WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:11.860 We try to run these webinars on the first Thursday of each month at eight 08:00PM Eastern Standard Time, just to be able to give some information about the program. 00:00:12.795 --> 00:00:20.255 Sometimes when I'm able, I try to get a faculty member or an alumni or a student on with me to talk about the program. 00:00:20.555 --> 00:00:22.015 My name is Maria Brackett. 00:00:22.075 --> 00:00:27.055 I'm the director of the spiritual direction certificate here at Divine Mercy University. 00:00:28.490 --> 00:00:31.550 Have a pleasure to be to have this great job. 00:00:31.610 --> 00:00:38.090 So I'm a spiritual director myself, and, and I enjoy I enjoy it. 00:00:38.090 --> 00:00:43.985 It's a beautiful ministry, and I enjoy helping others also to become a spiritual director. 00:00:43.985 --> 00:00:44.805 So welcome. 00:00:44.865 --> 00:00:46.245 Great to have you here. 00:00:46.625 --> 00:00:47.685 Let's get started. 00:00:47.745 --> 00:00:55.765 As I was saying, if you have any questions that come up, please put them in the q and a box, and I'll answer them at the end end of the webinar. 00:00:58.480 --> 00:01:02.400 But just, you know, put them right there as they come to you so that you don't forget. 00:01:02.400 --> 00:01:02.720 Right? 00:01:02.720 --> 00:01:03.760 So we can get to that. 00:01:03.760 --> 00:01:05.520 I will leave some time at the end. 00:01:05.520 --> 00:01:15.705 This is what we're gonna cover tonight, to the, you know, who we are as a university, what is spiritual direction about our program, time frame intuition, and how to apply. 00:01:17.765 --> 00:01:33.760 Divine Mercy University actually is celebrating twenty five years this year as a university started by a group of Catholics and Christians in the human sciences, the field of psychology and counseling, who really wanted to integrate faith and science. 00:01:36.605 --> 00:01:40.865 And these laypeople got together and founded this university. 00:01:43.565 --> 00:01:55.610 And as they were doing it, they realized that one of the things that was missing from the field of psychology was an articulation of the Catholic Christian understanding of the human person. 00:01:56.150 --> 00:01:59.530 So that's really has become the heart of the work of the university. 00:02:01.030 --> 00:02:02.810 They published a book. 00:02:03.105 --> 00:02:29.100 We published a book in 2020, that's called the Catholic Christian meta model of the human person, which talks about which says Catholic philosophy, theology, and the human sciences, and talks about who the human person is and all their different aspects and how they can fulfill find fulfillment in what we call flourishing and in human existence. 00:02:30.945 --> 00:02:35.605 So it's a joy for me and a great honor, truthfully, to work at the university. 00:02:36.225 --> 00:02:42.085 I started working with the university back in 2016 when we designed the spiritual direction certificate. 00:02:42.705 --> 00:02:47.450 And in 2020, I came on as the director of the spiritual direction certificate. 00:02:48.230 --> 00:02:51.450 We're in our sixth year now as a certificate. 00:02:51.750 --> 00:02:59.875 We've graduated, a 175 students at this point in time, so it's pretty exciting. 00:03:01.855 --> 00:03:15.420 The university itself has all the accreditations that is needed for a university as well as those that are needed for a university that teaches counseling and psychology and grants those degrees. 00:03:17.640 --> 00:03:22.220 So you can be sure that the university is, a good university. 00:03:22.280 --> 00:03:34.505 And just recently, the the Newman Guide just started working with universities and approved our university. 00:03:34.805 --> 00:03:37.525 So that's just a great honor for us. 00:03:37.525 --> 00:03:41.705 Those that are Catholic probably are very familiar with that organization. 00:03:47.020 --> 00:03:59.775 I always like to talk about what spiritual direction is and kind of how we understand it right from the get go because I think it's important all of you that are looking to be trained as spiritual directors or looking into this ministry. 00:04:00.155 --> 00:04:02.475 I think it's probably a question that you have. 00:04:02.475 --> 00:04:08.735 You're you're probably looking for a training program that has a very similar understanding that you have to spiritual direction. 00:04:09.720 --> 00:04:12.840 Of course, our understanding of spiritual direction is nothing new. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:29.225 We really, really kind of embed it within the Catholic tradition, being a Catholic university ourselves, and and really just try to share the richness of that tradition of spiritual direction. 00:04:29.225 --> 00:04:42.360 The Catholic church really has the oldest tradition of spiritual direction, and everyone will tell you that because it's kind of where it was born, within the monastic tradition. 00:04:44.180 --> 00:04:46.980 So, what is spiritual direction? 00:04:46.980 --> 00:04:48.260 How we do understand it? 00:04:48.260 --> 00:04:53.615 We understand it as a type of accompaniment, assisting people on their path to the Lord. 00:04:55.275 --> 00:05:04.255 Needless to say, it is one on one relationship sitting with someone, listening to them, helping them to grow in their relationship with the Lord. 00:05:04.750 --> 00:05:10.450 See acts of being there for that person and service both to them and to the Lord. 00:05:11.470 --> 00:05:12.370 Deep listening. 00:05:12.990 --> 00:05:16.930 And, again, deep listening to the person and deep listening to the Lord. 00:05:18.055 --> 00:05:28.395 And really trying to help that person, that direct deed to deepen in their experience of the Lord and his narrative or how he might be present in their lives. 