Places for Sabbaticals
Are you interested in a local assessment of any of these courses or programs? We may be able to put you in touch with some Australian bishop, priest or deacon who has undertaken the course in the last couple of years. For more information, contact us.
Download a printable version of this list here: Sabbatical Programs (PDF 34KB)
ROME
- Nemi courses for 2020
Leaflet 2020 (PDF 927KB) - The lnstitute for Continuing Theological Education is offered by the North American College, Rome. www.pnac.org.
ITCE offers two programs. In the summer the twelve week program is one module, however the program in the Fall is constructed as three modules of four week duration for each module. Participants can choose one or more modules. Further information can be found by searching zenit.org Rome Based Sabbaticals. - St Anselm’s, Rome (formerly Kent, England)
Offers short courses in Personal Growth through Emotional Healing.
Website: st.anselm.org.uk
UK
- Hawkstone Hall, Shrewsbury, England
No longer operates as a sabbatical centre. - Heythrop College, London
- Offers one term courses. Each week a different topic is offered. There are seventy individual topics to choose from. Website: heythrop.ac.uk
- St Bueno's, North Wales
Short courses designed to train people in the fields of spiritual accompaniment of others, psychology and spirituality.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - St Mary's Kinnoul, (near Perth) Scotland
IRELAND
- Milltown Institute, Dublin
One-year program in theology and spirituality is no longer available. The website, however, contains links to the Jesuit Library, Loyola Institute and the Carmelite Institute.
Website: milltown-institute.ie - An Tairseach, Ireland
An Tairseach, Wicklow, Ireland, Dominican Ecology Centre, a 10-week residential programme, including becoming familiar with our evolution over 14 billion years as discovered by contemporary science - exploring its implications for understanding our place in the universe, the theology and the New Cosmology and more.
Website: antairseach.ie/
ISRAEL
- Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem, Israel
Four weeks, six weeks and three-month-long programs are offered. The courses contain a mixture of input with field studies.
Website: tantur.org - Ecce Homo Convent, Jerusalem, Israel
Courses provide input on Scripture, culture, the sacredness of the land and inter-faith dialogue. The centre is located in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Website: eccehomopilgrimhouse.com
USA
- El Retiro – Jesuit Retreat Centre
Offers a variety of retreats: Silent and otherwise for men and women. This includes themes of forgiveness, ways to pray and Ignatian spirituality.
Website: jrclosaltos.org - Institute of Pastoral Studies, Chicago, USA
Located at Loyola University. Offers parish leadership and management programs.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | Website: luc.edu/ips
The Institute for Sexuality Studies offer one month sabbatical programs in 2018 and 2019.
The multi-dimensional program provides a combination of individual and group study guided by an experienced staff of professionals.
There are daily seminars from professional staff in the key areas of human sexuality including psychology, spirituality, ethics and physiology.
Seminars are held Monday till Friday. Weekends are available for private study. The Institute for Sexuality Studies subsists at the Catholic Theological Union Campus which is next door to the University of Chicago.
The dates are June 4th- 29th and July 2nd – 27th, 2018 and June 3rd- 28th and July 1st – 26th, 2019.
More information can be viewed on the website www.mcclone.com - Redemptorist Renewal Center, Tuscan, Arizona,USA
Based in the renown Sonoran Desert. Offers 'Sabbatical Pathless Path Serenity' retreats
Website: desertrenewal.org - St Patrick’s Seminary and University Menlo Park, California
Operates a centre for ongoing formation for priests.
Website: stpsu.edu - The Institute for Spirituality & Worship, Berkley, USA
One or two semester courses entitled 'New Directions Sabbatical Program'.
Contact: Rev Robert McChesney sj This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - The Hesburgh Program at Catholic Theological Union (CTU), Chicago, USA
- Oblate School of Theology, San Antonio, USA
PHILIPPINES
- East Asian Pastoral Institute
3 and 6 month sabbaticals, Quezon City. Courses in pastoral leadership and management
Website: eapi.org.ph
BELGIUM
- American College Louvain
In 2014 the unversity recommenced its sabbtical programs. Further information is obtainable vis the website.
Website: kuleuven.be
New Zealand
Places for Study and Formation in New Zealand- Renewal Program for clergy in Mosgiel (Dunedin), New Zealand.
Topics to be covered include prayer, preaching, the Gospel of Mark, psycho-sexuality, transitions, etc.
For more information contact Fr Mark Chamberlain This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or +64 (03) 488 2577
Centres in Australia
Places for formal and accredited study
The following colleges of theology around Australia are delighted to welcome clergy seeking formation and sabbatical opportunities to their courses:
AUSTRALIAN CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY has campuses in Adelaide, Ballarat, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, North Sydney and Strathfield. Specifically recommended for initial or ongoing theological education or formation of clergy are the following courses:
- Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies
- Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies (Liturgy)
- Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Catholic Culture
- Graduate Certificate in Catholic Studies
- Graduate Diploma in Theological Studies
- Master of Professional Studies in Theology
- Master of Theological Studies
Details of each of these programmes can be found at www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/faculties,_institutes_and_centres/theology_and_philosophy/theology/postgraduate.
The Faculty also runs a number of international Study Abroad opportunities that would appeal to clergy, which can be viewed here: www.acu.edu.au/about_acu/faculties,_institutes_and_centres/theology_and_philosophy/study_tours.
Please refer inquiries to Professor Dermot Nestor, Executive Dean, Faculty of Theology & Philosophy (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or to Dr Maeve Heaney, Director of Theological Formation for Ministry (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
BROKEN BAY INSTITUTE in Pennant Hills NSW delivers all its units online. Of especial interest to clergy may be their courses in Theological Studies, Leadership & Theology, and Governance & Canon Law.
Further information can be found at www.bbi.catholic.edu.au/index.cfm.
BBI’s online Higher Education Courses can be found at https://www.bbi.catholic.edu.au/higher-education/Spring-into-the-New-Year-2018.
Information on a special two-day event coming up in Sydney on 2-3 August 2018, hosting Professors Massimo Faggioli and Richard Lennan, can be found at www.bbi.catholic.edu.au/econferences/Leading-Ecclesial-Communities-Foundations-Challenges-and-Possibilities.
CATHOLIC THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE in East Melbourne offers:
- Enrichment through audit or enrolment in classes including Spirituality, Theology, Liturgy, Moral Theology, Biblical Studies, Church History, Philosophy, Pastoral Studies, Guided Meditation, and Ageing
- Annual Study Tour: Biblical Lands or Catholic Culture (Europe)
For more information visit CTC at www.ctc.edu.au/For-Priests.
JESUIT COLLEGE OF SPIRITUALITY at Parkville, Victoria. Visit www.jcs.edu.au for information on Leadership units and on the Arrupe Spiritual Direction Formation programme – JCS’s currently most popular courses with clergy.
UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME AUSTRALIA has campuses in Fremantle, Broome and Sydney and offers courses at undergraduate and postgraduate level. For more information on specific courses please visit www.nd.edu.au/contact-us.