A Sacred Tradition Continues
Prairie Jubilee is now ONLINE - 2020 has called many organizations and institutions to take a deeper look inside themselves and answer the question… How do we meet the change that is ever presented? The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted our usual routines and expectations, but calls us all to a new creativity. For Prairie Jubilee this has meant moving its program of spiritual formation and spiritual direction training from in-person delivery to an online model. The most recent cohort of the program (Cycle 9) was the first to experience these changes, as they were not able to physically meet for their fourth and final residency in April 2020.
“We wondered how this would work out in practice,” said Dale Bially instructor with Prairie Jubilee. We quickly realized that we could not hold back the completion of the cycle. The world was in need of what these students had to offer.
“We spread out the final residency over several weekends, meeting each morning in a virtual circle for contemplative practice and teaching. As with the in-person residencies, afternoons were a time for integration of new learning, with everybody doing what they discerned they needed to do that day. It could be a walk, a rest, quiet reading, meditation, making art, or whatever.
“We found that our time together could be carried out in a meaningful way. We all discovered a richness and a profound sense of community, even through a virtual conduit. We were able to bring our two-year cycle to a close in a way that honoured the contemplative ethos of Jubilee.”
The new cohort, Cycle 10, originally slated for September 2020, will now begin online in January 2021 with a series of weekends and evening sessions.
Year 1 will focus on spiritual formation, learning about the enneagram as a guide to self-knowledge, developing and maintaining contemplative practices, and learning to lead groups centred around mindful listening.
Year 2 is a practicum in spiritual direction where participants learn and practice skills of deep listening, supported by peer and one-to-one supervision. Both years involve a group silent retreat, currently planned to be experienced virtually.
“The essence of Prairie Jubilee remains the same as it always has; only the method of delivery has changed,” says Dale. “We are in a world of new conditions. We need to adapt, not only for the present moment, but also to develop new skills. How do we connect with others over a remote connection? How can we bring our skills of listening into this new reality?”
Prairie Jubilee is now accepting applications for Cycle 10.
Deadline for applications is January 5, 2021
For further information or to register, contact the registrar, Cheryl Kinney Matheson.