WEBVTT 00:00:06.160 --> 00:00:07.460 So good evening. 00:00:09.440 --> 00:00:14.100 So I don't like to make this webinar last more than forty five minutes. 00:00:14.585 --> 00:00:28.205 And, basically, what I try to do is, divide it in between an explanation, of the program and just allowing you know, opening up for questions that you might have. 00:00:29.980 --> 00:00:36.800 Every you know, people come with different understandings of what a spiritual direction program might do or what it entails. 00:00:37.580 --> 00:00:44.000 So I always like to live a good amount of time for our questions, but I don't wanna go over forty five minutes. 00:00:44.445 --> 00:00:48.525 And if we really see that we don't have questions, of course, I'll always cut things short. 00:00:48.525 --> 00:00:50.685 But let's so let's get started. 00:00:50.685 --> 00:00:51.965 So good to have you here. 00:00:51.965 --> 00:00:53.505 My name is Maria Brackett. 00:00:53.805 --> 00:01:00.145 I'm the director of the spiritual direction certificate at Divine Mercy University and a spiritual director myself. 00:01:00.810 --> 00:01:11.390 I've been a director of the program now for five years, began in 2020, and I've been a spiritual director for about eighteen. 00:01:12.650 --> 00:01:17.315 I I I worked ministry full time. 00:01:17.855 --> 00:01:19.155 I studied theology. 00:01:19.455 --> 00:01:21.795 I studied, education. 00:01:22.575 --> 00:01:30.510 Now I'm actually getting my master's in mental health and just felt drawn to this. 00:01:32.010 --> 00:01:38.730 I'm working in ministry kinda just felt fell into this niche of giving spiritual direction and accompany people in this way. 00:01:38.730 --> 00:01:40.670 It's been a real joy for me. 00:01:41.130 --> 00:01:44.975 I'm a learner by nature, so always learning more. 00:01:44.975 --> 00:01:51.395 And I'm fascinated with the human person, just learning more about the gift of who each person is. 00:01:51.535 --> 00:01:53.535 So that's a little bit about me. 00:01:53.535 --> 00:01:57.555 I live right in here, Virginia, right next to the university. 00:01:58.940 --> 00:02:23.415 So the spiritual direction certificate is a certificate, two year certificate created by the Divine Mercy University to train spiritual directors to be in a professional way, in a way that they form their heart to be more a heart like Jesus so as to accompany people and help them to know the Lord. 00:02:26.290 --> 00:02:39.965 We the university, as you may have seen or know, is dedicated to the an an understanding of the human person. 00:02:40.985 --> 00:02:41.485 Right? 00:02:41.545 --> 00:02:44.045 The which is a holistic model. 00:02:44.745 --> 00:03:03.640 Sometimes it's called that, an integrated model, where we look at the whole person and all their different aspects from a faith perception from a faith perspective, but also from from a science perspective. 00:03:04.615 --> 00:03:21.200 The university is a graduate school for psychologists and counselors and decided in 2016 to begin developing this course so as to give so as to help train spiritual directors with this vision of the whole person. 00:03:21.580 --> 00:03:28.400 And that vision of the whole person is taken from Catholic theology, the wisdom tradition of Catholic theology, and Catholic philosophy. 00:03:30.725 --> 00:03:46.220 And also sound, principles that that go with Catholics cycle Catholic theology and philosophy and integrating them with the with the human sciences. 00:03:47.560 --> 00:03:58.065 So that's really what is at the center of the university, and the university continues to develop programs and degrees that allow people to get to understand the human person. 00:03:58.065 --> 00:04:08.405 It's all its riches within the Catholic Christian tradition and, and marry that with science, with the best of science and research. 00:04:11.750 --> 00:04:21.450 So, you know, people always ask me, what is it about the spiritual direction certificate that might be different than getting trained somewhere else? 00:04:23.425 --> 00:04:37.365 Well, I think that there's a certain, taste that we give to spiritual direction training because we really like you to learn, first of all, of course, and most of all about the working of god's grace in a person. 00:04:37.700 --> 00:04:47.960 But we like to you also for you to learn who that person is and to understand yourself a little bit better and in in your human functioning. 00:04:48.020 --> 00:04:52.735 We don't spend time going into a lot of psychological concepts. 00:04:52.735 --> 00:05:01.555 Of course, we're not training you as counselors or psychologists, nor even do we think that spiritual director is is a type of light therapy. 00:05:02.095 --> 00:05:03.535 It's really very different. 00:05:03.535 --> 00:05:13.240 Therapy is really, geared at helping us in our human functioning, whereas spiritual direction is to help but encourage us to grow in our relationship with the lord. 00:05:14.580 --> 00:05:18.340 So that gets us right into, you know, what is spiritual direction? 00:05:18.340 --> 00:05:24.805 I think this is important to talk about when you're presenting a spiritual direction, training program. 00:05:25.345 --> 00:05:35.520 There even though the Catholic tradition and the Christian tradition, have a very clear understanding of it, there are very different interpretations out there. 00:05:36.160 --> 00:05:59.795 And so our definition of spiritual direction as a company meant as helping someone in their pilgrimage to go up toward God and as a as something that actually helps them in their formation in mission and and, you know, almost like disciples forming disciples or disciples helping to teach to you know, sometimes they say disciples discipling others. 00:05:59.795 --> 00:06:00.295 Right? 00:06:01.875 --> 00:06:04.620 A lot of spiritual direction has to do with that. 00:06:05.020 --> 00:06:14.140 Deep listening has a very important part in our spiritual direction program because we feel like that is the environment that needs to happen in spiritual direction. 00:06:14.140 --> 00:06:23.215 A deep listening to the lord by both the director and the directee and a deep listening of the directee by the director. 