We are proud of our graduates and, as you can see, our graduates are very impressed with The Celebrant Training Center. We have applicants from all over the country and beyond, who come from all walks of life and have various reasons for becoming a celebrant. Our unique program can accommodate your goals regardless of who you plan to serve: a specific ethnic group, faith community, the non-religious, your clients, or your friends, family, and neighbors.
Donna Baranyay, Cypress CA
Following is the awesome testimony of our very first graduate:
The Celebrant Program was an incredible program for me to complete. Even though I am a minister, I found the classes challenging as well as an opportunity for growth. I was able to discover what my strengths and weaknesses were as well as remember the importance of “being open at the top”. What I liked about the program was that each class built upon the other one. Laying the foundation for the meaning, ethical issues, and significance of the celebrant role paved the way to begin creating ceremonies in future classes and assignment. I was very impressed with the willingness of all of my instructors available for questions and support but the amount of time that each one spent with me on the phone wrapping up the class, answering questions, providing feedback, and overall caring about my experience in the program. I truly hope that all of them continue working in this program and have successful personal practices as well.
Thank you for creating this program and providing the space for those of us who enjoy creating ceremonies an avenue to hone our skills, gain more confidence, while building a portfolio of ceremonies and rituals.
The Celebrant Program was an incredible program for me to complete. Even though I am a minister, I found the classes challenging as well as an opportunity for growth. I was able to discover what my strengths and weaknesses were as well as remember the importance of “being open at the top”. What I liked about the program was that each class built upon the other one. Laying the foundation for the meaning, ethical issues, and significance of the celebrant role paved the way to begin creating ceremonies in future classes and assignment. I was very impressed with the willingness of all of my instructors available for questions and support but the amount of time that each one spent with me on the phone wrapping up the class, answering questions, providing feedback, and overall caring about my experience in the program. I truly hope that all of them continue working in this program and have successful personal practices as well.
Thank you for creating this program and providing the space for those of us who enjoy creating ceremonies an avenue to hone our skills, gain more confidence, while building a portfolio of ceremonies and rituals.
Dave Morrison Novi, MI
We recently asked this graduate of our program what he has been doing since completing his program back in 2013:
Since completing the program, I have been conducting weddings, funerals, and a regular worship service at an assisted living facility.
The program definitely helped me develop and refine the services I conduct. Having to write services as part of the training and being able to talk to instructors who had experience gave me templates to use when I started. As I've become more experienced, I've changed/improved the services, one of the resources I've used to do this is my notes from the training.
Two things I appreciated about the program: I could go at my own speed and the instructors were people who had actually written and conducted services - they knew what they were talking about because they had done it.
Since completing the program, I have been conducting weddings, funerals, and a regular worship service at an assisted living facility.
The program definitely helped me develop and refine the services I conduct. Having to write services as part of the training and being able to talk to instructors who had experience gave me templates to use when I started. As I've become more experienced, I've changed/improved the services, one of the resources I've used to do this is my notes from the training.
Two things I appreciated about the program: I could go at my own speed and the instructors were people who had actually written and conducted services - they knew what they were talking about because they had done it.
Ginger Hartman, Haughton LA
We were honored to have a Funeral Director, who is preparing to be a Funeral Celebrant when she retires, select our program:
I have truly enjoyed the course …As a funeral director, a lot of the requirements are very familiar to me…
I believe that I got honest and constructive feedback which is always great. I will truly recommend this course to others. Thank you for the opportunity.
I have truly enjoyed the course …As a funeral director, a lot of the requirements are very familiar to me…
I believe that I got honest and constructive feedback which is always great. I will truly recommend this course to others. Thank you for the opportunity.
Mindy and Della Moore Beloit WI
This mother and daughter enrolled in our Celebrant Training Program together:
“The Celebrant Training Program has been an amazing experience for us. Our mentor… is an incredibly gifted celebrant …his examples, advice and suggestions have enriched our understanding of the depth and breadth of celebrancy.”
“The Celebrant Training Program has been an amazing experience for us. Our mentor… is an incredibly gifted celebrant …his examples, advice and suggestions have enriched our understanding of the depth and breadth of celebrancy.”
Todd Lipa, Farmington MI
Here is a graduate whose tuition was being paid by a funeral home Director and he selected our Celebrant Training Program:
"...I don't think I have ever had a busier year than I have had the past 12 or 13 month.. The youth program i oversee has grown to over 300 kids a day. The wedding portion of my business has also grown this year and I am being asked by the funeral homes to please please get my Celebrant license. ... I could always use my Universal Life license but after reading the materials, I know this is the right path for me to take."
"...I don't think I have ever had a busier year than I have had the past 12 or 13 month.. The youth program i oversee has grown to over 300 kids a day. The wedding portion of my business has also grown this year and I am being asked by the funeral homes to please please get my Celebrant license. ... I could always use my Universal Life license but after reading the materials, I know this is the right path for me to take."
Gail Schultz, Friendship WI
This student, the Global Ministries University Registrar, is a Spiritual Director and decided to earn a Certificate of Funeral Celebrancy from the Celebrant Training Center:
As many of my friends and family are not affiliated with a church, they previously thought the only alternative for a funeral/memorial was to do something at the funeral home with a supply clergy person who had never met them. … These friends and family members know I am a spiritual director, some have been on retreats I've facilitated, and they also know I am commissioned/ordained as a minister with FCM. So several have asked if I would do their funerals when they pass…
This course was invaluable to me as it took me through all aspects of the funeral/memorial process, including coordination with the funeral home if needed, working with the family, creating an environment for the service, and delivering an appropriate message. I had to put on my creative hat to design four different ceremonies for different situations. I designed those rituals with particular people in mind to really test my ability to be sensitive to the desires of the deceased and the family, and to truly honor the life of a unique person.
I highly recommend this course... to anyone wishing to develop and hone their skills to mark life's passages as sacred events, with compassion and love as a trained celebrant.
As many of my friends and family are not affiliated with a church, they previously thought the only alternative for a funeral/memorial was to do something at the funeral home with a supply clergy person who had never met them. … These friends and family members know I am a spiritual director, some have been on retreats I've facilitated, and they also know I am commissioned/ordained as a minister with FCM. So several have asked if I would do their funerals when they pass…
This course was invaluable to me as it took me through all aspects of the funeral/memorial process, including coordination with the funeral home if needed, working with the family, creating an environment for the service, and delivering an appropriate message. I had to put on my creative hat to design four different ceremonies for different situations. I designed those rituals with particular people in mind to really test my ability to be sensitive to the desires of the deceased and the family, and to truly honor the life of a unique person.
I highly recommend this course... to anyone wishing to develop and hone their skills to mark life's passages as sacred events, with compassion and love as a trained celebrant.
