Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction

St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Church is blessed to have a number of spiritual directors who serve our parish. Each director has received specialized training and certification in Spiritual Direction. They volunteer their time in this ministry and do not personally accept compensation.

Current certified spiritual directors at St. Ignatius are Kelly Chen, AnhThu Do, Lori Kananen, Ruth Kleeman, Dcn. Greg Mouton, Lillie Marie Poullard, Alicia Varela, Louis Varela and Jan Vines. For more information about each of the directors, see the SILCC Spiritual Directors document in the menu to the left. Or, simply click HERE to be redirected.

To request a particular spiritual director, for more information or for assistance in choosing a director, please email spiritualdirection@silcc.org or fill out the form below.

What Is Spiritual Direction?

• Spiritual direction is primarily concerned with our personal relationship with God and His many and varied ways of communicating with us. This is accomplished with the assistance of a spiritual director through an ongoing process in which the directee and director meet regularly on a one-to-one basis. In the course of this meeting, they reflect on the workings of God in the life of the directee. The person seeking spiritual direction shares some thoughts about his or her awareness, encounter and experiences of God, especially during times of prayer. The director listens prayerfully and attentively, not only to the words, but to what the person is really trying to convey. In turn, the director may question or confirm, advise or encourage, discuss or discern, confront or challenge the directee. The primary purpose of the Spiritual Direction program is the spiritual growth and maturation of the person receiving direction. It involves growth and relationship with God and a mutual self-revelation. Spiritual direction has these five elements:
  

1. Process:  Spiritual direction involves regular meetings between the director and directee. These meetings are not crisis-dominated but growth-oriented. Regularity and continuity of contact are essential.
2. One-to-one relationship:  Spiritual direction does not involve group formation. It focuses on one person’s experience of God shared with a director.
3. Competent guide:  A director should be a person of prayer. He or she should be competent for the age bracket and station in life of the directee.
4. Growth of the directee:  The primary concern is the spiritual growth of the directee in his or her relationship with the Lord. The director never insists on a favorite method of prayer or a certain way of life. The director is alert to the inspirations and impulses of the Holy Spirit and sets no goals or standards. He or she never coerces nor unduly urges the directee to a specific form of prayer or a particular lifestyle.
5. Personal encounter:  The interview is a face-to-face conversation. Praying together almost always reveals something about the directee and the working of God in his or her life.

 (From: Spiritual Direction, Contemporary Readings, by Kevin G. Culligan, O.C.D.)

Patty Masson

Director of Adult Formation & Evangelization

281-290-4608

pmasson@silcc.org