00:06:23.995 --> 00:06:35.535 So learning how to listen well and learning how to listen to what might be going on inside of that person and where what we say the voice of the good shepherd and the voice of the thief. 00:06:36.230 --> 00:06:43.610 And also kind of those human emotions that might be happening to understand just where the Lord might be present there. 00:06:44.230 --> 00:07:02.405 And, the deep listening that also leads to questions that allows the person to open their heart more and allows the person to walk into their heart and and encounter the lord and listen better, you know, or more clearly to what the lord might be saying. 00:07:03.980 --> 00:07:15.680 Giving that person a real trust trustful, you know, confiding confidential relationship where they they can feel safe and where they can open their heart. 00:07:16.685 --> 00:07:22.685 And all to to for them to be able to find the Lord and get in contact with him more. 00:07:22.685 --> 00:07:29.425 So it's a very prayerful environment, the way that we teach our students, and we train them as spiritual directors. 00:07:30.850 --> 00:07:48.475 It's not designed as therapy as but it's designed as walking with someone in their walk with the lord and to to help them and encourage them, support them, give them resources so that they can follow the Lord more closely. 00:07:49.495 --> 00:07:53.515 Know him, love him, follow him more closely as Saint Ignatius would tell us. 00:07:53.815 --> 00:07:54.955 So it's not therapy. 00:07:56.135 --> 00:07:58.775 It's not even catechesis or teaching. 00:07:58.775 --> 00:08:04.550 Although there could be moments of teaching in spiritual direction, really depends upon your background. 00:08:05.010 --> 00:08:10.950 You know, just because you're a spiritual director, you can't pontificate, not necessarily. 00:08:11.730 --> 00:08:16.370 But it's not the purpose of spiritual direction is not catechesis or teaching. 00:08:16.370 --> 00:08:25.375 That's really done in catechesis or in courses directed to teach you about the truths of the faith. 00:08:25.915 --> 00:08:26.235 No. 00:08:26.235 --> 00:08:27.455 Of the Christian faith. 00:08:28.475 --> 00:08:39.320 So it's really about, you know, offering listening perspective, with the person, not so much catechesis or teaching. 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:42.040 And it's not really evangelization. 00:08:42.820 --> 00:08:48.065 Even though evangelization is a very noble ministry, about proclaiming the gospel. 00:08:49.325 --> 00:09:13.200 It you know, evangelization is the first proclamation, whereas spiritual direction is really for someone that has already been had the gospel proclaimed to them and wants to deepen in their walk with the Lord and get to know him better and and is willing to take up a spiritual life, you know, of moments to be with the Lord, a prayer in order to help them. 00:09:14.075 --> 00:09:18.235 Julia, thank you so much for your question, and thanks so much for raising your hand. 00:09:18.235 --> 00:09:20.255 I forgot to say this at the beginning. 00:09:20.555 --> 00:09:30.510 So if you do have any questions, please just put them in the q and a box, and I will look at them. 00:09:30.510 --> 00:09:35.490 As soon as I finish explaining the program, I will look at them, and I can answer them. 00:09:35.710 --> 00:09:41.230 Problem is I can't look at the q and a box while I have this screen up, so that's why we have to do it this way. 00:09:41.230 --> 00:09:47.875 So, Julie, if you can just put that into the, q and a box your question, then I'll answer it. 00:09:47.875 --> 00:09:48.855 Thanks so much. 00:09:49.155 --> 00:09:53.095 And please, other people, as you as we're going along and questions might come to you. 00:09:57.310 --> 00:10:01.250 Not gonna so what can you expect in the spiritual direction program? 00:10:01.870 --> 00:10:04.370 Well, it's a six course program. 00:10:04.670 --> 00:10:06.610 All of the courses are online. 00:10:08.565 --> 00:10:19.625 It's what we call asynchronous, which means that you don't have to connect for classes, and you do the work on your own time. 00:10:20.085 --> 00:10:26.990 It's not an online type of education where you're connecting for a class and getting the information. 00:10:27.210 --> 00:10:34.185 You actually are when you register, you're given access to a platform, and that platform has your course on it. 00:10:34.505 --> 00:10:38.125 Each course consists of eight weeks or eight modules. 00:10:38.425 --> 00:10:41.325 You work through the material together with your cohort. 00:10:41.945 --> 00:10:48.605 You respect those weekly deadlines of assignments, and, and that's how you move through the information. 00:10:49.940 --> 00:10:55.320 The teachers, especially in the first two courses, do hold, meetings. 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.960 Those meetings are not obligatory. 00:10:58.340 --> 00:11:02.440 There is an assignment given, and you can complete the assignment. 00:11:03.465 --> 00:11:07.705 Everyone is given the same assignment, but there are two ways to complete it. 00:11:07.705 --> 00:11:22.280 You can complete it by, writing your essay and then going to the live discussion group, or you can complete it by writing an essay and then, listen to the recording. 00:11:24.260 --> 00:11:26.200 So that's what we mean by asynchronous. 00:11:26.340 --> 00:11:29.880 It's really can be done on your own time. 00:11:31.585 --> 00:11:36.245 It's minimum the amount of time that you have to get together even in the later courses. 00:11:36.705 --> 00:11:46.005 There are some triadic work where you get together with other students, but those, that's just you organizing your schedule with two other people. 00:11:47.540 --> 00:11:54.360 So it, the majority of the things are being in you are able to do on your own on your own time. 00:11:55.940 --> 00:11:58.740 There are two residency in the course. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:12:00.760 That means that these are two moments. 00:12:01.220 --> 00:12:04.655 One a year, You you do three courses a year. 00:12:06.715 --> 00:12:09.855 And those residencies occur here in Sterling, Virginia. 