Colloquium for Spiritual Directors

March 8-10, 2010

Sex and Spirituality: Navigating the Dark and Sacred Sides of Human Sexuality

Human beings live and interact on the intra-personal, inter-personal and systemic levels. The focus of spiritual direction is most often an individual's relationship with God on the first two levels. This Colloquium will invite us to consider how we might help individuals collaborate with God insofar as God is at work in organizations, communities, and, yes, committee meetings! The colloquium will also invite participants to move to the balcony to view the role of the ministry of spiritual direction itself in the ongoing life - the dance floor - of the Church.

We live in a sex-saturated culture where people often struggle to understand and embrace their sexuality without the burden of shame or guilt. Our sexuality is a sacred gift; it not only allows us to participate in the mystery of creation, but it also serves as an energy that moves us away from isolation and self-absorption and drives us to connect with others socially, emotionally, and sometimes, physically. Yet this sacred gift can often confound – sexual urges can be confusing; sexual knowledge can be inadequate; religious taboos can be entwined with neurotic compulsions and inappropriate shame; and sexual expectations can be unrealistic. This sacred gift can also have a dark side – sexual violence, sexual exploitation, and sexual addiction are rampant.

Spiritual directors are often called upon to assist their directees in navigating the complexities of human sexuality, yet all too often they feel inadequately prepared. This colloquium will invite spiritual directors to reflect on and learn more about the power and beauty, and the perils and challenges of human sexuality, with topics including:

Sexual trends in modern culture
Sexual health in single, married and celibate states
Sexual orientation and gender identity
Sexual abuse and healing
Pornography and sexual addiction

Presenter:

Dr. Dennis Sugrue is a licensed psychologist and certified sex therapist. He is a graduate of Sacred Heart Seminary College and has a Master of Arts Degree in Religious Studies. He is a past president of American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) and currently serves on the editorial board for the journal Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan Medical School and has a private practice in Bloomfield Hills, MI. Dr. Sugrue has served as a consultant for the Archdiocese of Detroit on sexual abuse and is currently a member of the Critical Incident Advisory Board for the Detroit Province of the Society of Jesus.)

Location:	Dominican Center for Religious Development, 23333 Schoolcraft Road, Detroit, MI 48223
Registration:	Monday, March 8 at 1:00 p.m. Opening Session: 2:00 p.m.; Closing: Wednesday after lunch
Resident Fee:	Before Jan. 15, 2010: $310.00 ( conference, room, meals) To receive the discount, the entire fee must be paid by Jan. 15, 2010 Jan. 16, 2010 or later: $350.00. To register, send form & non-refundable deposit: $50.00
Commuter Fee:	Before Jan. 15, 2010: $210.00 (conference, meals) To receive the discount, the entire fee must be paid by Jan. 15, 2010 Jan. 16, 2010 or later: $250.00. To register, send form & non-refundable deposit: $50.00