Foundations in Spirituality
(Foundations I)
Registration for 2026-2027 is now open!
Come to our Spiritual Formation Program Open House on May 2 at 11am - 12pm to talk and learn more!
One Saturday per month: September through May
10 am – 3 pm ET (In-Person)
Cost: $950, scholarships and payment plans available
Foundations in Spirituality is a serious reflective study that opens our minds and hearts to the teachings and life examples of the great Christian spiritual teachers so they can deepen our present spiritual journey.
It gives a good foundation for the spiritual formation programs at Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College and is a requirement to continue into our Spiritual Director Practicums or Spiritual Companioning. It is not a requirement for Foundations II or our many programs and retreats, but it will certainly enhance and assist your formation in those spaces.
This video from a graduate of the program may be helpful. Phillip Johnson, Ph.D. completed Foundations in Spirituality in 2020 and it transformed how he approached counseling.
I went [to Foundations] thinking "I want to learn more, have a deeper spiritual life...to discover."
Dr. Phillip Johnson
The nurturing that took place allowed me to come home to myself. That influences how I teach now, and what I teach.
Explore the rich preaching of St. Dominic; the unbreakable faith of St. Teresa of Avila; the deep spirituality of St. John of the Cross; the life-giving wisdom of the Beguines; the daily prayerful life of St. Ignatius; and the lives of many more who continue to enrich our own faith and spirituality.
The course introduces the practice of contemplative prayer as a grounding practice for living a richer spiritual life. Immerse yourself in Foundations in Spirituality and begin deepening your relationship with God through study, prayer, and community. A typical class day opens with a contemplative prayer together, a presentation with room for questions in the morning, lunch, then another presentation often with prayer experiences or small group interactions woven in.
What to Expect
The objectives of this course are to:
- Grow in understanding and appreciation of the diverse ways God has been present to and involved in the lives of the great spiritual teachers and guides throughout history.
- Encourage awareness, commitment to, and integration of the spiritual journey in daily life through writing and living a personal rule of life.
- Develop an understanding of contemplative attitudes and presence as basic to living a spiritual life.
- Provide opportunity for an introductory study of writings from the spiritual classics for the purpose of reflection, discussion, and personal appropriation.
Foster respect for the diversity in past and present theology and spirituality.
To present basic principles and tools for discernment that are useful for personal, prayerful decision-making.
Christ will make His home in your heart as you trust in Him.
Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
– Ephesians 3:17
Facilitator
Amanda Dobson
Spiritual Director, Facilitator
Amanda Dobson, Spiritual Director, is an associate coordinator for the Spirituality Programs at Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College. She serves as a member of the Formation Team and is deeply involved in the center’s Spiritual Formation Programs. Amanda holds a B.A. in English, a certificate for Spiritual Direction from DCM, and is a 2019 graduate of The Living School, Albuquerque, NM.
Details
Information
Program is 10:00 am – 3:00 pm with a break from 12:00 – 1:00pm.
Participants bring their own lunch or go out to local restaurants.
In case of inclement weather, classes will be held on Zoom.
For more information, visit the Foundations in Spirituality page.
Dates
Foundations in Spirituality 2026-2027 is an in-person class on Saturdays from 10:00 am-3:00 pm.
- September 19, 2026
- Oct 17
- Nov 21
- Dec 19
- Jan 23, 2027
- Feb 20
- Mar 20
- April 24
- May 22
Tuition + Fees
- Program cost is $950
- Financial scholarships and/or payment plans are available. Please apply first before registration. Download the form here.
- The main textbook is included in registration fee.
- If you would like to speak to someone on our Spiritual Formation team, please email programs@grdominicans.org
- View Dominican Center’s refund policy.
Register for 2026-2027
If you wish to use financial aid or payment plans, please follow the instructions to the left and register only if you have received your code. Thank you!
Upcoming Programs & Retreats
Spiritual Formation Programs Open House
Read More
Sacred Sampling Morning Retreat
Read More
