Ignatian Spiritual Direction Formation
for the 21st Century
WORLD ON FIRE
Ignatian Spiritual Direction Formation for the 21st Century
"Go, set the world on fire"
~ St. Ignatius of Loyola
World on Fire is a four year, low-residency formation program for those who sense a call to the ministry of spiritual direction. We believe spiritual directors are called and formed by God.
The program is grounded in Ignatian spirituality and follows the themes of the four “weeks” of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Each of the four years, students attend a one week , in-person residency that includes classroom learning and practicum. For the remainder of each year, learning occurs from home.
If you sense you may have a call to this ministry, we invite you to explore our website by clicking the tabs at the top of the Home Page. This may help you discern if this program is for you.
Important Dates
We are now accepting applications for 2025 cohort through May 16, 2025
2025 - 2026 Residency Week
August 2 - August 8, 2025
2026 - 2027 Residency Week
August 1 - August 7, 2026
2027 - 2028 Residency Week
August, 2027
Our Faculty & Staff
Maria Tattu Bowen, Ph.D., Spiritual Director/Supervisor
Rev. James Bowler, SJ, M.A., M. Div., Spiritual Director/Supervisor, Faculty Emeritus
Eileen Crusan, Spiritual Director, Supervisor
Deborah Delano, Spiritual Director, Supervisor
Ann M. Hatton, Spiritual Director, Administrative Coordinator
Rebecca B. Langer, D. Min., Spiritual Director/Supervisor, Faculty Emerita
Karen Scully, Spiritual Director
Program Endorsements
"World on Fire’s superb staff will support your sense of call to the ministry of spiritual direction throughout a four year low-residency program, encouraging your integration of theory and practice through paced instruction and thoughtful, director-centered supervision."
Elizabeth Liebert, SNJM
Professor Emerita, San Francisco Theological Seminary/University of Redlands
[Author of numerous books/articles on spiritual formation and spiritual direction, including Way of Discernment and The Spiritual Exercises Reclaimed, Second Edition]
“This formation program for spiritual directors is solidly based and produces spiritual directors who provide good service in the Ignatian tradition. I recommend it.”
William A. Barry, SJ
“I am delighted to endorse this program. It is a program of ‘formation’, not ‘training’, providing a holistic approach that sees God at work in all aspects of a person’s life. This informs the very attitude with which we approach the ministry of spiritual direction. We are blessed by the lives and work of those who pass through this program.”
Very Rev. Joseph G. Bachand, M.S
Spiritual direction is help given by one person to another which enables the seeker to pay attention to God’s personal communication to her/him, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God—and to live out the consequences of the relationship.
The Practice of Spiritual Direction, Barry/Connolly
World on Fire
Contact Form
If you have questions, need more information or would like to speak with someone about World on Fire, please complete the information below.
