Group Spiritual Direction / Sept 2026 - May 2027
About the Gift
An incredible opportunity for spiritual direction in small groups committed to spiritual friendship, contemplative listening, and prayer. Groups of four directees meet monthly for nine months throughout the Bay Area or online under the guidance of an experienced spiritual director. Other groups grow out of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius program.
Group spiritual direction helps individuals grow in their faith, love others more fully, and participate in the mission of the church more effectively. — Alice Fryling, 2009
When We Gather
September 2026 - May 2027, monthly 2-hour meetings
Meetings will be held in-person and/or online based on availability. Day/time will also be determined based on group member availability.
In addition, ongoing monthly groups with current availability are listed below:
- Tuesday 12:30-2:30pm, women's in-person, North Berkeley
- Weekdays before 2pm, men's in-person, Oakland or Berkeley
- Saturday morning, women's hybrid (in-person and online), Lafayette
- Weekday morning, mixed gender online via Zoom
- Weekday morning, women's online via Zoom
Who Will Walk With You
Experienced spiritual directors lead the groups and participate in supervision with Susan Phillips (PhD)
Tuition
$60/month (Total $540 for 9-meeting program) + $60 registration fee
Space is limited. *Thank you for understanding that full tuition is needed even if unable to attend a meeting.*
How to Join Us
For questions about spiritual direction groups, please email us at info@newcollegeberkeley.org.
For group placement, please use the Register/Tuition option on this page and include the registration fee (refundable if a workable group for you does not form). We look forward to hearing from you.
Background Resources
Together in Prayer: The Art and Gift of Group Spiritual Direction (Susan S. Phillips, Crux Magazine, Winter 2013)
Being Listened into Life: Susan Phillips on Spiritual Direction, Silence, and the Slow Work of God (Radix Magazine, December 2025)