A Development Course in Faith Accompaniment
Course for 2012 – 2013 now accepting enquiries
At Emmaus House, 14 Gilmore Place, Edinburgh
“They urged him strongly, Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over. So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him.” Luke 24
The course will run as a learning community, where participants model good practice from the work they already do, as well as learning from prayer, new ideas, practice and creativity.
There will be two residential weekends.
Overview of Spiritual Input
Clarifying definitions of spiritual direction and spirituality; Wisdom of the desert Fathers and Mothers; Images of God – Images of Self; Salvation, sin and healing; Aspects of Benedictine Spirituality; Aspects of Ignatian Spirituality; Aspects of Franciscan Spirituality; Aspects of Carmelite Spirituality; Mysticism; New Monasticism; Darkness in prayer; Spirituality from the free churches; Following the light in direction; Wisdom of Inter-faith; Practical applications for today’s world.
Overview of practical issues
Active listening; Groupwork; The concept of the Self in human development; Stages of Faith; Discernment; Supervision; Faith and Justice; Sexuality and Gender; Accompaniment in difficult times; Signs of illness; Points of referral; Celebrating difference.
Assessment will be centred on a portfolio which each participant will put together throughout the course, and will be a resource for future work.
The course will be led by Mrs Thérèse McHugh Pratt
Thérèse Pratt is a spiritual director, retreat giver, and trainer. She has led retreats and courses in personal and spiritual development for twenty-five years, and has designed and delivered extended courses in spiritual direction. She has a Masters degree in Theology from the University of Edinburgh, and is an experienced psychotherapist in the Jungian and Integrative tradition. She spent some years in a basic Christian Community in the 70s, and later spent some months of sabbatical leave living alongside a contemplative community, studying meditation and the contemplative way. Married to Mark, Thérèse lives in East Lothian.
Venue, dates and costs to be confirmed
Who?
This broad spectrum course is open to those who feel called to the ministry of spiritual direction. It will also be useful for those engaged in general pastoral care, particularly when this involves leading people in prayer, discernment, and their on-going journey of faith.
How?
The group will journey together following a theme each day, listening, learning, praying, creating, and practising together to become people who may offer spiritual direction to others. It is led, taught and experiential.
A Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC042957)
