Spiritual Mentor Program

The Spiritual Mentor Program (SMP), a Catholic faith-based adult formation course centered on the human, spiritual, theological, and pastoral pillars of formation, has been newly established to awaken and enliven Christian disciples on their spiritual journey. The objective of the program is to deepen the spirituality of individuals and prepare them to support and mentor others on their faith walk. Drawing on the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church and the writings of saints, mystics and religious masters throughout the centuries, the curriculum will explore what it means to be Christ’s beloved disciple, and how to faithfully live out that calling amid the noise of the modern world.

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

Are you seeking authentic spiritual growth and/or renewal? Do you want to become a true disciple of Christ and help guide others to become better disciples as well? Whether you desire to simply grow in your own faith and/or mentor others on their spiritual walk, the Spiritual Mentor program (SMP) will prepare you for the journey. Through intensive study, purposeful prayer, faith formation and ongoing fellowship, the program will challenge you to dig deeper into the heart of the Gospel as we learn to sincerely respond to Jesus’s command to feed his sheep.

Identity – The world wants us to define who we are by our success or failure. God wants us to see who we really are – His children.

Prayer – Conversation with God is the most important part of our spiritual growth – especially listening to our Father in heaven.

Spirituality – What is this? Simply put, it is our relationship with Jesus.

Morality – How do we know what is right or wrong and how do we practically live this out?

Catholic Social Teaching – We cover the principles of church teaching which are centered around the protection and dignity of all human life.

Discernment – Is that God talking or me – how to tell the difference?

Spiritual Warfare – The devil is real, and he does not want us to go to heaven. We explore how to recognize spiritual attacks and what should be done to help guard against them.

Suffering – Saint Pope John Paul II wrote about suffering in his encyclical ” Salvifici Doloris”. He talks about the redemptive value of suffering. We will explore in this class how to help those who are going thru suffering or accompanying someone else.

Addiction – In this powerful class, we talk about the 12-step program and how the sacraments are an integral part of this journey.

Grief / Death / Dying – Our time here on earth is but a pilgrimage to our homeland which is heaven. Grief and dying are a part of this journey. In this class, we explore the grieving process and how we can help people through the process.

Forgiveness / Shame / Guilt / Reconciliation – We hear in the Our Father prayer that we are forgiven to the measure we have forgiven. In this class, we will explore how God shows us the true meaning of forgiveness.

Relationships in a Complex World – In today’s society, the nature of relationships has grown complex. In particular, we will focus on the meaning and value of marriage.

Anger / Resentment / Surrender – There is a difference between being angry about something versus being angry and wanting some sort of retribution. We explore the complexities of anger and how to effectively overcome them.

Desolation / Loneliness / Solitude – These terms often get confused for one another. In this class, we explore the differences and why they are important to identify in mentoring someone.

Gifts / Charisms – What is the difference between these two and why? How can we invest in both, to inflame our spiritual lives.

Charity – We are all called to love. Sometimes this does not feel so easy. It this class, we will discuss what it means to truly will the good of another.

• Human – developing your personality to be a bridge and not an obstacle in helping others encounter Christ
• Intellectual – intensifying your knowledge of the faith, tradition and the doctrine of the Church, through intensive, systematic study

• Spiritual – establishing and nurturing practices to advance your personal relationship with Christ and your commitment to the mission of the Church
• Pastoral – developing your capacity for ministry to others; witnessing the Gospel to all, especially the poor, needy and those on the fringes of society

Gather & Social Time -Building Community

Morning Prayer

Large Group Discussion on Takeaways from Readings

Morning Presentation No. 1

Morning Presentation No. 2

Adoration with Praise & Worship

Afternoon Presentation

Spiritual Direction Practice