{"id":84245,"date":"2024-06-14T08:20:35","date_gmt":"2024-06-14T12:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dosafl.com\/?page_id=84245"},"modified":"2025-11-18T08:51:22","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T13:51:22","slug":"spiritual-direction","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dosafl.com\/spiritual-direction\/","title":{"rendered":"Spiritual Direction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cDo not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect\u201d (Romans 12:2)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fathers William Barry and William Connolly, in their book&nbsp;<em>The Practice of Spiritual Direction<\/em>, define spiritual direction as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHelp given by one Christian to another which enables that person to pay attention to God\u2019s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of that relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Building on this thought, it is good to keep in mind that the real director in the spiritual direction relationship is the Holy Spirit.&nbsp; The primary relationship is between the Holy Spirit and the directee, the secondary relationship between the director and directee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some basic \u201cdos and don\u2019ts\u201d of spiritual direction:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spiritual direction<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>can&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>be<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An experience that over time, helps the directee become more attentive to God\u2019s presence and action in your life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilitates the growth of the directee\u2019s relationship with God and can lead to a greater appreciation for the role of the sacraments in your life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A contemplative approach rather than a psychological approach<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Facilitates the formation of growth (and\/or development) in both the human and divine likeness of Christ.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A process of seeking to understand and follow God\u2019s will in all aspects of&nbsp;life.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Something that flows from and enriches religious&nbsp;experience.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A discernment of the movement of the Holy Spirit working in the life of the directee.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A relationship of trust that involves a commitment to be open and candid.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Spiritual direction<\/strong>&nbsp;<strong>is&nbsp;<\/strong><strong>not<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Directive in terms of telling a person what to&nbsp;do.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Psychological counseling&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pastoral or crisis counseling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Life coaching<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The sacrament of penance. However, if your spiritual director is a priest, you may discuss with him how the sacrament of reconciliation may fit into the direction setting.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Primarily advisory (although some suggestions might be offered)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Primarily informative (although there can be \u201cteachable moments\u201d)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Relinquishing of personal responsibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always comfortable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For more information, contact Erin McGeever, Director of Christian Formation: emcgeever@dosafl.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Approved Training Programs for Spiritual Directors<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/bonsecoursrcc.org\/spiritual-direction-institute\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Bon Secours Spiritual&nbsp;Direction&nbsp;Institute | Bon Secours Retreat &amp; Conference Center (bonsecoursrcc.org)<\/a><br><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.immaculateconceptioncenter.org\/programs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Faith Formation (immaculateconceptioncenter.org)<\/a>&nbsp;(Steubenville)<br><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sanpedrocenter.org\/sacred-presence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sacred Presence: Spiritual Director Formation | San Pedro Center | Winter Park, Florida<\/a><br><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/schoolofmary.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">School of Mary \u2013 a site&nbsp;specialising&nbsp;in spiritual life<\/a><br><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/divineprovidence.org\/school-of-spiritual-direction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">School of Spiritual Direction &#8211; MARIAN SERVANTS OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE\u00ae<\/a><br><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shc.edu\/academics\/by-subject\/theology-degrees\/graduate-certificate-of-spiritual-direction\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spiritual Direction Graduate Certificate | Spring Hill College | Alabama (shc.edu)<\/a><br><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.creighton.edu\/academics\/programs\/spiritual-direction-retreats-certificate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spiritual Direction, Directed Retreats (Cert) |&nbsp;CreightonSpiritual&nbsp;Direction, Directed Retreats (Cert) | Creighton<\/a><br><a title=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/divinemercy.edu\/academics\/spiritual-direction-certificate\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spiritual Direction Certificate &#8211; Divine Mercy University<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/audirespiritualdirection.org\/\">Audire Spiritual Direction<br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/ignatiushouse.org\/tendingtheflame\/\">Ignatius House, Atlanta<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Trained Spiritual Directors &nbsp;&nbsp;January, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sr. Tina Alfieri, diocesan hermit<br><\/em>Queen of Peace, Gainesville<br>352-318-1500 (cell)<br><a href=\"mailto:tmalfieri@yahoo.com\">tmalfieri@yahoo.