Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction involves the art of listening, listening to God and to one another. In conversation, the person coming for direction, the directee, and the one listening, the director, are companions on the way of the directee's spiritual journey. Often a conversation might involve a situation where the directee is puzzled or blocked about a spiritual decision or problem and the answer is elusive. Perhaps it might even concern a situation where the directee is being overly self-critical about a situation in their life and they feel "stuck." Sometimes the thoughts and insights of another will help that person to move beyond that "stuck" point. The discernment and listening spirit of the director may be able to give the directee that "Aha!" moment that will open hearts and minds to the answer - or at least to a sense of peace and acceptance.

God is present in all the parts of our lives; we just don't always see this. In the busyness of lives today, the noise of modern life can push out the voice of God within us, very often being that part of us that is trying to get past the "stuck" part that is hurting us more and more in a spiritual way. Without listening, this part will get pushed down further and further and soon we are feeling more uneasy without knowing why. God wants us to be free. This does not mean we won't have problems or hardships at times; still, God does want us to be able to hear that spiritual voice within us. The ultimate hope of Spiritual Direction is that the directee will find their center in God thus bringing more of God's love to the world.

• Identify and trust your own experiences of the Holy in life
• Deepen your relationship with God
• Discern and make life-giving choices
• Look for the Spirit in struggles, losses or disappointments
• Find encouragement, affirmation and challenge

Who is providing Spiritual Direction in our parish?
There are currently six individuals in our parish who have been trained as spiritual directors.  This is a wonderful resource available to you!  Each director has experienced three years of formation and is under the supervision of experienced spiritual directors.  To find out more about each director, click on each name on the left hand side of this page.

Is there a fee?
You are encouraged to make a donation to the parish in whatever amount works best for you.  As a guide for you, the suggested donation is $40-100 per session for spiritual directors working outside of the parish.  However, any amount is fine and no one will be turned away.  You can either bring your donation to the session, drop an envelope in the collection basket (marked Spiritual Direction) or donate online below.

How often does one meet with a spiritual director?
It is typical to meet once a month with a director for one hour.  This can continue for as long as the directee wishes.  

Is Spiritual Direction confidential?
Each spiritual director is held to an ethical standard to maintain confidentiality at all times.  While you are welcomed to share your insights and even the name of your director with those you wish, a spiritual director will not share who his/her directees are or anything that was discussed during a session.

How do I choose my spiritual director?
You can choose your spiritual director in one of two ways: 
1) Contact Darcy Wharton who will do an initial interview with you to determine the best match for your needs
2) Look at the bios of the available spiritual directors in our parish to determine the person who meets your needs.   You can then contact them directly to schedule an appointment.

Have questions?  Feel free to reach out to Darcy in the parish office.