So welcome everybody to the, presentation for spiritual direction here at Divine Mercy University.
My name is Greg Shapiro.
I'm the admissions adviser here at DMU for this program.
I've been, happy to be with DMU for about three years now.
But, active as a as a, admissions adviser for about seven years, previously at a different university, and then I came to Divine Mercy University because I loved the mission.
That was really my main reason for coming here.
So I'm I'm really proud to be a part of the university.
And with me is Marie.
She is a a student with us, wrapping up her final course, I believe.
So, Maria, if you wanna share about yourself as I pick up the sheet of paper, I'd I'd appreciate it.
Sure.
Yeah.
As I as I mentioned, my name is Marie Mosai Peugeot, and I am in Madison, Connecticut.
I am actually on the last, SDC 600.
I will finish the course in July.
We're only about four weeks away.
I can't believe it.
So, Yeah.
I I was searching and looked at quite a few programs, and, I don't think it was any accident that I found DMU and began the program two years ago.
And I appreciate the fact that there can be breaks when life gets in the way.
But I just started and kept going from module one through six.
So it's been an unbelievable ride, and I'm sure we'll share more of that unless you want me to share more now, Greg.
I don't know.
So Yeah.
You know, I I mean, this is a great start.
Sure.
I mean, we actually have one question already.
Actually, it's a series of questions from from one of our attendees.
But maybe we can just start with with, one of her questions, and we'll we'll go from there.
So one question she had was, just about your experience with the classmates, the teachers, the, and also your supervision.
Yeah, if you'd like.
I'm looking at the questions.
So, Ashley, thank you for great questions.
Probably all the same questions I had, so I'll do my my best.
So, I've I've been involved in spiritual direction for years, on and off.
And and, my spiritual director so kindly said, you know, I don't think we pick spiritual direction.
I think it picks us.
And I was like, oh, that's really beautiful.
So, answering God's calling to walk the walk with other individuals who are looking for, that deepening of grace and, an increase in their spiritual life.
I was fortunate enough to have a a undergrad from a Jesuit University, John Carroll in Ohio, and so very familiar with the Ignatian spirituality.
And, the concept of seeing God in all things and spiritual direction is just a beautiful way to walk the walk.
I've found, the experience from all the questions you're you were you were highlighting, Emily.
The material has been for me, it's overwhelming in a beautiful way that it's just like almost reading scripture at times where four classmates can read the same thing, and the Lord is speaking to each one of us in a different way.
I definitely wanna go back and reread some of that.
That's how inspirational it was.
You don't have to buy the books, but I started my library.
I'm looking in over here on the left, of a few of the books that I wanted to do, you know, to have in my collection here.
The the classmates, it's just an it's a beautiful thing how god calls us all to be holy, and you're amongst individuals who are walking this journey from all aspects of life.
Even the beauty of, we have a deacon.
We have two priests.
We have, women in consecrated life.
We have moms.
We have dads.
It's just all ages and, all life experiences.
So, I found that to be so enriching.
We, I think have been really successful, and sometimes you think of an online course and you, you know, you don't want you're afraid you're gonna miss the camaraderie and the and the walking through the trenches, the highs and the lows.
But I've I like the way the program is set up, that we have discussion and discussion posts and triads and now supervision, and we are constantly walking with each other.
The the residencies, the two that we have are, I don't I I don't even know what to say.
So impactful and powerful and, you know, the first time we get to see everybody in person, and the material being delivered to us and then working again in groups with faculty is just powerful and beautiful.
And, again, god's grace from the minute we arrived till the time we departed.
And and then the second time, which is in the fifth module, fifth term, You know, you're coming back after filling your cup, over the last maybe year, year and a half, and, there's a deeper sense, you know, a deeper dive at in 500, and it's kind of like a reunion.
And you're sharing your heart and your journey on a deeper level with, the individuals who are walking again, in the course.
So, I've it's interesting.
I sent the material to my spiritual director who is actually a sister of mercy at the divinity school at Duke University, who I've known for thirty something years, and she was very moved by the material covered, in the course at DMU.
And now walking through that and being a part of it, I I just I've I've grown as an as an individual, you know, as a disciple just to understand the humility that's involved, in in this in the course.
So I have nothing but wonderful things to say about the journey and the classmates' teachers' content and, how the holy spirit moves within, you know, within each individual, including myself through through the walk of the spiritual direction course certification.