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:37.600 The goal really is to help a person in their pilgrimage here on this earth to grow closer to God. 00:05:38.060 --> 00:05:40.000 It's not designed as therapy. 00:05:41.820 --> 00:05:44.325 It's definitely not mental health counseling. 00:05:44.785 --> 00:05:46.805 It's not therapy of any sort. 00:05:47.105 --> 00:05:51.605 It's really designed as a walking with someone as they walk with the Lord. 00:05:53.505 --> 00:06:01.870 It can be a type of formation because as we are discipled by the Lord and walk with him, of course, he's a great teacher and he's always teaching us. 00:06:01.870 --> 00:06:06.130 So someone that is trying to follow him will learn from him. 00:06:06.190 --> 00:06:18.025 And there are moments and spiritual direction where you might illuminate or just illuminate is a big word, but, you know, teach a little bit about something if you feel like the directee might need that. 00:06:18.025 --> 00:06:23.325 I often just, refer them to resources where I think they can find helpful information. 00:06:26.780 --> 00:06:28.380 What spiritual direction is not? 00:06:28.380 --> 00:06:30.380 Well, I said it's not therapy. 00:06:30.380 --> 00:06:39.360 Therapy is really, geared to human functioning difficulties, or human, health mental health issues. 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:40.000 Right? 00:06:41.185 --> 00:06:46.165 But spiritual direction is really about faith, and the walk of faith. 00:06:48.225 --> 00:06:54.270 It you know, catechists or teaching, that's a classes or type of formation that you go to. 00:06:54.270 --> 00:07:04.690 And it's very intro helpful and important for our faith life, because we need to eliminate our intelligence to help us to grow in our faith. 00:07:06.705 --> 00:07:12.405 But this really is more of a listening, a walking with that kinda accompaniment. 00:07:13.985 --> 00:07:21.125 Evangelization also is a really noble ministry with a purpose of proclaiming the gospel to those who might not have faith. 00:07:21.500 --> 00:07:28.320 And spiritual direction and contrast is for those people who who do have faith and wanna deepen in that faith. 00:07:32.300 --> 00:07:50.980 Some I call this slide myths about spiritual direction spiritual direction within the Catholic church and also within the Christian tradition really grew up through the monastic. 00:07:51.920 --> 00:07:54.340 Well, at first, it was Jesus with his apostles. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:07:54.980 Right? 00:07:55.040 --> 00:08:00.000 And then the apostles going out and, doing this with others. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:00.500 Right? 00:08:01.040 --> 00:08:12.375 And then we have the the early desert mothers and fathers, right, where people would go out to the desert and get, seek spiritual counsel from them. 00:08:12.375 --> 00:08:19.410 But very quickly, it became associated with monastic life and, therefore, associated with clerical life. 00:08:19.890 --> 00:08:20.390 Right? 00:08:20.850 --> 00:08:25.590 And so that's why it's kind of natural as for us to assume that all priests are spiritual directors. 00:08:26.210 --> 00:08:34.525 But in 2011, the Catholic church came out with this document that's called the priest minister divine mercy and aid for confessors and spiritual directors. 00:08:34.525 --> 00:08:41.625 And it talks about how even priests need training to be spiritual directors. 00:08:41.685 --> 00:08:42.185 Right? 00:08:43.445 --> 00:08:48.950 So the understanding of the church is that a priest definitely is trained to give spiritual counsel. 00:08:48.950 --> 00:08:54.650 That's what they give when they go when you go to, confession often. 00:08:55.110 --> 00:09:00.410 Or if you just ask a priest, you know, for a meeting to talk, that's what he'll be doing. 00:09:00.575 --> 00:09:05.395 But spiritual direction is really building a relationship and especially helping someone to discern. 00:09:06.495 --> 00:09:20.620 So the church really in that document says, you know, that there is a need for greater preparation to afford the the priest's ability to for diligence, discernment, and spiritual accompaniment. 00:09:21.160 --> 00:09:27.980 And in that same document, myth number two that laypeople cannot be spiritual directors is also talked about. 00:09:29.375 --> 00:09:44.835 And it says, you know, while spiritual direction was always imparted by monks and priests, other members of the faithful, religious and lay, Saint Catherine of Sienna, for example, who was not a religious, who was a lay woman, have also given spiritual counsel. 00:09:45.270 --> 00:09:53.290 They are to found also well formed lay people, both men and women, who offer this this service and counsel along the journey of holiness. 00:09:54.870 --> 00:10:03.705 I like to point out always that the, you know, the first spiritual director that Pope John Paul the second had was a layman, Jan Tranowski. 00:10:04.165 --> 00:10:04.405 Right? 00:10:04.405 --> 00:10:13.530 And he's the one that taught John Paul the second about mystical prayer and began journeying with him in that in that beautiful tradition of prayer. 00:10:14.710 --> 00:10:23.610 And oftentimes people are looking for someone that lives the same vocation that they live or, can understand their reality a little bit more. 00:10:24.645 --> 00:10:30.725 So that's why, you know, a layperson, is someone that can practice this ministry. 00:10:30.725 --> 00:10:35.625 So don't feel strange if you are a layperson and you're feeling called to this or moved to this. 00:10:35.765 --> 00:10:37.705 There's definitely a place for it. 00:10:38.420 --> 00:10:45.000 Myth number three just talks about Catholic parishes or diocese or faith communities, Christian faith communities. 00:10:46.580 --> 00:10:48.760 Why don't they can they not have offices? 00:10:48.900 --> 00:10:50.100 Can they not recommend? 