00:12:09.995 --> 00:12:11.215 They're four day. 00:12:11.515 --> 00:12:15.135 You arrive for a Wednesday evening, and you're done by Sunday lunch. 00:12:17.910 --> 00:12:29.530 And those residencies are part of the one residency happens at the end of the third course, and the other residency happens at the beginning of the fifth course. 00:12:30.425 --> 00:12:34.365 There's also a requirement of sixty practicum hours. 00:12:35.385 --> 00:12:36.905 You do the practicum hours. 00:12:36.905 --> 00:12:39.865 You start doing them in the fifth and the sixth course. 00:12:39.865 --> 00:12:49.750 So you start in the fifth course, and you have a total of two years from the time that you finish you start your third course to finish. 00:12:49.890 --> 00:12:56.710 So you've got a good amount of time, almost about six months to finish those practicum hours after you finish your courses. 00:12:57.435 --> 00:13:04.415 So those practicum hours are made up of forty eight hours of seeing people in spiritual direction and twelve hours of supervision. 00:13:05.435 --> 00:13:14.100 Those twelve hours of supervision are actually given in your fifth and your sixth course, and we give them to you as assignments. 00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:16.320 Your instructor does that supervision. 00:13:16.320 --> 00:13:19.300 So it's not like you're going you need to go find a supervisor. 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:23.600 We do ask you to log those hours. 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:28.265 We tell you how to do that, and, it's part of your completion. 00:13:28.805 --> 00:13:40.345 Another aspect also in the spiritual direction in order to graduate is to also do, an a spiritual ex Ignatius spiritual exercise experience of at least five days. 00:13:41.850 --> 00:13:46.430 If you've done it within two years of coming into the program, that also counts. 00:13:47.130 --> 00:13:51.470 We want you to have an experience of the Ignatian spiritual exercises. 00:13:51.770 --> 00:13:53.710 We think it's an important one. 00:13:53.930 --> 00:13:57.445 We also think it will help you as a spiritual director. 00:14:00.145 --> 00:14:01.685 These are the six courses. 00:14:01.825 --> 00:14:04.325 This information is also on our website. 00:14:04.785 --> 00:14:12.860 And in fact, on the website, the course descriptions are given there, a short paragraph about what each of the courses contain. 00:14:13.320 --> 00:14:25.815 So I plea I ask you to to visit divinemercy.edu and look for the spiritual direction certificate under the academics, academic programs, and you will find the course descriptions there. 00:14:26.375 --> 00:14:40.110 You'll see by the, just looking at this list right here that the course course courses really are about spiritual theology, this growth of grace in a person and how that works. 00:14:40.270 --> 00:14:42.290 That's really the spine of the program. 00:14:42.670 --> 00:14:49.970 And then intertwined in that is some about human development and human relationships as you see in that second course. 00:14:50.270 --> 00:15:03.435 And then the next element that's important is the training up yourself in those skills that you'll need as a spiritual director, and that's what you see in that 300 or that third course or that 500, that fifth course. 00:15:04.055 --> 00:15:04.555 Right? 00:15:05.095 --> 00:15:34.385 But the first course, that fourth course, that sixth course, you you see, that's, you know, this is where the the whole spine of trying to understand how a human person relates to grace and how that grace works in their human nature and helps them to become, more Christ like, transforms us, right, through that grace given to us that we so recently celebrated at Easter. 00:15:35.800 --> 00:16:03.195 And then the six horse, along with giving you that supervision sessions, is also about different situations that you might encounter in spiritual direction and, in helping you to kind of understand what that's like and how to listen for those different situations and and what to do, how to refer those people to other people that could help them, to understand, you know, what's within your competency and what isn't. 00:16:05.090 --> 00:16:11.990 So the residencies we spoke about, this is a this is a picture, a couple pictures taken from our residencies. 00:16:12.370 --> 00:16:17.510 As I said to you that there are two four day residencies on campus here in Sterling, Virginia. 00:16:18.395 --> 00:16:23.775 The university is very close to Dallas Airport, so it's very easy. 00:16:24.235 --> 00:16:29.515 In fact, we put you up in a hotel, and the hotel does a shuttle from the airport and back to the airport. 00:16:29.515 --> 00:16:30.875 So you don't even need a car. 00:16:30.875 --> 00:16:34.780 You could just take a plane and and and work that way. 00:16:34.780 --> 00:16:41.740 The university is about a five minute walk, really, not more than that, from the hotel, and so that's what students do. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:43.040 They walk back and forth. 00:16:44.395 --> 00:16:54.555 The residencies are moments to put in practice the skills and the knowledge that you're learning as a spiritual director and get coached by, faculty members. 00:16:54.555 --> 00:17:03.500 So the way that we set up the residencies is that they usually start with about an hour, an hour and a half of teaching in the morning, and then you break up into small groups. 00:17:03.880 --> 00:17:12.940 Every small group has a faculty member, and you work through scenarios or situations, and you're asked to take different roles and to practice your skills. 00:17:14.035 --> 00:17:27.815 As I said before, the first residency is at the end of the first third course and is an integral part of that course, and the second residency is at the beginning of the fifth course and is also an integral part of that course. 00:17:29.370 --> 00:17:32.110 You can't pass a course without passing a residency. 00:17:32.410 --> 00:17:34.270 They're they're put together. 00:17:34.490 --> 00:17:38.190 You need to be taking the residency and the course at the same time. 00:17:44.345 --> 00:17:45.625 So term based. 