other different types of accompaniment, but not necessarily spiritual direction. 00:16:15.595 --> 00:16:18.120 So what we've done is we've changed the requirement. 00:16:18.280 --> 00:16:24.540 You can get in the program without having a spiritual director, but you do have to have one by the end of the first course. 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:28.600 I hope that's answered that. 00:16:28.600 --> 00:16:28.840 Okay. 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:30.465 Let me go to the q and a. 00:16:31.345 --> 00:16:32.165 Oh, yes. 00:16:32.225 --> 00:16:34.065 What is the tuition for the program? 00:16:34.065 --> 00:16:34.545 Okay. 00:16:34.545 --> 00:16:35.585 Cost payment plans. 00:16:35.585 --> 00:16:35.905 Okay. 00:16:35.905 --> 00:16:38.965 Let's go to that slide then since you're asking me about that. 00:16:47.310 --> 00:16:49.090 Can I share my screen again? 00:16:54.030 --> 00:16:54.530 Okay. 00:16:54.590 --> 00:16:55.550 So here we are. 00:16:55.550 --> 00:16:56.670 That's what we're there. 00:16:56.670 --> 00:16:58.290 So let's go to the cost. 00:16:59.095 --> 00:17:01.415 So these are this is the cost of the program. 00:17:01.415 --> 00:17:03.435 It's $800 per course. 00:17:04.535 --> 00:17:06.295 First of all, let me just say about the cost. 00:17:06.295 --> 00:17:07.815 It's a pay as you go program. 00:17:07.815 --> 00:17:12.875 So as you register for each course, and residency, you pay for them. 00:17:12.900 --> 00:17:16.600 So you don't have to do the tuition all upfront or anything like that. 00:17:16.740 --> 00:17:21.400 And so you're doing three courses a year and one residency a year. 00:17:21.700 --> 00:17:22.100 Right? 00:17:22.100 --> 00:17:24.440 So that's what you would need to be paying. 00:17:25.780 --> 00:17:32.605 The total total cost is 700 $7,500 when you put this all together. 00:17:35.465 --> 00:17:39.805 But the breakdown is $800 per course and thirteen fifty per residency. 00:17:40.670 --> 00:17:48.130 This price always gets reviewed each year according to cost of living, right, and things that are happening. 00:17:48.590 --> 00:17:52.690 So we are reviewing it, and the cost will go up in August. 00:17:55.605 --> 00:18:05.385 We try not to make it a significantly huge amount, and we really you know, we're a nonprofit, so we just try to bring in as much money as we need to run the program. 00:18:08.790 --> 00:18:10.410 So that's how that works. 00:18:11.190 --> 00:18:14.490 Gonna stop sharing so I can continue answering your questions. 00:18:27.285 --> 00:18:30.645 Vincent, I go in a Franciscan retreat every year for a week. 00:18:30.645 --> 00:18:31.605 It's life in the spirit. 00:18:31.605 --> 00:18:32.825 Do I need another retreat? 00:18:32.965 --> 00:18:42.280 Vincent, we do ask you to do the Ignatian spiritual exercises just because that's such a tradition within the Catholic church and even in Christian traditions. 00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:42.920 Right? 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:53.595 And so it is really important for us, we think, that you do have that experience because it helps you to understand a lot of dynamics of the spiritual life. 00:18:54.555 --> 00:18:56.975 So it is Ignition Spiritual Exercises. 00:19:01.355 --> 00:19:05.355 Maria Munoz, you're saying that you're a new twin mom. 00:19:05.355 --> 00:19:06.815 Congratulations, Maria. 00:19:07.195 --> 00:19:07.695 Wow. 00:19:09.730 --> 00:19:12.550 That's a lot, and we're gonna pray for you. 00:19:13.410 --> 00:19:14.930 But please keep in touch with me. 00:19:14.930 --> 00:19:19.810 I know that it can be a lot right now, but, at some point in time, I would love you. 00:19:19.810 --> 00:19:21.250 You sound like a beautiful person. 00:19:21.250 --> 00:19:23.030 I'd love you to look into the program. 00:19:24.595 --> 00:19:29.815 Is there, someone asked you me if there's any prerequisite to join. 00:19:30.515 --> 00:19:31.735 Not really. 