Yeah.
Great.
Marie, thanks for sharing that.
Emily, thank you for your questions.
This is a great start.
So, Marie, I mean, you you've had a lot of experience in this now that you're nearly done with the program.
You're wrapping up your final or you're you're about to wrap up your final, course.
You know, for a lot of folks that are looking into this, some of them do have experience within spiritual direction and others are just exploring it for the first time.
And, you know, I think for some people, they might have an idea of what it is, but they might not fully grasp what spiritual direction is as a ministry.
Could you share a little bit about what it is, what takes place within spiritual direction for those that are now just exploring this for the first time?
Sure.
I think I remember well, I do remember opening up the first part of SDC 100 and reading Pope John Paul's one of the readings we had, and I think it was the first day or hearing, father Prasuti talk about the fact that we are called to holiness.
And, that's a very subtle yet whirlwind reminder that we are not walking on this journey alone, and we are called to bring each other to holiness.
Spiritual direction is a a walk with somebody on their spiritual journey.
I think sometimes the easiest way to describe it too is what it's not, and it's not counseling.
It's not coaching.
It's not advising.
It's embracing and allowing someone to grow in their spiritual freedom and allow the Lord to work with all those graces to build a deeper, relationship with him.
So people who are coming to spiritual direction may know it very clearly or not know it that they are seeking a deeper relationship with our lord.
So, it's accompanying somebody on their journey of walking their path of of a spiritual life.
Yeah.
Great.
One of the students within the program, I remember he gave a, an analogy at one of the, residencies, and he said spiritual direction is two people walking through a dark room, and it's the director that has the lantern.
He's the one shining at different parts and not telling the directee where to go or what to do, but just making the observations.
But it's the directee's job to use that information that's being shown to him in in applying it in a way that will help him find his way into the light.
I like that.
Yeah.
It's really you know, it's, was also defined as holy listening.
And what is beautiful in spiritual direction is that the direct the director is in invokes the holy spirit, but we are just we are moved just as much as the directee is.
You know, there's there's beauty that happened in how the holy spirit affects both of us, so our life is reflected through and back, from the directee.
So we are growing, just as much.
And one of the faculty members also said at the, one of the residencies, which stuck with me too is that, you know, spiritual direction isn't about being a good listener.
It's so much more than that.
And if she said to us, if you think that you will walk through this journey being a good listener, you will be disappointed and fall because if we aren't it's about really investing in our own spiritual life as well.
So, these constant spiritual readings in our prayer life and our time in, in direction and, you know, retreat.
All the same things that we want our directees do to do, we are doing ourselves.
And, that's it's really a a kind of a mirror walk in that darkness.
So Yeah.
You you know, it's I'll also share one more thing about that since you highlighted the fruits of of, this program.
I've also heard from another student how one of the benefits she found that she didn't expect was how not only was she training to become, a spiritual director, but it it really helped in training her on how to be a good directee with her own spiritual director.
So true.
I yeah.
I mean, her her, just the way that she described it, her ability to better communicate with her spiritual director and just her relationship with her own spiritual director and how she could receive, just the the insight that's been presented to her was even more enriched just through her ability to wrap her her head around spiritual direction and how it operates and what takes place in that.
Yeah.
I I'm laughing because I said the exact same thing to my spiritual director that I said I'm I'm I hope that I'm making your walk with me a little easier enough that I I understand some of the process.
And even as a even as a person, if someone were to, you know, enter DMU to, you know, hopefully work through to the certification of spiritual director and they decided it wasn't for them discerned midway through or something, There's such beautiful information that changed changed my life as a, you know, as a spouse.
It changed my life as a friend, as a mom.
And I you know, it just from the listening skills and, you know, I think that's the other thing, Greg, that I wanted to just mention is that, you know, we even spent time in, term 200 on human development, which were, you know, understanding the importance of psychology, but from how to, listen and and work with an individual, from a from a human standpoint.
So there was a little bit of, you know, obviously, psychology in there.
So the course is really well.
It's it's done so well and tiered on the information that we're learning that, yes, we're called to holiness that's comes across in 100.
And then in 200, it's like but you need to understand the human perspective here.
