Two-Year Spiritual Direction Certificate Program

• One residential week each year in January at Mercy Center in Madison, Conn. (Jan. 4-10, 2026, Jan. 3-9, 2027)

• Eight Saturdays each year: February, March, April, May, September, October, November, December (second Saturday of the month, full day, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.)

• Monthly personal spiritual direction
• Regular individual supervision. Students will be responsible to pay for 12 supervision sessions with an independent supervisor
• Two in-depth self-evaluations per year

• Quarterly meetings (by phone) with a faculty mentor

• Two, in-depth self-evaluations each year

• Assigned readings and reflection papers throughout each year

(tracks will be integrated)

• Coursework: Aspects of Ignatian Spirituality (authors include G. Aschenbrenner, W. and N. Au, W. Barry, W. Connelly, J. English, T. Gallagher, R. Haight, J. O’Malley, J. Melloni, J. Ruffing, M. Silf, J. Tetlow, M. Thibodeaux, J. Veale)

• Special Topics: Discernment, Developmental Spirituality, Schools of Spirituality, Sexuality and Spirituality, Critical Psychological Issues, Enneagram, Dreams

• Practicum: Case Studies, Verbatim, Peer Supervision, Role Play, Individual Direction/Supervision

Holy Listening as a form of faith sharing will be integral to all components of the program.

Candidates should:

• Be a minimum of 30 years of age

• Have an appropriate background in theology and ministry

• Have received regular spiritual direction over a significant period of time

• Be an active member of a faith community

The program is open to 15 participants.

• Participants must be in their own direction and supervision

• During their formation, each participant will have two or three directees whom they see once a month

• The growth of each participant, both as a director and directee, will be monitored by his/her faculty mentor

Faculty mentors will consult with supervisors to discuss each intern and his or her progress guided by the goals and expectation of the formation program.

Tuition of $3,500 covers the two-year certificate program, including eight Saturday seminars each year and quarterly phone meetings with faculty mentors. In addition, there are 2 week-long intensives each January at the Mercy Center in Madison, Conn., and participants are responsible for the cost of room and board of $750 each year, as well as their own spiritual direction fees. Financial aid is available to those with a legitimate need.

Rev. Denis Donoghue, S.J., is the director of the Spiritual Director Training at the Murphy Center. Fr. Donoghue, associate director of the Murphy Center, previously served at the associate vice president of Academic Affairs at Wheeling Jesuit University and as a lecturer in theology and religious studies and Matteo Ricci College at Seattle University. Fr. Donoghue spent a number of years working as a chaplain and psychotherapist with Native American Tribes north of Seattle. He holds a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling from the San Francisco Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Seattle University, and a Master of Philosophical Resources from Fordham University. Fr. Donoghue has accompanied others as a spiritual director for over twenty years.

Ms. Marcy Haley, is the Associate Director of Murphy Center for Ignatian Spirituality.  Marcy joined the Board in 2016 and is liaison to the Marketing, Mission & Priorities and Development Committees. Marcy is a trained Spiritual Director and retreat leader affiliated with the Center and works with students, faculty, staff at Fairfield Preparatory School and Fairfield University as well as adults from the Diocese of Bridgeport. Having completed the Spiritual Exercises, she also companions those who wish to make the 19th Annotation of the retreat. Marcy is President and Founder of Women in Need Fairfield, a non-profit organization providing financial assistance to women who are struggling due to circumstances affecting their well-being.  Marcy began her career in television and spent fifteen years working for NBC and Lifetime Television.