00:19:33.795 --> 00:19:51.500 I mean, to be accepted to the program, you do have to do an application, and we ask you to get a letter of recommendation from your, parish priest or your faith the leader of your community if you come from, like, a you know, your pastor. 00:19:51.640 --> 00:19:52.140 Right? 00:19:54.315 --> 00:19:56.495 So there is that. 00:19:57.915 --> 00:20:01.535 And there's there's a couple essay questions that are part of the application. 00:20:02.075 --> 00:20:03.215 That's what's needed. 00:20:04.410 --> 00:20:07.230 Helena, why is this not a graduate degree program? 00:20:07.450 --> 00:20:21.425 Well, Helena, we wanted to create a program that could be open to a lot of different people that have various backgrounds and maybe have been involved in ministry or catechetics or or different you know, have more learned in a lot of different ways. 00:20:21.645 --> 00:20:27.745 So we didn't wanna to prohibit people like that from joining, being able to study the program. 00:20:28.125 --> 00:20:35.200 So that's why we didn't you don't need any type of degree to, take this program. 00:20:40.540 --> 00:20:44.460 So this is a question about Helena, I hope that answered that. 00:20:44.460 --> 00:20:46.880 If you if I didn't, please let me know. 00:20:51.585 --> 00:20:53.905 A list of books we read during the course. 00:20:53.905 --> 00:20:58.885 So there's so many different things that we read during the course. 00:20:59.185 --> 00:21:00.485 Everything is online. 00:21:00.950 --> 00:21:04.970 There are a couple books that we re read in its in their entirety. 00:21:05.030 --> 00:21:10.010 Like, at the discernment course, you read, he leadeth me, that book by father Chiswick. 00:21:11.670 --> 00:21:17.045 And you also re read, Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin. 00:21:17.985 --> 00:21:22.005 You read a good amount of Jordan Almond's, spiritual theology. 00:21:23.265 --> 00:21:32.300 You read father Boniface and Hicks and father Ackland's book on spiritual direction, sharing the father's love. 00:21:33.320 --> 00:21:45.675 And so those are the books that we say to you, please buy, but everything else is on the is on Canvas, the learning management system. 00:21:46.055 --> 00:21:47.895 There are chapters of books and things like that. 00:21:47.895 --> 00:21:59.520 Mesa basically, it's, a lot of just, like, great, writers from the tradition of spiritual direction direction within the Catholic world and things like that. 00:21:59.520 --> 00:22:05.300 But we've kind of gone through sources and collected them and put them up there, for you. 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.500 Hope that helps. 00:22:09.995 --> 00:22:12.155 Hermes, is the residency in person? 00:22:12.155 --> 00:22:12.475 Yes. 00:22:12.475 --> 00:22:12.955 It is. 00:22:12.955 --> 00:22:14.895 It's here in Virginia. 00:22:15.995 --> 00:22:19.695 It's, it's in person training that we do here. 00:22:22.190 --> 00:22:34.430 You know, just it just gives us an opportunity to have you all here to do all this together and just to get a sense of, who you are and how this is fitting with you. 00:22:34.430 --> 00:22:41.035 And it just gives, you know, a a good sense to, just get to know you and for you to get to know us. 00:22:44.055 --> 00:22:47.195 Does the program offer access to possible spiritual directors? 00:22:47.495 --> 00:22:56.040 Well, you can already have access to possible spiritual directors through us on the DMU website, which I can pull up here so that you all can see it. 00:22:56.040 --> 00:23:01.580 I'd love to do that because then I can actually show you where the program that information of the program is. 00:23:03.895 --> 00:23:09.995 I'll also show you where there's a whole, list of graduates of the spiritual direction program. 00:23:11.255 --> 00:23:14.315 So just one other question before I do that. 00:23:15.095 --> 00:23:16.635 Are scholarships available? 