In the field of sports, and in other "arenas" there is a fair amount of time spent by social media (and others) talking about the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) whether it be an individual or a team of people. Rarely (if ever) is a consensus reached that brings an end ot the discussion. I hope in the area of "Spirituality" all Christians who take their faith seriously would agree that Jesus Christ is the GOAT and we are blessed to have him instruct us every time we hear from Him in one of the Gospels. He does indeed teach us and show us how to connect with God and grow in our union with him, and rejoice in his love, mercy and peace. We are blessed when we also make the time and make the tim to grow in our union with God (and the fuits that come from it) by connecting in various ways to "spiritual directors" of the past and present. We are blessed when we read or hear them speak about this subject and when they help us find God more clearly in our lives as he is always present for us to encounter.
A spiritual director assists someone in discerning the presence and movement of God in their day-to-day life. A spiritual director must be a person of prayer who is continally seeking the Lord in their life through reading and reflection on the scripture, encounters with other spiritual directors (or at least the one who directs them) and by being a good listener to God and others. We are blessed to have in our parish two lay persons, Deb Troxel and Cherry Schwulst who are licensed spiritual directors who have been formed and instructed in formal settins in the ministry of spiritual direction. While Deb has been offering spiritul direction to out parishioners for a while, Cherry, while recently completing the requirements that are necessary to be a spiritual director, has, as part of her formation, already been engaging in spiritual direction for some people to hone her skills at listening and guiding a person more and more to the Lord. Since they are "professionals" in this important ministry, a fee is usually charged by them that is talked about and agreed upon at the start of the spiritual direction sessions (which I believe normally go on for about an hour). There is always the freedom to discontinue the sessions at any time with no questions asked as to why. There are options given as to where these sessions will take place, including private and quiet places here at Sacred Heart Parish facilities.
If you want to learn more about spiritual direction and/or seek to grow in your spiritual life by welcoming the assistance of one of these ladies, please call Deb at 515-314-6955 or Cherry at 309-831-7230 anytime.
It is such a blessing to have many capable people in so many areas of ministry and I date say this is potentially one of the most important for those who open their faith lives to it.
A spiritual director assists someone in discerning the presence and movement of God in their day-to-day life. A spiritual director must be a person of prayer who is continally seeking the Lord in their life through reading and reflection on the scripture, encounters with other spiritual directors (or at least the one who directs them) and by being a good listener to God and others. We are blessed to have in our parish two lay persons, Deb Troxel and Cherry Schwulst who are licensed spiritual directors who have been formed and instructed in formal settins in the ministry of spiritual direction. While Deb has been offering spiritul direction to out parishioners for a while, Cherry, while recently completing the requirements that are necessary to be a spiritual director, has, as part of her formation, already been engaging in spiritual direction for some people to hone her skills at listening and guiding a person more and more to the Lord. Since they are "professionals" in this important ministry, a fee is usually charged by them that is talked about and agreed upon at the start of the spiritual direction sessions (which I believe normally go on for about an hour). There is always the freedom to discontinue the sessions at any time with no questions asked as to why. There are options given as to where these sessions will take place, including private and quiet places here at Sacred Heart Parish facilities.
If you want to learn more about spiritual direction and/or seek to grow in your spiritual life by welcoming the assistance of one of these ladies, please call Deb at 515-314-6955 or Cherry at 309-831-7230 anytime.
It is such a blessing to have many capable people in so many areas of ministry and I date say this is potentially one of the most important for those who open their faith lives to it.