Training Programs in the Ignatian Tradition
Explore and Discern
A call to formation to become a Spiritual Director or Spiritual Companion
The seminar is designed to help individuals who are feeling drawn to the ministry of either spiritual direction or spiritual companioning 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. A Spiritual Companion is one who is called to accompany, on a short-term basis, men and women who are in recovery from addictions and homelessness.
The next Explore and Discern will begin in January 2024. Application packets will be available Fall 2023. Application deadline: November 2023.
Click here for the Explore and Discern brochure, which provides more information about the program.
Ignatian Training Program
Becoming Spiritual Directors or Spiritual Companions
The online program provides structure, content, mentoring and supervision to individuals who discerned a call to the ministry of spiritual direction or spiritual companioning.
Spiritual Directors are called to guide individuals who are seeking ongoing orientation, encouragement, and discernment in the life of the Spirit. Spiritual Companions are called to accompany men and women for a short time as they discover, develop, and deepen an intentional relationship with God.
This holistic spiritual formation program is designed and implemented in the spirit of cura personalis - adapting to the person’s gifts and talents while using the values and principles of the Ignatian tradition to understand situations as they arise.
The dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola serve as the foundation for the program.
The next cohort of the Ignatian Training Program will begin in September 2024. Application packets will be available in Spring 2024. Invitations to participate in the program will be extended July 31, 2024.
Please see the Ignatian Training Program brochure for additional information and contact Martina O'Shea (moshea@trinity.org) if you are interested in receiving an application packet.
Online 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. For more information, please contact Martina O’Shea (moshea@trinity.org).
Please see the Peter Faber Training Program Brochure for additional information. Our next Online Faber Training Program will begin in September 2023. Application packets are now available. The application deadline is June 15, 2023. Invitations to participate in the program will be extended on July 31, 2023.