00:23:18.080 --> 00:23:20.340 There are really no scholarships. 00:23:20.400 --> 00:23:30.580 We do have what's called the Spiritual Direction Grant Fund, which is a fund that we continually have open for people who want to donate money to help people study the certificate. 00:23:31.335 --> 00:23:33.655 So as we get money in, I give it out. 00:23:33.655 --> 00:23:37.755 At this point in time, I don't have any money in that, fund. 00:23:38.375 --> 00:23:44.210 I always pray that more will come, but that's what we do. 00:23:44.210 --> 00:23:46.230 As it comes in, we give it out. 00:23:48.770 --> 00:23:51.430 So that's what we have. 00:23:52.290 --> 00:23:53.990 Do I need to drive to the residency? 00:23:54.370 --> 00:23:55.970 You can drive to the residency. 00:23:55.970 --> 00:23:57.170 You can take a bus. 00:23:57.170 --> 00:24:01.525 You can fly in a plane, however you'd like to get to Sterling, Virginia. 00:24:02.705 --> 00:24:03.185 Okay. 00:24:03.185 --> 00:24:08.085 Let me pull up the website because I do wanna show that to you all. 00:24:08.305 --> 00:24:24.300 I think it'll just will help you to get a look at it and also to, I wanna show you some things on it, and that will help you to be able to find things in the future if you wanna get to know more about the program. 00:24:24.600 --> 00:24:25.720 So this is the website. 00:24:25.720 --> 00:24:30.595 If you see, here's the website address, divinemercy.edu. 00:24:32.815 --> 00:24:40.915 And so for the question on where can you find spiritual directors, you go to this tab that says, I hope you're all seeing my screen. 00:24:40.975 --> 00:24:43.955 I'm assuming that you are, and you're seeing what I'm doing. 00:24:44.330 --> 00:24:51.130 If you can just give me a in the chat, if you could just give tell me, yes. 00:24:51.130 --> 00:24:53.150 You see my screen, that would be great. 00:24:54.010 --> 00:24:56.350 Wouldn't wanna be showing you all this for not. 00:25:00.865 --> 00:25:01.905 Thank you so much. 00:25:01.905 --> 00:25:02.405 Great. 00:25:02.785 --> 00:25:03.265 Okay. 00:25:03.265 --> 00:25:04.305 So here's the screen. 00:25:04.305 --> 00:25:05.765 So alumni here. 00:25:05.985 --> 00:25:07.125 Alumni directory. 00:25:09.665 --> 00:25:10.865 So here you go. 00:25:10.865 --> 00:25:13.585 These are all the programs that the university runs. 00:25:13.585 --> 00:25:14.085 Right? 00:25:14.640 --> 00:25:18.000 So if you're looking for counselors or psychologists, you also could look here. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.900 These are all but here, it says spiritual direction certificate. 00:25:21.040 --> 00:25:21.360 Right? 00:25:21.360 --> 00:25:25.620 So you click on that, and you'll see all the people. 00:25:26.160 --> 00:25:28.820 As I said, there's about 90 people here. 00:25:29.175 --> 00:25:36.295 And as you can see here, it puts who what program they graduated from and the state they're in. 00:25:36.295 --> 00:25:41.735 Then you can click on it, and it will give you a way to get in touch with them. 00:25:41.735 --> 00:25:43.595 This person even put their address. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:47.860 You know, it's really what they wanna put up here. 00:25:48.160 --> 00:25:50.080 And so and they also put this. 00:25:50.080 --> 00:25:54.820 Like, she's also a counselor, so she puts what she specializes in. 00:26:00.645 --> 00:26:01.045 Okay. 00:26:01.045 --> 00:26:02.265 So that's that. 00:26:02.805 --> 00:26:08.745 Now I wanna take you so you see it's under the alumni alumni directory and then spiritual direction certificate. 00:26:08.950 --> 00:26:14.490 And that's where you can find graduates of the program that are out there giving spiritual direction, and you can contact them. 00:26:14.550 --> 00:26:17.830 Look for your state or some of them see people in Zoom. 00:26:17.830 --> 00:26:20.805 Some of them you know, you can always contact them, and they'll let you know. 00:26:21.285 --> 00:26:24.325 So this is where you find more information about our program online. 