00:17:45.625 --> 00:17:47.545 Our courses aren't semester based. 00:17:47.545 --> 00:17:48.345 They're term based. 00:17:48.345 --> 00:17:51.325 So instead of being sixteen weeks, they're eight weeks. 00:17:52.425 --> 00:18:07.870 You only can take one course at a time, And usually, it requires about six to ten hours a week as far as your commitment between doing the readings, watching the videos, answering the different assignments. 00:18:08.925 --> 00:18:17.905 There's roughly a six to ten week break be between each term, and you can complete the certificate in two years. 00:18:19.565 --> 00:18:20.945 So it's a good rhythm. 00:18:21.245 --> 00:18:27.080 There are breaks that allows you to kind of have a life and can and while you're doing this. 00:18:27.540 --> 00:18:45.375 As well as, you know, sometimes those breaks are great times for people to gather some money together to continue paying for the certificate or to, you know, go back and read some of the things that they'd like to read or maybe do the retreat or different things like that. 00:18:45.375 --> 00:18:49.295 So we haven't had students complain about those breaks. 00:18:49.295 --> 00:18:50.275 That's for sure. 00:18:52.780 --> 00:18:55.920 So this is how the terms work when we talk about breaks. 00:18:56.060 --> 00:18:58.480 This is how our academic calendar works. 00:18:59.260 --> 00:19:02.240 We've got a spring term, a summer term, and a fall term. 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:05.195 So you see there the active terms. 00:19:05.195 --> 00:19:09.835 So our spring term begins in early January and ends in early March. 00:19:09.835 --> 00:19:11.755 Our summer term begins in late May. 00:19:11.755 --> 00:19:21.440 In fact, we have a summer term beginning, this month on May 21, and I am still there are still some seats available for that term. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:27.300 So would be very happy to talk to anyone that's interested in that term, and it ends in mid July. 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:31.700 The fall term begins in late August and ends in mid October. 00:19:32.615 --> 00:19:33.815 So those are the terms. 00:19:33.815 --> 00:19:37.095 And then on the other side, you see the column that talks about the breaks. 00:19:37.095 --> 00:19:39.115 So these are the times when you have breaks. 00:19:39.815 --> 00:19:42.075 You early March to late May. 00:19:42.535 --> 00:19:52.110 We don't have classes mid July to the late August, and we don't have classes from mid October to, ends in early January. 00:19:52.110 --> 00:20:00.830 Usually, we start classes when pretty much everyone else starts classes, which is, you know, when if you have kids, when they go back to school. 00:20:00.830 --> 00:20:01.330 Right? 00:20:01.390 --> 00:20:05.845 Not necessarily college because those they tend to go back a little bit later in January. 00:20:08.465 --> 00:20:11.125 So that's that's how the calendar works. 00:20:12.785 --> 00:20:14.645 This is the cost of the program. 00:20:15.665 --> 00:20:18.085 It is a pay as you go program. 00:20:18.570 --> 00:20:23.610 So that means that as you register for each of the courses, you pay for it. 00:20:23.610 --> 00:20:25.930 You don't have to pay any of this upfront. 00:20:25.930 --> 00:20:27.390 It's just as you register. 00:20:27.850 --> 00:20:32.030 So it's $800 per course, and the residencies are $13.50. 00:20:33.465 --> 00:20:40.765 These these prices will go up in the fall semester for the summer, courses right now, summer term. 00:20:41.385 --> 00:20:44.765 These are the prices, but they will be going up in the fall. 00:20:44.825 --> 00:20:51.690 We try not to raise them very much, but we do, usually need to raise them just because of the cost of things. 00:20:52.070 --> 00:20:59.050 The residency, consists of as you see there, it covers the lodging, the materials, most meals. 00:20:59.750 --> 00:21:02.170 Students are responsible for three of their dinners. 00:21:03.245 --> 00:21:18.210 And then if you still need to get supervision and you haven't finished your practicum, at the end of the six scores, we do ask you to enroll a term in your, and get either supervision or provide your own supervisor. 00:21:18.210 --> 00:21:22.230 So that's what that $50 and $100 at the end is. 00:21:22.290 --> 00:21:29.190 So all in all, the certificate, right now, total cost is $7,600. 00:21:31.145 --> 00:21:37.165 And as I said, it is a pay as you go program, so that's a cost that you'd be paying over the course of two years. 00:21:40.505 --> 00:21:43.405 That, I think, is what I wanted to tell you. 00:21:43.545 --> 00:21:50.770 Let's oh, let me stop sharing my screen and get to the questions so that I can see them. 00:21:51.230 --> 00:22:05.155 And, please, if there's any that you have, please put them there, because I always love your questions because I can't think of all the things you guys need to know. 00:22:07.055 --> 00:22:11.635 What time of the year do the two retreats typically take place? 00:22:12.240 --> 00:22:12.560 Okay. 00:22:12.560 --> 00:22:15.220 So you're talking about the residencies, I imagine. 00:22:15.680 --> 00:22:20.320 So those residencies occur it really depends on when you start the course. 00:22:20.320 --> 00:22:21.920 You can start in May. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.680 You can start in the fall. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.720 You can start in the summer. 00:22:24.720 --> 00:22:25.680 You can start in the fall. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.820 You can start in January. 00:22:27.075 --> 00:22:29.255 So it really depends on when you start. 00:22:29.315 --> 00:22:33.495 It's always gonna be your third some third term and your fifth term. 00:22:41.410 --> 00:22:46.230 Is it difficult to find people to complete the forty eight hours of spiritual direction during the program? 00:22:46.690 --> 00:22:47.650 I don't think so. 00:22:47.650 --> 00:22:57.475 Really, truthfully, of the students, now we've we have 220 graduates in the program, and I think I've only had maybe two or three that have had difficulties. 