Spiritual Direction

What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual Direction is a ministry in which people are trained in the art of helping others walk the journey of faith -- of helping others know where God is in their life, what God might be saying to them, and how they might grow in discipleship. The individual seeking spiritual direction meets periodically with a director-companion to talk through the events of life and to discern God’s message

and call.

The suggested offering is $25 per session. As with all Shalom programs, all are welcome regardless of ability to pay the suggested offering. Any offering you can afford

will be accepted.

CLICK HERE to read a short article on SPIRITUALITY written by Liz Cummins OSF, member of the Sisters of St. Francis, Dubuque. She serves as a spiritual director and grief counseler in private practice in Phoenix, AZ and occasionally leads retreats at Shalom Retreat Center.

GROUP SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Informational Sessions are offered occasionally at Shalom Center.

The last information session was offered

in early December 2011.

Below is a general description of group

spiritual direction offered by Shalem Institute.  Linda will expand on it during this session.

Group spiritual direction is a process in

which people gather together on a regular

basis to assist one another in an ongoing awareness of God in all of life. They are

seeking support for their responsiveness to

God and they agree to support others in that same responsiveness. Three conditions are essential to the life of the group.

Members must agree to:
• commit themselves to an honest

relationship with God
• to participate wholeheartedly in the group process through prayerful listening and response
• to open their spiritual journeys for consideration by others

What draws people to the group is a

reciprocity of desire, God's desire and their desire. Having been touched by God's desire, they want to make their desire for God the determining factor of all of their choices, and they recognize that they need some help

to do this.

When asked by a friend how she prayed for

her, a thirteenth-century anchoress, Julian

of Norwich responded, "I look at God, I look at you, and I keep on looking at God." Put simply, the group's challenge is to keep on looking at God for each person in the group.

The process best happens in a group of

about five people, all of whom are seeking

spiritual direction and are willing to enter into a process where spiritual direction can happen for themselves and the others in the group. Diversity of faith perspectives in the group can enrich the collective wisdom available through the group process.   (Shalem Institute)

Why Spiritual Direction?

Seeking God is a universal human quest -- common to

all ages and to all cultures. Growth in the quest for God happens when we pray with honest, authentic desire. The spiritual director helps an individual to sort out the various desires in their life, and to recognize and respond to their desire for God.

God wants a personal relationship with each one of us. God has a dream -- and it is for our happiness, even in this earthly life. The Good News that Jesus came to bring us is that we are friends of God! (John 15.15)

Growth in that friendship gives meaning and brings

true happiness to life! Spiritual direction assists people

in such growth. Shalom is happy to offer an opportunity

for Spiritual Direction.

Our Spiritual Directors