00:26:24.325 --> 00:26:28.185 You go to that website, right, divinemercy.edu. 00:26:28.325 --> 00:26:31.305 Look under academics, spiritual direction certificate. 00:26:31.685 --> 00:26:32.665 Click on that. 00:26:33.100 --> 00:26:40.480 You'll get the pop up that I was telling you about asking people about if they wanna donate to the spiritual direction certificate grant. 00:26:42.780 --> 00:26:46.060 And then this is the spiritual direction certificate page. 00:26:46.060 --> 00:26:53.055 And you see over here what we're you know, we've got the stamp approval from the Newman guide, which is great. 00:26:54.875 --> 00:26:57.855 And so it's frequently asked questions, admissions requirements. 00:26:59.515 --> 00:26:59.915 Right? 00:26:59.915 --> 00:27:04.410 Someone was asking me about that, and this is what it is. 00:27:04.470 --> 00:27:09.690 Completed application form, letter of recommendation from the applicant's pastor or minister. 00:27:10.630 --> 00:27:11.130 Right? 00:27:11.270 --> 00:27:12.950 So that's to get into the program. 00:27:12.950 --> 00:27:20.115 And then after you've finished one hundred and two hundred, we do a little bit more work to have you pass to the next part. 00:27:20.115 --> 00:27:34.830 So we ask you to get a letter of recommendation from your spiritual director and then from a peer or a friend, and then we'll schedule a virtual interview, right, with you, to get into the second part. 00:27:34.830 --> 00:27:37.010 We call it the first tier and the second tier. 00:27:37.230 --> 00:27:39.490 And remember I was telling you the courses? 00:27:39.550 --> 00:27:43.170 This is where you can find the course descriptions for each of the courses. 00:27:45.995 --> 00:27:50.495 Remember I showed you the names of them, and this is actually course descriptions of them. 00:27:55.035 --> 00:28:01.310 The tuitions and costs, which I explained to you, but it's a little bit more broken down here just for you to see it. 00:28:08.330 --> 00:28:17.975 We also have a blog, which, you know, I love talking to people about this because these are articles or blogs that we've written about different aspects about of spiritual direction. 00:28:17.975 --> 00:28:28.330 So they're just great to read and to yeah, if you're looking for different things about spiritual direction, they're a little bit old. 00:28:28.330 --> 00:28:29.790 They're 2022. 00:28:30.410 --> 00:28:37.230 But, you know, there's nothing that's out of that's not adequate to our time right now, actually. 00:28:37.605 --> 00:28:42.825 If it was, you know, kind of expired in content, we would take it down, but some of the stuff is just perennial. 00:28:42.885 --> 00:28:43.285 Good. 00:28:43.285 --> 00:28:44.165 Great content. 00:28:44.165 --> 00:28:50.485 So took us a bit to, create those, so I don't like and so there's a good amount there, actually. 00:28:50.485 --> 00:28:51.125 You can see. 00:28:51.125 --> 00:28:54.550 There's a, you know, four at least four pages of it. 00:28:56.210 --> 00:28:56.710 Good. 00:28:56.850 --> 00:29:00.630 Well, I'm gonna stop sharing again, see if you have any more questions for me. 00:29:01.890 --> 00:29:03.990 It's been good to see you all here. 00:29:05.090 --> 00:29:07.535 I I recognize a good amount of your names. 00:29:07.535 --> 00:29:16.755 I'm always happy when people who've reached out to me, get on to one of these webinars and ask their questions. 00:29:19.360 --> 00:29:26.020 Is there anything else that I can help you with this evening as far as any other questions that you might have? 00:29:33.795 --> 00:29:37.015 So can I drive home at night during the in person portion? 00:29:37.875 --> 00:29:50.200 We really don't recommend it just because even if you live close, we had a girl that was, like, twenty minutes away, and she ended up she tried driving in, and then she just ended up asking to stay at the hotel. 