Advanced Study and Practice in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Advanced Study and Practice in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola is an in-depth study of one of the most influential texts in Western Christian spirituality, the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. It is geared to adult learners and features didactic input from two team members with extensive experience in the study and practice of giving the Exercises. It uses a pedagogy focused on the personal appropriation of the Exercises, both for one’s own and for others’ spiritual wellbeing. It is an ADVANCED study and presupposes that applicants have already studied the art of spiritual direction.
An application fee, written application and interview are required before registering for the course. Scroll down for the application link.
Course Details
Led by Fr. Bill Creed, SJ & Dr. Lauren Schwer, DMin.
5:00pm to 6:30pm (CT)
2026: August 19, September 2, 9, 23, October 7, 21, November 4, December 2
2027: January 13, 27, February 10, 24, March 10
The course will take place on Zoom on Wednesday evenings for thirteen sessions. The principal text is Understanding the Spiritual Exercises by Michael Ivens, S.J. (Gracewing and Inigo Enterprises, 2008). Thirteen additional articles, which illuminate each topic and various aspects of Ignatian spirituality, are required reading. In this seminar, participants will bring their own experience to bear in putting into practice the topics and themes studied while honing their listening and discernment skills. Three days before each class each participant is required to submit a written reflection on a personal experience currently occurring in your life related to the assigned topic. Each seminar will involve a triad experience in a small group where one will be the directee who shares a real experience, one will be the director and a third (or more) will be an observer noting the skills of both directee and director. This adult learning model invites all participants to deepen the art of spiritual direction in the Ignatian tradition.
Once you submit your application fee and written application, the instructors will schedule a brief Zoom interview. Upon completion of this process, you will be notified of your acceptance into the program and sent a link to complete full registration.
Application
Applications are closed for the 2026-2027 cohort. Please consider applying next year!
Before applying, view a sample application here.
Supervision Training
Supervision Training FAQs
This course is for seasoned spiritual directors interested in training as spiritual direction supervisors.
We require that participants have at least three years of experience in both practicing spiritual direction and receiving supervision. We recommend that participants have had some prior experience of peer group supervision, but it is not required.
We recommend you having ample experience as a spiritual director before training as a supervisor. It takes a few years to settle into your own style and expression of spiritual direction. Once you have a few more years experience practicing spiritual direction, we hope you come back and take this training!
The course will cover: Defining an evocative approach to spiritual direction supervision, practicing contemplative supervision skills, reflections on the experience of being a supervisor, peer group supervision training, evaluation tools in supervision, and regular practice sessions in supervision with feedback.
This is not necessary.