Introducing the Annand Program ...

The Annand program, sponsored by Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, runs a number of spiritual formation opportunities. Through the Annand program, you can participate in small prayer groups, individual spiritual direction, and go on retreat. Annand is headed by the Reverend Jane Stickney, pictured above. Over the next few weeks, Jane and I will endeavor to introduce you to a few of the mentors who partner with Annand to offer spiritual formation – either in groups or in one-on-one settings.

Jane writes:

Spiritual formation is a term you will hear often. It can refer to anything that is part of your spiritual growth and vocational development. Your whole divinity school experience will contribute to your spiritual formation. One of the great resources available to you at YDS is the Annand Program for Spiritual Formation. Funded by Berkeley Divinity School, but available to all Yale Divinity School students, the Annand Program provides small groups, workshops, retreat scholarships and spiritual direction. The First Semester Formation Groups are especially for first year students. You will want to sign up to be part of one of these groups lead by Annand Mentors. The groups meet once a week beginning toward the end of September. As part of a group you will get to know 5-8 students in a setting outside of classes. As well as supporting each other as you settle into school, you will pray together and learn about different methods of prayer and spiritual traditions.

While participation in the Annand program is required for Berkeley M.Div students, the program is absolutely NOT limited to Episcopalians. I have availed myself to the spiritual direction program; Sandra, who comes from a completely different tradition, has gotten funding to go on retreat with friends. I really don't know that I can recommend the Annand program enough -- my first-semester spiritual formation group was a great way to find support and meet some new folks I might otherwise have never gotten to know so well.

Check out more about spiritual formation programs at Berkeley here, Annand in particular here. You can email any and all questions to Rev. Stickney at annandATyaleDOTedu (replace caps with punctuation); in my experience Jane has always been lovely to deal with.

-Kate