And we dealt with human development, and, there's so many beautiful pieces too I won't give away that, once you're in the course, it's a real unveiling of who and what you are in god's god's eyes and in your own.
Like, your own work you need to do, but it's been it's been beautiful.
Yeah.
No.
It's and I I'm I'm I really appreciate the fact that you highlighted that human development component because that's something that does make this program very unique.
And we're we're training students on how to be spiritual directors, and this is coming from the traditions of Saint John of the Cross and Saint Ignatius and Saint Francis.
But we also want to provide students with, a a fundamental understanding of human psychology and how it relates within spiritual direction.
So yeah.
Excellent.
So just a reminder for everybody, if if anyone has any questions, the q and a section is available to you.
The chat section's available.
We'll certainly be able to go through those.
One question I do have for you.
What what was your favorite part?
I mean, you may have highlighted this already, but, overall, what's been your favorite part about the program so far?
I knew you're gonna ask me that.
It's not fair.
Yeah.
Well, obviously, my my favorite part of this is expanding and deepening my relationship with with God, and also being very humbled, about how much potential and constant work to grow, as a person and as a director.
I I I'm just I say it all the time that I'm just you know, humility is something that shows up in the forefront all the time for me in this program, because it's it's never ending just like you know, it's just a reminder of how much, god loves us and how vast and enormous that is to even comprehend this relationship.
So I I think that's probably the biggest you know, one of the biggest takeaways.
And it's also a beautiful thing to be with like minded people from all walks of life who are looking to be humbled because it's a call to walk in this ministry and help bring others along on that walk to know and love the Lord in a in a deeper, more profound way.
And, I that it's priceless.
That that's just been, you know, a a wonderful piece of it.
So lot lots of I I you know, there's a lot lots of it that is just, surprising.
You know, I think God has his own agenda, but there's beautiful things that have happened throughout the course that, you know, were unexpected just from the material that we're learning or the people that are involved.
So too many good takeaways, to probably mention.
You'll have enough time.
I know.
I'm keeping an eye on the on the time.
It's flying.
There's another question, I think.
Yeah.
We have a few more.
So one question from Barb.
So she asked Marie, how will you use this experience, your certification going forward, and, will you work at a parish individually, etcetera?
She was also asking, are there individuals whom you are already directing?
Thank you, Barb, for your question.
I I'm not sure exactly how I will use it, because I definitely have been praying about that and where where God wants me.
I will continue to work within our parish, and there's a few other parishes around the area that I have individuals that I am seeing.
Once we move into the latter part of the certification, we have practicum hours to do.
So we are seeing, directees.
And along with that comes supervision, which means we meet as a, you know, a collaborative cohort.
There's six of us in a group, and we have, supervision.
And that is, you know, obviously, the aspect of that you'll learn more about, but it's it's a very private we just share verbatims, which is a portion of a, a session that we may have questions about.
And even in supervision, we are moved by hearing what everyone has to share by the Holy Spirit, and we all hear something different.
I I would like to be doing some work possibly on a re on retreat.
I've sat on the board of directors at the Jesuit Retreat House in Jesuit Retreat Center in Ohio, Parma, Ohio.
And to do some work, you know, on a retreat, I would really, I think that's a little bit, I think, of where my calling is, but we'll see.
And then I have an affinity for moms and and women and young adults.
Don't know how that will play into spiritual direction.
I'm hoping they have a curiosity for their journey sometime with our Lord, but, that's I think my direction will be open to see where God places me.
And, actually, we have a mercy, retreat center not far from here, so maybe that's a possibility.
Yeah.
Barb Barb, great question.
And, you know, I'll also just to add on to what were Marie's answer and and, really what takes place during the the practicum.
You know, the the the practicum hours, this is something that happens a little bit later in the program.
But, you know, while you're going through the program, you'll be active as a spiritual director.
You'll be logging your hours as a spiritual director.
So every student does need to complete 60 practicum hours, before they graduate.
And for some students, they complete it within the first, rather the last two courses.
There's also a break between those two courses.
We'll talk about the breaks as well.
And then for for some students, they might need to have an extension.
Maybe they, their hours are being fulfilled at a little bit of a slower pace, and that's okay if something like that happens.
Mhmm.
So you can always have an extension in fulfilling those hours.
But in short, students do begin their experience as a spiritual director before completing, or rather before graduating the program.
