Spiritual Director Training

Description:
The Institute of the Transfiguration is an initiative of the Archdiocese of Dubuque Adult Formation Office dedicated to providing an opportunity for deepening the spiritual lives of Catholics in the Archdiocese, and training men and women to serve as Spiritual Directors. The Institute seeks to meet a need for more trained Spiritual Directors to be available to offer spiritual direction in the Archdiocese. 

Overview:
This program is offered every two years, with the next cohort starting in September of 2024. Sessions will take place monthly on Saturdays from 8:30 AM - 2:30 PM, with assigned reading and writing to be done between sessions. The program also includes multiple retreats. The dates, topics, and descriptions of the sessions can be found here.

Location:
The 2024-2026 cohort will meet at St. Stephen the Witness Student Center on the UNI campus (1019 W 23rd St, Cedar Falls, IA 50613).

Cost:
The cost for the program is $1,000 per person each year ($2,000 total for both years). This fee includes a three-day opening retreat and all session meals, but does not include the costs of books, travel to and from sessions, or the Summer 2025 mid-program personal retreat. Payment for each year is due by the beginning of the program year.

Those who are pursuing this training on behalf of their parish, may apply for financial assistance from an archdiocesan grant (learn more about grant options here), and/or may talk with their pastor to see if parish funds may be available to help offset the program costs.

Participant Qualifications:
This Spiritual Director training program is most especially for priests, deacons and their wives, faith formation leaders, pastoral associates, alumni of the Lay Formation and IMPACT Programs, and active Catholic parishioners who feel called to the ministry of spiritual direction. To qualify, individuals must have had some previous formal formation in the Catholic faith (which could include seminary formation, diaconate formation, Lay Formation or IMPACT, a degree in theology or a related field, 5+ years of ministry experience, or other formation and experience that is comparable). Applicants should also have experience receiving spiritual direction from a trained Spiritual Director.

Participant Expectations:

• A commitment to daily prayer (including 30 minutes or more of personal prayer time).
• A commitment to regular reception of the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation, along with regular attendance at Mass.
• A commitment to participating in all retreats and all monthly sessions (exceptions can be made for some circumstances, like illness, the death of a loved one, or pre-planned travel, in which case you must watch the recordings of the session content).
• A commitment to completing the required reading, reflection papers, practicum activities, and other assigned work.
• A commitment to receiving monthly Spiritual Direction from an approved Spiritual Director.
• A commitment to paying the full costs for the program ($1,000 per year, plus costs of books, travel, and the mid-point personal retreat). Participants may pursue Financial Assistance through their parish, an archdiocesan grant, or other means.
• A commitment to being open and receptive to the formation provided in the program.
• A commitment to being respectful of other participants and their personal sharing, especially during small group discussions and practicum experiences.
• A commitment to meeting with a directee monthly during Year 2 of the program.

Program Completion:
Those who complete all the requirements of the two-year program will receive a Certificate of Completion for the Institute of the Transfiguration Spiritual Director Training program from the Archdiocese of Dubuque, and will have the opportunity to be listed on the Archdiocesan Spiritual Directors list found here: https://dbqarch.org/spiritual-directors.