00:22:57.535 --> 00:23:02.275 And sometimes it's because they live in a kind of remote area or things like that. 00:23:02.575 --> 00:23:05.795 Usually, it's kind of a very pretty organic process. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.960 You know? 00:23:07.360 --> 00:23:12.660 I'll talk a little bit about how to apply for the program because I see that's one of the questions here. 00:23:13.280 --> 00:23:19.220 But it's pretty, you know, from the beginning, you're talking to your spiritual director. 00:23:19.835 --> 00:23:27.215 You're talking to your, if you have one, you're talking to your parish priest, or your pastor of your church. 00:23:27.515 --> 00:23:30.975 They know that what you're doing, so word kind of spreads. 00:23:32.310 --> 00:23:34.070 So it it's not usually difficult. 00:23:34.070 --> 00:23:41.210 We do we do kinda coach you through that so you can start finding those people, but we do ask you to find them. 00:23:41.830 --> 00:23:44.710 What are the prerequisites for admission to the program? 00:23:44.710 --> 00:23:46.395 Thanks for that question, Joe. 00:23:46.955 --> 00:23:51.535 So, in order to enter to the program, you have to do an application. 00:23:51.675 --> 00:23:54.175 The application is online on our website. 00:23:55.275 --> 00:24:06.440 And the it takes about fifteen minutes to fill out, and then you will get a link for four essay questions that are short. 00:24:06.440 --> 00:24:09.900 We're only looking for about five or six sentences for each question. 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:26.055 And so you fill those out, and then we give you a link to send to your, faith leader, like the pastor of your church, the pastor you know, what, the if you're a Catholic, the pastor that's in charge of your church. 00:24:26.055 --> 00:24:41.540 If you're a Christian, you know, you're a faith leader, you're a pastor, and for them to fill out because we wanna hear from your local church about about this, if they think if they consider you someone that also would have this calling. 00:24:41.540 --> 00:24:51.315 You know how we really believe that that local community, that faith community, which you are a part, should also be kind of feeling this that you're having this nudge too. 00:24:52.815 --> 00:24:55.075 And those are the prerequisites, Joe. 00:24:55.615 --> 00:25:01.395 We don't require it's a certificate, so it's not a degree program, so we don't require any degrees. 00:25:01.880 --> 00:25:11.980 We do in the interviewing process and the application process, we do look for, a certain knowledge of your own faith tradition. 00:25:13.240 --> 00:25:30.300 And in order to you know, you can't just be someone that's just converted to, your faith or, even though that's beautiful, we want you to be part of your community and continue learning, before you would do something like this. 00:25:32.680 --> 00:25:36.140 The tuition, Julia, for the program is what I explained. 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:39.740 $800 for each course and $13.50 for the residencies. 00:25:40.440 --> 00:25:44.565 That that slide that I had about the tuitions. 00:25:48.785 --> 00:25:53.605 Charles, is there a religious group or order guiding the theology? 00:25:54.160 --> 00:25:58.660 So the university Divine Mercy University is a Catholic university. 00:25:59.520 --> 00:26:09.755 We actually just the new one guide just started, allowing graduate schools to apply for them. 00:26:09.755 --> 00:26:17.455 So we actually just got approved by the Newman guide in December, as a faithful Catholic university. 00:26:18.555 --> 00:26:23.310 We're under the diocese of Arlington, very esteemed by the bishop here. 00:26:23.690 --> 00:26:32.570 And the, as any Catholic independent institute, if it's not associated to a diocese, it needs to be associated to a religious order. 00:26:32.570 --> 00:26:39.895 So the religious order that Divine Mercy University is associated to, is the legionaries of Christ. 00:26:39.895 --> 00:26:47.035 They hold positions on the board, and the president of the university and the chaplains will always be legionaries. 00:26:47.895 --> 00:27:09.845 So, between the the, you know, the we're always looking to be a faithful Catholic university that follows the teachings of the church, and our fidelity to our local leaders, that kind of guides the theology as well as having the legionaries there, as the priest on campus. 00:27:12.385 --> 00:27:14.225 So, can this be a career? 00:27:14.225 --> 00:27:18.405 Do we get paid as a spiritual director, or is this free work at churches? 00:27:18.785 --> 00:27:20.225 It's really not a career. 00:27:20.225 --> 00:27:21.000 It's a ministry. 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:32.780 You sometimes some people, laypeople, or even religious that need money in order to be able to do the ministry will charge something. 00:27:33.945 --> 00:27:35.545 But, yeah, it's not a career. 00:27:35.545 --> 00:27:37.465 You really can't make a career out of this. 00:27:37.465 --> 00:27:38.605 It's really a ministry. 00:27:38.905 --> 00:27:46.285 But sometimes people do donate to people that give spiritual direction, or you can ask for a, you know, a stipend or pay. 00:27:46.665 --> 00:27:47.165 No? 00:27:48.970 --> 00:27:51.390 Are Canadians well welcome to take the program? 00:27:51.610 --> 00:27:52.350 Of course. 00:27:52.810 --> 00:27:55.390 We are we do have Canadians in the program. 00:27:57.610 --> 00:27:59.950 Is spiritual direction growing in demand? 00:28:01.235 --> 00:28:01.715 Yes. 00:28:01.715 --> 00:28:02.215 Definitely. 00:28:02.595 --> 00:28:07.655 Since the nineties, spiritual direction, has been growing. 00:28:09.475 --> 00:28:26.530 A lot can at least within the Catholic church could be traced back to Vatican two where they really made it clear that all people are called to holiness, and it's not just that religious or priests or have, that ability to be holy, but that all people are called to that. 00:28:26.990 --> 00:28:38.405 And, Benedict Pope Benedict has a beautiful quote that he said in 2011 saying, every Christian that wants to follow Jesus more closely, he should have a spiritual director. 