Spiritual Direction

What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction is a ministry of spiritual companionship and invites you to reflect on and respond to the closer relationship that God invites.  In the midst of a busy life, it can be difficult to see and respond to God's action within us.  Yet, at the deepest level, all of us long for a more conscious experience of presence and love that is beyond our making.

In spiritual direction, you will reflect over time on the experiences of your daily life and come to more deeply recognize God's presence, continuing call, and transforming love of yourself and the world in both good and bad times.   

 

  It can be helpful when you are making important life decisions and desire to discern how God is inviting you in that decision.  The director or companion does not give you advice or tell you what to do, but does listen, and help you listen for what the Spirit is saying to you within yourself and in the circumstances of your life.                  

Why might you seek out Spiritual Direction?

You might want to identify and trust your own experiences of God, integrate spirituality into your daily life, discern and make difficult choices, share struggles, losses or disappointments, and find encouragement and grow in relationship with God, yourself, and others.    

Meeting with a Spiritual Director

The privilege and responsibility of a Spiritual Director is to journey with you as you deepen your relationship with God.  The meetings take place in the context of confidential, one-on-one sessions.  The Spiritual Directors at and contacted through Holy Spirit Center have completed a minimum of two years of training.  Directors continue enhancing their knowledge and skills by engaging in ongoing education, confidential supervision, and also meeting regularly with their Spiritual Director. 

You and your Director will agree on a location and time for meeting, usually once a month for an hour.   For the first few months, or in the case of a decision needing to be made, you may choose to meet more frequently.  There is nothing you should say.  All that is required is sharing as honestly and frankly as possible your desires, struggles, joys as they relate to the search for God in your life.

How do I choose someone?

Call Holy Spirit Center and you will be given two or three names according to your preferences.  It is suggested that you interview at least two Spiritual Directors and have initial meetings with both to discuss the process, your needs, desires and questions about them.  Then, decide prayerfully who the best match for you is.            

The Spiritual Directors available on staff at Holy Spirit Center:

             + Fr. Vince Beuzer, SJ,

             + Sr. Jo Gaugier, OP

             + Rosemary Insley, LCSW

             + Fr. Armand Nigro, SJ,              

Other Directors trained through Holy Spirit Center are also available in various locations in and near Anchorage and the Kenai.