Celebration for Graduates in the Ministry of Spiritual Direction

Six graduates of the Studion School for Spiritual Direction walked across the stage to receive their program certificates at King’s University on Saturday, April 29. The formal ceremony was part of a weekend of celebrations for the nine grads of the Studion’s 3rd cohort. The festivities included a banquet and presentations Friday evening and a family pizza party Saturday evening before the Oilers’ game.

The Studion is a two-year, part-time program that offers formation and training for the practice of spiritual direction. Instruction occurs online and in person at Star of the North Retreat Centre, and a significant amount of time is spent in directed retreats following the themes of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The Rev. Shelly King, a deacon in Edmonton diocese, is one of four facilitators; three members of Edmonton diocese, lay and clergy, have taken or are taking the course; and numerous parishioners and clergy throughout the diocese have received direction from students during the practicum that takes place in the second year of the program.