| Statement of Purpose | Program Overview | Eligibility & Applications |
| Hesychia Program | Format of Study | Program Schedule |
T
he Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction focuses on the ancient art of Christian spiritual direction in a multi-faith context. Hesychia means "watchful, inner stillness, silence" and offers contemplative study and practice designed to prepare lay professionals, clergy, and the vowed religious for a ministry of spiritual guidance within the diverse context of contemporary life.
The art of Christian spiritual direction traces its roots to the Desert Fathers and Mothers of Egypt, Palestine, Arabia, and Persia. Having left the noise of the cities to live in solitude, and seeking community with like-others, the Desert Elders recognized the need for on-going guidance of the Spirit. Their desire to be attentive to God's movement in one's life, and to the inner motivations which lead one closer to or further from Truth, provide for women and men today respite from the demands of modern culture, and restoration of the life of prayer.
We seek to recover the freedom and peace of the Desert Elders. That desert paradise Thomas Merton considered a liberation, a kind of permanent vacation in the original sense of emptying, in which we discard the useless and tedious baggage of vain concerns and devote ourselves to the one thing really necessary: the quest for meaning and for love, the quest for our own identity.
To view a brochure about our Hesychia programs, please click here (brochure being revised). (Acrobat PDF - 950K).
Statement of Purpose:
Our vision is to prepare spiritual directors through in-depth study, peer learning, and spiritual mentoring to serve the growing community of women and men who, from all walks of life and all religious traditions, seek the guidance of the Spirit.
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Program Overview:
The Hesychia School is an ecumenical and interfaith program designed to provide resources and support for the ministry of spiritual guidance, and to encourage the deepening of the spiritual life of participants. The program focuses on the ancient Christian practice of spiritual direction, adapted and revisioned for our time.
The heart of the program is contemplative, emphasizing the importance of spiritual study, discernment, and prayer. Its focus is on the experience of a person's relationship with God, and on fostering this relationship as the foundation of one's life.
The program is offered two times each year - a Spring session and a Fall session.
Eligibility:
Classes are formed with a maximum of twenty-five carefully selected participants who feel called to deepen their ministry of spiritual guidance and to further their spiritual growth. Each class is formed of participants that include lay people, clergy, vowed religious, and professionals representing a wide variety of vocation and faith traditions. We expect that applicants will have some experience in giving and receiving spiritual guidance, and will have the maturity and life experience necessary to this ministry.
Application & Recommendation Forms:
- Application Form (Adobe PDF - 91Kb)
- Application Form (MS Word - 91Kb)
- Recommendation Form (Adobe PDF - 91Kb)
- Recommendation Form (Adobe PDF - 91Kb)
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The Hesychia Spiritual Direction Program:
This program offers a formal training program of study, prayer, and reflection designed to deepen the spiritual life and to aid participants in their discernment to the ministry of spiritual direction.
It draws from the wisdom of the Christian mystical tradition, spiritual guidance as practiced in the community of the world's religions, and the insights of psychology, the arts, and social justice.
Format of Study:
The Hesychia Program is formed around four retreats, which can be taken in separate modules or weeks I and II together, then weeks III and IV together.
Each retreat is focused on a specific level of spiritual direction. Completion of all four retreats is required to qualify for a Certificate of Completion.
Program Schedule:
Retreats begin with arrival and registration on the Sunday evening before classes begin. Participants are encouraged to arrive between 3:00-5:00 PM in order to register, move into your room, and become acquainted with the other participants. A reception will be held at 5:00 PM. Dinner will be served at 6:00 PM. Classes begin at 9:00 AM on Monday morning. The school ends on Friday after lunch.
For a detailed syllabus and schedule of upcoming classes, click here.
For more information:
Teresa Blythe, Hesychia Director
Phone: 520.290-6734
Email: tblythe@JPS.net or office@desertrenewal.org
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