FranU launches spiritual direction program

Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University launched a critical new chapter in its growing development Aug. 2 when eight members of FranU’s new spiritual direction program attended their first class.

The program, which will welcome a new class of eight students every two years, means that along with Baton Rouge, spiritual direction classes are also available in New Orleans and Grand Couteau in the Diocese of Lafayette.

“I’m excited,” said FranU theology professor David Whidden, one of the visionaries behind the program. “It’s rewarding because we found a way to (develop the program) that will be high quality.”

“Our mission at FranU is to help serve the needs of the diocese, helping the spiritual lives of parish leaders and parishioners,” he added. “That is just what we do.”

The idea of offering a spiritual direction cohort at FranU was first discussed in early 2020 when Vicar General Father Tom Ranzino and Baton Rouge author and spiritual director Becky Eldridge approached the university. Before gaining much traction the COVID-19 pandemic struck, temporarily shelving the project.

When Whidden later began to look into how spiritual direction development programs had worked across the country, his focus only had to shift 90 miles southeast to the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center in Metairie, where Sister Dot Trosclair OP had already developed such a program. Following a visit to the spirituality center, which is located on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain in a suburban neighborhood, diocesan officials approached Sister Dot about exporting her program, which had been 30 years in the making, to Baton Rouge. 

Whidden said Sister Dot will come to Baton Rouge for the next two years to manage the program on the FranU campus.

“It will be a nice promotion for us,” Whidden said.

The program is open to individuals interested in becoming spiritual directors but they must first meet a demanding set of criteria, including having a substantial theological background, completed certain courses through FranU, has been in spiritual direction, completed the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and diocesan discernment.

“We will interview people to see who is the right fit at the right time,” Whidden said. 

In Baton Rouge, students will meet the first two Tuesdays of the month from 4-8 p.m. In New Orleans, students meet all day on Saturdays and in Grand Couteau classes are held on Wednesdays.

“We are splitting it up over two Tuesdays instead of all in one day to try to make it so some people still working can come in and do it,” Whidden said. 

He added the courses are not limited geographically, so a student from New Orleans can attend FranU if that schedule is more accommodating. Whidden noted that Father Paul Yi, pastor at St. George Church in Baton Rouge, is attending classes in Grand Couteau.

 

 “It’s rewarding because we found a way to (develop the program) that will be high quality.” 

David Whidden

FranU theology professor

The Baton Rouge and New Orleans cohorts are beginning new classes this year, and Grand Couteau began a new program in 2021, guaranteeing a new class every year.

Because spiritual direction is an incarnational experience, Sister Dot is adamant the training needs to be done face to face and not virtually.

“A whole lot of information can be exchanged that way,” Whidden said. 

Historically, those desiring to be trained in spiritual direction had to attend classes in Omaha, Nebraska; Clearwater, Florida; or New Orleans. 

“I think (the FranU program) is really important because it makes it possible for people who might not be able to travel to other places to get this,” he said. “And it allows us to train our own directors in our own community.”

“What’s really driving this is we don’t have enough spiritual directors for our deacons, our seminarians, our priests,” Whidden said. “The ones who are trained are overwhelmed. We need as many local directors as we can produce.”

He also points to an uptick in need for spiritual direction, saying people are craving spiritual direction but are realizing the futility in attempting to navigate that on their own. 

“Sometimes you need people who have taken the journey before, who are good listeners and share the Spirit with the people. That’s a pretty specific skill,” Whidden said.

He believes the demand is increasing because while the overall number of Catholics appear to be on the decline, those who are “staying behind” desire more, want a deeper experience with Christ and with God and a deeper spiritualty. He said people “want more than we give them.”

“I think that in a world where there is much talk of spirituality, a lot of it is shallow, people want to be better listeners and a better sense of where the spirit is moving them,” he said. “Having somebody that can guide through that is really important. They can listen to you, hold you accountable.”

“This is not like therapy,” he added. “It’s really about how God is moving in your life and how can you cooperate with that.”

For more information, visit franu.edu.