Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this series for?

It is for volunteer or paid ministry leaders who lead ministries in parishes, schools, dioceses and other organizations. It is for lay leaders, religious sisters, deacons, and clergy. It is for those involved in ministries such as adult faith formation, young adult ministry, youth ministry, campus ministry, children's ministry, RCIA, marriage preparation. It is for spiritual directors, retreat facilitators, pastoral care ministers, directors of religious education along with parents, catechists, teachers, bible study leaders, or leader of women's or men's groups. It is for all who want to walk the Ignatian path with a trained guide and who are called to accompany others in their faith. It for those desiring to say "yes" to God's call into deeper waters of faith.


When are the classes held?

Side By Side runs for 5 weeks in October and November , with live virtual meetings via Zoom on October 21, October 28, November 4, November 11, & November 18. The recordings of each meeting will be posted within 24 hours if you cannot attend live.

All meetings are held from 12:30 pm -2 pm Central Time. The October sessions will be 12:30 pm - 2 pm Central Daylight Time. The November sessions will be 12:30 pm-2 pm Central Standard Time.

How is this different from other offerings Ignatian Ministries has done in the past?

Side By Side is not a retreat, but rather a live virtual class where Jean Heaton is teaching from her expertise. It will include prayer and wisdom drawn from her many years of ministry walking with people through the Twelve Steps rooted in Ignatian spirituality. The goal is for you to leave formed by the love of God with deeper knowledge and the tools to accompany others in times of suffering with greater compassion, freedom, and hope.

Do I have to attend all the sessions?

Side By Side is a five-class series. When you register, you are able to attend all five sessions and get access to every recording. Attendance is not necessary, but highly recommended in order to learn from the community gathered together. The recording will be available if you are not able to attend live. Access to the recordings and materials will be available through the end of February.

What if the cost is too much?

Just like all of Ignatian Ministries' offerings, we do not want the financial aspect to keep you from attending. If you want to attend and your budget does not allow for it at this moment, please email us at info@ignatianministries.org. We will provide a coupon code with an option to pay what you can.


How can I access the classes and materials? Is there an app?

The classes will be delivered via Zoom and accessible via the Zoom app. The course platform, which holds all of the details and materials, is Teachable.

If possible, please opt into emails from Teachable so that we can send updates and notify you that new content is available.

You can access the course through logging into Teachable.com on a computer or laptop. There is also a free Teachable iOS app for Apple devices. Note that through the app, you may not have access to the community wall and may have limited access to the handouts. If you having trouble downloading the handouts, please reach out to us at info@ignatianministries.org.