Navigare - School of Catholic Leadership
A Gap Year in Spain with the Disciples
International Program
Madrid, Spain, 2021-2022
Description
Navigare is a School of Catholic Leadership where, after high school or college graduation, young men spend a year in Europe becoming Catholic leaders and men fully alive. As a gap year right after high school or after college, this International Program offers an opportunity to encounter European Catholic culture, devote time to prayer and adoration, and master a second language.
The great question of the year is: What will make my life beautiful and great? The answer will come little by little as we journey together in friendship, exploring the beauty of European Catholic culture and following in the Master’s footprints. We hope to be “surprised by an encounter with Christ”; to experience that “there is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him” (Benedict XVI); to learn that only when we encounter Jesus Christ, we become fully alive: our life receives “a new horizon and a decisive direction”.
St. John Paul II gave this as his personal witness: “Looking back and remembering those years of my life, I can assure you that it is worthwhile dedicating oneself to the cause of Christ and, out of love for him, devoting oneself to serving humanity. It is worthwhile to give one's life for the Gospel and for one's brothers and sisters!”
During this year, the students live with the community of the Disciples, verify their vocation, become bilingual in Spanish and English, and learn the virtues of leadership. In Latin, Navigare means “to sail” out into deep waters on an adventure with Christ.
“Having thus been set over the administration and management of the grain trade, Pompey sent out his agents and friends in various directions, while he himself sailed to Sicily, Sardinia and Africa, and collected grain. When he was about to set sail with it, there was a violent storm at sea, and the ship-captains hesitated to put out; but he led the way on board and ordered them to weigh anchor, crying with a loud voice: “Navigare necesse est; vivere necesse non est”: To sail is necessary; to live is not. By this exercise of zeal and courage attended by good fortune, he filled the sea with ships and the markets with grain, so that the excess of what he had provided sufficed also for foreign peoples, and there was an abundant overflow, as from a spring, for all.”
(Plutarch, The Parallel Lives: The Life of Pompei, 50)
Navigare is a School of Catholic Leadership where, after high school or college graduation, young men spend a year in Europe becoming Catholic leaders and men fully alive. As a gap year right after high school or after college, this International Program offers an opportunity to encounter European Catholic culture, devote time to prayer and adoration, and master a second language.
The great question of the year is: What will make my life beautiful and great? The answer will come little by little as we journey together in friendship, exploring the beauty of European Catholic culture and following in the Master’s footprints. We hope to be “surprised by an encounter with Christ”; to experience that “there is nothing more beautiful than to know Him and to speak to others of our friendship with Him” (Benedict XVI); to learn that only when we encounter Jesus Christ, we become fully alive: our life receives “a new horizon and a decisive direction”.
St. John Paul II gave this as his personal witness: “Looking back and remembering those years of my life, I can assure you that it is worthwhile dedicating oneself to the cause of Christ and, out of love for him, devoting oneself to serving humanity. It is worthwhile to give one's life for the Gospel and for one's brothers and sisters!”
During this year, the students live with the community of the Disciples, verify their vocation, become bilingual in Spanish and English, and learn the virtues of leadership. In Latin, Navigare means “to sail” out into deep waters on an adventure with Christ.
“Having thus been set over the administration and management of the grain trade, Pompey sent out his agents and friends in various directions, while he himself sailed to Sicily, Sardinia and Africa, and collected grain. When he was about to set sail with it, there was a violent storm at sea, and the ship-captains hesitated to put out; but he led the way on board and ordered them to weigh anchor, crying with a loud voice: “Navigare necesse est; vivere necesse non est”: To sail is necessary; to live is not. By this exercise of zeal and courage attended by good fortune, he filled the sea with ships and the markets with grain, so that the excess of what he had provided sufficed also for foreign peoples, and there was an abundant overflow, as from a spring, for all.”
(Plutarch, The Parallel Lives: The Life of Pompei, 50)
Goals and Practices
1. Cultivating Human Excellence, Friendship, and Leadership
2. A Path of Vocational Verification, living with the Disciples in their House of Formation and following their same pace and rule of life.
3. Growth in the Life of Piety (True Devotion)
1. Cultivating Human Excellence, Friendship, and Leadership
- Learning and developing the virtues of leadership
- “School of Rhetoric”
- Great Books (Dostoievskj, Shakespeare, Cervantes...)
