SUSTAINABLE FAITH SCHOOLS AND FORMATION

We are a collective of spiritual directors, global workers, pastors and leaders that seek to provide resources and training for prayer, formation, spiritual direction and retreat in the United Kingdom, Europe and beyond. The aim is to help people flourish in discerning and living out their purpose faithfully, joyfully, and sustainably.

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Faith

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Hope

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love

THIS MIGHT BE FOR YOU IF:

→ You’re a leader who has been beaten up by the journey and you need a safe space to renew, explore your own questions with God, and discern your vocation.

→ You are a pastor, leader, therapist or global worker who is looking for a reputable spiritual direction training programme.

→ You are a person who longs to be a better human, to accompany others as they seek to know their most generous offering to God.

01.

SCHOOLS OF SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

What makes our spiritual direction training unique is that they are small (we cap the numbers around 10-12), largely in person, experiential and interactive. Within and outside of cohort modules you will have hands-on experience, integrative teaching, reflection and spiritual practice. We have schools in the in Northern Ireland (where we are happily based), Scotland, England, France and the Netherlands.

02.

SCHOOLS FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS

Once you experience our School of Spiritual Direction, you very well may be thirsty for more! Along with our ‘Ongoing Formation’ opportunities, we offer two schools for trained spiritual directors. We have our School of Spiritual Exercises Accompaniment which trains you to accompany others in the Ignatian Exercises, as well as a School of Supervision for those who wish to be trained in supervising other spiritual directors.

03.

ONGOING FORMATION

We are beginning to offer ongoing formation opportunities both for spiritual directors and for those who are at the start of their contemplative journey. Here you can find more insights about the (Primer) School of Contemplation if you want to dip your toes into the contemplative waters. You can also learn about spiritual direction and getting connected to a spiritual director.

If you are a trained spiritual director, we are beginning to have monthly training opportunities. Stay tuned to this page for information about the upcoming retreats and pilgrimages we hope to have in the future!

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING

  • "I have grown in my capacity to hold space for others' stories and experiences of God.. I would recommend the School of Spiritual Direction to anyone who is discontent with a surface-level faith journey, and to those who want to grow in accompanying others as they dive deeper inward and into God."

    Esther, Global Worker based in Asia

  • "The soil of my soul is richer from spending these months with this group of courageous, vulnerable and compassionate companions. I’m deeply grateful to have taken this spiritual direction training programme. It has been truly transformational."

    Anja, Germany, Therapist

  • "The School of Spiritual Direction is a journey with warm and skilled teachers, in a cohort with eager students of all stages of life, with great resources - a journey that impacted my knowing God and myself."

    Pieter, the Netherlands, Retired Pastor/Bishop

ABOUT

SUSTAINABLE FAITH

We had humble beginnings in a tiny convent-turned-retreat space in 2007. Hundreds of leaders were given a place to lay their distracted heads, weary hearts and tired bodies. They were offered nourishing, homemade meals around a candlelit table with others and invited into daily prayers. We offered them delicious coffee, chocolate and wine and encouraged them in the spiritual practice of napping. And just as importantly, we listened as spiritual directors to their stories of pain, fatigue, confusion, loneliness and burnout. It always seemed a small miracle just how much good a little more sleep, some decent food around the table, shared prayers and a listening companion did for them. They weren’t “cured,” but they were better off, and it routinely prompted us to ask the question: “What would it take for their experience here to be the rule rather than exception?”

All that Sustainable Faith seeks to do is an attempt to answer that question.