spiritual director

[coco2]

How do you go about finding a spiritual director? I hear at conferences and read in books that everyone should have a spiritual director. How do you go about finding one? I never see anything in the bulletin or hear anything from the pulpit about it. Don’t parish priests already have a heavy load with all their usual duties to do this for their parishoners? What if even 50% of the parish wanted to have a director. How is this possible? I would LOVE to find one, but have no idea how to go about it. Anyone have one?

 

[Monica4316]

An idea might be to ask your priest if he could recommend someone, or if he is willing to be your director. Even if he does not have time himself, he might recommend another priest.

I had a spiritual director last year, and he’s the vocations director for the diocese… however I am not sure how to find a spiritual director if you are not discerning a vocation

I’m guessing, ask your priest

I also think, in my opinion, it’s best to have a priest or a religious for a spiritual director, just because they are consecrated to God and have more experience, and if it’s a priest, he can also be your confessor

God bless

 

[jbarbaretta]

How do you go about finding a spiritual director? I hear at conferences and read in books that everyone should have a spiritual director. How do you go about finding one? I never see anything in the bulletin or hear anything from the pulpit about it. Don’t parish priests already have a heavy load with all their usual duties to do this for their parishoners? What if even 50% of the parish wanted to have a director. How is this possible? I would LOVE to find one, but have no idea how to go about it. Anyone have one?

They can be hard to find. I have a spiritual director, but it took a while to find one. Talk to your pastor – he is probably too busy, but may know someone. Opus Dei has priests that provide spiritual direction. They have a website (opusdei.org) that should have some contact information – ask if it is available in your area. Some religious will provide spiritual direction as a service. If you have an abbey or monastery near you, you could ask there. You might be able to contact your diocese and ask if they have a list of priests or others that provide spiritual direction. Good luck.

 

[IgnatiusDaughtr]

I had a spiritual director in college who was a professor and a deacon (I never had him in class - we just met and really clicked). I have also done spiritual direction with religious sisters, and know of lay people who are trained in spiritual direction through their diocese. Often times these lay spiritual directors have extensive knowledge and degrees in theology, and work under the guidance of a priest.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

You’ve gotten some good advice. I would add one more thing: pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you find a director.

 

[MtnDwellar]

I hear at conferences and read in books that everyone should have a spiritual director. How do you go about finding one? I never see anything in the bulletin or hear anything from the pulpit about it. Don’t parish priests already have a heavy load with all their usual duties to do this for their parishoners? What if even 50% of the parish wanted to have a director. How is this possible? I would LOVE to find one, but have no idea how to go about it. Anyone have one?

I can relate. I am a cradle Catholic. I never heard the term spiritual director until I found this website. Is this something relatively new?

 

[Joannm]

it is not new, but it is gaining in popularity with the laity. Most parish priests are not trained in spiritual direction but in pastoral counseling. It also involves a lot of time so parish priests don’t get too involved in it on a regular basis. My director is a parish priest but he also has had training in direction and does not have too many directees.

The best place to start is retreat houses. They have priests, religious and qualified certified laity who can offer spiritual direction.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I can relate. I am a cradle Catholic. I never heard the term spiritual director until I found this website. Is this something relatively new?

I think what’s relatively new is the idea that lay people can benefit from spiritual direction. The more traditional view is that spiritual direction was given as a part of going to confession. To me there’s a huge difference between spending a couple of minutes in the confessional and spending more extended time discussing my spiritual life. But finding someone with both the time and ability to offer spiritual direction is not always easy or necessary.

 

[m134e5]

If God wants you to have a spiritual director, and you pray for one, trust that you’ll find one. It took me several years to find a spiritual director I could work with- but I eventually did find someone. I’ve found that finding the right spiritual director can be a challenge. They are harder to find than good confessors- after all, priests are busy and it’s easier and less time-consuming to tell someone what they shouldn’t do than it is to tell them what they should do.