Since 1982, HeartPaths has been equipping clergy and laity for ministries of spiritual leadership and spiritual direction. Graduates of this program serve as spiritual directors, lead retreats, and facilitate meditation groups, while others integrate their training into various ministry settings to enrich their communities.

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The spiritual path with a heart is a holistic journey of body, mind, and spirit, inviting individuals to discover and respond to the mystery of God rooted deeply within each person and the world. This journey calls for a grounded awareness of oneself in relation to creation and others. HeartPaths fosters this awareness through contemplative practices, cultivating a deeper recognition of God’s abiding presence in all human experiences.

 

This path also requires openness to God’s movements in our lives. As a sailor can only "tidy the craft, hoist the sail, and wait for the wind to blow", we must surrender our need to control and learn to cooperate with the Spirit’s leading. HeartPaths nurtures this response by encouraging the practice of spiritual disciplines, reflective engagement with life, and discernment of God’s presence in self, relationships, and community.

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Our training program is designed with three phases.  The first year deepens your own spiritual formation and group facilitating skills and leads to the Certificate in Spiritual Leadership.  Those who discern a calling to continue will complete the second year Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius and the third year Practicum in Spiritual Direction.  Completion of all three years leads to the Certificate in Spiritual Direction. New cohorts begin every September. For more information  or to enroll, visit HeartPaths.org.