00:10:50.100 --> 00:10:52.360 Can they not have a list of spiritual directors? 00:10:52.740 --> 00:11:15.640 And this also is addressed in this document that know that there can be, that these these diocese or offices can have, you know, they can oversee spiritual direction, and, they can offer spiritual directors to their community. 00:11:15.780 --> 00:11:17.460 It does take a little bit of work. 00:11:17.460 --> 00:11:29.235 I think that's on sometimes why diocese just don't get that wrap their arms around that, but they definitely can do that, and parishes can too or other, you know, faith communities. 00:11:31.295 --> 00:11:36.035 So let's talk about, the program itself. 00:11:36.255 --> 00:11:36.755 Right? 00:11:39.750 --> 00:11:50.810 The program itself is a six course program, with two residencies that occur here in Sterling, Virginia at the university. 00:11:51.515 --> 00:11:59.695 So that does mean that everything is online, but you do have to come to Sterling twice in the time that you're taking the program. 00:11:59.995 --> 00:12:13.430 We've made that that those residencies as short as we can, but we do feel like they're necessary for your training because there's just some things that can't be done online. 00:12:15.890 --> 00:12:20.790 So I'll talk about those residencies and the practicum hours a little bit further along. 00:12:21.355 --> 00:12:25.135 But the so it's six courses, and they are asynchronous. 00:12:25.355 --> 00:12:26.575 And what does that mean? 00:12:26.955 --> 00:12:32.655 That means that you don't have to get on at a certain time to do a class. 00:12:33.275 --> 00:12:40.770 You you go through the material with a cohort, with a group of people, and you have weekly deadlines. 00:12:40.990 --> 00:12:45.090 And if you meet those weekly deadlines, that's what you need to be doing. 00:12:46.030 --> 00:12:55.315 In the first two classes, we offer weekly meetings where the instructor gets online with you. 00:12:55.455 --> 00:12:59.395 And you can go to those, or there's another way to do that assignment. 00:12:59.855 --> 00:13:06.710 But we do offer them because there is that need for connection, and we've seen that it's really helpful for our students to have it. 00:13:06.710 --> 00:13:13.850 When you go into the third course and the fourth course, you still have those, but they're less because you're doing more of other type of work. 00:13:15.190 --> 00:13:21.770 And then the fifth and the sixth course, you don't have them because you're meeting for other reasons and doing other things. 00:13:25.965 --> 00:13:27.585 So these are the six courses. 00:13:28.045 --> 00:13:34.945 I just wanna say that these are also on our website, divinemercy.edu. 00:13:35.370 --> 00:13:41.470 And you just look under academics, find the spiritual direction certificate, and there you can find these courses. 00:13:43.450 --> 00:13:51.075 The course descriptions are what are on the website and might be important for you because I can give you just a general idea of each course. 00:13:51.075 --> 00:13:57.335 But if you really want to see kind of a summary of the syllabus, go online and you'll find it there. 00:13:57.875 --> 00:13:59.255 So there are six courses. 00:13:59.715 --> 00:14:09.620 Basically, we're we dedicate it to, the certificate to you learning the knowledge and the skills needed to be a spiritual director. 00:14:09.680 --> 00:14:10.180 Right? 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:20.295 So it's a mixture of spiritual theology, and understanding of the human person, and the skills that you would need to sit with someone. 00:14:22.035 --> 00:14:33.260 So life in Christ and spiritual direction just introduces you to the whole tradition of spiritual direction and the place that it has and a believer's growth in the Lord. 00:14:33.640 --> 00:14:41.020 The second one of the 200 is about human development and human relationships and for spiritual direction. 00:14:41.800 --> 00:15:01.700 So that is really a human development course and just helping you to understand relating skills, and this is where we have the residencies. 00:15:03.520 --> 00:15:05.680 The resident 300 is at the end. 00:15:05.680 --> 00:15:08.340 The residency in 500 is at the beginning. 00:15:09.600 --> 00:15:30.120 And so both of these courses are dedicated to teaching you the skills that you would need all the way from, like, how to start a spiritual direction relationship to how to, kinda configure the session, how to work through the session, how to build the the spiritual direction relationship over time. 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:31.940 Right? 00:15:31.940 --> 00:15:38.680 So just a lot of themes, and we do when you come to the residency, I'll explain those a little bit later, but we do a lot of practicing. 00:15:39.380 --> 00:16:01.310 400 is discernment and spiritual growth, really about, what this is like and listening to the good shepherd, listen listening to the voice of the good shepherd, listening to the voice of of the thief and trying to discern between those, and also Saint Ignatius and some of the big hitters and and understanding of discernment. 00:16:03.690 --> 00:16:21.765 500, I explained that then 600 really is kind of advanced prayer situations that might come up that, you know, someone that might have maybe mental illness and seeking spiritual direction or going through a period of grieving or things like that. 00:16:21.985 --> 00:16:27.030 Just how to work, with those people and how to maybe recognize and refer. 00:16:27.030 --> 00:16:36.490 And and if they need someone else, maybe they maybe they need therapy, maybe they need some other type of support, that you wouldn't be able to give them as a spiritual director. 00:16:36.950 --> 00:16:45.505 500 600 both have a lot of coaching in them because, you start doing your practicum at at the beginning of 500. 