The Redemptorist Renewal Center
7101 W. Picture Rocks Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85743-9645
Let the Desert Speak
to your Longing
The Hesychia School of
Spiritual Direction
A featured program of the Redemptorist
Renewal Center at Picture Rocks, Tucson, AZ
Preparing spiritual directors to
serve the growing numbers of
women and men who, from all
walks of life and all religious
traditions, seek the guidance of
the Spirit.
Phone:
520.744.3400
866.737.5751
E-mail:
Every year people from all walks of life gather
at the Redemptorist
Renewal Center at Picture Rocks
to be formed and trained
as spiritual directors.
Our four week program changes lives and
equips our participants to help others come
alive to the Holy.
The word hesychia means
inner stillness and holy silence.
Does your heart long for hesychia?
If so, contact us today.
Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction
(HSSD)
Class—Syllabus
Introduction to Contemplative SD
A contemplative approach to spiritual direction
is, at its core, learning to be present with – and
for – another from our contemplative center.
The director offers an open undefended pres-
ence and values the art of deep listening with
the ears of the heart. We will explore the hall-
marks of contemplative spiritual direction as
the directee is companioned to open to the
mystery of God, experience the sacredness of
the present moment, nurture the inner silence
and spaciousness where the true self is in com-
munion with God, and invites living in union
with God/Holy Love/the Divine and all that
exists.
Theology for Spiritual Direction
In a theology, we study the nature of the Di-
vine and broadly speaking our religious belief.
We study systematically the focus of our rela-
tionship with God. In spiritual direction, we
specifically study our personal relationship
with God. In this class we will explore how
theology is linked to spiritual direction.
Distinguishing SD > Other Helping Rela-
tionships
While counseling helps us work through or
resolve problems in our lives and relationships,
spiritual direction is about the spiritual life, our
relationship with God and the movement of
the Holy Spirit in our lives. This presentation
will unravel the understanding or misunder-
standing of the various helping disciplines.
Desert Spirituality
This class will be about the Sonoran Desert
and the history of desert spirituality. We will
explore the importance of our location and our
indebtedness to the desert fathers and mothers
and what the contemplative tradition of spir-
itual direction and hesychia are all about.
Openings and Blocks
This class focuses on the concepts and the termi-
nology we use for the movements of the Spirit in
spiritual direction. Openings are those moments
where it appears the Spirit is breaking something
open; Blocks are those moments when spiritual
directors inadvertently get in the way of what the
Spirit is doing or lead the session “off track.”
Spiritual Direction Session
We bring in an experienced spiritual director and
a person who has agreed to be the directee for
you to observe a real session in action. Time for
observations and reflection is included.
Non-Violent Communication in SD
Marshall Goldberg’s NVC (Non-Violent Commu-
nication) concepts translate well to spiritual di-
rection. We will briefly explore the four compo-
nents of non-violent communication and what it
takes to practice NVC in spiritual direction. This
class will invite the director to become aware of
communication styles that block contemplative
presence and listening.
Practicum Small Groups (PSG)
Students will have the opportunity to practice
spiritual direction, alternating as a director; or a
directee, while other students participate as ob-
servers.
SD in Multi-Faith/Religious Context, and
Christian Tradition
What does it mean to do spiritual guidance work
in a multi-faith world? This class helps you pre-
pare for the presentations you will receive in the
week-long exploration of spiritual guidance in
many traditions.
The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection
In the quest for wholeness, we must pay attention
to all of who we are—mind, body and spirit. This
class will help us learn to relax our body and lis-
ten to our body so that our mind, body and spirit
may come into alignment.
Hesychia Dates for 2024 - 2027
~~
Deadline for all application material
(application and 2 recommendations) is the
Beginning of December prior to Week One
of the program you wish to attend.
The Hesychia School is an ecumenical and
interfaith program designed to provide
resources and support for the ministry of
spiritual guidance, and to encourage the
deepening of the spiritual life of partici-
pants. The program focuses on the ancient
Christian practice of spiritual direction,
adapted and revised for our time.
The heart of the program is contempla-
tive, emphasizing the importance of spir-
itual study, discernment, and prayer. Its
focus is on the experience of a person's
relationship with God, and on fostering
this relationship as the foundation of one's
life.
The four-week program is offered in
spring each year.
Each class is comprised of lay people, cler-
gy, vowed religious, and professionals
from a wide variety of vocation and faith
traditions. We expect that applicants will
have some experience in receiving spiritu-
al guidance, and will have the maturity and
life experience necessary for this ministry.
