The Saint Vincent College and Seminary Institute for Ministry Formation is offering a number of opportunities for students, alumni and spiritual directors this summer, including several new offerings. Some of these offerings will be on campus in Latrobe, while others will be off-site.
Spiritual Direction
• SD1: The Art of Accompaniment, May 19-23, 2025, Latrobe;
• Spiritual Direction Symposium, June 19–21, 2025, Latrobe;
• SD2: Directing Prayer, June 23-27, 2025, Latrobe;
• Mission Here and Now: An Introduction to Missiology for the Parish, June 23-27, 2025, Latrobe;
• SD1: The Art of Accompaniment, July 21-25, 2025, Fargo, North Dakota;
SD1: The Art of Accompaniment
This course can be taken as a stand-alone course for enrichment, or as an entry into the 18-credit spiritual direction formation program. The course offers practical skills for anyone who accompanies others, not just aspiring spiritual directors. As Pope Francis says in The Joy of the Gospel, “The Church will have to initiate everyone—priests, religious and laity—into this ‘art of accompaniment’ which teaches us to remove our sandals before the sacred ground of the other (cf. Ex 3:5).” The course is essential for pastors, youth ministers, DREs, small group leaders, teachers, and marriage mentors.
SD2: Directing Prayer
Participants will learn the foundational dynamics of spiritual direction through reading, lectures, and discussions. SD 2 expands upon what students have learned in SD 1, deepening their experiences on the road to expand their own spiritual enlightenment while teaching them how to assist others traveling the same path. The course consists of five and a half hours of instruction per day for five days.
Spiritual Direction Symposium
The IMF is partnering with the Avila Institute and the Lanteri Center for Ignatian Spirituality for a Spiritual Direction Symposium at Saint Vincent College and Seminary, June 19–21, 2025.
This symposium is for spiritual directors who may desire more formation or who may want to connect with other spiritual directors walking along the same path. This will be a three-day retreat to deepen wisdom and discernment.
Keynote speakers include Father Boniface Hicks, O.S.B., Father Tom Acklin, O.S.B., and Dan Burke. There will be an extended session of conferences given by Father Timothy Gallagher on Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s second set of rules specifically for spiritual directors. There will also be practical breakout talks to disseminate new tools for accompaniment from the IMF, Lanteri Center, Heart of Christ, and Divine Mercy University, among others.
Mission Here and Now
Mission Here and Now: An Introduction to Missiology for the Parish, will be held at Saint Vincent College and Seminary, June 23-27, 2025. This course, taught by Dr. Helene Paharik, will equip students with an understanding of the Trinitarian origin for mission, the biblical basis for mission, the sacramental impetus for mission, the church’ teaching on mission, as well as the processes for making missionary disciples.
For additional information on registering for these programs, please visit the IMF’s website.
