The Ministry of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
Doctor of Ministry: Concentration in the Ministry of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises
The Doctor of Ministry with a Concentration in the Ministry of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake is designed for seasoned ministers who hold a master’s degree in a theological discipline or an equivalent credential.
To support the schedules of busy professionals, the program is delivered in a hybrid format, allowing students to balance professional responsibilities with advanced academic and ministerial formation.
The concentration in the Ministry of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises builds upon the core curriculum of the standard Doctor of Ministry program. It replaces four courses in the original curriculum with a focused, four-course sequence dedicated specifically to the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Offered in collaboration with Amoris Christi, this sequence is designed for those seeking to appropriate, strengthen, and integrate the charisms associated with contemplative spiritual direction within the living tradition of Ignatian prayer and the discernment of spirits.
Recognizing the unique formation required of Christian leaders who accompany others spiritually, the courses cultivate deep understanding and practical competency in Ignatian contemplative spiritual direction and retreat ministry. Participants will be equipped to apply this art fruitfully in parish settings, Christian formation contexts, and other ministerial environments.
The four courses dedicated to the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises include a blend of online discussions, in-person instruction, and supervised retreat-direction practica:
- Two practicum courses, each 12 days long, are held in July over two consecutive years at Grand Coteau Retreats, Louisiana. During these intensives, each student directs three retreatants while receiving daily supervision.
- A third course is offered as an in-person intensive in mid-January at USML.
- The final course provides biweekly supervision while students direct two or three individuals through the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (the 19th Annotation) over a 28-week period in their local ministerial setting.
Students interested in applying require:
- A master’s degree in theology or its equivalent;
- A Certificate in Christian Spiritual Direction or in-depth mentoring in Christian Spiritual Direction.
Students from other faith traditions may apply and be admitted but will learn the knowledge and skills in spiritual direction and pastoral ministry that are in harmony with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Request more information here.
Courses are:
| Doctor of Ministry Course | Year 1 | Ignatian Spirituality Track Modality/Location |
| Contemplative Spiritual Direction | Spring (Pre-Program) | On-Line |
| DM 840: Self-Leadership (3) | Summer 1: 2nd to last week of June 6 days | In Person: USML |
| DM 842: Christian Leadership in the Tradition (3) | Fall 1 | On-Line |
| DM 861: Spiritual Exercises and the Human Person (3) | Winter 1 (J-Term) | In-Person, Second Week of January: USML |
| DMTR 895: D.Min Thesis Research Methodologies (3) | Spring 1 | On-Line |
| Doctor of Ministry Course | Year 2 | Ignatian Spirituality Track Modality/Location |
| DM 862: Ignatian Retreat Internship: Intermediate: Practicum/Spiritual Exercises Course (3) | Summer 2: Mid-July, 12 Days | In-Person: USML |
| DM 846: Leadership in the vision of Aparecida (3) | Fall 2 | On-Line |
| DM 863: Ignatian Retreat Internship: Advanced: Annotation 19 Retreat Direction/ Pastoral Diagnostics & Discernment of Spirits Course (3) | Winter-Spring 2 | On-Line |
| DM 848: Leadership in the American Religious Context (3) | Winter 2 (J-Term) | In-Person, Second Week of January: USML |
| DMTR 896 D.Min Thesis Project Proposal (2) | Spring 2 | On-Line |
| Doctor of Ministry Course | Year 3 - 5 | |
| DMTR: D.Min Thesis Project (3) | Fall 3 | |
| DMTR: D.Min Thesis Project Writing (0) | Spring 3-Spring 5 | |
| DMTR: D.Min Thesis Project On-Going Writing (0) Fee assessed each semester | Fall 6 |
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