This course offers a comprehensive formation for those called to serve others as spiritual companions and retreat guides. Drawing on Ignatian spirituality, the course equips participants with the skills needed to accompany individuals on their journey of faith. Besides lectures in spirituality, discernment, and pastoral care, the course will also include two supervised practicums: one in spiritual accompaniment, where participants accompany directees under guided supervision, and one in retreat giving, where participants plan and facilitate a retreat. Both practicums provide participants with direct, supported experience and personalised feedback to prepare them for independent ministry in the future.
By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the foundational skills needed to begin accompanying individuals in spiritual direction and to support the planning and leading of retreats in the Ignatian tradition.
This course is suitable for people who feel the calling to become spiritual guides and who have the entry requirements stated below. Age 18+
First Year
| Dates | Session |
| 10th – 13th September 2026 (Residential) | Introductory prayer session to the course & Sensitivity Training |
| 21st – 22nd November 2026 (Non-residential) | Retreat giving |
| 7th January – 18th February 2027 | Structure & Dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory First-Term Tutorial 1 |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory First-Term Tutorial 2 |
| 25th February – 15th April 2027 | History & Development of Spiritual Accompaniment |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory Second-Term Tutorial 1 |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory Second-Term Tutorial 2 |
| 29th April – 10th June 2027 | Spiritual Direction including Professional Ethics and Supervision |
| 19th – 20th June 2027 (Non-residential) | Practicum: Role Play on Spiritual Accompaniment |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory Third-Term Tutorial 1 |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory Third-Term Tutorial 2 |
Second Year
| Dates | Session |
| 16th September – 28th October 2027 | Introduction to Helping Skills |
| 4th November – 16th December 2027 | Approaches to Pastoral Care |
| 6th January – 4th May 2028 | Peer Supervision |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory First-Term Tutorial 1 |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory First-Term Tutorial 2 |
| 29th – 30th January 2028 (Non-residential) | Spiritual Discernment, Diary & Rules for Discernment in the Spiritual Exercises |
| 26th – 27th February 2028 (Non-residential) | Case Studies/Role Plays on Rules for Discernment of Spirits |
| 25th – 26th March 2028 (Non-residential) | Working with challenging situations |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory Second-Term Tutorial 1 |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory Second-Term Tutorial 2 |
| 11th May – 22nd June 2028 | Psychology in Spiritual Accompaniment |
| 20th May – 21st May 2028 (Non-residential) | Different ways of giving the Spiritual Exercises |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory Third-Term Tutorial 1 |
| TBA (1 hour) | Mandatory Third-Term Tutorial 2 |
As part of this course each participant will spend at least 3 months in personal spiritual accompaniment, during which they will be guided through the initial steps of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Support will be provided to help participants find a suitable spiritual guide. Participants who have previously done the Spiritual Exercises are not exempt from this requirement and must complete the full 3 month accompaniment period.
Practicum (14 hours each practicum)
- During the second year of the course each participant will carry out a practicum in Spiritual Accompaniment where they will meet with a directee once a month for six months. Each accompaniment session will need to be followed by a supervision session. Each participant will be assigned a supervisor throughout those six months.
Another practicum will involve retreat giving. Each participant will be required to give either a 2-day retreat or two 1-day retreats. For this practicum participants will be assigned mentors who will guide and support them throughout the whole process.
This course has one exit certificate option
1. Certificate of Achievement
The student will receive a Certificate of Achievement when in addition to meeting the attendance criteria of 80% of lectures of each module, they successfully complete all assessments.
a) all assignments
b) logbook:
– signed by the directee and confirming the dates of meetings (once a month for six months) for the practicum in Spiritual Accompaniment (14 hours total) &
– signed by mentor attesting that the student did the practicum on retreat giving (14 hours total) &
– signed by the spiritual guide that they have done 3 months of spiritual guidance &
– signed by the designated tutor that they attended two tutorials per term (12 hours in total).
Applicants are expected to:
- possess a good knowledge of the Maltese and English language;
- be capable of writing assignments in English;
- be able to use a computer to access material digitally and make online submissions;
- attend at least 80% of lectures of each module;
- Previous courses / training: Have successfully completed the first course in Ignatian Spirituality and Spiritual Accompaniment.
The course fee for both courses (i.e., whole two years) is set at €1,356* and will be paid in staggered instalments of €226 per term as follows:
1st course – 1st year
| Payment | Amount |
| Initial course payment – to be settled by August 2026 | €226 |
| January 2027 | €226 |
| April 2027 | €226 |
| Total | €678 |
Students who wish to stop their studies after the 1st year will only be required to pay for the 1st year.
2nd course – 2nd year
| Payment | Amount |
| September 2027 | €226 |
| January 2028 | €226 |
| April 2028 | €226 |
| Total | €1,356* |
*The course fee covers all the costs incl. the cost of a residential sensitivity training which will take place over 4 days and is a compulsory component of the course.