Mhmm.
Yeah.
Great great question, Barb.
It looks like Emily has another question.
So, I would also like to know how have you, Marie, gone about offering spiritual direction to others, and what are you hoping for moving forward?
So and you shared a little bit about that, but, sounds like there's a little bit more tied to that question.
Yeah.
I'm I'm looking under, and she answered that she said Barbie answered it, which was Good.
The same question.
But, I I just wanted to add that, you know, I think being open to, obviously, in a ministry to where the need is, you know, I've I'm hearing the Lord very clearly that, you know, when I again, I'm working with young adults and out outside in workshops and retreats and and and women, that a lot of the evangelization and ministry is happening outside the church.
You know, we we're we're losing people, and I did find in the very beginning with spiritual direction and even sharing in our parish that there's a there's a a misunderstanding of what it is.
So in in sharing what it is not and then what it is, became more of a clarification for a lot of individuals.
So that was really helpful, not only for them, but for me and, stirred, I think, a curiosity or the spirit stirred in some people, and that's really how I was able to start.
You know, we had to get directees, and you don't really want it to be a friend or a family member.
And, I have some beautiful individuals now, and we don't charge.
Right?
You're you're getting your hours, and and I don't even think about that.
It's that part of it's been been a beautiful journey.
And then the last thing I just wanted to share, Greg, was I know a lot of people say how much time does it take and, you know, there's reference to maybe ten, twelve hours a week.
And some weeks, I would might have, spent, you know, fifteen to twenty hours because the reading I wanted to reread or there was some writing we had to do.
So I think you can generate, you know, your pace in doing that.
I know some people are doing this full time.
I work from home, and I just actually wrote a book called The Joy of Servant Motherhood, One Mom's Journey.
And I was writing that while taking the course.
But I have to say that that has taken a beautiful, or it it's done.
So it took a beautiful turn, in its depth and its message.
I think a lot of what had to do, you know, in correlation with this program.
And, so that that's that's on Amazon if you're even interested.
But for moms who understand what it's like to raise children and hopefully have them be, you know, future servant leaders.
There's lots of fun stories and all of that in there.
But my work was inspired by I mean, I've been writing it probably for two years, but it was there was an inspiration in having, kind of got in the driver's seat, of getting that finished.
So there's definitely a balance.
Some weeks, there's more work or or you may be in a different place emotionally, spiritually, mentally.
But, like you said, Greg, there's if you have to take a break, you can take a break.
You know, if something's submitted late, you let your you know, whoever's teaching the that section, you just let them know.
But, just just pace yourself, and it it it all all works out in God's time.
And by the way, for everybody here, you know, if you're curious about Marie's, recently published book, I'm gonna send an email to everyone.
I'm I'm gonna include that link because I'd love for them to yeah.
I I think it it'd be helpful just to, one, I mean, it it it sounds interesting, but also, it I I think it might be helpful to, to anyone that might be curious about really the voice of someone that has been going through this program.
And from that from that sort of perspective, you're writing as you're going through it.
And, I I'd love to share it for everybody.
Oh, thanks.
I I appreciate that.
Sure.
So, you know, I'm glad you also brought up the time commitment and, you know, just to share with everybody because I know this is a big deciding factor.
Can you, can you reserve that time, especially as you have your responsibilities?
Some of you are active in a life of ministry.
Some of it some of you might be active in, your work, your family life.
And, so for those of you that are curious, it's a two year program in total, and, there's six courses in total that you're taking.
And I'll I'll shift back up to that slide in a moment.
But you're taking one course at a time, and each course is eight weeks.
And as Bryce said, usually, it's somewhere between six to nine or ten hours per week.
It can really vary, but the courses are designed to take roughly that amount of time.
I've spoken to students that they've shared that for most, most weeks and most courses, they're only putting in about five hours.
That's just that type of student.
For some of them, they're they're familiar with the content.
They might be fast readers.
If you're like me, you might need to take your time, and that's perfectly fine too, if it if it helps just for you to to absorb the information a little bit more.
So there might be some weeks where you're putting in maybe nine or ten hours.
It might be somewhere.
It might be twelve.
It really just depends, and it depends on the course, and it depends on the week.
But I would say if this is something that you're exploring to look at what sort of time you can commit.