- Great Movies. Watching and learning to watch great cinema (Big Fish,
- Babette ́s Feast, Shadowlands, A Man for All Seasons...)
- Great Music: Attending concerts and developing your own talents (Haydn,
- The Messiah (Handel), Requiem, Mozart-Mahler)
- Drama: representing a play with other youth
- Leading an apostolate according to your talents: Hikes, sports...
2. A Path of Vocational Verification, living with the Disciples in their House of Formation and following their same pace and rule of life.
- Participation in the practices of the Disciples (discussions, celebrations, adoration, book forums, movies)
- Helping in an office of the community (sacristy, kitchen, etc.) and participating in weekly chores
- Organizing one international dinner every trimester (“Symposium”)
- Participating in the practices of Kairos, spiritual exercises, pilgrimages
3. Growth in the Life of Piety (True Devotion)
- Growing in your friendship with Christ with a tailored and solid rule of life (daily Adoration, Holy Mass; Confession available at the house; Rosary...)
- Embracing your faith with initiative and ownership, overcoming peer pressure
- Deepening in your faith, learning how to teach it.
- Great Spiritual readings: Three Rebel Monks, Set All Afire, Screwtape Letters...
- Spiritual Fatherhood with a Disciple priest
- Spanish as a Second Language through a complete “linguistic immersion”. The student will become bilingual by the end of the year. According to his knowledge of Spanish he will do a Intensive Spanish course, and courses on Liberal Arts – Philosophy.
- Study of the European and Spanish Culture. Focus on famous Catholic figures such as Queen Isabel, the “Catholic Queen”; D. Juan de Austria...
- Short Trips. Preparation of visits and discussion of fruits (“Eureka”): Madrid, Ávila, Toledo, Salamanca/Segovia, El Escorial, Sevilla/Córdoba
- Great Pilgrimages and outdoors activities (Sep: Shrine of Our Lady; June/July: Way of St. James, Alps)
- Great Trips (may change according to Covid-19 restrictions). Preparation and discussion of fruits: Fall: Prague / Spring: Paris / Holy Week: Rome
- Students will learn about and develop the virtues of leadership. There will be a frequent meeting with a Disciple, who will teach, train and accompany them. These meetings will include a “School of Rhetoric” and discussion, and preaching at the house of formation.
- Among other activities they will lead the following apostolates:
- Group of “Mountaineers” of Stella Maris College, Conversational English, study workshop, coaching sports
- monthly hike to the mountains (Sierra de Guadarrama)
- monthly Friday meeting
- weekly meeting
- Organization of the 10-day pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela - Way of St. James with American members of the Kairos group (June 2022)
- Optional: Summer Camp with the Stella Maris College (July 2022)
Leadership Characteristics
As a School of Leadership, Navigare challenges its students with the following five goals, aimed at forming great leaders who:
As a School of Leadership, Navigare challenges its students with the following five goals, aimed at forming great leaders who:
- Look for the Truth
- Plan and lead three discussions of Big Questions (vocation and decision; salvation and happiness; creation and evolution)
- Persevere in the Good
- Prepare, train and run a Marathon, Half-Marathon, or similar
- Embrace the Catholic European Culture
- Pass the C-1 Spanish test at the end of the year
- Imagine a future for others
- Plan and lead a trip in Spain and a trip to Europe
- Evangelize and Model
- Leadership at an Apostolate: Lead Nazareth; plan monthly hikes, monthly topic of formation, monthly artistic activity (2-3 Saturdays)
- Leadership at a Stella Maris school: lead one “Art” after school: music, sport, book club, English conversation…
Commitment of the Student
Technology: Students are able and encouraged to call their family frequently (Skype conferences, Face Time, etc.) according to the schedule of the community. The Residence has a protected internet connection. Students are encouraged to learn a virtuous approach and limited use of the internet, according to their call to greatness. They will learn to avoid harmful internet distractions and they will be invited to frequent internet “fasting”, which promotes reading, conversation and human interaction. They are not encouraged to bring electronic devices, but they are permitted to bring a phone.
- Daily rule of life with the community of the Disciples following their schedule and discipline. The Student will be a member of the family, invited to participate in all the activities, especially at the daily mass
- Morning: Spanish or Liberal Arts Classes
- Afternoon: study, service, sport.
