Events & Resources for Spiritual Directors

The Spiritual Direction Forum is sharing this information about events and networks without any endorsement of them. 

If you have information that you would like to see shared with Spiritual Directors, please email [email protected]

Below you will find: (click on headings to jump to the section) – most recent additions/updates in Bold

Organisations supporting Spiritual Direction
    • The Retreat Association
    • St Beuno’s
    • Association for Promoting Retreats
    • London Jesuit Centre
    • London Centre for Spiritual Direction
    • Sarum College
    • Sacred Encounter Ministry (Carmelite)
Events for Spiritual Directors
    • SpiDir Berks Bucks Oxon – Watering the Garden
    • Streams in the Desert
    • February Movement – Conference for Spiritual Directors 2027
Courses 
    • Lysfasi Spirituality Workshop 8-25 August 2026
    • Ignatian Spirituality Course 
    • LCSD Refresher Course
    • St Antony’s Priory – Exploring Spiritual Accompaniment Course
    • Encounter Course – London Centre for Spiritual Direction
    • Holy Ground Spiritual Direction Course Oct 2026 – May 2027
    • Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality – Spiritual Direction Formation Programme

Other resources and Information

Spirituality and Practice

Jesuit Institute

Gestures

Job Opportunities

Organisations supporting Spiritual Direction


Resources for Spiritual Directors and Trainers, including the Spiritual Direction Guidelines, can be found here:
http://www.retreats.org.uk/spiritual-direction

EVENTS FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS

 at St Beunos

https://www.beunos.com/retreats/training-courses


The Association for Promoting Retreats offers helps in finding retreats and events

www.promotingretreats.org


What’s on for Spiritual Directors at the London Jesuit Centre https://www.londonjesuitcentre.org/whats-on/for-spiritual-directors

Developing Direction

A programme of events and groups designed to foster the ongoing development and support of spiritual directors

https://www.lcsd.org.uk/development

Sarum College www.sarum.ac.uk

Sacred Encounter Ministry

Other resources and Information

Spirituality and Practice: https://www.spiritualityandpractice.com/ This multifaith and interspiritual website, founded by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, is devoted to resources for spiritual journeys.

The Way:  https://www.theway.org.uk/ The Way is an international journal of contemporary Christian spirituality, published by the British Jesuits. Extensive back catalogue of articles available. 

The Jesuit Institute: https://www.jesuitinstitute.org/ The Jesuit Institute’s focus is on empowering people, groups and organisations to deepen their relationship with God and help discern Christ’s call in today’s world.

Gestures: Interesting article https://psyche.co/ideas/expert-tips-on-using-gestures-to-think-and-talk-more-effectively

Job Opportunities

Events & Resources for Spiritual Directors

WATERING THE GARDEN
Ongoing Training for Spiritual Directors
‘Watering the Garden’ is a short series of further training days for practising spiritual directors and those who, more informally, support others through prayer accompaniment. These sessions are run annually.
 

Information these events and other aspects of the SpiDir Network can be found on the website: www.spidirnetwork.org.uk

STREAMS IN THE DESERT

Julie Dunstan shares her ongoing thoughts on the prophetic imagination, contemplative prayer, the radical gospel, poetry and spiritual direction.  

 

FEBRUARY MOVEMENT – CONFERENCE FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS 2027

Saturday February 27th, 2027 in Newcastle Cathedral

To explore:
What spiritual disciplines are required of the modern Christian household aspiring to live an authentic life within and from their home?    

 

Courses

Lysfasi Spirituality Workshop 2026

A creative experiential journey

8-25 August 2026
Loreto Centre, Llandudno

Llysfasi Spirituality Workshop has gone through many creative changes over the past twenty-five years. We continually seek to offer a fresh approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

The workshop is based principally on the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The first days are dedicated to an experiential journey through the major life themes of the Exercises. Each participant will have the opportunity to accompany another member of the Workshop in a three day silent retreat. During the retreats there are seminars on the art and practice of accompanying as well as one-to-one supervision with a team member.

Co-ordinator: Mary Rose Fitzsimmons HHS
E‑mail: [email protected]

Website: https://llysfasi-spirituality-workshop.org.uk

Ignatian Spirituality Course

A three year (one day a week) formation programme that can be taken online or in person at the London Jesuit Centre. The course supports you as you seek to grow in intimacy with God, discern where God is leading you and equips you to accompany others as they do the same. It is experiential, combining teaching-input with personal reflection and group discussion. Course participants learn how to offer Ignatian spiritual direction, with its distinctive emphasis on discernment, and how to give Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercises to others.

In recent years, we have added the popular one-year Zoom course, Ignatian Enrichment, which introduces experienced spiritual directors to the theory behind the Spiritual Exercises.

Open Days:

  • ISC: In Person: Mini Tour Tuesday 26th May 2-4pm with Karyn and Antonia, London 
  • IE: Meet the Tutors Tuesday the 30th of June 2-4pm with Nicola Smedley (On Zoom)
  • ISC: Open Morning on Wednesday 8 July 11am-1pm (On Zoom)

Book Open Days here. More information: https://www.artsd.org.uk/

Exploring Spiritual Accompaniment Course

A two-year ecumenical programme of formation providing practical and experiential training in the skills applicable to accompanying others on their faith journey.

St Antony’s Priory | Training (ssm.org.uk)
74 Claypath, Durham, DH1 1QT

Encounter Course

Encounter is a three year formation programme with a blended-learning format, meeting both online and on-site from London Centre for Spiritual Direction.

It draws its inspiration from ancient and contemporary wisdom in Christian spiritual direction, modern psychological insights and the gifts and challenges of social diversity.

More information https://www.lcsd.org.uk/encounter

Holy Ground Spiritual Direction Course

An online evening course with 3 in-person days – October 2026 to May 2027

Do you have a desire to train as a spiritual director?
SpiDir Network are delighted to let you know that applications are now open for Holy Ground, a one-year ecumenical spiritual direction course. This course is designed for those, whether lay or ordained, who wish to develop skills in accompanying others on their spiritual journey, and offers both theoretical, experiential and prayerful learning and formation in the practice of spiritual direction. The programme includes 22 online Tuesday evening sessions, and 3 in-person Saturdays.
 
To find out more and apply www.spidirnetwork.org.uk/holy-ground

Spiritual Direction Formation Programme

A 2-year programme comprising four 5-day residentials and 12 online sessions.

It builds on an interpretation of the experience of journeying towards intimacy with God as expressed in the life of the Carmelite saints and deriving principles from this for the growth and flourishing of the spiritual life. At the heart of this spirituality is a prayerful listening and response to the God who befriends us and an expression of this experience through a life of contemplative awareness and friendship with one another. One does not need to be a Carmelite or even know much of Carmelite spirituality to be part of the Programme.

More information https://www.carmelite.uk.net/courses/spiritual-direction-formation-programme-2025-2027/