Slideshow image

To anyone seeking a more profound and rich relationship with the Divine, with themselves and with others, a spiritual director/companion is a gift.

Sometimes called Spiritual Guides, Spiritual Advisors, or Spiritual companions, their role is vital in helping individuals on their spiritual journey come to a greater awareness of the presence of God in their lives. Ultimately,
spiritual direction helps individuals discover how God is working in their life, in the exciting and the challenging, and facilitate a free, creative and loving response to God.

The focus of spiritual direction is the experienceof God in daily life, so the spiritual director creates a safe and confidential space where a person feels they can honestly reflect on what God is doing in their life (major moments and minutia) and but also listen for what God is saying to them. The time spent in spiritual direction is unhurried, and likely includes conversation, silence, readings and prayer; there is often no set program or procedure.

Listening is important for growing one’s relationship with God. One of the reasons people seek out spiritual direction is to get help to improve their listening skills, for listening to the movement of the Spirit in and around them. As such, it is an invaluable tool for Christian leaders (lay and ordained) to continuously grow, and every leader would benefit from having one.

Though the gift of spiritual direction/companionship, increased awareness of God often leads to greater freedom in their relationship with God, enjoyment of God, improved clarity of what God is doing and asking of them, and more peace and courage in choosing to say yes to God.

As Vocations Coordinator, I am keenly aware of the need for Spiritual Direction, especially for those discerning of calls. There is, at this time, no list or directory of Spiritual Directors or Companions that can be accessed or called upon to find someone to accompany many of those in discernment. And, because the number of people exploring calls is rapidly growing in our Diocese, this is an essential priority to develop this resource. Please note, this directory would NOT be public. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me directly at vocations@nspeidiocese.ca

A SURVEY SEEKING SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS/COMPANIONS has been prepared and can be accessed below. I ask for your assistance: fill it out for yourself, if you are currently serving or are open to serve as a Spiritual Director; as well as sharing it with others you know in the community who are ministering in this capacity.
We will be looking to know such details as availability (day/evenings/weekends); in-person/online/telephone; willingness to take new directees; and, interest in becoming part of a group for further training opportunities.

Click here for Survey