Spiritual direction

Welcome to an inner journey

Meeting with a spiritual director to explore God’s loving presence in my life has been such a blessing. I have often found our meetings to be holy ground and I am so grateful for the compassion and wisdom they have offered me.
— Jane

Do you find yourself desiring a deeper relationship with God? Is your search for God at a crossroad? Do you want to explore new ways to pray or has prayer become difficult? Do you feel the need for someone to help in discerning the call of God for you? Do you desire a companion on the spiritual journey?

There are many women and men in Winnipeg and the surrounding area who will sit with you in holy listening. The Shekinah Formation Program started at St.Benedict’s in 1998 is now being led by Kalyn Falk and her team of guides. You can find them at https://www.shekinahformation.com/ You can also find directors on the Spiritual Directors of Manitoba website.

Spiritual direction is a ministry and a journey

“In a spiritual direction relationship, God is the true director, leading both of you and the director through the process.

As you seek a spiritual director, the best way to begin is to pray for God’s help, to find a person who can walk with you in the way best suited for you right now.

As you meet with potential directors, listen for hints that this is a person who can help you listen deeply for God’s movements. Also notice whether you feel a sense that you might be able to grow to trust this person to honor the work of the divine in your life, in all its areas and in all your mistakes; the moments of desolation as well as the moments where you feel consolation.

As your journey in spiritual direction unfolds you will want to be able to share not just the parts of you that feel holy, on the path, but the parts that are diverging, that keep you from consenting to God’s embrace”. — Joy Andrews Hayter

The focus of a spiritual direction relationship is the directee’s experience of the Divine presence in her/his daily life of work, relationships and prayer. A director helps you to pay attention to God’s personal revelation and to respond to God.  Problems arise in each of our lives; these will inevitably affect our relationship with God and therefore, will arise in the spiritual direction sessions. Problem-solving, however, is not the focus of spiritual direction. God, in the life of the individual, is the focus.

Regular meetings with a spiritual director help one to notice God in one’s self, others, events and all of life.

What happens during spiritual direction? You can expect a director to listen attentively and with reverence, to ask reflective questions and to help you notice movements in your life. Spiritual direction is a sacred time in which you talk about your relationship with God, self and others. Since we believe that God communicates through ordinary human experience, you will be urged to pay attention to your experience so as to notice God’s nudges, invitations, challenges and confirmations.

How do I begin? Be in touch by phone or email and ask for one of the available directors. Set up an initial interview to talk over your desire and mutual expectations. If you are comfortable with this director, you can begin this journey of trust and deepening relationship with God and all creation. You will also find a list of directors online at Spiritual Directors Manitoba.

“My experience of providing spiritual companionship and consultation as a spiritual director feels truly like perpetual grace.  The gifts exchanged between directee and director are ultimately profoundly mutually enlightening and healing.”

The Art of Deep Listening

The image below is found in the Chapel at Monte Cassino, Italy. It is entitled “Obbedienza” meaning “Listen”. Listening is the heart of spiritual direction and this image was one chosen for the Shekinah program at St.Benedict’s.