00:16:45.505 --> 00:16:47.905 That means you start seeing people in spiritual directions. 00:16:47.905 --> 00:16:58.810 So five hundred and six hundred have a lot of supervision sessions with your instructors to kinda pull apart that experience that you're having and coach you through it. 00:17:00.550 --> 00:17:01.530 So the residencies. 00:17:01.830 --> 00:17:04.250 As I mentioned before, there's two of them. 00:17:04.310 --> 00:17:06.330 They take place here in Sterling, Virginia. 00:17:07.110 --> 00:17:28.120 That's ability to put into practice the skills and the knowledge that you've been getting under the supervision of spiritual directors and therapists that, we always have in our residencies two leaders, one from the theology side and one from the therapeutic side, kind of just human science side. 00:17:28.300 --> 00:17:30.880 Not because we think that spiritual direction is therapy. 00:17:31.020 --> 00:17:31.340 Right? 00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:38.460 But because what we want therapists there just to help you and what you're experiencing, if there's any need for that. 00:17:38.460 --> 00:17:48.555 But, also, we all come together as a faith community to kind of just learn from me learn from them the skills that are needed to listen. 00:17:48.555 --> 00:17:57.780 They're you know, we share these these one on one relationship share often the same skills, and so that's what we're learning from them. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:12.975 And as I said, the first residency is at the end of the third course or the third term, and the second residency is at the beginning of the fifth class or the fifth term. 00:18:14.475 --> 00:18:18.255 As I mentioned before, it takes you two years to go through this program. 00:18:19.915 --> 00:18:26.030 So let's talk a little bit about terms because when we think about college and university, we usually think about semesters. 00:18:26.170 --> 00:18:32.430 But here at the university, we often run our online courses in terms. 00:18:32.570 --> 00:18:37.635 So it means that every semester usually has two terms. 00:18:37.635 --> 00:18:41.575 There's the fall semester, the spring semester, and the summer semester. 00:18:42.595 --> 00:18:46.215 Each term is eight weeks, so each class is eight weeks. 00:18:47.955 --> 00:18:55.450 It usually typically requires you six to ten hours of work per week at when you're in class. 00:18:57.670 --> 00:18:59.850 We offer three terms a year. 00:19:00.230 --> 00:19:04.170 I have a little calendar here to kinda show you how that works. 00:19:04.870 --> 00:19:19.415 And we, and there's usually a break about ten to six to ten weeks between each term, and you complete the course, the certificate in two years. 00:19:23.790 --> 00:19:28.930 So here's here's just to give you shows you just how our academic years work. 00:19:29.470 --> 00:19:33.570 So, three so there's three eight week terms per year. 00:19:33.950 --> 00:19:34.990 There's a spring term. 00:19:34.990 --> 00:19:40.935 In fact, we have one starting right now, January 8, and I do have spots open for that. 00:19:40.935 --> 00:19:51.680 So if anyone's interested in that, I'm I'm gonna be giving you my information and, information of an admission adviser that that helps me. 00:19:52.540 --> 00:19:56.800 We would love to talk to you, and if you're interested, get you started in January. 00:19:57.340 --> 00:20:00.620 So there's a spring term that begins in early January. 00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:04.075 This year begins at January 8 and ends in early March. 00:20:04.075 --> 00:20:12.335 There's a summer term that begins in late May and ends in mid July, and there's a fall term that begins in late August and ends in mid October. 00:20:13.195 --> 00:20:18.680 So this means that you can come into the program at any of those terms. 00:20:19.380 --> 00:20:19.880 Right? 00:20:19.940 --> 00:20:22.360 So we have three entry points a year. 00:20:22.580 --> 00:20:26.740 And then, basically, you see when the breaks are on the other side here. 00:20:26.740 --> 00:20:27.140 Right? 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:29.880 And just shows you when there's downtime. 00:20:30.225 --> 00:20:32.385 So there is a considerable amount of downtime. 00:20:32.385 --> 00:20:43.470 This is very doable with, a job or other things that you're doing, you know, ministry or and it's beautiful. 00:20:43.470 --> 00:20:50.370 It gives you a whole community of people that just kind of support and journey with you, the the your fellow students in the cohort. 00:20:55.085 --> 00:20:57.345 So what is the cost for the program? 00:20:57.965 --> 00:21:00.625 Well, each course costs $800. 00:21:01.405 --> 00:21:02.865 So there's six of them. 00:21:03.085 --> 00:21:03.585 Right? 00:21:03.805 --> 00:21:08.865 And then the two residencies, each residency costs $1,350. 00:21:09.180 --> 00:21:15.200 The cost of the residency is real is because we put you up in a hotel right near the university. 00:21:15.420 --> 00:21:18.000 Really, you can walk from the hotel to the university. 00:21:18.540 --> 00:21:23.120 The materials, most of the meals, you're just responsible for three of your dinners. 00:21:25.475 --> 00:21:31.715 So that this is the cost, the residency because of all the different aspects in it. 00:21:31.715 --> 00:21:32.215 Right? 00:21:32.355 --> 00:21:34.375 And then that's the cost of the course. 00:21:36.035 --> 00:21:36.535 Practicum. 00:21:37.690 --> 00:21:43.150 Practicum, you start it remember I told you, you start it at the beginning of the fifth course. 00:21:43.690 --> 00:21:50.910 You have to do forty eight hours of seeing people in spiritual direction and twelve hours of supervision. 00:21:51.130 --> 00:21:56.145 The supervision we give you in the courses themselves, you don't have to find a supervisor. 