00:29:53.060 --> 00:29:59.640 Just because you are tired, you know, they're eight to five days, but it's a lot of listening. 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:02.315 And we do want you to kinda separate yourself. 00:30:02.375 --> 00:30:10.715 It's kind of like a, you know, it's kinda like a retreat experience for you and to get and has time to spend with your cohort. 00:30:11.415 --> 00:30:23.790 So if you needed to, of course, you you can, but we don't recommend it just because of the schedule and you needing to be able to focus on it and no. 00:30:26.575 --> 00:30:41.330 So, Janine, each so for the residency, if you wanted to travel there and not spend the nights at the hotel, you would need to come Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 00:30:41.790 --> 00:30:42.530 Four days. 00:30:42.670 --> 00:30:54.895 The Wednesday evening, you could definitely come for, but, if you need if you couldn't come that day just because this is DC and there's, if you live around here, you know how hard the traffic is. 00:30:55.595 --> 00:30:57.615 You could skip that Wednesday evening. 00:30:58.075 --> 00:31:04.095 But, yeah, as I said, we it's we really don't re recommend it just because it is a lot. 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:09.500 But if there are and and you always can tell me if there are special needs. 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:18.480 We do a great job with accommodating people as far as food, and even in the hotel if you need to sleep in a certain place. 00:31:19.565 --> 00:31:25.105 We do have the the residency set up so that you have a single room. 00:31:25.325 --> 00:31:25.825 Right? 00:31:26.765 --> 00:31:34.865 So that's, that's how this goes. 00:31:36.980 --> 00:31:38.280 There is a good amount. 00:31:38.340 --> 00:31:38.580 Yeah. 00:31:38.580 --> 00:31:41.000 I'm seeing where you live, Janine. 00:31:41.380 --> 00:31:44.680 So there is a good amount of traffic coming into DC. 00:31:45.300 --> 00:31:49.960 I just did it the other day, and it takes a lot of time. 00:31:52.195 --> 00:31:52.695 Okay. 00:31:54.435 --> 00:31:56.855 Any other questions that you might have for me? 00:31:57.395 --> 00:31:57.715 Gosh. 00:31:57.715 --> 00:31:59.815 I can't believe that I've answered all the questions. 00:32:00.035 --> 00:32:01.335 This is kind of interesting. 00:32:10.730 --> 00:32:14.350 Helena, could you please speak to the work of a spiritual director? 00:32:16.090 --> 00:32:16.590 Sure. 00:32:16.730 --> 00:32:21.005 I mean, I'm a spiritual director myself, so something I'm involved in. 00:32:21.145 --> 00:32:26.285 I see probably 15 to 20 people on a monthly basis. 00:32:28.105 --> 00:32:31.085 You know, I have a way that they we set up those appointments. 00:32:31.640 --> 00:32:33.160 Some of them I see on Zoom. 00:32:33.160 --> 00:32:35.500 Some of them I see in person. 00:32:37.640 --> 00:32:41.260 A lot of times it's at the university in my office there. 00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:54.365 And so my work, as I was saying about spiritual direction, is really I meet with them on the frequent with the frequency that they like, or they request. 00:32:55.305 --> 00:32:57.805 And, it's usually on a monthly basis. 00:32:58.505 --> 00:33:16.375 And, you know, we talk about where you know, how their life has been, where they've kind of sensed god's presence, or they've sensed either, you know, strengthening, or they've sensed trials or difficulties, always with the focus of of helping them find the lord in their life. 00:33:16.375 --> 00:33:31.160 So it's a lot of deep listening, asking them questions to enter into their heart, into the the heart of their hearts, their interior, where the where the catechism of the Catholic church says is where the lord dwells, and it's a place of commitment and covenant. 