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Information about Souljourners
An Ecumenical Formation Program for Spiritual Direction
Souljourners provides a compact three-year opportunity to explore and develop the ministry of spiritual direction/companionship for those who feel a call to perform the service of "holy listening" with people on the spiritual journey. The circle diagram illustrates the experience of a Souljourners training weekend immersed within these two communities. Click on smaller circles to examine each of these components in more detail.
Small Group Process
• Large group sharing, introductions
• Assignment of Advisor/Advisee
• Small group sharing, getting to know and appreciate small group members
• Getting acquainted with small group work/process
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Each advisee meets with his/her advisor for 20-30 minutes. This provides consultation, sharing of issues, problem solving, encouragement and support.
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Personal Spiritual Growth
• Sabbath Time
• Rest/Visit
• Pray
• Massage
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Personal 
Study
Reading assignments are given for each session topic. Souljourners are expected to come to the session with reading preparation completed. Written reflection papers are done after the session and provide an opportunity for the student to reflect on the weekend experience with the session topic and its impact on one’s personal spiritual journey.
Download PDF file with assignments
Download bibliography
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Prayer
Souljourners experience a variety of prayer forms as well as opportunities to lead groups in prayer.
Prayer forms include:
• Lectio
• Centering Prayer
• Ignatian (Examen)
• Taize Prayer
• Liturgy of the Hours with the Benedictine community
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Spiritual Direction Skills
During the weekend sessions as well as the residency session, Souljourners have many opportunities to explore and develop skills that help the student in the ministry of Spiritual Direction and Companioning. When possible, these skills are learned through an experiential approach. 
Specific skills targeted for training include:
• Providing prayerful environment which includes the director
• Contemplative listening
• Creating sacred space for others
• Reverence and openness to others’ stories
• Questioning
• Working with verbatim
• Learning and practicing the skill of savoring the experience of God
• Learning to help directees savor their experience of God
• Dyads
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Supervision
Second year students begin practicing spiritual direction, meeting one directee monthly and receiving supervision from the Souljourners staff on the Souljourners weekend.
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To download an information sheet about Souljourners
Contact Information:
Sister Micaela Randolph, OSB
Complete the online form
or
email: micaela@mountosb.org
or
call: 913-360-6160
or
write:
Sister Micaela Randolph, OSB
Director of Souljourners
Sophia Center
751 South 8th Street
Atchison, Kansas 66002