00:21:57.485 --> 00:22:15.110 But it does there can be a scenario that happens that you finish your six courses and you still haven't finished practicum, or you're on a break between five hundred and six hundred and you are working through your practicum hours. 00:22:15.490 --> 00:22:23.590 So in those situations, we offer, two other courses, practicum or practicum with supervision. 00:22:24.905 --> 00:22:34.365 And these allow you to and they ensure for us that you are staying enrolled in the program and you're having supervision as you're going through your practicum hours. 00:22:35.225 --> 00:22:42.650 This is kind of the nature of a program where you're you're giving knowledge, but you're also trying to form skills and you're trying to coach at the same time. 00:22:42.650 --> 00:22:47.630 So practicum is is kind of that dynamic and supervision is an important part of it. 00:22:49.610 --> 00:22:52.765 So that is the information there. 00:22:53.385 --> 00:22:57.245 As I said, you can apply to the program. 00:22:57.705 --> 00:23:11.380 The application is right online there, at divinemercy.edu going to the spiritual direction certificate tab that's under academics, you can find the tab that is the application. 00:23:11.840 --> 00:23:16.320 It shouldn't take you more than fifteen minutes to fill it out. 00:23:16.320 --> 00:23:19.300 It's, just, you know, just information of data. 00:23:19.545 --> 00:23:34.925 Then we do ask you to answer, five essay questions, very short, just, you know, kind of your understanding of spiritual direction, what kind of has formed you in your spiritual life, and then a letter of recommendation from your pastor or the leader of your faith community. 00:23:35.520 --> 00:23:40.100 If you're religious, we'd like a leader from the, the superior of your community. 00:23:41.600 --> 00:23:43.440 So it's not an extensive. 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:44.800 It doesn't take you that long. 00:23:44.800 --> 00:23:46.500 You should be able to do it. 00:23:47.280 --> 00:23:51.325 This gets you into the first and the second course of the program. 00:23:51.325 --> 00:23:55.985 And then before you start the third course, we do a little bit more extensive. 00:23:57.805 --> 00:23:59.425 Did we have a group interview? 00:23:59.485 --> 00:24:05.570 We ask you for a letter of recommendation from your spiritual director, just a little bit more. 00:24:06.510 --> 00:24:11.170 And it also just gives you an opportunity to see if you wanna continue committing yourself to these studies. 00:24:12.350 --> 00:24:16.750 At the end of each course, though, you do get a certificate of completion for each course. 00:24:16.750 --> 00:24:21.515 So you're always getting those certificates that show that you've completed those studies. 00:24:24.375 --> 00:24:24.875 Okay. 00:24:25.655 --> 00:24:37.330 So, I am gonna go to I'm gonna stop sharing because that's the only way I can see your questions in the q and a. 00:24:37.710 --> 00:24:48.895 And I'm gonna ask you if you have any questions that you'd like to ask me that you do put them in the q and a, and I'll go there and start answering them. 00:24:53.755 --> 00:24:58.495 Isabelle, I see you're saying, could you take two courses in spring, two in summer? 00:24:58.795 --> 00:24:59.035 No. 00:24:59.035 --> 00:25:01.855 We don't allow you to take two courses at a time. 00:25:02.030 --> 00:25:07.890 I know that some people could have that time to do that, but we do want kind of a slow learning. 00:25:09.950 --> 00:25:11.650 It's a contemplative process. 00:25:12.270 --> 00:25:12.510 No. 00:25:12.510 --> 00:25:13.810 It's not just a training. 00:25:13.950 --> 00:25:16.690 So we wanna slow learning to be happening. 00:25:17.355 --> 00:25:27.595 And, we definitely give you a lot of information in, in each course, and, there's, you know, a lot of readings. 00:25:27.595 --> 00:25:28.795 All the readings are online. 00:25:28.795 --> 00:25:30.975 We only ask you to buy two books. 00:25:31.435 --> 00:25:38.330 But they are sorry. 00:25:38.330 --> 00:25:41.470 I'm getting a little distracted with the questions that are coming in. 00:25:41.530 --> 00:25:43.470 But, it's it's substantial. 00:25:43.850 --> 00:25:49.165 And a lot of people just use, you know, if they have more time, they just use more time to dive into the readings. 00:25:53.385 --> 00:25:54.205 Let's see. 00:25:54.265 --> 00:25:55.565 Let me go to the questions. 00:25:58.670 --> 00:25:59.170 Tony. 00:25:59.230 --> 00:25:59.630 Yes. 00:25:59.630 --> 00:26:00.830 And your acceptance, yes. 00:26:00.830 --> 00:26:01.310 I saw. 00:26:01.310 --> 00:26:08.370 I realized your acceptance are those books, Tony, are the only books that we ask you to buy in the program. 00:26:09.550 --> 00:26:16.935 So those those books that are mentioned there are the ones that I said that everything else is on is there on the platform. 00:26:17.475 --> 00:26:18.935 You'll be able to read them. 00:26:19.075 --> 00:26:21.415 Since we're a university, we're able to get copyright. 00:26:21.555 --> 00:26:33.930 And so those books that we asked you to buy, which is like Ralph Martin's fulfillment of all desires, and the father Boniface and father father Hicks' book on spiritual direction. 00:26:34.150 --> 00:26:40.490 These are ones that we couldn't get licenses for, so that's why we we asked you to buy them. 00:26:42.735 --> 00:26:45.315 Tony, what is the attrition rate of the course? 00:26:45.855 --> 00:26:52.515 So, are you asking Tony, like, how many people enter and how many fin people finish? 00:26:54.090 --> 00:26:56.030 I guess that's probably what you're asking. 00:26:57.770 --> 00:27:02.990 It's pretty low, like, the the people that start and don't finish. 00:27:06.330 --> 00:27:11.855 I think it's 10% or it might be eight. 