Online classes with a global student body

Benedictine Spiritual Direction Training & Certification Program

Deepening into the Divine

Listening and companioning are key components in this unique spiritual development program.

What graduates are saying

Meet the Global Online Coordinator

Sister Mary Colleen Schwarz, OSB

Welcome! I am delighted to introduce you to the Global Online Benedictine Spiritual Direction Program. This program is truly connected to the world with graduates from Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, Thailand, Russia and in nearly all fifty U.S. states.

At Benet Hill, we understand your longing for something different, to be a person of deeper compassion with a deeper connection with the Divine and self. We believe that these important characteristics are best developed through spiritual direction. Benet Hill Monastery has forty-five years of experience in leading courses on spiritual direction. Since 2007, we have taught this ancient wisdom online. We encourage you to take the next step in your spiritual journey with the flexibility of this digital program.

Program Description & FAQs

Why this program is different

What separates this two-year training and one-year supervision program from others is that it is about your spiritual heart. The hardest spiritual journey you will ever take is the one from your head to your heart. But this is the precise way you will meet the Divine. 

As a spiritual director, you will companion individuals who desire to cultivate a deeper relationship with their Divine presence. To companion others, you must know your own heart, what creates compassion within you, and what areas of your life block this pathway to your God. 

Through this journey, you will:

In the first year, you will go through a process of self-discovery to uncover your spiritual story as we guide you in listening to your inner voice of wisdom.

In the second year, you will acquire the skills to become a spiritual director, participate in a practicum or internship, and learn the importance of ethics and supervision in your practice. Upon completing the second year, you will be certified as a spiritual director.

We use a video conferencing software platform, provided by the monastery. You will need a good computer with a camera, audio capability and a stable internet connection.

Students typically spend an average of 8 – 10 hours per week on assignments.

Monthly instructional modules with specific topics are emailed to you the first of each month. The assignments are due by the first week of the following month.

You will meet online in a forum twice a month for 90 minutes each session. You will be assigned to a small cohort of other students with whom you will journey during the entire training program. You will also be assigned a certified  spiritual director as a facilitator who will accompany you the entre two years.

One-on-one supervision in the third year will also happen online.

How enrollment works

1

Request an application

Connect directly with Sister Mary Colleen to request an application for the program.

2

Apply

Return the completed application and pay the $50 application fee.

3

Assessment

Participate in an online interview.

Program Fees & Dates

The Global Online program is a two-year program with one year of supervision after graduation. It is designed to meet the needs of individuals in today’s world with flexible options to manage study requirements. The program profoundly impacts those who wish to deepen their spiritual life and how they relate to others. 

This transformational path, along with learning the skills needed to be a spiritual director, will prepare you for your call to this holistic healing ministry.

Program fees:

$2,900 + Books

The program year begins in January and runs through August. Newly accepted and continuing students can make payments here:

Application request

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