ONGOING FORMATION
If you are new to contemplation, consider the (Primer) Contemplative School. Or if you are not quite ready to do the school of spiritual direction, but want to engage in preparatory formation, this might be a fit. We can also help you find a spiritual director if you are looking for one.
If you are a bit further along in your exploration, and are searching out new formation opportunities, consider making the 18th or 19th Annotation of the Ignatian Exercises. On this page, you will also find upcoming retreats and pilgrimages for 2026-2027.
If you are a spiritual director that has trained in one of our schools, don’t miss out on our regional gatherings or monthly online trainings on pertinent topics.
More details below:
THE (PRIMER) CONTEMPLATIVE SCHOOL
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This online cohort will provide a chance to experience the formation of the contemplative path and it is a great preparation for our two-year certificate programme in spiritual direction, if you wish to take it further. First, we link you with a qualified spiritual director so you have nine to twelve invaluable months of receiving direction. Second, we guide you monthly in a small group setting online through foundational aspects of the contemplative tradition via teaching, practice, debriefings and short readings. Each month you will have reading and practices that you can engage with, as you desire, between modules.
Each monthly meeting lasts about three hours and follows the same format: welcome, a prayer exercise, interactive teaching, a guided practice, a time to debrief the practice, and time to comment and reflect on whatever readings were assigned in the prior month. (The readings typically consist of two-three chapters). It is like being guided in a monthly retreat for a few hours in daily life.
We have Contemplative Schools available in Asia, Online, and in Southwest England. If your organisation is interested in this school as a group, please get in touch!
THE NINE MODULES
Presence Over Performance
Desire Over Duty
(Inter) Dependence Over Self-Sufficiency
Vulnerability Over Self-Protection
Gratitude Over Entitlement
Embodied Over Fragmented
Mercy Over Judgement
Mystery Over Certainty
Consent Over Control
Cost and Dates
Now accepting School of Contemplation (Primer) applications for:
School of Contemplation Trowbridge (in person) - Autumn 2026
School of Contemplation Online - Wednesdays 10.30am - 1.30pm once a month from January 2027
School of Contemplation Asia (Online) - January 2027
COST: £600 total for the 2026-2027 school year
There will be a £100 non-refundable deposit with nine monthly payments of about £56 during the school year.
Other cost information: books (which are minimal) and monthly spiritual direction are not included.
If you’d like to find out more information before applying, please get in touch via our Contact Page.
FINDING A
SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR
Spiritual direction is an ancient form of pastoral care with a very tight focus: it examines the substance, nature, and actual experience of the God-human relationship. In spiritual direction, the director comes alongside the directee for the primary purpose of focusing on the presence and activity of God in the directee’s life. In a word, spiritual direction is co-discernment. We learn to “see what the Father is doing” (John 5:19), - not just in that moment, but over the months and seasons of a person’s life. The goal is to deepen the relationship with God by growing in attentiveness.
We have trained dozens of spiritual directors across Europe, the UK and beyond. If you need help finding one, just reach out. We would be happy to assist you.
THE IGNATIAN EXERCISES
→ We can connect you with an Ignatian-trained director to meet weekly or bi-weekly for the 18th or 19th Annotation. Contact us if you want to sign up.
→ The 19th Annotation is a nine-month journey that aligns with the church calendar and typically begins in the autumn to coincide with Advent and Lent.
→ The 18th Annotation is an abbreviated version that will give you a ten-week taste of this journey.
→ Each annotation has a component of daily practices (consisting of Ignatian Contemplation of the Gospels, Ignatian Meditations, and forms of prayer).
WHAT’S INCLUDED
MONTHLY TRAININGS
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If you are a spiritual director that has trained in one of our schools, and you are longing for more training, consider our monthly online trainings. They are typically midweek on Wednesday evening 6-8 UK / 7-9 Central Europe Time. If you sign up for the year, you have access to all recordings, whether you can attend or not. If you’d like to sign up, please click here.
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Monthly Training 26 - 27
21.10.26 - Spiritual Direction & Theosis: Participation in Love with Kris Miller
11.11.26 - The Consecrated Life with Evan Howard
16.12.26 - Spiritual Direction and Body Awareness (Advent/Incarnation)
27.01.27 - Ignatian Spirituality with Natalie Baxter Strange
17.02.27 - The Invitation to Silence with Alexander Venter
24.03.27 - Spiritual Direction and Mystery (Easter/Paschal Mystery Visio Divina) with Sam Whiley
April, May & June TBC
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We have now finished our Monthly Training 25-26 series.
If you are a spiritual director that has trained in one of our schools and would like to sign up for Monthly Training 26-27 starting in October 26, please click here.
You can see the exciting teaching series that we have planned for 2026 under ‘Programme Content’.
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You can sign up for a single training for £30, or you can sign up for the whole year of 9 trainings for only £235. You can sign up here.