00:27:11.855 --> 00:27:17.615 I I don't I'm trying to think the last time I I took those numbers, but it's around that. 00:27:17.615 --> 00:27:18.575 It's pretty low. 00:27:18.575 --> 00:27:28.050 Usually, people are, pretty pretty intent upon doing it. 00:27:28.670 --> 00:27:29.170 No. 00:27:29.550 --> 00:27:31.630 We will give you feedback as you go through. 00:27:31.630 --> 00:27:33.490 You do have to pass each course. 00:27:35.150 --> 00:27:37.970 If they're pass fail, they're not really points. 00:27:38.830 --> 00:27:44.525 So you, and you have to pass each residency. 00:27:45.065 --> 00:27:49.705 If you do fail, of course, you can take it again, but we don't allow you to take it more than once. 00:27:49.705 --> 00:27:57.250 And if you fail a residency, you can't take it again just because they're just so extensive, and it's a lot of money for you to even come out there. 00:27:59.790 --> 00:28:01.870 Marcellus, what are the two books needed? 00:28:01.870 --> 00:28:05.090 Those ones that I just mentioned to you, what is the average age of the students? 00:28:06.030 --> 00:28:10.575 Usually about 40 to 65 kind of in that window. 00:28:11.755 --> 00:28:13.535 It's, you know, it's an exception. 00:28:14.075 --> 00:28:19.615 Anyone that's younger than 40 and usually 65, 70, 75. 00:28:20.630 --> 00:28:20.790 No. 00:28:20.790 --> 00:28:21.990 That's about the age. 00:28:21.990 --> 00:28:23.450 It's pretty wide variety. 00:28:25.430 --> 00:28:25.830 Okay. 00:28:25.830 --> 00:28:26.390 Let's see. 00:28:26.390 --> 00:28:28.150 I think there's still some more questions. 00:28:28.150 --> 00:28:29.690 Thank you so much for this. 00:28:30.150 --> 00:28:32.090 Tony, I hope I answered that question. 00:28:42.705 --> 00:28:47.045 Audrey, at what point in the program do you acquire the services of a spiritual director? 00:28:47.185 --> 00:28:47.905 No, Audrey. 00:28:47.905 --> 00:28:49.845 We don't give you a spiritual director. 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:57.160 We, if you, by chance, enter the program without one, we ask you to get one by the end of the first course. 00:28:57.700 --> 00:29:04.535 We can the teachers in your first class suggest to you places that you can find them. 00:29:05.635 --> 00:29:09.875 They try to help you troubleshoot that with you, but, no. 00:29:09.875 --> 00:29:14.695 We don't it's not part of the program that we give you as spiritual director. 00:29:17.210 --> 00:29:17.530 Okay. 00:29:17.530 --> 00:29:18.410 Let's see. 00:29:18.410 --> 00:29:20.010 Thank you so much for all these questions. 00:29:20.010 --> 00:29:20.990 These are great. 00:29:21.450 --> 00:29:28.030 I love them because, you know, there's just information that I miss telling you. 00:29:32.165 --> 00:29:35.385 So, Tony, can you talk a little bit about the tuition aid available? 00:29:36.645 --> 00:29:38.105 So goodness gracious. 00:29:41.220 --> 00:29:43.800 There's not a lot of tuition aid available. 00:29:44.100 --> 00:29:46.920 We the university does have tuition partnerships. 00:29:47.460 --> 00:29:55.960 And if you go on to the tuition part of the or financial aid part of the university's page, you can see a list of tuition partnerships. 00:29:56.805 --> 00:30:06.105 So if you belong to any of those diocese organizations that have tuition partnerships with the university, you get 10% off of the certificate. 00:30:07.845 --> 00:30:25.820 In the second part of the certificate, we do give to people that are in full time ministry or do you know, volunteering, at their parish or religious or deacons or priest, we do give a 10% there too. 00:30:25.820 --> 00:30:30.545 But the most you can get in in the course is 10%. 00:30:30.545 --> 00:30:31.905 It's just the nature. 00:30:31.905 --> 00:30:35.685 We try to keep our costs low, but we just don't have extra money. 00:30:35.825 --> 00:30:49.230 We do have something on our website that is called the SDC grant fund, where you can actually we ask people, like, would you like to donate money so that people can study this certificate? 00:30:49.530 --> 00:30:55.225 So if they do donate money, we always try to pass that along. 00:30:55.225 --> 00:31:02.605 And we usually give first dibs to people that are already studying the program and maybe not able to finish it for one reason or another. 00:31:05.225 --> 00:31:05.965 Thank you. 00:31:06.585 --> 00:31:07.065 Okay. 00:31:07.065 --> 00:31:09.165 Patrick, I see you've got a few questions. 00:31:10.030 --> 00:31:11.810 I recognize your name too. 00:31:12.910 --> 00:31:16.290 I heard that there's an integrated start step prior to acceptance. 00:31:16.670 --> 00:31:16.910 No. 00:31:16.910 --> 00:31:17.970 There isn't, Patrick. 00:31:18.830 --> 00:31:25.755 You might have heard that because we just redid the whole, admissions process about a year ago. 00:31:25.815 --> 00:31:36.555 There used to be, but we we we found out that it would be more helpful for people to get into the first two courses, which just give them an introduction, just kind of helps them to understand. 00:31:36.615 --> 00:31:40.060 And then we do do an interview before the third course. 00:31:40.360 --> 00:31:47.260 There's, we call it the first tier, gets you into the first and second course, and the second tier gets you into the third course and above. 00:31:47.400 --> 00:31:49.500 So that's when that interview would be. 00:31:51.235 --> 00:31:54.615 Patrick, hotel costs for the on-site work is included in tuition. 00:31:54.675 --> 00:31:55.155 Yes. 00:31:55.155 --> 00:31:55.655 Exactly. 00:31:56.275 --> 00:31:57.415 You'll see that. 00:32:02.275 --> 00:32:03.255 Great, Patrick. 00:32:04.290 --> 00:32:09.970 You one of your when you're, friends just graduated and you spoke with him. 00:32:09.970 --> 00:32:10.450 That's great. 00:32:10.450 --> 00:32:13.830 I hoped he helped you out with answers. 