00:33:32.660 --> 00:33:36.980 So that is, what you do, and you build a relationship over time. 00:33:36.980 --> 00:33:38.600 It's a confidential relationship. 00:33:38.820 --> 00:33:42.760 You don't share what your direct details you, of course. 00:33:43.415 --> 00:33:52.955 And, and hopefully, it's a trustful relationship so that through that relationship, they can be strengthened and grow in their relationship with the lord. 00:33:55.890 --> 00:33:58.470 How far ahead does one need to apply enroll? 00:34:01.970 --> 00:34:07.350 Some to so from the May course, really, I'm doing it now. 00:34:07.410 --> 00:34:13.535 April 1 is when we send out the orientation course for for the people that are beginning in May. 00:34:14.955 --> 00:34:25.260 So we really do like to have you, into class, you know, and signed up by that April 1 date so we can get you through. 00:34:25.720 --> 00:34:26.780 We still continue. 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:37.655 You can see on the website there, we continue to accept applications for the May, course up till the beginning of May, but it's really better if you can. 00:34:37.655 --> 00:34:37.975 Right? 00:34:37.975 --> 00:34:40.795 And then so it's usually about at least a month before. 00:34:42.375 --> 00:34:43.755 Hope that answers that. 00:34:43.815 --> 00:34:47.735 Helena, your question, I never thought of paying for spiritual direction. 00:34:47.735 --> 00:34:49.220 Is it all a paid profession? 00:34:49.220 --> 00:34:50.500 It's not really a profession. 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:51.400 It's a ministry. 00:34:51.700 --> 00:34:53.480 So it's not a career route. 00:34:55.380 --> 00:34:57.700 People it's really different, Helena. 00:34:57.700 --> 00:35:00.040 And, Vincent, you're also asking this about stipends. 00:35:01.505 --> 00:35:04.625 Some people get paid for asked to be paid for it. 00:35:04.625 --> 00:35:05.365 Some don't. 00:35:05.585 --> 00:35:12.385 It's typical that religious, and priests probably don't ask to get paid because they're supported in other ways. 00:35:12.385 --> 00:35:23.110 But, you know, they some I've seen in a lot of them that they usually ask that you give some type of donation to their to their congregation or their order. 00:35:23.110 --> 00:35:23.610 Right? 00:35:23.830 --> 00:35:26.470 Then for lay spiritual directors, the same thing. 00:35:26.470 --> 00:35:30.805 Some of them ask to be paid, to to receive something. 00:35:30.805 --> 00:35:48.520 It's usually you know, it's not anything like you would pay for a lot of these other things, but, it's you know, a layperson might ask to be paid just because they need that money to kinda support themselves and their lives. 00:35:48.520 --> 00:35:49.020 Right? 00:35:50.280 --> 00:36:00.665 Like, I I have a paying scale that I say to people when they, and I tell them what it is, and I'll tell them to pay me what they think that they can pay me within that that scale. 00:36:01.365 --> 00:36:05.925 And then I say if it is a problem, just let me know, and, we'll see about that. 00:36:05.925 --> 00:36:06.325 Right? 00:36:06.325 --> 00:36:08.330 So so it really depends. 00:36:08.630 --> 00:36:12.890 It really depends on the person and kind of the availability and the possibilities they have. 00:36:13.190 --> 00:36:15.910 You know, you wouldn't want them to not be a spiritual director. 00:36:15.910 --> 00:36:19.670 Just can't because they can't they don't have the means to do it. 00:36:19.670 --> 00:36:23.045 But so that's why some some do charge and some don't. 00:36:23.045 --> 00:36:25.305 It really is a kind of a personal decision. 00:36:27.285 --> 00:36:27.785 Great. 00:36:27.925 --> 00:36:31.785 I hope that that has answered your question. 00:36:37.370 --> 00:36:38.410 So let's see. 00:36:38.410 --> 00:36:42.190 Mary, you're saying oh, you're asking a question here. 00:36:48.285 --> 00:36:50.385 What is it suggested pay scale? 