Deadline for all application (application and 2 recom-
mendations) is December prior to Week One of the
program you wish to attend.
Cost
See our website: www.desertrenewal.org
A $150 deposit is required to complete your
application. *Price subject to change.
Description
To Apply
By the end of the year prior to the start of
Week 1, we must have your application and
two recommendation forms. Download these
forms at:
www.desertrenewal.org/hesychia-sd-school/
You may mail them or send them via email
to [email protected]g.
Once we have received all the forms and you
are interviewed, you will be notified of ac-
ceptance by the director of the program, Fr.
Stephen T. Rehrauer.
Contact Fr. Stephen if you have any
questions about The Hesychia Program.
He may be reached at:
520-744-3400 X 7122
Spiritual Direction with African Americans
The Christian Church historically has a part in
a legacy that has perpetuated and been com-
plicit in racism. There is an urgent mandate to
promote the dignity of all people regardless of
their color. How do spiritual directors use the
art of listening deeply with the ears of the
heart to our brothers and sisters who experi-
ence the suffering and pain of racism, injustice,
and inequality?
SD for the “Spiritual but not Religious”
Persons coming for spiritual direction might
give voice to deep spiritual longings and exis-
tential questions without identifying with a
particular religious tradition or framework.
This class will provide important awareness,
vocabulary, the “why” and “how” of inclusive
spiritual direction / companioning for sincere
seekers.
Panel Discussion on SD in Interreligious Context
This panel discussion aims to help students
learn how to support people of various reli-
gious traditions on their spiritual journey.
Three speakers from the Buddhist, Islam and
Jewish traditions will briefly share the essen-
tial tenets of their particular religious tradi-
tion. They will address questions that pertain
to spiritual direction and take questions from
students.
Transition Journey, Forgiveness
Transition is the process of moving from one
known state to an unknown state with an in-
terval of uncertainty between. It is our person-
al response to a shift in the situations of our
lives, physical, mental, emotional, environmen-
tal, social and spiritual. Transition is a journey
or “pilgrimage” from ending (beginning), in
between and new beginning. Each one of us
traverse transitions differently, but the process
can be a journey of healing and transformation.
Forgiveness is one of the issues facing a person
on the transition journey. It is one of the most
difficult issues in our lives. As spiritual direc-
tors, we will often be companions as people
confront issues surrounding forgiveness.
Principles of Spiritual Discernment
Discernment is one spiritual practice that
brings many people to spiritual direction. It
means “faithful choices,” and there are many
ways to help a person discern around their life
choices. Principles from the Quaker and Igna-
tian traditions will be presented.
Hispanic Spirituality and SD
Latinos are now the largest minority group in
the United States (35 million, or 12.5% of the
total U.S. population). With that in mind, the
presenter will explore Latino/Hispanic cultural
and religious practices to get to an understand-
ing of God and relationship with God, how
spiritual practices are expressed in terms of
right and wrong, popular religious practices, in
relationship with family members, friends and
the world.
Working with Images in SD
Art, nature, dreams, symbols, sculptures, poet-
ry, etc. suggest myriad ways to connect to God.
The spiritual director will expand their capacity
to trust the Spirit’s invitations in visual, audito-
ry, and kinesthetic images.
Supervision of the Spiritual Director
Students will observe an actual supervision ses-
sion (not role play) and will become familiar
with the preparation for a supervision session
and the importance of maintaining ongoing
supervision with a supervisor or peer group.
There will be an explanation of what supervi-
sion is, how it is done, and options for finding a
supervisor .
Group Spiritual Direction
Several models of group spiritual direction are
presented along with the benefits and challeng-
es of each one. Practical guidelines are included.
Grief Work in Spiritual Direction
The presentation will provide tips for working
with clients who are deeply in grief, suffering
and inner pain.
Weeks 1 and 2
Weeks 3 and 4
Weeks 1 and 2
Weeks 3 and 4
Weeks 1 and 2
Weeks 3 and 4
Weeks 1 and 2
Feb. 4-16, 2024
April. 7-19, 2024
Feb. 2-14, 2025
March 30 - Apr. 11, 2025
Feb 1-13, 2026
March 29 - Apr. 10, 2026
Jan. 31 - Feb. 12, 2027
Mar. 28 - Apr. 9, 2027
Weeks 3 and 4