00:32:15.090 --> 00:32:15.490 Okay. 00:32:15.490 --> 00:32:16.050 Let me see. 00:32:16.050 --> 00:32:17.270 There's some more here. 00:32:17.655 --> 00:32:18.395 Cecil Edwards. 00:32:18.455 --> 00:32:19.995 Good to hear from you, Cecil. 00:32:20.375 --> 00:32:22.155 Glad to see that you come to the webinar. 00:32:24.535 --> 00:32:29.880 So I take you don't have to stay with your cohort given that there are different classes you can take at different times. 00:32:30.120 --> 00:32:31.880 You don't have to stay with your cohort. 00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:41.320 I can I do confess, though, that people do want to stay with their cohort and, but you don't have to, especially if you need to take a term off for one reason? 00:32:41.320 --> 00:32:43.740 We run all the courses every term. 00:32:44.360 --> 00:32:52.245 So if you do get you know, need to take a term off, we you it's easy to get right into the next term. 00:32:52.785 --> 00:32:58.225 We do ask you to take the first two classes, right after each other. 00:32:58.225 --> 00:33:03.670 And then as if you get accepted to that second tier, that third class, you take it right after your acceptance. 00:33:05.090 --> 00:33:20.435 The first two classes, we really don't give in any exceptions on that just because we want you to kinda dig get in, you know, our rhythm going and get into the material and really help yourself see if this is something you wanna continue on in. 00:33:20.435 --> 00:33:22.935 So that's how it works. 00:33:23.155 --> 00:33:24.935 Sandra, can Deakins and presupply? 00:33:25.235 --> 00:33:25.975 Of course. 00:33:26.195 --> 00:33:41.490 And I don't know if you I probably didn't leave the picture of the residency up there long enough for you to see just kind of the mix of people that are in our cohorts, but you'll definitely see, religious sisters and brothers and deacons and priests and no. 00:33:43.630 --> 00:33:48.145 Jeffrey, in the past, I was told you needed to complete a nation retreat during the program. 00:33:48.285 --> 00:33:48.445 Yes. 00:33:48.445 --> 00:33:48.925 It is. 00:33:48.925 --> 00:33:49.325 You know what? 00:33:49.325 --> 00:33:50.945 I need to put that on the slides. 00:33:51.325 --> 00:33:53.665 I probably just need to do a slide of that. 00:33:53.965 --> 00:33:58.065 If you go into the website, you'll see it's very clear the requirements. 00:33:58.285 --> 00:34:00.500 One of the tabs says requirements for graduation. 00:34:00.500 --> 00:34:20.075 So they're to pass each class, to fulfill your practicum hours, to do an in nation retreat of at least five days or more, and to also get liability insurance when you start your practicum, which is very easy. 00:34:20.075 --> 00:34:24.875 We walk you through the steps of that, and it's only about $35 for a student in training. 00:34:24.875 --> 00:34:26.655 So it's not a big deal. 00:34:27.560 --> 00:34:30.540 But, yeah, those are those are the things that are required. 00:34:35.240 --> 00:34:39.895 Isabelle, when you say you put us in a hotel, is the hotel cost on you or on No. 00:34:39.895 --> 00:34:41.015 It's on us. 00:34:41.015 --> 00:34:45.035 It's part of that $1,350 that you pay for the residency. 00:34:49.175 --> 00:34:52.935 Is this is this a graduate master's or no, Isabel. 00:34:52.935 --> 00:34:54.775 It doesn't give academic credit. 00:34:54.775 --> 00:35:02.120 It's not you don't need a degree to go into it nor do you get any type of degree out of it. 00:35:02.120 --> 00:35:07.900 I mean, it's definitely academically challenging, but it doesn't give you academic credit. 00:35:09.135 --> 00:35:22.320 Maybe in the future, we'll redesign it so that it does give academic credit, but we really wanted to be open to people that even have just been in ministry called to this. 00:35:22.540 --> 00:35:27.680 And so we didn't wanna put the restriction of you needing to have a degree to study it. 00:35:28.620 --> 00:35:29.120 No? 00:35:30.460 --> 00:35:32.028 The level of the course. 00:35:32.028 --> 00:35:32.204 Okay. 00:35:32.204 --> 00:35:32.940 So you're the yeah. 00:35:32.940 --> 00:35:34.140 The level of the course. 00:35:34.140 --> 00:35:42.225 So I would say it's probably between a bachelor's and a master's level. 00:35:42.225 --> 00:35:44.645 I mean, it's definitely academically challenging. 00:35:46.465 --> 00:35:48.785 We have yet to have anyone say that it's easy. 00:35:48.785 --> 00:35:49.845 That's for sure. 00:35:52.260 --> 00:35:55.720 But all different types of learners definitely do get through it. 00:35:58.020 --> 00:35:59.780 Tony, great to hear you're a deacon. 00:35:59.780 --> 00:36:01.000 Thanks for your service. 00:36:05.295 --> 00:36:05.695 Great. 00:36:05.695 --> 00:36:08.835 I'm so I just love all your questions. 00:36:09.455 --> 00:36:12.355 So happy, that you're here. 00:36:13.055 --> 00:36:14.915 I wanna put my email. 00:36:15.960 --> 00:36:19.420 Many of you probably already have this, and it is on the website. 00:36:21.240 --> 00:36:24.120 But if you this is my email. 00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:25.900 I just put it in the chat. 00:36:27.560 --> 00:36:45.600 If you need anything, have any questions, wanna get on, like, a Zoom meeting with me to talk about particular things, sometimes there's, you know, just individual things that you wanna, talk about or understand, please reach out to me and we can set that up. 00:36:46.160 --> 00:36:58.340 Also, as I said before, Greg Shapiro is an admissions adviser that is gonna be working is works with me, and he's gonna still work with me until January. 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:05.015 So this is his, and many you might have spoken to him. 00:37:05.015 --> 00:37:09.995 This is, his email too in case you wanna talk to him. 00:37:13.495 --> 00:37:19.990 We're in the middle of me taking on admissions and him moving to another place in the university. 