Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality

Program Overview

Every year the Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality is offered by the Graduate Programs in Theology & Ministry at Spring Hill College. The courses are now offered fully online, with no in-person class sessions, using Zoom or Google Meet videoconferencing. All courses can be taken for graduate or undergraduate credit or as Easy Listening, an informal audit with no grades and no transcript. For those who are unable to attend some or all of a particular class, all sessions are video recorded and posted on the Canvas course page. 

Students from across the country can join us for either one or two weeks of classes and fellowship. Since enrollments are held to no more than 30 registrations in each course, interaction among students and faculty is maximized. The synchronous class sessions, of one week or weekend, are followed by 4 additional weeks for completing and posting assignments, allowing time for reflection, threaded discussions, and preparation of written work.

Delivery:

Online

On-Campus Housing:

$40 per Night

Silent Ignatian Retreats:

1 to 4 Days

Cost Per Credit:

$410

Easy Listening $125

Program Outcomes

With offerings on-campus, online and abroad, the Summer Institute of Christian Spirituality hopes to engage people on a deeper level in the method that best fits their preferences and lives. The goal of this program is provide a deeper connection to your faith through the teachings of ignatian scholars and theologists.

Where We Study

• Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama
• Our Lady of the Hills Catholic Church in Columbia, South Carolina
• Study Abroad Classes, SHC Italy Center in Bologna
• Online

Silent Directed Ignatian Retreats

What is a directed retreat?

A directed retreat is an opportunity for persons to enter into silence and focus on their personal relationship with God, particularly their prayer life and relationship with others. Retreatants meet daily with their director for 20-30 minutes to share their relationship with God and prayer life, and to receive guidance from the director for the next day of prayer. The dynamic builds on being alone with God in a spirit of silence and simplicity, not on conferences, talks or group sharing.

Directors will be staff and graduates of Spring Hill’s Certificate of Spiritual Direction program. Retreatants will be housed in single occupancy rooms; 3 meals are provided each full day of the retreat.

In the words of one of our recent directors, the silent Ignatian retreat offers “the opportunity to be refreshed with a renewed balance, centered in God, and to set priorities that nurture one’s true self, found in God. As a retreat director, it has been a great joy for me to witness God’s presence and loving touch in the lives of retreatants.”

Testimonials

From first-time silent retreatants:

“The setting is so beautiful; it invited me to walk and wonder in the awesomeness of God.”

“The retreat was wonderful.  I feel like I have spent three days resting in the palm of God’s hand.”

“It was exactly what I needed!”

From retreatants who have made several silent retreats at Spring Hill College:

“God always shows up in amazing ways when I do this retreat.”

“This was a wonderful time for me…a real blessing.”

1 to 4 Day Retreats

Wednesday, June 24th – Sunday, June 28

Spring Hill College will offer individually directed silent retreats following the dynamics of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius on our 380 acre campus in Mobile, Alabama.

Participants may register for the 1 to 4 full days of retreat. The retreat begins with a short orientation Wednesday, June 24, at 7:30pm, and ends after lunch on Sunday, June 28. The participants will begin their first full retreat day on June 24. The participants may take any consecutive days during this time period; retreatants should arrive for the orientation session on the previous evening, at 7:30 p.m.

Directors will be staff and graduates of Spring Hill’s Certificate of Spiritual Direction program. Retreatants will be housed in single occupancy rooms; 3 meals are provided each full day of the retreat (none on orientation day).

In the words of one of our recent directors, the silent Ignatian retreat offers “the opportunity to be refreshed with a renewed balance, centered in God, and to set priorities that nurture one’s true self, found in God. As a retreat director, it has been a great joy for me to witness God’s presence and loving touch in the lives of retreatants.”

Fees

• RETREAT FEE: $105 per night
• Extra night lodging (no meals) – $40

For more Information contact Spring Hill College Graduate Office (251) 380-3041 or grad@shc.edu.