00:28:38.405 --> 00:28:46.460 So and, yes, since COVID, spiritual direction has, been opened up to do more virtually. 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:48.680 So, you know, I am a spiritual director. 00:28:48.680 --> 00:28:53.020 I would say I probably see half of my people in person and half of them virtually. 00:28:58.865 --> 00:29:02.005 Do people come to spirit laypeople for spiritual direction? 00:29:02.145 --> 00:29:02.625 Yes. 00:29:02.625 --> 00:29:03.125 Definitely. 00:29:03.745 --> 00:29:19.250 I mean, the way that the church understands it, there's a beautiful number in the catechism of the Catholic church saying that, you know, spiritual directors are servants of prayer, and there are men and women that are gifted with the gift of discernment and listening. 00:29:19.950 --> 00:29:24.910 So, the Catholic church has always understood that there can be lay spiritual directors. 00:29:24.910 --> 00:29:31.285 In fact, John Paul the second's first spiritual director was a layman, and he introduced him to mystical prayer. 00:29:31.285 --> 00:29:47.480 So, and there's just great examples, especially the early fathers and desert fathers and mothers, and there's a lot of a lot of lay good spiritual directors even though the tradition of spiritual direction was developed more in the monastic tradition. 00:29:47.540 --> 00:29:56.995 That's why we associate it with priests and nuns, but it definitely has always existed since the time of Jesus and the apostles. 00:29:56.995 --> 00:30:02.945 And the apostles were spiritual directors and the disciples and right. 00:30:05.030 --> 00:30:05.930 Thanks, Joe. 00:30:05.990 --> 00:30:08.330 Glad that that was a great answer for you. 00:30:09.030 --> 00:30:11.130 Are there grant scholarships or sponsorships? 00:30:11.990 --> 00:30:13.610 Well, you know, it is a ministry. 00:30:16.230 --> 00:30:19.775 So it's not like we have a lot of money. 00:30:19.775 --> 00:30:24.035 We pretty much, you know, the money that we make, we've invested into the program. 00:30:24.575 --> 00:30:28.435 We've you know, as any college, we don't make money for money's sake. 00:30:29.420 --> 00:30:30.540 So we don't really. 00:30:30.540 --> 00:30:40.320 There are, if you look on the DMU website, there's, under the financial aid, there's a there's a tab that says tuition partners. 00:30:40.380 --> 00:30:45.040 So there are organizations and diocese that have made partnerships with us. 00:30:45.285 --> 00:31:00.265 And if you belong to any of those, like FOCUS or Saint Paul's Outreach or, you know, diocese of certain diocese, the military diocese, you get a 10% discount on the courses. 00:31:09.660 --> 00:31:11.580 Elizabeth, I'm interested in certificate. 00:31:11.580 --> 00:31:13.100 I'm enrolled with a two year college. 00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:14.320 I find this important. 00:31:15.180 --> 00:31:15.500 Good. 00:31:15.500 --> 00:31:16.320 Thank you. 00:31:20.595 --> 00:31:22.915 Any scholarships available to okay. 00:31:22.915 --> 00:31:25.255 So, Doug, I hope that that answered your question. 00:31:30.840 --> 00:31:35.820 Mary, about the five day vacation exercises that offered at DMOU or where can it be done? 00:31:36.920 --> 00:31:37.400 Yeah. 00:31:37.400 --> 00:31:37.640 No. 00:31:37.640 --> 00:31:38.940 We don't offer it. 00:31:39.080 --> 00:31:41.900 It doesn't necessarily have to be done in person. 00:31:42.935 --> 00:31:45.255 You should be able to find things by you. 00:31:45.255 --> 00:31:55.575 There is a place, there is a place here in in DC, Our Lady of Bethesda Retreat Center that offers this. 00:31:55.575 --> 00:31:58.520 So that's some place that we can recommend to you. 00:31:58.520 --> 00:31:59.880 Usually, I just help people. 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:03.820 If they need help finding it, I try to connect them to different possibilities. 00:32:03.960 --> 00:32:12.785 There's also a possibility to do what's called the spiritual exercises in daily life, which is a little bit longer retreat, but allows you to do it at your home. 00:32:12.785 --> 00:32:14.965 It's sometimes called the nineteenth annotation. 00:32:16.305 --> 00:32:21.285 I also could direct you in the direction of that if you're interested in that. 00:32:23.200 --> 00:32:24.580 Do priests, Sunday. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:27.040 Do priests need a pastor's recommendation too? 00:32:27.040 --> 00:32:42.265 What we ask from priests or religious brothers and sisters is that they get a recommendation from the person that oversees them, like a priest, that they would get a recommendation from the person that oversees their ministry in the diocese. 00:32:42.725 --> 00:32:47.845 If you're a pastor, sometimes it's someone that, might be auxiliary bishop. 00:32:47.845 --> 00:32:54.000 It might be, another priest that has been asked to take that charge by your bishop. 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:57.780 So, it's a little bit different if you're a priest or religious. 00:32:57.840 --> 00:33:02.340 We always ask that to be kind of from your superior or the person that oversees your ministry. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:04.580 Hope that helps you Sunday. 00:33:07.115 --> 00:33:13.055 Would offering spiritual direction be a good complement to an existing practice in biblical counseling and Christian coaching? 00:33:13.515 --> 00:33:17.215 I would think so, and we definitely have students that do both things. 00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:28.460 Coaching is different because it has a very problem solution aspect to it, where spiritual direction is a very contemplative deep listening, atmosphere. 00:33:34.115 --> 00:33:38.695 Charles, would the diocese where one wants to practice need to approve? 00:33:38.755 --> 00:33:42.535 So it's different in every diocese, Charles. 00:33:42.755 --> 00:33:53.150 That's why from the beginning, we want you talking to your parish priest if you are a Catholic, because our certificate gives you a certificate. 00:33:53.150 --> 00:33:55.010 It's called a certificate of completion. 00:33:55.070 --> 00:33:57.890 It shows that you've been trained as a spiritual director. 