00:37:20.210 --> 00:37:22.370 So I'm super excited about that. 00:37:22.370 --> 00:37:23.910 I love talking to you guys. 00:37:26.690 --> 00:37:30.070 So I enjoy that. 00:37:37.275 --> 00:37:39.855 Please let me know if there's any other questions. 00:37:40.955 --> 00:37:48.540 Kind of looks like Margarita. 00:37:51.400 --> 00:37:56.940 I'm answering questions that people put in the question and answer, so that's where that's happening. 00:37:57.320 --> 00:37:58.360 Audrey, thanks so much. 00:37:58.360 --> 00:37:59.340 Thanks for coming. 00:37:59.720 --> 00:38:05.935 Isabelle, would there be an opportunity for advanced the up party sort of close to your heart? 00:38:08.715 --> 00:38:17.860 I mean, I think there's always a sharing among the students, and we're always open to hearing people have come up with different ideas. 00:38:17.860 --> 00:38:23.060 And sometimes we can just we find opportunities, where those can be used. 00:38:23.060 --> 00:38:26.475 But, yeah, I really it's kind of something we'd have to see as we go along. 00:38:26.955 --> 00:38:29.675 Nancy, you did an Ignition retreat about five years ago. 00:38:29.675 --> 00:38:30.575 Would that count? 00:38:31.115 --> 00:38:35.195 Well, Nancy, we do set something from about two years before the program. 00:38:35.195 --> 00:38:44.040 You're in the program, but not really five because we want you to kind of have, like, a fresh experience, that you can refer to as you're going through the program. 00:38:44.040 --> 00:38:46.140 So that's why we do that. 00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:50.140 What's the average time to commitment? 00:38:50.200 --> 00:38:53.340 Six to ten hours a week when you're in class. 00:38:54.935 --> 00:38:55.815 So weekly. 00:38:55.815 --> 00:38:56.215 Yeah. 00:38:56.215 --> 00:38:58.555 Six to ten hours, Jeff. 00:39:01.735 --> 00:39:03.415 Do you have to write research papers? 00:39:03.415 --> 00:39:03.575 No. 00:39:03.575 --> 00:39:05.995 We don't have your research papers, Beatrice. 00:39:06.055 --> 00:39:08.075 We do have to write reflection papers. 00:39:08.410 --> 00:39:13.790 And the most that they would be would be, a thousand words. 00:39:13.930 --> 00:39:14.430 Right? 00:39:15.930 --> 00:39:20.170 A typical one that you guys are doing are 500 words. 00:39:20.170 --> 00:39:20.410 Right? 00:39:20.410 --> 00:39:24.335 But every once in a while, we do actually do a thousand, but they're all reflection papers. 00:39:24.335 --> 00:39:25.715 They're not research papers. 00:39:28.095 --> 00:39:32.675 Is DMU, Tony, is DMU associated with any religious order? 00:39:33.375 --> 00:39:33.855 Yes. 00:39:33.855 --> 00:39:39.290 Every Catholic university has to be attached either to a diocese or to religious order. 00:39:39.670 --> 00:39:44.390 And when it's attached to a religious order, it's called being sponsored by the religious order. 00:39:44.390 --> 00:39:53.355 So the people that started Divine Mercy University approached to the legionaries of Christ, twenty five or more years ago and asked them to sponsor the university. 00:39:53.575 --> 00:39:59.495 So they are, that every university, Catholic university, does that in a different way. 00:39:59.495 --> 00:40:11.050 But our university means that the president will always be a legionary of Christ and that certain, I I certain number of people on the board, I think it's two or three. 00:40:11.510 --> 00:40:12.650 I think it's two. 00:40:13.030 --> 00:40:19.270 Our, our members of Reunion Christie or, another legionary priest. 00:40:19.270 --> 00:40:21.325 So that's how that works, Tanya. 00:40:21.325 --> 00:40:22.785 I hope that answers your question. 00:40:24.285 --> 00:40:25.885 Isabelle, you're a consecrated virgin. 00:40:25.885 --> 00:40:26.605 God bless you. 00:40:26.605 --> 00:40:27.665 Thank you for that. 00:40:29.885 --> 00:40:30.385 Great. 00:40:32.390 --> 00:40:34.250 Am I answering your questions? 00:40:35.670 --> 00:40:38.010 Mary Dotto, so good to see you. 00:40:38.630 --> 00:40:40.310 Is a term one course? 00:40:40.310 --> 00:40:40.810 Yes. 00:40:40.950 --> 00:40:42.710 Sorry if I didn't make that clear. 00:40:42.710 --> 00:40:43.210 Yes. 00:40:43.670 --> 00:40:45.190 A term is one course. 00:40:45.190 --> 00:40:47.130 Each term, you take one course. 00:40:52.155 --> 00:40:52.655 Great. 00:40:55.755 --> 00:40:56.795 Good to see you here. 00:40:56.795 --> 00:40:58.795 I'm seeing people that have applied to the program. 00:40:58.795 --> 00:41:04.420 I've seen people that have been accepted to the program and just people that are interested in knowing more about it. 00:41:04.420 --> 00:41:05.720 So thank you so much. 00:41:05.940 --> 00:41:11.160 Are there any other questions that you have before we sign off here? 00:41:20.755 --> 00:41:22.455 Patrick, how do you know you're accepted? 00:41:22.755 --> 00:41:28.855 Usually, within the week that your application, you get your letter of acceptance. 00:41:28.915 --> 00:41:31.495 So yours should go up, Patrick, if it hasn't. 00:41:37.520 --> 00:41:39.460 Because because you are accepted. 00:41:39.600 --> 00:41:43.620 So it should it should have gone out today or it'll go out tomorrow. 00:41:47.285 --> 00:41:47.785 Yay. 00:41:48.485 --> 00:41:49.625 Happy to have you. 00:41:50.485 --> 00:41:50.985 Okay. 00:41:52.245 --> 00:41:52.745 Great. 00:41:55.525 --> 00:41:57.785 Any other questions before we say goodbye? 00:42:04.620 --> 00:42:06.880 Thank you so much for being here. 00:42:07.740 --> 00:42:10.480 Love, just having this time with you. 00:42:10.940 --> 00:42:14.640 God bless all of you, and please reach out if you need anything. 00:42:16.615 --> 00:42:25.115 We will definitely have you, well, I pray for all of you every day, everyone that's interested in the program, the students, and the alumni. 00:42:25.175 --> 00:42:27.435 So definitely count on that. 00:42:29.255 --> 00:42:31.275 God bless you all, and take care.