School of Spiritual Direction
The School of Spiritual Direction is devoted to nurturing a culture of attentive listening to the Holy Spirit, fostering well-formed spiritual directors and supporting the Church’s mission of accompanying souls toward a deeper union with God.
About the School
The School of Spiritual Direction is devoted to nurturing a culture of attentive listening to the Holy Spirit, fostering well-formed spiritual directors and supporting the Church’s mission of accompanying souls toward a deeper union with God. Whether you are beginning a journey of spiritual formation or discerning a call to serve others, the School welcomes you into a path of faithful discernment and service.
The School of Spiritual Direction at DMU is devoted to the ministry of spiritual direction in the following ways:
Preparing our Hearts – Foundational Courses
Our foundational courses are open to anyone who is earnestly seeking to cultivate a relationship with God and deepen into their interior life to know him. There are no prerequisites beyond the understanding that these are academically rigorous courses in their expectations for reading, writing, and group assignments. SOSD101 is recommended first, but is optional; SDC100 and SDC200 serve as prerequisites for acceptance to the Spiritual Direction Certificate. The following are the foundational courses:
Start here
Your path into the School
SOSD101 is recommended first, but is optional. SDC100 and SDC200 are taken in order and are required for acceptance; together they are the only route into the Spiritual Direction Certificate.
- 1Self-paced
SOSD101
A Catholic Vision of Spiritual Maturity
100% online · self-paced · no prerequisites
Recommended first, but optional. Open to anyone.
Register for SOSD101 - 2Instructor-led
SDC100
Life in Christ and Spiritual Direction
Online · 8 weeks
Required for the certificate. SOSD101 is recommended first, but is optional.
Register for SDC100 - 3Instructor-led
SDC200
Human Development for Spiritual Growth
Online · 8 weeks
Required for the certificate; follows SDC100. The registration link is sent to SDC100 students when they finish the course.
Then: apply to the Spiritual Direction Certificate
Completing SDC100 and SDC200 makes you eligible to apply. Acceptance follows a review process — see Certificates below.
Certificates
The Spiritual Direction Certificate (SDC) offers 4 courses, 8 weeks each, for training to work with others in direction. The SDC will prepare those already in spiritual direction to accompany others. SDC100 and SDC200 are prerequisites to acceptance to the certificate.
The Spiritual Direction Supervisor Certificate (SDSC) is offered to support active and experienced spiritual directors to serve in a supervisor capacity to other directors. This is an 8-week online course.
Ministry Support
Through our group supervision offering, all trained spiritual directors may choose to continue with group supervision as offered by Divine Mercy University. Proof of training is required to participate in a group session. Reach out to lfrancis@divinemercy.edu for further information.
More from the School
Dates for the instructor-led courses and residencies.
Accreditation
SACSCOC (institutional)
Divine Mercy University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award master's and doctoral degrees. Divine Mercy University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Divine Mercy University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).
See full accreditation details and program-specific accreditation →
Leadership
Administration
Maria Brackett
Director, School of Spiritual Direction
Linda Francis
Assistant Director, School of Spiritual Direction
Advisory Board
- Thérèse BermpohlExecutive Director, Office of Marriage, Family and Respect Life, Catholic Diocese of Arlington
- Jeff GarrettExecutive Coach; graduate of the Spiritual Direction Certificate
- Bishop Ned ShlesingerAuxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Atlanta
- Rev. David Songy, O.F.M. Cap., S.T.D., Psy.D.President Emeritus, Saint Luke Institute; Director of Ongoing Formation, Province of St. Conrad
- Rev. Robert Wagner, S.T.L.Pastor, St. Andrew the Apostle, Clifton, VA
- Rev. Robert Presutti, LC, Ph.D., Ph.L.Formerly VP for Academic and Student Affairs, Divine Mercy University
Faculty
All faculty & staff
Marion C Bean Moreland
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Debra Black
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Carrie Delaney
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Anthony J. Flores
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
George Forsythe
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Rachel Gehring
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Deacon Scott Gilfillan
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Stephen Grundman
Natalie Jackson
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Christina Johnson
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Mary Monette
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
María Muñoz
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Jeannine L. Peters
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Fr. John Pietropaoli
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Jennifer Ristine
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Racine Silva
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Beth Van de Voorde
Faculty, School of Spiritual Direction
Questions about the School?
Not sure which course fits, or have a question about the certificates or group supervision? Reach the School directly.