And, again, hopefully, we can have a one on one discussion about what your weeks typically look like to see if this is a good option.
But another thing I'll highlight that Marie mentioned was that there are breaks between each course.
And from just speaking with the students and, you know, as they've been going through it, it seems to be very beneficial for them on multiple reasons.
One is that it just gives students a chance to take a step back to reflect on the content they're learning.
For some of them, they might reread the material.
They might read the, the material that they were not assigned to read to give them another sort of perspective on what they've just read throughout their previous course.
And also, you know, the the major holidays happen during these breaks.
So with Thanksgiving and Christmas week and Holy Week and Easter, you're not having to juggle submitting assignments while at the same time, celebrating these times.
You can focus just on these celebrations during that period.
Yeah.
That's good good point.
I and I the reality of how this is set up to me is perfect.
You know, you start at eight weeks, and you're like, oh my gosh.
I can't believe we're starting again.
And and by the time you get to the middle, like, it's week four already for us in this last model.
I'm like, how did that happen?
So you're halfway through.
But the break in between is such there's such fruitfulness that happens in that time too.
Some of the material I think that you read and you didn't think that it was it had an impact or, the the spirit didn't have time to work.
It's amazing what happens during those those eight weeks and kind of a refocus.
But, I love the fact that it's the terms are eight weeks.
It works out perfect.
Yeah.
And and even financially, you know, one thing that I'll I'll highlight, and we'll talk about the cost as well, But it just it also gives students a chance to replenish their funds, making it a little bit more affordable since it's a pay as you go program.
So good.
And Barb, asked another question.
She said, thank you both, and congratulations on your book, Marie.
And she said another question.
You mentioned that charging for spiritual direction partially while completing the course.
I've heard of spiritual directors charging of their time.
That has not been my experience personally, but I am curious what both of you have to say about that.
Barb, great question.
You know, just speaking with students and with spiritual directors, it really is a mixture.
The spiritual directors I've spoken to that may be in a vocation of, in a religious vocation, From what I've seen, they don't charge just because it's tied to their their life of service.
So for instance, if it's someone in the diaconate, I believe, canonically, they don't take an income from that.
That's just from what I've seen anyway.
I'm sure that it might vary depending on, the diocese, but that's just been from what I've seen.
And there are also a lot of laypeople that prefer to do this free of charge.
It's just something that they've decided that they'd like to volunteer their time to and offering that service.
But I've also met students who excuse me, spiritual directors who do take an income.
They are contracted by the diocese or by the parish, and it's a mean for means for them to in order to continue offering this service.
In fact, I think in the program, they might even offer sort of, how the financial piece works, the income part in case any student does look at it, as a way to take an income from it.
But there's really no wrong way of doing it.
Both are perfectly fine.
And, Marie, maybe you can share a little bit about that as well.
Sure.
Barb, I saw your your question where you said, you know, you're not charging.
So while we're in school and in the program, we are encouraged not to charge because we're obviously I don't I don't I'm not I might be doing spiritual direction, but I would like to know that I've completed my education only in this two year period.
I know there's plenty more to learn.
And then I have a certification, from, you know, DMU.
We did have quite a lengthy discussion about this in one of our residencies, and it was so helpful.
And, you know, it's most of the spiritual directors do charge.
I know even when I'm paying my spiritual director, but I know it's going to it's getting forwarded to the Sisters of Mercy.
Right?
And so I'm helping that fund that piece.
But a spiritual director said to me once, and my spiritual director and I talked about this too even before school, is that, you know, we're we're investing in a program and investing in in something that is not just I've come out of the corner and said I'm going to start doing spiritual direction.
And so we've invested in education.
And then even continuing from there, it's, you know, really important to invest in retreats, not that are just a day, but, you know, I'll be anywhere of maybe from three days to a week, and continuing, to to do that, to bring knowledge and education to those that we're directing.
And it it almost works in a circle because somebody pays me, but I turn around and pay my spiritual director, and then they pay their spiritual director.
So it's almost like a circle of funding, where we're helping each other to to grow, and to support continuing education and direction of our own to remain focused and heart centered in the in the ministry.
So, and a lot of spiritual directors work on a sliding scale.
So if if somebody comes to me and I decide two months from now what I might charge, if somebody can't afford that, I would never say no.
But, there it's it's an opportunity again to honor the almost the saying of paying it forward too.
