Diploma in Spirituality

Program Overview

This Diploma program in spirituality is targeting men and women of different religious traditions and Christian denominations and anyone who is interested in strengthening their spirituality in the Ignatian tradition in the unique African context.This programme will offer students an opportunity to assimilate more deeply their Ignatian heritage and vocation, and to integrate recent academic and personal experiences of their Jesuit life. It will present students with a sampling of the very best of the Ignatian/Jesuit heritage, e.g., the person and spirit of Ignatius, the founding of the Society of Jesus, and current statements about Jesuit life. Specifically, by reading excerpts from pertinent documents and related articles by contemporary Jesuits, students will become more acquainted with Ignatius’ spiritual journey, discernment for everyday life and important decisions, mission and apostolic formation, the Jesuit sense of the vows, the manifestation of conscience, the Exercises, Ignatian prayer, and other topics. The course will blend together valuable materials from various sources.

Ignatian Spirituality for Everyone

This 500 year old tradition is not for Jesuits alone. It is for everyone. St. Ignatius mandated Jesuits to offer the Spiritual Exercises as a “pathway to God” for all peoples of all nations. Thus, there is no restriction on who can take this course. It is not simply a vertical relationship with God and the person, but in relation to “others” and all creation. God’s spirit runs throughout all creation and openness to that spirit implies an openness to all creatures. Our relationship with God deeply affects and transforms our relationship with ourselves, our work, family, country and with people. Thus, these courses will be offered in relation with the Ignatian Spirituality.

RATIONALE

1. It is a response to a need for spiritually and morally conscious citizens who are willing to go the extra mile to work with those most excluded in the human community.
2. It sets the bases for a strong spiritual awareness and moral dedication.
3. It seeks to cultivate a high level of spiritual and Christian way of living.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. To learn the different skills, techniques for meditation and prayer
2. To introduce the concept of various spirituality traditions
3. To educate learners who are able to judge a situation reasonably, decide and act responsibly for the good of all, and educate others to do the same in the development of their communities.

OUTCOMES OF THE PROGRAMME

1. An acquisition of spiritual intelligence in dealing with the things of the heart and of morals
2. A deep sense of spiritual self, divine presence and its manifestation in daily interaction with people and with the common home, the environment. 3. A strong moral awareness and the determination to fight evils and corruptions in the society through prayer and charity

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

IGS114 Ignatian Spirituality in Daily Life and Service Program: 35 Days (36)
All students will be required to undergo the Ignatian Retreat in Daily life and the Service Program. A qualified Spiritual Director will direct each student. The Service Program Director will supervise the Service Program component.

OR The Ignatian Spiritual Exercises in daily life. The best way to understand and be inspired by St. Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises is actually to do them rather than to learn about them. Students will be offered the opportunity to do the Exercises in daily life.

CURRICULUM:

First Year

First Semester

IGS101 Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality(12)
IGS102 Introduction to World Spiritualties(12)
IGS103 Old Testaments: Prophets, Psalms(12)
IGS104 Christian Mystical Traditions (12)
IGS105 Psychological Foundation of Spirituality (12)
IGS106 African Traditions and Spirituality(12)

Second Semester

IGS107 Ignatian Spirituality (Retreat Practicum) (12)
IGS108 Social Spirituality (12)
IGS109 Science and Spirituality (12)
IGS110 Leadership and Spirituality (12)
IGS111 New Testament: Gospels and Paul’s Letters (12)
IGS112 Pentecostalism in Africa (12)

Electives

Ignatian Pedagogy Paradigm

IGS101 Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality
This course will be offered after the students have completed the Spiritual Exercises of St.
Ignatius. It will introduce the meditations, prayers, and the theology, metaphysics
epistemology, and psychology of Ignatian Spirituality.

IGS102 Introduction to World Spiritualties
There are different religious traditions and there are numerous spiritualties. However, this
course will focus on Christian spiritualties that recognize the importance of the “other” in
human relations and in relations with the divine. This course will recognize and
acknowledge the various backgrounds of the students and urge them to reflect more about their motivations and their general spiritual well being. This will be in comparison to the
Ignatian Spirituality.

IGS108 Social Spirituality
Spirituality transforms my personal life, but in so doing it radiates out to others and
society. It brings the compassion of Christ to the poor and suffering. It brings the Kingdom
of God into society by striving for a better world. The first expression of my spirituality is
in my community life and in my relationship with family, friends and the wider Christian
community. The course will examine tools for doing this, e.g. applied Church Social
Teaching, Social Analysis etc.

IGS105 Psychological foundations of spirituality.
This course will deal with the stages of growth, personality types and tests etc and their
relationship with spirituality and human relationship with the divine.

IGS107 Spirituality Practicum.
This course will teach the knowledge and skills necessary for retreat giving, spiritual
direction, and decision making and discernment of spirits.

IGS108 African Traditions and Spirituality
A look at the main characteristics of African culture, especially Zimbabwean culture. How
Christian spirituality fits into this (or in some instances doesn’t). How to make our
spirituality relevant to our present context. Does witchcraft exist among Christians?

IGS109 Penticostalism and Spirituality
This would look at both traditional African contemporary forms of pentecostalist,
prophetic and indigenous (e.g. Vapostori) churches.

IGS109 Science and Spirituality
The modern world is increasingly dominated by a scientific culture. Is this compatible
with a Christian spirituality? The prominence of gadgetry, computers, cell, smart, iphones,
internet etc. Is this helpful or detrimental to our spirituality?

IGS110 Leadership and Spirituality
This course will explore the connection between leadership and spirituality especially in
the religious contexts. The following topics will be dealt with:
a. Leadership styles.
b. Leadership skills.
c. Communication skills.
d. Writing skills. Academic and administrative writing.
e. Relational skills and emotional intelligence.
f. Project management and simple accounting.

The Second Vatican Council (APH 109)

A study of the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) begins with its theological and ecclesial
context and focuses on its central documents and speeches. The course tries to help the
student appreciate the underlying theologies of these texts, especially by contrasting them
with prior church teachings. The course concludes by assessing the successes and failures
of the council’s implementation, and by proposing agenda for the next ecumenical council
(Nairobi, or Delhi, or Rio de Janeiro I). (15 Credits)

IGS103 Old Testament Foundations: The Prophets (APH 308)
This course is a study of prophets and prophecies, especially in relation to issues of social
justice and community renewal, in the classic prophetic books of the Old Testament. (15
Credits)

IGS111 New Testament Foundations: A Synoptic Gospel (APH 407)
This course reflects on one selected synoptic gospel against the background of all three,
paying particular attention to the development of gospel narrative. Attention is paid to
the evolution of methods of interpretation and to the significance of the narratives for
contemporary Africans. (15 Credits)

IGS104 Christian Mystical Traditions
This course will explore the ancient mystical traditions of Christianity. It will examine the
place of Ignatian Spirituality in this tradition. Some of the key areas of interest are the
hermitic traditions of the Desert Fathers, Early Christian mystics, Women Mystics in the
Catholic Tradition, St. Francis and Benedictine traditions.