PrairieFire Spiritual Direction Practicum

 

PrairieFire offers an optional third year practicum for those who seek to continue deepening their
contemplative listening skills and to discern their personal ministries in the world.

PrairieFire graduates may consider the possibility of serving as spiritual directors upon the
successful completion of this third year experience. Meeting all of the requirements of the practicum
will lead to a certificate of completion in spiritual direction training.

Spiritual Directors International offers this as one definition of spiritual direction: “Spiritual direction
aims to help us experience the eternal and the infinite aspects of our true nature through the wise,
experienced and compassionate company of another human being.” (https://www.sdicompanions.org/)

Very simply, spiritual directors listen deeply to another (the “directee”) as that person awakens to the
holy mystery in everyday life, grows in relationship to Divine Presence, and responds by being and
relating more authentically in our world.

Participants will also discover other ways to serve the world with their deep listening skills – in the
workplace, in the community and in relationships with others. By continuing to meet monthly with
their spiritual directors during the practicum, they will engage in this on-going discernment.

To be considered for this practicum in deep listening and spiritual direction, individuals will complete
an application and will be accepted into the Spiritual Direction Practicum based upon prerequisites
including (but limited to):

• The successful completion of the two-year PrairieFire program that provides the necessary
  historical, theological, and spiritual background, as well as a basic knowledge of Christian
  contemplative practices.
• Demonstrated listening and relationship skills and indications of spiritual growth as
  evidenced through participation in PrairieFire.
• Recommendations by the PrairieFire team and the applicant’s spiritual director.
• Approval by the PrairieFire program leadership.

As part of the practicum requirements, participants will:

• Meet monthly with two volunteer directees which they have recruited.
• Provide one verbatim for each monthly supervision session with a trained supervisor.
• Write reflection papers based on each supervision session.
• Prepare a final reflection paper.