2026 Ignatian Director Training Cohort

Presented by The Ignatian Center and Dale Gish

Preparation materials are provided.
Online cohort training on the “weeks” or themes of the exercises and how to lead in each theme. Includes teaching, individual prayer, and reflection on the theme, sharing the graces of the prayers together. The online cohort runs from late May – mid-July. Commitment to 2 hours per week of class time and 4-8 hours per week of out-of-class preparation.
Nuts and bolts training and preparations to gather a group of people through the Exercises -mid-July.
Discernment with interested retreatants who begin praying warmup/discernment prayers starting mid-July to September.
Deep dive retreat at Jesuit Retreat Center, Los Altos, CA. Aug 2026. An expectation that cohort participants would attend this retreat either in Aug 2026 or Aug 2027. The retreat is a deep dive into advanced Ignatian themes in a beautiful Jesuit retreat center.
Kick off your Ignatian Exercise group in late Sept 2026. For the duration of the journey, you will have a monthly support group and periodic 1-1 meetings with Dale for support and supervision.

You have prayed the Spiritual Exercises accompanied by a director. If not, consider praying the Exercises with Dale or someone else this year and beginning training in 2026/7.
You have a deep experience of the graces of the Exercises and a desire to share them with others.
You have a love for and personal connection with Jesus.
You have completed a spiritual direction training program. Have the skills to lead individual sessions. (Those who have not completed spiritual direction training but have extensive experience with the Exercises and equivalent spiritual care experience may be considered.)

Complete the Ignatian Training Interest Form (below).
Attend a Training Cohort info session.
Complete the application, which is provided after the Ignatian Training Interest Form is completed and reviewed.
The Specific dates for the online cohort May-July will be set on April 1, considering those who have been accepted. The cost: Over the course of 2 years, a total of $2,800.
$400 deposit due upon acceptance. The deposit is applied toward the cost of the in-person retreat.
The above cost is if you attend the in-person deep dive in 2026. The Cost for in-person deep dive could increase for 2027.

The cost of training may be offset by what you receive from those you lead through the Exercises during the 2 years.