SAINT ST. ANTHONY SHRINE & MINISTRY CENTER Boston, Massachusetts

Franciscan Spiritual Direction Certification Program

2017 - 2019

Spiritual companionship is an ancient practice of one-on-one accompaniment that

evolves through contemplative listening, presence, and reflection to help the seeker to discern the sacred presence of God in his or her unique and sacred journey.

Do people come to you for a listening ear?

Are you being called to the practice of spiritual direction? Do you have a desire to grow in attentiveness to God’s movement in your life in community with others of shared call-

ing?

“The place God calls you to is that place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” Frederick Buechner

The Franciscan Spiritual Direction Program

Our program draws upon the rich resources of spiritual literature, widening and deepening practices of prayer and self-reflection to enhance the spiritual lives of those called to this minis-

try. The program includes:

Practices of Prayer, Spiritual Disciplines and Religious Traditions, including Centering Prayer Franciscan Spirituality Ignatian Spirituality Theology of the Body

Studies of the Practices of Spiritual Direction The Enneagram Contemporary Social Contexts, including family, gender, and life transitions

Psychology and Spiritual Direction Discernment The 12 Step Path Social Justice

Course Requirements

Commitment to attendance and participation in all classes and small groups Monthly reading and reflection papers Oral presentations Individual and peer supervision

Meeting with two directees, with individual supervision, beginning the interim summer through the second year

Monthly meetings with your spiritual director Attendance at two retreats

Criteria for Admission

We welcome women and men of all faiths, whose experience includes: A daily practice of prayer and a year’s experience of having been in spiritual direction.

Application and two letters of recommendation A personal interview

Program Schedule Saturdays 10:00am - 5:00pm

2017 September 16 October 21 November 18 December 16

2018 February 17 March 17 April 21 May 19 2018 September 15 October 20 November 17 December 15

2019 February 15 March 16 April 27 May 18 Graduation in June Tuition and Fees

$50 one-time non-refundable registration fee $250 deposit upon acceptance $500 per semester $275 for two overnight retreats

$275 for Individual Supervision $100 or less for books each semester $100 Graduation fee

The Deadline for Applications is August 1, 2017 Scholarships available

Team Members

Director - Nancy Nichols Kearns I have been a Spiritual Director at the Shrine for nine years and a previous Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach of Boston. Centering prayer sustains me and allows me to be grounded in active ministry in my Parish in Charlestown and at the Shrine. Wisdom Schools have deepened this awakening. The Cursillo community, prison min-istry at Framingham and 12 Step experience have encouraged me to feel

blessed as God continues to work through these encounters. I graduated from the training pro-gram for Spiritual Direction at San Damiano House of prayer in Lowell. (Brother) John Maganzini, OFM is a member of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), Holy Name Province. I hold both Bachelors and Masters De-grees in Education, Religious Education, and Religious Studies. I have com-pleted post-Masters studies in adult faith formation, pastoral counseling and spiritual direction. My ministerial background includes teaching, spiritual direc-tion, counseling, retreat work, workshops, and ministry to women and men in Twelve Step programs. I am presently one of the Vicars for the friar community of St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center, a spiritual director (companion) in the Franciscan Spiritual Compan-ionship Ministry, a member of the Friary Worship team, and assists in other shrine ministries.

Carol Mitchell I trained as a spiritual director almost 25 years ago and it has been my great privilege and joy to accompany many people in spiritual direc-tion since that time. I have been involved in the training of spiritual directors as well as working on preached, directed and 30 day retreats. My first career was as a clinical psy-chologist and in that capacity I periodically teach in a program in the California prison system to train long term prisoners to become addiction treatment

counselors. I am married with three grown children and five grandchildren, two of whom live across the hall from us. I feel very blessed to live in my favorite city doing work that lets me con-tinually see new aspects of the face of God. Clara Wood I have been practicing spiritual direction at St. Anthony Shrine for five years, with a particular interest in realizing the sacred through prayer and storytelling, the creative arts and attention to the gifts of the natural world. I worked with the homeless and as a pastoral visitor following my certification in Pastoral Ministry at Boston College, and played a leadership role in the sacramental and com-munity life at St. Stephen Priory in Dover for sixteen years. I am a widow with four grandchildren, the other light of my life, and a long-time resident of Boston and frequenter at lectures and seminars at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College. _________________________________________

St. Anthony Shrine is conveniently located in Downtown Crossing in Boston, and easily accessible from the T, with stops at Park Street and Downtown Crossing.

Parking garages nearby have reasonable Saturday rates.

For an application or for further information, please contact:

Nancy Nichols Kearns St. Anthony Shrine & Ministry Center

100 Arch Street Boston, Massachusetts 02110

617-542-6440 x 120 NKearns@stanthonyshrine.org