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Spiritual Direction Institute

The Spiritual Direction Institute

at Emmaus Spirituality Center
- Forming Clergy, Religious, and Laity in the ministry of Spiritual Direction to serve in their parish or faith community, and in other places of Christian ministry.
  
  Since 1985, the Spiritual Direction Institute, begun by the Diocese of Galveston-Houston Office of Continuing Christian Education and led first by Sr. Mary Dennison, rc followed by Sr. Ann Goggin, rc, has offered a three-year formation and training program. The greater Houston area has greatly benefited from the spiritual presence and skilled servant ministry its hundreds of graduates have contributed in a variety of settings. Operating for over 35 years under the auspices of the Cenacle Retreat House, the program now resides at the Emmaus Spirituality Center.
  
  The Spiritual Direction Institute offers the three-year formation program to clergy, religious and laity who feel called to the ministry. It is structured to promote student growth and competency in the areas of: theology, prayer, spirituality, and the skills necessary to accompany and foster spiritual growth in others. The program is interdisciplinary, experiential, and process-oriented.
  
  Each class is developed and given by a team providing professional and theological input. Using the shared Christian praxis method where applicable, students are helped to integrate the new content with their own experience.
  
  Those who satisfactorily complete the program receive a certificate of completion.
  
  The Fall 2023 group will meet weekly mornings beginning in September from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.
  You will continue to meet at this time for all three years.
Spiritual Direction Institute
Program Requirements
- Program Requirements
  
  Students are required to fulfill the following rhythms and practices:
  
  Regular Prayer and Prayer Journal
  
  Monthly meetings with a spiritual director
  
  Attendance at all sessions and completion of all assignments
  
  Ongoing development of an annotated bibliography and resource list
  
  Learning Journal
  
  Make two (2) two-night directed silent retreats during the three years of formation and attend the SDI Lenten Day of Prayer and Reflection
  
  Minimum of 30 hours of supervised spiritual direction during the practicum period
  
  Yearly meeting with the Director of the Spiritual Direction Institute.
Course Listing
- Year One
  
  Theological Anthropology
  
  Christology
  
  Introduction to Individual Prayer Styles
  
  The Examen
  
  Introduction to Spiritual Direction
  
  Introduction to Spirituality
  
  Theological Reflection
  
  Discernment I
  
  Christian Life-Span Development
  
  Empathetic Listening I and II
  
  Spiritual Direction Skills Practice
  
  Enneagram I
  
  Year Two
  
  Church History
  
  History of Christian Spirituality and Key Figures
  
  Ignatian Spirituality
  
  Roots of Our Own Spirituality
  
  Liturgical Spirituality/Prayer of the Church
  
  Centering Prayer
  
  Discernment II
  
  Loss and Grief
  
  Beginning Spiritual Direction Practice
  
  Spiritual Direction Skills Practice
  
  Spiritual Direction Ethics and Boundaries
  
  Enneagram II
  
  Year Three
  
  Theology of Ministry
  
  Theology of Suffering
  
  Discernment III
  
  Special Topics in Accompaniment
  
  Professed and Operative Images of God
  
  Prayer During Life Transitions
  
  Blocks in Spiritual Direction
  
  Transference and Countertransference
  
  Pastoral Counseling v. Spiritual Direction
  
  Advanced Listening Skills Development
  
  Enneagram III
  
  Practicum Supervision
Application Procedures
- Application Procedures
  
  Applications for Fall 2023 are now open
  
  You may complete the application form here. Then print the sponsor form and the evaluation form below and give them to your references. Completed forms can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to Emmaus Spirituality Center 12645 Memorial Drive F1 - 720, Houston, TX 77024
  
  Don't forget to click on the Registration link to pay your $50.00 registration fee.
  
  Application Form
  
  Sponsor Form
  
  Evaluation Form
  
  Registration Fee
- About Our SDI Staff
  
  Leadership
  
  Kathleen Messina
  
  Director, Spiritual Direction Institute
  
  281. 241.9678
  kmessinaemmausspiritualitycenter.com
  
  Spiritual Direction Institute Instructors
  
  Maureen Bacchi
  
  Rev. Msgr. Chester L. Borski, STL
  
  Sandra Derby
  
  Sr. Roselle Haas, rc
  
  Robert Hesse
  
  Kathleen Messina
  
  Kathy Reiter
  
  Michael Sciretti, Jr.
  
  Tim VanDuivendyk

Spiritual Direction Institute

Forming Clergy, Religious, and Laity in the ministry of Spiritual Direction to serve in their parish or faith community, and in other places of Christian ministry.