So but there's definitely great support on that and discussion in the program itself on, on the financial part of spiritual direction.
Yeah.
Thank you, Barb.
Excellent question.
Mhmm.
You know, one thing I'm gonna do let me go back up to a previous slide.
Since we were talking about the, just the time commitment, and I think you had mentioned, leave of absence or or those breaks that might be needed, not only the breaks between courses, but if there are any sort of additional breaks that need to take place.
And, usually, I talk about that in the context of the residencies.
And these are the the residencies again, these are the periods where students come to campus for a few days.
It goes Wednesday evening until Sunday afternoon.
But a common question is what if the residency happens to fall on a week that a student can't attend?
Maybe there's a wedding that they are going to or there's a scheduled surgery, that's very important for them to, to have or whatever the reason may be.
In cases like that, then the student can always take a leave of absence in LAO, or excuse me.
LOA.
And this is really where the student is pausing the program for that term.
So in other words, let's say that your residency is going to happen in your third term and, you find out that it's going to take place during a week that you won't be able to make, you would just request a leave of absence, and you're pausing the program.
And then when you're ready to come back in, let's say that maybe you can, return to the program the following term, then you would do that.
You would pick it up from where you left off at that next term.
So for instance, if the residency is happening, is going to happen in the spring term, but you can't make that one, you would take the spring term off.
And then if you wanted to come back into the summer term, you would do that.
That doesn't mean that you have to wait until the following spring to take the residency.
You could do that at any point within the academic calendar because the residencies, each course, they're all available, throughout the academic year.
So I hope that gives you a little bit more assurance, because I think for a lot of people, the residencies might be another deciding factor, concerns of what if something happens, they can't make it.
In short, there's a lot of flexibility here, and it's just a matter of communicating to us what's taking place, and we can see what we can do for you.
Marie, unless you wanted to add anything to that, I, I don't wanna shift too quickly if you had anything else to add to that part.
No.
I was just gonna simply say that I actually am in this we have triads that we work with in this section, and I actually have two individuals.
One, a priest in Mexico and a woman in New Orleans who took a break and then came back to finish.
And so I haven't met them before, and this was the they're finishing the the final course in 600, and they're in addition to our class.
So it it's nice.
There's some people that, as you as you said, take a leave of absence, and they come back.
And then we, we have, you know, obviously, new people in the in the course as well, which is a new perspective also, and then, just another another new friendship.
So it's nice.
I I'm so glad you said that.
By the way, one other thing I'd like to add to that, Marie.
One of the faculty members, she was actually part of the very first cohort of this program here at d m DMU.
As she was going through the program, at one point, she did have to take a leave of absence.
And, you know, she came back in to into the program in the following term.
And, she highlighted that, you know, because she's jumping into a new cohort, someone asked her is that was that a liability for her?
Was it difficult?
And she said, no.
It was not a difficulty at all.
First of all, the new cohort, the the new students that she was working alongside with, very welcoming.
They they were all very, welcoming to her.
It's not like she was someone invading their territory.
And I've seen that many times where the students are just happy to see these these new students as taking part with them.
Another thing was she also highlighted how she used that as, to to her advantage.
She said, not only did I have my new cohort, my new group of students, this new community that she was working with, she was still in touch with her former, cohort as well.
And they were giving her insight into what was to be expected into this new one, or into the the future courses.
So if you're ever at a point where you do need to take a leave of absence, don't look at it as as that you're taking a step back or that this is going to be a problem.
It's really just a matter of perspective and taking advantage of, of these opportunities, and they're there for you.
And it's I've seen it work with many other students as well, including that one faculty member that we've had.
Yeah.
Again, the the camaraderie is beautiful, like minded, you know, individuals on a faith journey together.
And just a quick example, we went in for our residency, our first residency, and one of our cohorts was literally there for four hours and got an emergency call from her daughter.
She was, expecting a baby.
It was, like, delivery quick.
She was on a plane and gone.
And, of course, everyone's looking out for her.
So she missed the residency and had to make it back up.
So she made the residency up with another, cohort, managed to get that in and jumped back into our cohort for the last residency and so $506,100.
So she and she said the same thing.
She's like, oh my gosh.
I came for residency, knew no one, and it was so welcoming, and it was such a great, great piece.