00:36:52.125 --> 00:36:52.525 Gosh. 00:36:52.525 --> 00:36:58.625 I don't we we actually explained this in the program, and I don't remember what I suggest what is this suggested. 00:36:59.085 --> 00:37:08.640 I mean, for me, myself, like, you know, I've I've a good amount of experience in this, spiritual direction. 00:37:08.640 --> 00:37:22.255 So I usually I tell people anywhere between thirty five dollars and fifty dollars a session, And then to let me know if that's too much for them, and we can always talk about it and get to you wouldn't want them not to have spiritual direction. 00:37:22.255 --> 00:37:22.495 Right? 00:37:22.495 --> 00:37:25.395 But it's just a matter of the possibilities. 00:37:27.510 --> 00:37:28.010 Good. 00:37:29.190 --> 00:37:33.590 Anyone have any other questions before we sign off here? 00:37:33.590 --> 00:37:37.610 It's been good to see you all even if although it's virtually. 00:37:39.745 --> 00:37:48.545 So the next course is starting, right, May 21, and I'm set accept you know, I'm working with people to come into it. 00:37:48.545 --> 00:38:10.115 Would love to see some of you apply, because you have been on the, webinar tonight, here is a code that you can use to apply for free. 00:38:10.255 --> 00:38:14.515 Usually, the applications cost $25, so here's a code. 00:38:15.855 --> 00:38:17.875 I hope you can see it in the chat. 00:38:18.335 --> 00:38:21.375 If not, I'll read it out to you. 00:38:21.375 --> 00:38:26.370 It's SDC, spiritual direction certificate, reg register. 00:38:27.150 --> 00:38:31.410 So r e g and then free, f r e e. 00:38:31.470 --> 00:38:35.150 This allows you to, to do the application for free. 00:38:35.150 --> 00:38:37.410 Otherwise, it would cost you $25. 00:38:40.245 --> 00:38:41.945 So please reach out to me. 00:38:42.725 --> 00:38:45.705 Love to have follow-up conversations with any of you. 00:38:45.925 --> 00:38:55.870 Just, you know, you're all individuals and have different questions, so I'd love to be able to do that, with you all and just make sure you get your questions answered. 00:38:56.570 --> 00:38:59.310 You know, one thing is maybe the timing. 00:38:59.370 --> 00:38:59.870 Right? 00:39:00.410 --> 00:39:03.850 When you actually start it, you can start the program. 00:39:03.850 --> 00:39:14.755 The you know, the first two classes are really trying to help you to get to know yourself and to get to know the ministry of spiritual direction so that you can kinda finish a discernment of whether it's for you or not. 00:39:14.755 --> 00:39:21.895 So you don't have to, like, have the decision made up that this is the ministry for you before you go into the program. 00:39:22.370 --> 00:39:26.710 You can definitely use those first two classes in that way if that's needed. 00:39:27.730 --> 00:39:33.250 At the end of it, every class, you get a little certificate saying that you took that class and completed it. 00:39:33.250 --> 00:39:37.750 So that allows you to have something after each certificate each class. 00:39:39.385 --> 00:39:39.885 Okay? 00:39:40.025 --> 00:39:42.445 Anything else that you need from me? 00:39:45.465 --> 00:39:47.485 God bless you all, and thank you. 00:39:47.785 --> 00:39:49.485 I've enjoyed having you here. 00:39:50.025 --> 00:39:55.460 Oh, also, in general, how often does one meet with the spiritual director? 00:39:55.460 --> 00:39:56.980 Well, it's what I'd mentioned the other time. 00:39:56.980 --> 00:40:04.120 Usually, it's about on a monthly basis, but it's really according to what the person, wants, the one that's being directed. 00:40:04.925 --> 00:40:06.785 Thank you so much, all of you. 00:40:07.245 --> 00:40:16.225 God bless you, and praying for your discernment, all of you, as as as what is your next step in this. 00:40:17.909 --> 00:40:23.349 But we all know a lot of people need spiritual directors, so let's see what we can do about that. 00:40:23.349 --> 00:40:24.490 God bless you all. 00:40:24.550 --> 00:40:25.369 Take care.