Technology: Students are able and encouraged to call their family frequently (Skype conferences, Face Time, etc.) according to the schedule of the community. The Residence has a protected internet connection. Students are encouraged to learn a virtuous approach and limited use of the internet, according to their call to greatness. They will learn to avoid harmful internet distractions and they will be invited to frequent internet “fasting”, which promotes reading, conversation and human interaction. They are not encouraged to bring electronic devices, but they are permitted to bring a phone.
Expenses
1. The community will provide for:
1. The community will provide for:
- All daily expenses (lodging, food, studies in Spain, Spanish Academy, Ecclesiastical University, activities of the community, visits to museums with the community, plays, planned hikes, etc.)
- Pilgrimage trips to different places in Spain and Europe.
- Fundraising to assist in general expenses
- Expenses related to his student Visa (trip to the Consulate, taxes, etc.)
- Flight to Spain (Virginia-Madrid, August 2021)
- Flight to America (Madrid-Virginia, July/August 2022)
- Personal expenses (special food, books, gifts, clothes, personal trips, etc.)
- If the student is not able to raise this amount, the Disciples will work with him for other fundraising options. The value of the whole program is approximately $12,000 / student. The partnership funds each student raises is about 1/5 of the total cost of the program. The rest of Navigare funding comes from organizational fundraising.
Personal Fundraising
Navigare will provide students with materials to assist them in their personal fundraising efforts. These are made available to each student once their application has been submitted and approved.
Fundraising resources will include:
Navigare will provide students with materials to assist them in their personal fundraising efforts. These are made available to each student once their application has been submitted and approved.
Fundraising resources will include:
- Information about how and where to fundraise
- Tools such as sponsorship letter templates to reduce the time and effort required
Contact Information
1. Contacts in Denver
1. Contacts in Denver
- Fr. Luis Granados ([email protected])
- (720) 556-4119
- Fr. Álvaro Montero ([email protected])
- (703) 232-7313
- Fr. Fernando González ([email protected])
- Br. Tomás Sastre ([email protected])
- Residence - Stella Maris School – Colegio Stella Maris
C/ Peñaranda de Bracamonte, 9 – 28051 Madrid – Spain - (https://stellamariscolegio.com/)
Preparation / Application Process and Deadlines for Spring 2021
January 30th - Application and Recommendation Letters
February 5th - Resolution of the Scholarship
February 10th - Request your passport!
February 10th - Spanish Visa Preparation
March 1st - All Visa Documents Prepared
May/June - Visa Interview
August 1st - Fly to Spanish Consulate (pick up the passport with the Visa)
August 20th - Fly to Spain (Denver or Virginia to Madrid) and Begin the Journey!
January 30th - Application and Recommendation Letters
- Complete the online application explaining why you want to join Navigare
- Send Fr. Luis Granados ([email protected]) two letters of recommendation: one from your parents, one from a relative/friend
- Meeting with Fr. Luis to discuss the application
February 5th - Resolution of the Scholarship
- Congratulations! You have been accepted to Navigare!
- Need help raising the $2,500? Contact Fr. Luis Granados to explore fundraising options
February 10th - Request your passport!
- Ensure you have a valid passport that doesn’t expire until 2022 (or later)
February 10th - Spanish Visa Preparation
- Prepare your documents for the Spanish Visa application
- For help see the 2019/2020 Protocol for Navigare
- See the Protocol of Navigare prepared by Stephen Suddjian
- Schedule Appointment at the Spanish consulate in Los Angeles
- Anticipate an expense of $200
- (From Colorado) Visit the Consulate of Spain in Los Angeles website for details.
- (From Virginia) Visit the Consulate of Spain in Washington DC for details
March 1st - All Visa Documents Prepared
- (From Colorado) Visit the Consulate of Spain in Los Angeles website to verify.
- (From Virginia) Visit the Consulate of Spain in Washington DC to verify
- Interview with Fr. Carlos Granados
May/June - Visa Interview
- (From Colorado) Fly to Los Angeles for your Visa Interview at the Spanish Consulate
- (From Virginia) Conduct your Visa Appointment at the Spanish Consulate in Washington
- Book your flight to Spain!
August 1st - Fly to Spanish Consulate (pick up the passport with the Visa)
August 20th - Fly to Spain (Denver or Virginia to Madrid) and Begin the Journey!