And and the other part of it is that you, you know, you kinda look for people, and when somebody doesn't sign up for the next one, you're, like, part of your family.
Like, hey.
What happened?
And we'll hopefully see you the next round.
So it it just builds.
You know?
It's like bookends.
You've got support on on either side wherever you end up landing.
So Yeah.
Good.
Alright.
Excellent.
Let's see.
Let me go down to another big question for students, which is cost.
Again, time and cost tend to be two of the large deciding factors.
And so, and I do wanna preface that there could be room for tuition reduction.
It really depends.
But just as a baseline, the cost per course is 800.
And so, again, the way this works is that you're paying course by course.
It's a pay as you go program.
If you are in ministry, if you, if you're a volunteer with your parish, or even if you're a member of parish and in good standing, then there is some room to reduce this this program as well, by the course.
I'd wanna have a conversation with you one on one just to understand, your circumstance and and, see what you're eligible for.
And then for the residencies, the cost for each of those would be 1,100, And that'll cover your lodging.
It'll cover most of your meals.
It'll cover your materials.
The only out of pocket expenses you'll be looking at, would be three of your dinners, I believe, and then also your travel.
But, again, we're gonna make sure that you know the exact dates when they take place so you can prepare for that.
And the first residency, by the way, that won't happen until about ten months more or less from when you begin the program.
So, again, you'll have plenty of time to prepare for that.
You'll speak with, the, your academic adviser who will sort of help prepare you for that as well.
Let's see.
And, Greg, it's four days.
Right?
I mean, we have to usually arrive by Wednesday afternoon, and it's Thursday, Friday, Saturday, half day Sunday.
So it's not a week.
And That's right.
Yeah.
So Yeah.
And I'm I'm glad you you highlighted that, because that's another that's another big question for students.
I think there are some programs that exist from, other universities where their residencies are about two weeks, and that can be a for some people, it's very beneficial.
And for others, it can be very difficult just because of life, really.
It can be very difficult to to get away for two weeks.
But these programs are not two weeks.
It it's as Marie said, it's four days of activity, but it it begins Wednesday evening, but that's more informal, really, just a meet and greet.
And some students, they miss that meet and greet maybe because of their their plane, or, you know, whatever the reason might be.
But, really, Thursday morning, I think that starts at 8AM.
And then from there until, Sunday afternoon, that's where you'll have your lectures and your group mock spiritual direction sessions where you're evaluated.
Yeah.
Good.
Let's see.
So, you know, Marie, in case anyone by the way, if anyone has any other questions, I know know that we're getting close to the top of the hour.
But one question I do have for you, what sort of advice would you give to anyone that is discerning this, that's looking into becoming a spiritual director, really just at the moment in their discernment phase?
I would say keep discerning and discuss it.
You may wanna discuss it with, you know, with with a spiritual director if you haven't, but, listen.
Listen to your heart where God lives and and breathes and moves in us.
And it's it's just a possibility that, you know, you're being called to this ministry.
And a great quote from my spiritual director was to step into the darkness, stop tiptoeing around the shadows, and step into the darkness and and know, you know, and trust God, and, he won't disappoint.
Yeah.
That's excellent advice.
And I I second that.
I think speaking with your spiritual director and and praying about it, speaking with your families is very important as you're looking into this.
I'll also highlight one other thing too.
You know, the first three courses in the program are designed to help people, finalize their discernment process.
Some folks will, will begin the program as they're completing their discernment.
And many times, they stay in the program.
They find that that God has been calling them to this, and they feel they they recognize it more as they've been wrapping up their first three courses.
Now and then students will actually find that as they're doing that, they find that god's actually calling them into a different path, And that's great.
That's that's actually really good that they're gaining that clarity.
And it's not that those courses have been all for naught.
They've been able to take the fruits of those courses and apply it in these other forms of service.
So that's I mean, it's really just based on how you're looking at this and how you'd like to per proceed and also, perhaps the the discussions you have with your spiritual director, like Marie said.
But, there there's again, we're we're also here with those first three courses to help through the that final discernment phase.
Mhmm.
So I think you have another question.
Yeah.
So Barb, Barb says, very insightful conversation.
Thank you both.
So I have a scenario.
I have just completed my course study, received my certificate from DMU, and begin directing Beautiful Souls.
Is there a spiritual director's support community?
