Creighton University

Overview | Highlights | Foundational Living Principles | Objectives & Creative Uses
Components of the IPF Program | Daily & Weekly Schedule | IPF Summer Finances
Advantages | Admissions | IPF Faculty | Reading References | Program References

The IPF program, based at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, consists of a ten-week summer program. During this summer IPF shares Creighton’s facilities while conducting its own liturgical and residential life.

 

Spiritual Formation Requirements

• Daily Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours and weekly Eucharistic Adoration
• One hour of personal prayer per day
• Weekly spiritual direction
• Eight day individually directed silent retreat

 

Apostolic Ministry

For two afternoons per week over six weeks, students will be engaged in apostolic ministry with children, the sick, and the poor (hospital pastoral team ministry, outreach to the elderly, and to the physically and mentally disabled, etc.).

 

Academic Formation

All courses offered receive undergraduate or graduate theology credit at the 500 level, affording the student the possibility of transferring credit into existing seminary programs.

 

Courses focus on integrated learning: sound academic discipline coupled with personal growth and apostolic application amidst contemplative leisure and solitude for prayer. The IPF faculty are specially selected to be in harmony with our stated objectives.

 

Class attendance in IPF courses is restricted to seminarians, with exceptions granted by IPF’s executive director.

 

Summer Program

Session	Program
Pre-Session	Christian Prayer and Virtue (1) and an eight day individually directed silent retreat
Term I	Christian Spirituality and Sexuality (3) The Spirituality of Diocesan Priesthood (2)
Term II	The Mystery of the Liturgy: Receiving in Celebration and in Life (3)
	Summer CREDITS: 9

Summary of Growth & Blessings

At the conclusion of the ten week summer program, each seminarian prepares a “Summary of Growth and Blessings.” This document is prepared in the following manner. During the summer each seminarian keeps a journal. By way of a prayerful process of journal reflection that pertains to each course and component of IPF’s summer program, the seminarian summarizes his interior experience of discerning God’s love. This process of journal reflection is fostered in weekly spiritual direction. Near the end of the summer, a copy of the “Summary of Growth and Blessings” is

distributed to the seminarian, asking him to summarize, in a way appropriate to the external forum, the content of his journal pages.

 

A copy of the document is forwarded to the man’s Vocation Director or Director of Seminarians. It is suggested that the appropriate seminary personnel also receive a copy. The document, then, provides not only a fitting conclusion to the IPF experience, but also builds a bridge between the seminarian’s summer experience and his diocesan and seminary life. It provides a foundation for fruitful spiritual conversation.

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• Two hours of class per day, Monday through Friday
• One three-credit course per month
• One two-week period contains extra conference hours for a two credit course
• Apostolic work each week, every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon for six weeks
• One hour of private prayer a day, “alone with God,” meditation and contemplation
• One and a half hours per day of communal prayer: Morning and Evening Prayer, Eucharist, and weekly Eucharistic Adoration
  
  

Daily Schedule — Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Time	Activity
	Breakfast
7:30 a.m.	Morning Prayer
8:00-10:00	Class
10:30 a.m.	Eucharist Lunch
Afternoon	Free time for reading, prayer, physical exercise, leisure Dinner
6:30 p.m.	Evening Prayer (Wednesday, Eucharistic Adoration) Evening free for reading, prayer, physical exercise, leisure

Daily Schedule — Tuesday, Thursday

Time	Activity
	Breakfast
7:30 a.m.	Morning Prayer
8:00-10:00	Class
10:30 a.m.	Eucharist Lunch
Afternoon	Apostolic Work Dinner
6:30 p.m.	Evening Prayer Evening free for reading, prayer, physical exercise, leisure

 

Weekends

Free time for recreation, prayer, reading.

 

Overview | Highlights | Foundational Living Principles | Objectives & Creative Uses
Components of the IPF Program | Daily & Weekly Schedule | IPF Summer Finances
Advantages | Admissions | IPF Faculty | Reading References | Program References