ATLANTA--RUAH, a pilot program designed to give lay persons formation in spiritual direction, has 10 people in its first two-year class.

RUAH, which in Hebrew means Spirit of God, began in September 1996 with participants meeting on Saturdays twice a month as a group and additional times for reflection and one-on-one with mentors.

The six staff members of the non-archdiocesan formation program are Sister Barbara Young, rc, the director; Carol Hamill and Sister Loretta McCarthy, SBS, co-coordinators of content and format; Sister Susan Arcaro, rc, coordinator of mentoring and supervision; Jim Powers, accountant and financial consultant, and Dr. Joy Evans, psychologist and consultant for spiritual companioning.

"We are very pleased and we are so thankful to God," said Sister Young of the first year's experience. "All of the people in the program have been enthusiastic about what they have received."

The program originated from a task force formed after graduates of lay formation programs in the archdiocese pointed out the need for training in spiritual direction and for spiritual directors.

"So many requests were made that it became evident that the need was great," said Hamill, who formerly served as the consultant for adult faith formation in the archdiocesan Department of Education. "What I kept hearing was that laity who were serving in parishes in a position of leadership were being approached by members of the community who were seeking spiritual guidance. Those in leadership realized that they did not have the skills or formation to appropriately give this sort of guidance. I shared these concerns with Msgr. Terry Young, then secretary of education, who suggested we form a task force to examine this pastoral need."

In May 1994, Hamill, assisted by a group of persons experienced in spiritual direction, started the task force. "Once we had established the fact that there was a need for a formation program of this sort, we began to work on the necessary elements of the curriculum," she said. The task force made a presentation to Archbishop John F. Donoghue in 1995.

Sister Young said she and the RUAH staff have met with the archbishop to provide course information and details about the program as it unfolds. Although RUAH is independent, "we wanted his blessing on what we were doing," she said. Hamill said that the archbishop has also stressed the fact that those who complete the course are not certified or licensed to give spiritual direction.

"Those who complete the program earn a certificate of completion," Hamill said. "This does not mean that they are licensed or certified to be spiritual directors."

Participants learn from the curriculum about the sound spiritual traditions of the great mystics and spiritual leaders of the past, scripturally based theological background material, principles of communication as well as spiritual companioning, mentoring and supervision.

The first group went through a screening process, Sister Young said, that looked at their knowledge and experience, their plans to utilize the course, and recommendations. Most, she said, "felt a call" and had people seeking them out for spiritual guidance.

The 10 participants and six staff members meet twice a month on Saturdays and attend three reflection weekends during the year. Sessions involve small group sharing, individual reflection time and large group input and sharing. Each person has one staff member assigned to them as a mentor. Before beginning the second year of study participants are required to attend an eight-day directed retreat. The course fee is $1995 per year.

"The class that began in September is our pilot program," Hamill said. "We want to look very closely at how this class unfolds before we start another one."

All members of the RUAH staff have completed a formation program for spiritual direction, actively serve as spiritual directors, are personally receiving spiritual direction and are members of Spiritual Directors International. Additional information about RUAH may be obtained from Hamill at (770) 461-5546.