I'll start with that question, and then I'll I'll read off the second part after that.
Marie, did you have any thoughts on any sort of support community, upon completing the program?
The support for any spiritual director is to remain in supervision.
So, there's, you know, an international cohort of spiritual directors.
You may once you are have completed your certificate, you may have have a supervisory group that you may know of or someone to provide you supervision.
But regardless of how long you've been doing supervision, whether you're new or, you know, experienced, the recommendation is to remain in supervision with other spiritual directors to to share and to, you know, to remain, in a cohort, throughout your journey as a spiritual director.
So we may have a little bit more, obviously, which I'm really grateful for at this time, supervision that is, but that's really a spiritual director requirement.
I I you know, a personal one that, yes, we are advised to stay in supervision, which, actually grateful for that.
And it's a such a good question, Barb, too.
And just what Marie said, how staying in supervision is very beneficial as you're in your, beginning phase of of, now being a spiritual director and and active in this service.
Also with a lot of students, they stay very much in touch with their cohort.
They still have that sort of support system.
They've gone through a two year program together, so they really do bond over that.
And so for many of them, after they've completed the program, they're staying in touch, and they're, they're communicating with each other.
I I when I speak with graduates in the program, sometimes they share how they have, WhatsApp groups, and they have Facebook groups with with each other, and they just share sort of their experiences and and and offering that sort of support that might be needed.
So that's a very good question.
Mhmm.
Good.
Well, let's see.
Are there I'll just, stay here if there are any additional questions for either Marie or myself.
One thing I'll also highlight as you might be trying to gather your final questions, we do have a cohort coming up a start start date coming up, for the fall term that's gonna begin on August 23.
And right now, we're sort of in the prime time of enrollment for that.
This is really a good time to begin applying and and gathering your recommendations.
So so in case you were curious, it's a it's a pretty simple process.
The first step is completing an application form on our website.
The second step is, submitting having recommendations submitted on your behalf.
So one would come from your current spiritual director.
Another one would come from your current pastor or superior.
And then the third one would come from, a peer.
So this would be like a friend or a colleague, someone that's known you, for a few years more or less.
And, you know, I'll also highlight very quickly because this happens a lot, way more than I would have expected.
Sometimes, students that are applying have just switched parishes, and so they only just got connected with their pastor.
They might not even know their pastor yet.
And so they'll ask, why should I get my my this pastor's recommendation when the one from my former parish has known me for twenty, thirty years, which is a fair question.
I it makes a lot of sense.
But the pastor's recommendation is very important because it's connected to your your activity in, your practicum.
And so it's really to make sure that he's on board with you being active within that community.
And so if you fall into that category and you are only just beginning to get to know your pastor or maybe you haven't even really become acquainted with him yet, I would suggest the students to to get in touch with them, make an appointment, introduce yourself, share a little bit about yourself, and also letting him know that you're looking into serving as a spiritual director.
Share with him that you'd love to serve, that you'd like to offer whatever, guidance you can in in assisting him in this process.
Many pastors or parishes are grateful to have this sort of assistance of really accompanying others.
So I know I'm well, we're speaking a lot with this.
This happens way more often than one would think, but, I hope that gives a little bit more more context to the application.
Great.
Jack, you're very welcome.
Glad that you were here for, for the webinar.
So, is there any final questions or thoughts, Marie?
Anything that you'd like to add?
No.
I think you you did a great job covering, all of that.
But I I mean, I'm I'm happy to, you know if anybody wants to reach out, I you know, to answer any other questions or anything, I surely had my share, you know, and when I started embarking on this, discernment process too.
But, it's, like I said, it's been a enriching spiritually enriching journey.
Yeah.
Excellent.
Yeah.
Marie, thank you so much for being with us.
For everybody here, I appreciate all of you, just walking through with us through this, webinar.
Excellent questions, really from each of you.
And if any other questions come up, my contact information is here.
Again, I'm gonna send each of you an email, really just with the overview of the program in case that helps.
I'm going to include Marie's, book, a link to that book in case you wanted to just read through it or and explore it a little bit more.
So, again, Marie, thank you so much for hosting with me.
Thanks for having me, and god bless everyone who's on this discernment journey.
Yes.
Excellent.
Thank you all.
Okay.
Enjoy your time.
Care.
Bye.