Training Programs in the Ignatian Tradition

Explore and Discern

A Call to Formation to Become a Spiritual Director

The seminar is designed to help individuals who are feeling drawn to the ministry of spiritual direction to explore their desire and abilities for this ministry and to discern if indeed God is calling the person to further formation.

Spiritual Directors are called to accompany individuals who are seeking orientation, encouragement, and discernment in the life of the Spirit.

The next session is expected to begin in January, 2026.  The application deadline is November 14, 2025.  Contact Ed McCormack, Ph.D. with questions or to apply.

Please see the Explore and Discern brochure for more information about the program. Please note that this program will be held in person on the campus of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, DC.

Ignatian Training Program

Spiritual Directors are called to accompany fellow Christians through their life journey to help foster their relationship with God. A spiritual director listens for how God is acting in a person's life to help them respond to God and live out the consequences of that relationship.

Becoming a Spiritual Director

The program begins with a study of the Biblical and Theological background understanding of how the Triune God relates to creation and humanity.  It then explores the common ways people respond to God’s presence and the skills needed to accompany a person drawn particularly from Ignatian Spirituality. The program also provides mentoring, peer supervision, and individual supervision to participants as they learn to offer spiritual direction.

This holistic spiritual formation program is designed and implemented in the spirit of Ignatius to help participants integrate into their practice of spiritual direction the principles of Ignatian Spirituality.  For more information, please see the Ignatian Training Program brochure.

The Ignatian Training Program will begin in the fall of 2026.  Please note that this program will be held in person on the campus of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Washington, DC.  Completed applications are due by June 15, 2026.  Invitations to participate will be extended by July 31, 2026.  To apply, please click here.

Faber Training Program to Give the Spiritual Exercises

St. Peter Faber was one of the first Jesuits. He met Ignatius of Loyola when they were studying at the University of Paris. Faber made the full Exercises only after spending four years in spiritual conversation with Ignatius. Once he made them, however, Faber proved to be a master ‘giver’ of the Exercises. In Ignatius’ estimation, Faber was the best of all the first companions in giving the Exercises to others. After the Society of Jesus was founded in 1540, Faber spent most of his time in Germany. He was convinced that the Exercises were the most effective way to remedy divisions among Christians and reform the Church.

We cherish the Exercises as Ignatius’ gift to the Church. Not only do the Exercises help people on their own journey of faith, but they can animate the spiritual, pastoral, theological, and liturgical life of the Church.

In offering this innovative program for training in the Spiritual Exercises, we rely on the patronage of Peter Faber. The Peter Faber Program forms skilled ministers of the Spiritual Exercises for ministry to the People of God in Washington and the surrounding area. The program enables participants to develop the competencies included in the document, “Guiding Standards for Those Who Give the Spiritual Exercises,” approved by the Jesuit provincials of the United States and English-speaking Canada, 2015.

The next program will begin in the fall of 2025.  For additional information or to request an application packet, please contact Ed McCormack, Ph.D. at emccormack@trinity.org or 202-903-2810.  The application deadline is June 27, 2025.  Invitations to participate in the program will be extended on or before July 31, 2025.

Please see the Peter Faber Training Program Brochure for additional information. Please note that this program will be held in person on the campus of Holy Trinity Church in Washington, DC.