00:33:58.270 --> 00:34:05.585 But our certificate is not about approving you to be a spiritual director for your local community. 00:34:05.585 --> 00:34:08.945 That really needs to be done by the people that are the leaders there. 00:34:08.945 --> 00:34:15.660 So some diocese get involved, like in South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. 00:34:15.660 --> 00:34:18.140 Some they have an office of spiritual director. 00:34:18.140 --> 00:34:20.800 Some diocese get involved in vetting spiritual directors. 00:34:21.180 --> 00:34:25.340 Some diocese do not, and the parish priest just kinda vets them. 00:34:25.340 --> 00:34:28.160 So it really kinda depends on where you are. 00:34:29.695 --> 00:34:31.235 I hope that answers that. 00:34:35.295 --> 00:34:38.275 Does do you need a spiritual director during the program? 00:34:38.335 --> 00:34:40.095 So that's an interesting question. 00:34:40.095 --> 00:34:41.875 Thanks so much for asking that. 00:34:42.495 --> 00:34:53.130 To get into the program, you do not need a spiritual director, but we ask you to have one by the time that you finish the first course, and to be in spiritual direction. 00:34:53.190 --> 00:34:58.330 We really believe that in order to guide others, you need to be guided yourself. 00:34:58.665 --> 00:35:01.545 To be discipled, you need to be discipled yourself. 00:35:01.545 --> 00:35:05.485 So, that's something that we teach throughout the whole program. 00:35:06.025 --> 00:35:10.765 So we ask you you can get into the program, but you need to have them by the end of the first course. 00:35:11.480 --> 00:35:14.920 The teachers in the first course usually can help you. 00:35:14.920 --> 00:35:15.900 They have resources. 00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:19.080 We've worked with them so that they have resources to give you. 00:35:19.080 --> 00:35:29.595 They can tell you about websites, or maybe they're in your area, and they could tell you about people that they know, which is kind of, really depends on where you are. 00:35:32.695 --> 00:35:33.415 Great questions. 00:35:33.415 --> 00:35:35.355 Thanks so much for all this. 00:35:39.400 --> 00:35:41.500 Let me see here if there's any ones. 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:43.740 Elizabeth said mom. 00:35:44.040 --> 00:35:46.280 Oh, okay. 00:35:46.280 --> 00:35:46.760 So sorry. 00:35:46.760 --> 00:35:47.640 Let me go by. 00:35:47.640 --> 00:35:47.880 Okay. 00:35:47.880 --> 00:35:51.985 So the scholarships and financial aid I told you, does you need okay. 00:35:51.985 --> 00:35:52.465 Thanks. 00:35:52.465 --> 00:35:54.565 How many graduates have completed the program? 00:35:55.265 --> 00:36:05.765 The program was launched in January 2019, and as of today, there are 220. 00:36:08.950 --> 00:36:12.410 The Julia, what platform is spiritual direction offered on? 00:36:12.550 --> 00:36:15.930 Oh, like giving spiritual direction or the courses? 00:36:16.070 --> 00:36:18.890 The courses are offered on a platform that's called Canvas. 00:36:19.645 --> 00:36:23.345 That's a learning management system that we use to offer you the courses. 00:36:24.445 --> 00:36:32.065 Spiritual direction, if you give it online, I really it really depends on the platform that you use to you choose to use. 00:36:34.540 --> 00:36:34.860 Okay. 00:36:34.860 --> 00:36:39.280 Let's see if I have answered all of your questions. 00:36:42.380 --> 00:36:50.975 This is why I love having you all ask questions because I don't know if I can remember all these things that you'd be asking and just to have these questions. 00:36:50.975 --> 00:36:54.515 And, also, they're the particular interests you all have. 00:37:08.830 --> 00:37:09.330 Donald. 00:37:09.390 --> 00:37:11.230 So I answer how many graduates there are? 00:37:11.230 --> 00:37:12.030 220. 00:37:12.030 --> 00:37:13.070 How old is the program? 00:37:13.070 --> 00:37:14.610 January 2019. 00:37:15.125 --> 00:37:23.305 The legion of Christ has been ever since the university was founded in '20 in 1999. 00:37:23.605 --> 00:37:31.560 That that's how the I was surrounded by a group of lay Catholic and Christian psychologists and counselors, and they asked the legionaries. 00:37:32.100 --> 00:37:37.000 They approached the legionaries to be because they needed to be sponsored as a Catholic institution. 00:37:37.140 --> 00:37:44.975 You'd either be sponsor, you know, be a diocesan college, or university, or be under the sponsorship of a congregation. 00:37:45.835 --> 00:37:48.575 So that's how long that's been. 00:37:52.955 --> 00:37:55.630 I'm not sure how to I'm thinking of becoming a religious teacher. 00:37:55.630 --> 00:37:58.610 Do you think it's necessary or would I need to be looking to something? 00:37:58.670 --> 00:37:59.170 Yeah. 00:38:00.110 --> 00:38:11.865 So, I mean, we do have theology teachers, especially high school theology teachers that start studying this, because they want to start giving spiritual direction not to their students. 00:38:12.245 --> 00:38:23.340 This program is not to give spiritual direction to some minors, but, because they wanna start working with college students or to kinda branch out and do a little bit more with their, theology. 00:38:23.800 --> 00:38:33.260 But I think if you're looking to be a religious teacher, it probably is better to start studying maybe education and, you know, religious education. 00:38:36.865 --> 00:38:41.845 If you're a man, should you seek a man spiritual director or does gender of the director matter? 00:38:41.985 --> 00:38:59.330 What matters is your ability to trust the director and build a relationship of trust And that that person allows you gives you the opportunity to you know, the way that they create the sessions allows you to be able to, you know, get in contact with the Lord. 00:38:59.330 --> 00:39:02.790 So and it kinda depends on seasons of life. 00:39:03.010 --> 00:39:03.375 You know? 00:39:04.415 --> 00:39:07.935 It's not like you find one spiritual director and stay with them for your whole life. 00:39:07.935 --> 00:39:14.015 It really depends on what you're needing and, you know, that that the type of person. 