Ruffing and Shea have presented the workshop to spiritual directors at the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center in New Orleans, La., and at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland, opening it up to members of the general public as well as to participants in the Summer Fordham in Ireland Program. They also present the workshop periodically at Fordham's Rose Hill and Lincoln Center's campuses. According to Shea, the workshop is unique because it assumes a developmental approach, examining how early childhood experiences in family, school and community impact spiritual development. The workshop is divided into two distinct segments of spiritual development. Shea leads the section on masculine development, and says that one topic he explores at length is mentoring.
Many men never move on to intimacy and maturity.
In contrast, women tend to learn relationships early in life, and struggle less with intimacy. Their development is more complex than men's for several reasons. Obstacles for women, Ruffing says, tend to arise because of cultural and religious structures that are primarily male-dominated. For instance, Ruffing explains, the image of God has traditionally been of a male figure. These things will no longer carry you, and achievement doesn't bring you growth and development.