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ted Benning<br><\/em>St. Francis Mission, Yulee<br>678-878-9023<br><a href=\"mailto:trbiii@gmail.com\">trbiii@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Christene Beyrer<br><\/em>Santa Maria del Mar<br>352-931-5789<br><a href=\"mailto:cbeyrer@gmail.com\">cbeyrer@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Annmarie Brennan<br><\/em>Santa Maria del Mar<br>352-318-1652<br><a href=\"mailto:annmarie.brennan@icloud.com\">annmarie.brennan@icloud.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Janice Capano<br><\/em>St. William Parish, St. Simon\u2019s Island<br>770-500-5468<br><a href=\"mailto:jcapano06@hotmail.com\">jcapano06@hotmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Patty DeHaan<br><\/em>Holy Faith, Gainesville<br>(352)514-0335<br><a href=\"mailto:pattyddehaan62@gmail.com\">pattyddehaan62@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Father Al Esposito<br><\/em>Queen of Peace<br>(Spanish and English)<br>352-332-6279<br><a href=\"mailto:fral@qopparish.org\">fral@qopparish.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Candace Flanagan<br><\/em>Santa Maria del Mar<br>386-986-8527<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Paula Fuller<br><\/em>Cathedral and Shrine<br><a href=\"mailto:paulafuller8@gmail.com\">paulafuller8@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Susan Hagerty<br><\/em>Our Lady Star of the Sea<br><a href=\"mailto:sah1157@aol.com\">sah1157@aol.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Dcn John Harvey<br><\/em>Santa Maria del Mar<br>386-439-2791<br><a href=\"mailto:deaconjohn@smdmcc.org\">deaconjohn@smdmcc.org<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Diana Hennig<br><\/em>St. Anastasia Parish<br>Marian Servant of the Blessed Sacrament<br>(904)217-4343<br><a href=\"mailto:gunnerdi005@gmail.com\">gunnerdi005@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Christopher Fernandez<br><\/em>St. Patrick Parish, Jacksonville<br>954-633-0991<br><a href=\"mailto:mathmajorc@yahoo.com\">mathmajorc@yahoo.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Sister Joan Gabbin, SFCC<br><\/em>Our Lady Star of the Sea<br>904-280-7321 (home)<br>904-881-0921 (cell)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Mary Griggs<br><\/em>Blessed Trinity Parish<br>(904)710-4284<br><a href=\"mailto:marycgriggs@comcast.net\">marycgriggs@comcast.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Diane Hemsoth<br><\/em>St. Joseph Parish<br><a href=\"mailto:dhemsoth@comcast.net\">dhemsoth@comcast.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Rhode L. Jean-Aleger<br><\/em>St. Joseph Parish<br><a href=\"mailto:rj551@nyu.edu\">rj551@nyu.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Jeannie Johnson<br><\/em>Santa Maria del Mar<br>386-986-7205<br><a href=\"mailto:jeanjohnson450@gmail.com\">jeanjohnson450@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Kathleen Patneau<br><\/em>Our Lady Star of the Sea<br>904-614-0241<br><a href=\"mailto:kpatneau@comcast.net\">kpatneau@comcast.net<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Kathy Richards<br><\/em>St. Joseph Parish<br><a href=\"mailto:kathy@olearyrichards.com\">kathy@olearyrichards.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Mary Rousseau<br><\/em>St. Joseph Parish<br><a href=\"mailto:maryrousseau1@gmail.com\">maryrousseau1@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Mary Shaw<br><\/em>(Gainesville)<br><a href=\"mailto:peaceofjesus@gmail.com\">peaceofjesus@gmail.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Gladys Stewart<br><\/em>St. Joseph Parish<br>(Spanish and English)<br>904-824-1752 (work)<br>904-260-9724 (home)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Fr. Herberto Vergara<br><\/em>St. Francis Xavier Parish<br>(Spanish)<br><a href=\"mailto:heribertovergara@yahoo.es\">heribertovergara@yahoo.es<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sisters of St. Joseph Renewal Center in St. Augustine<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Spiritual Directors are available through St. Joseph Renewal Center<br>234 St. George Street<br>St. Augustine, Fl 32084<br>Contact: Sister Florence Bryan, SSJ<br>904-824-5894<br>stjosephrenewal@ssjfl.org<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Fiat Center: Mercedarian Sisters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>1211 NW 10th Avenue, Gainesville<br>(352) 451-4544<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stipends should be negotiated with individual spiritual directors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cDo not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":40,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-84245","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":""},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"<p>\u201cDo not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect\u201d (Romans 12:2) Fathers William Barry and William Connolly, in their book&nbsp;The Practice of Spiritual Direction, define spiritual direction as: \u201cHelp given by one Christian to another which enables that person to pay attention to God\u2019s personal communication to him or her, to respond to this personally communicating God, to grow in intimacy with this God, and to live out the consequences of that relationship.\u201d Building on this&hellip;<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"","author_info_v2":{"name":"Diocese of St. Augustine","url":"https:\/\/dosafl.com\/author\/prohn\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.8 - 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