00:39:14.015 --> 00:39:18.920 It really has to do with the type of person and even their knowledge and the way that they are. 00:39:18.920 --> 00:39:29.740 It is important that you feel like you're in a safe place with them and you can trust them and that there's not a lot of distractions that you can really just focus on your relationship with the Lord. 00:39:30.785 --> 00:39:32.245 Hope that answers that. 00:39:37.185 --> 00:39:39.845 Well, that looks like it's all the questions. 00:39:47.740 --> 00:39:49.200 Julia, thanks so much. 00:39:50.460 --> 00:39:52.880 Joe, repeat when the residencies are. 00:39:52.940 --> 00:39:56.620 So, Joe, the residencies really depends. 00:39:56.620 --> 00:40:02.345 They're always in the begin the end of the third course and the beginning of the fifth course. 00:40:02.725 --> 00:40:06.645 So it really depends when you start the program when they'll actually be. 00:40:06.645 --> 00:40:14.025 We can we plan the residencies at least a year out, so we can definitely give you those dates, but it really depends on when you start. 00:40:18.140 --> 00:40:18.300 No. 00:40:18.300 --> 00:40:20.000 Doug, great question. 00:40:20.140 --> 00:40:21.840 Does the tuition include books? 00:40:22.700 --> 00:40:23.260 So good. 00:40:23.260 --> 00:40:24.000 Thank you. 00:40:24.300 --> 00:40:28.060 Most of the books and materials are online, and you don't have to buy them. 00:40:28.060 --> 00:40:28.620 They're there. 00:40:28.620 --> 00:40:35.985 We've already paid for them, and they're on the online platform, and we have permission to be using them and for you to be using them. 00:40:36.205 --> 00:40:44.200 We do ask you when you enter in the program to buy four books, and they probably cost maybe at the most a $100. 00:40:44.580 --> 00:40:49.060 And we do ask for the for the fourth course for you to buy. 00:40:49.060 --> 00:40:49.940 He leadeth me. 00:40:49.940 --> 00:40:54.280 So altogether, I think the books were, like, a $100, really not more than that. 00:40:55.605 --> 00:40:56.485 Thanks, Doug. 00:40:56.485 --> 00:40:59.305 I always forget to tell about talk about that. 00:40:59.765 --> 00:41:00.485 Thank you. 00:41:00.485 --> 00:41:03.365 We're coming up to to forty five minutes. 00:41:03.365 --> 00:41:06.265 Just wanna make sure that I've answered all the questions. 00:41:07.200 --> 00:41:15.140 I do want to let you know that I am still we still have some seats open for the May 21. 00:41:15.920 --> 00:41:17.680 And I if you're like, gosh. 00:41:17.680 --> 00:41:20.240 I wanna start, but I don't know if I can do it in that amount of time. 00:41:20.240 --> 00:41:20.720 Don't worry. 00:41:20.720 --> 00:41:23.825 I'll work with you, and help you through the process. 00:41:23.825 --> 00:41:25.445 That's part of what I do. 00:41:27.185 --> 00:41:28.145 It's not as hard. 00:41:28.145 --> 00:41:34.110 And if you're feeling that this is the time for you, somewhere sometimes is a good time to get in something like this. 00:41:34.910 --> 00:41:38.210 As I said, we do have some more seats still open. 00:41:39.870 --> 00:41:59.805 And if you are wanting to apply to the program, just because you came to the webinar, I will give you a code, that you use so as to waive the application fee. 00:41:59.805 --> 00:42:02.545 The application fee is usually $25. 00:42:02.990 --> 00:42:09.330 But if you get in touch with me and ask me for that code, I'm putting my email there in the chat. 00:42:10.110 --> 00:42:11.570 It's also on the website. 00:42:12.110 --> 00:42:15.730 I can give you the code so as to waive your application fee. 00:42:19.935 --> 00:42:21.855 Just to make it a little bit easier for you. 00:42:21.855 --> 00:42:25.395 And it's kind of a little thank you for coming to this webinar. 00:42:26.255 --> 00:42:28.755 So I hope you've seen my email there. 00:42:32.840 --> 00:42:40.220 It is on the website too and pretty much on any of the emails that go out, that have to do with the program. 00:42:41.320 --> 00:42:43.820 I would love to talk to you. 00:42:44.395 --> 00:42:51.855 If you are interested, I know that sometimes you have questions that you just need to get or things that you wanna talk about more personally. 00:42:51.915 --> 00:42:53.455 So please reach out to me. 00:42:53.995 --> 00:42:55.615 I would love to talk to you. 00:42:55.915 --> 00:42:59.135 I'm trying to remember my work phone number. 00:43:01.870 --> 00:43:04.370 If you need that, it's 703. 00:43:04.990 --> 00:43:08.690 I spend my days telling people this, but I don't have it memorized. 00:43:10.510 --> 00:43:12.370 Let me just pull it up here. 00:43:15.555 --> 00:43:17.735 703348. 00:43:20.995 --> 00:43:21.975 383. 00:43:22.435 --> 00:43:24.615 So there it is also in the chat. 00:43:27.860 --> 00:43:30.840 Well, I hope this this has been informative to you. 00:43:31.140 --> 00:43:34.020 Len, did you have a question that you wanted to ask? 00:43:34.020 --> 00:43:36.120 I see you've got your hand raised. 00:43:37.860 --> 00:43:40.100 You could just put it in that q and a box. 00:43:40.100 --> 00:43:41.240 That would be great. 00:43:51.485 --> 00:43:53.105 Thank you so much. 00:43:53.645 --> 00:43:54.365 Phone number. 00:43:54.365 --> 00:43:56.065 Are you not seeing it, Don? 00:43:56.590 --> 00:43:57.070 Oh, gosh. 00:43:57.070 --> 00:43:58.910 You don't see the number or the email? 00:43:58.910 --> 00:43:59.790 That's so strange. 00:43:59.790 --> 00:44:03.230 It's in the chat, Len, where you just put that. 00:44:03.230 --> 00:44:04.690 It's up above there. 00:44:04.750 --> 00:44:05.970 Here it is again. 00:44:06.830 --> 00:44:08.210 It's also on the website. 00:44:08.270 --> 00:44:15.515 If you go to divinemercy.edu and look up spiritual direction certificate, you will find it. 00:44:20.535 --> 00:44:21.575 It's in the chat. 00:44:21.575 --> 00:44:26.010 Like, where you guys put your where you chatted to put your names? 00:44:31.430 --> 00:44:33.930 I can I can tell you again? 00:44:36.070 --> 00:44:51.015 So the the my email is mbracket,bracke,tt,@divinemercy.edu, and my phone number is (703) 385-8385. 00:44:53.300 --> 00:44:53.960 Got it? 00:44:58.340 --> 00:44:59.400 Thank you all. 00:45:00.340 --> 00:45:01.480 God bless you. 00:45:02.180 --> 00:45:02.920 Take care.