New Internship in Spiritual Direction Coming Soon!

Franciscan University in Baton Rouge, The Archdiocese of New Orleans Spirituality Center and the Diocese of Baton Rouge are happy to announce a joint partnership creating a Program of Formation for Spiritual Direction.

Among the variety of conversational ministries through which faith is shared and strengthened is the ministry of spiritual direction. Spiritual Direction is distinguished from preaching, catechesis, pastoral counselling, and spiritual friendship because this faith conversation has as its purpose discernment. Although honing of skills is part of the formation of a spiritual director, the essential formation comes from God’s gift and spiritual hunger of the intern. When God has gifted a person with faith and discernment, a training program can help that person recognize, strengthen and purify their gift of discernment. This training is done with a wisdom community of faith and discernment.

A number of prerequisites are expected for each intern such as a life of prayer; honing the gift of discernment; personal experience in ongoing spiritual direction; a directed retreat based on the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius, an adequate theological background and the ability to commit to all aspects of the formation program and required study.

If you have an interest in exploring becoming an intern in formation for the ministry of spiritual direction, four informational sessions will be held on two days: February 18, 2021, 10:00am and 6:30pm and February 24, 2021, 10:00am and 6:30pm. All of these informational sessions will give more detail about the prerequisites, the scope of the formation program and the expected timeline of when the program will begin. All of the informational sessions will be held on ZOOM. 

For more information and how to register for one of the informational sessions contact Fr. Paul Gros at [email protected].