Apprenticeship in Spiritual Direction

A flexible training program tailored to your learning context and deeply rooted in the monastic tradition

Our uniquely designed apprenticeship in spiritual direction (ASD) builds on a core of historical spiritual theology and practical training modules with special-topic electives and 1:1 mentorship to form deeply rooted spiritual directors.

  • Receive individual mentorship from experienced spiritual directors.

  • Train at your own pace (in as little as 2½ years).

  • Tailor your training to your vocation with elective modules.

 
 

Program distinctives

 

The Order of the Common Life’s apprenticeship in spiritual direction offers a flexible, module-based, mentorship-driven training model:

  • Begin individually and learn at your own pace, or journey with a local cohort in your context.

  • Build on a robust theology of formation, from the New Testament through the Desert Fathers and the monastic tradition.

  • Customize your learning path with elective modules (like Trauma-Informed Spiritual Direction, Multicultural Direction, and Sexuality and Spirituality).

  • Explore your emerging vocation with dedicated spiritual direction mentors.

  • Train 100% online (no residency requirement in most cases).

 
 

Time commitments

 

Time commitments vary by module and depend on your module “load.” While engaged in a typical apprenticeship module, however, most ASD participants can expect:

  • Weekly video content, readings, reflection and assignments (4-6 hours)

  • Biweekly mentor conversations (1 hour)

  • Monthly meetings with a spiritual director (1 hour)

Participants can pause learning at virtually any time, subject to limits.

 

Entry requirements

 

Prior to applying, ASD participants should have:

  1. Experience meeting with a spiritual director for at least 12 months

  2. A regular, deep prayer life featuring some degree of both conversation and quiet with God

  3. A lived commitment to the Christian faith

  4. An active commitment to participate in a local church

  5. A persistent sense of invitation to the work of spiritual direction

Consideration can be given for some exceptions.

 

Curriculum

 

Curriculum for the pilot program of ASD is subject to modification. Every two units in our 76-unit curriculum includes a one-hour individual meeting with a program mentor.

  • • A Contemplative Foundation (free course) or OCL postulancy or equivalent formation experience
    • ASD Orientation

  • • TH1: Historical Theology of Formation (8 units)
    • TH2: Critical Thresholds of Formation (8 units)
    • TH3: The Tradition of Spiritual Direction (8 units)
    • TH4: Formation in the Contemplative Life (8 units)

  • • PX1: The Passions, Patterns and Self-Understanding (4 units)
    • PX2: Contemplative Listening (4 units)
    • PX3: The Craft of Questions (4 units)
    • PX4: Ethics in Spiritual Direction (4 units)
    • PX5: The Discernment of Spirits (4 units)
    • PX6: Additional Techniques (4 units)

  • • PM1: Listening Conversations Practicum (2 units) (6 hours)
    • PM2: Spiritual Direction Practicum (20 hours)
    • PM3: Clearness Committee Practicum (2 hours)
    • PM4: Supervision Practicum (10 hours)
    • Spiritual Exercises 19th Annotation Retreat (30+ weeks)
    • Contemplative Practice Mini Retreat

  • Choose four electives including:
    • Internal Family Systems & Parts Work
    • Sexuality & Spirituality
    • Journeys of Deconstruction
    • Discernment of Spirits II
    • Spiritual Formation in the Local Church
    • Trauma-Informed Spiritual Direction
    • and more

  • • ASD Capstone (2 units)

 
 

Cost

 

The ASD program uses a pay-as-you-learn model, rather than an annual or total tuition model. In other words, you pay for the total units of your course (see “Curriculum” above) as you enroll in it. Each unit costs $50. Four-unit courses cost $200, and eight-unit courses cost $400.

This means the total cost of instruction and mentorship for the pilot program is $3,800, unless you choose to enroll in additional units. Most apprentices will be required to also undertake the Spiritual Exercises 19th Annotation retreat as a part of their training—an intensive and deeply formative experience with weekly spiritual direction—which is an additional $1,800 to cover the cost of a specially trained retreat director, for a total of around $5,600.

 

Apprenticeship faculty

 

Jared Patrick Boyd, OCL, is an experienced trainer of spiritual directors and the founding director of the Order of the Common Life.

 

Br. Brian Hohmeier, OCL, is the director of formation and learning for the Order of the Common Life and the lead instructor for the Apprenticeship in the Spiritual Exercises (ASE). He’s completed training with Sustainable Faith, Evangelical Theological Seminary and the Internal Family Systems Institute, as well as holding an M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary.

 
 

How to apply

 

Applications are now open. Contact Br. Brian for any questions.