Spiritual Direction

Encounter the saints, mystics, and spiritual teachers of our Christian faith and explore the distinct spiritual approach each took to draw closer to God.

With the STM/Newman Spiritual Direction ministry team, we will share a variety of Christian approaches to spirituality, mysticism, and prayer that have arisen within our tradition through the centuries. Our Christian faith teachers have taught us spiritual practices; insights regarding God and the soul; and prayers, rituals and hymns that help us delve more deeply into the Divine Mystery.

Each of us, unique in how we relate to God, is drawn to certain practices. By exploring mystic guides, you may discover a spiritual approach you were unaware of—one that guides you into a deeper relationship with God.

The eight-week series via Zoom is on Tuesdays from 7 pm - 8:30 pm starting January 10 - February 28. Each evening, a presenter who lives the spirituality being introduced will lead the prayer, learning and formative experiences focused on a particular spirituality (see schedule below).

Program Schedule

• January 10: An Introduction to Spirituality: Caring for the Soul and Witnessing to God - Jim Hynes
• January 17: An Introduction to Franciscan Spirituality - Fr. Timothy Kulbicki, OFM Conv.
• January 24: An Introduction to Carmelite Spirituality - Jon Henz
• January 31: An Introduction to the Spirituality of Howard Thurman - Rev. Mark Davidson M. Div, MA, CSD
• February 7: An Introduction to Dominican Spirituality - Sally Orcutt, OP
• February 14: An Introduction to Benedictine Spirituality - Curt and Donna Hardy, Benedictine Oblates
• February 21: An Introduction to Wesleyan Spirituality - Rev. Mark Wethington, PhD
• February 28: An Introduction to Ignatian Spirituality - Mark Shaw

Cost: The suggested donation is $60 for the series. Please send your payment via Check: Make your check payable to ‘St. Thomas More’, with ‘Caring for Your Soul’ on the memo line, and mail to the attention of Claudina Loh, St. Thomas More Parish Office, 940 Carmichael St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Registration:  Please register at www.stmchapelhill.org/caring-for-your-soul-1 to receive a link to join the Zoom sessions.

Contact: Contact program coordinator Cindy Neely at [email protected] or 606-923-0437.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 10, 2023
You are invited to participate in a guided, Lenten book study exploring The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault (available through any bookseller). Our initial meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. We will then begin our study of the book for the next seven weeks (eight meetings total) with our final meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Two book study groups are available; both groups will meet via Zoom on Tuesdays, with one from 12:00 to 1:00 pm and the other from 5:30-6:30 pm (both Eastern). This program is sponsored by WVIS and will be led by Jerry McMahon.

In The Wisdom Jesus, Bourgeault suggests that if you put aside what you think you know about Jesus and approach the Gospels as though for the first time, something remarkable happens: Jesus emerges as a teacher of the transformation of consciousness rather than a purveyor of doctrine, inviting us to follow his path of self-emptying love into union with God. Each chapter of the book builds a thoughtful and insightful guide to Jesus' vision and innovative, scriptural-based ideas about how we might respond to Paul's exhortation (Phil. 2:5) to put on the mind of Christ.

DOWNLOAD FLYER

When: There are two small groups both of which will meet on Tuesdays. You can choose from either 12:00 – 1:00 pm or 5:30 – 6:30 pm (both are EST)

Registration: To register, email [email protected] (cc Jerry at [email protected]) indicating which group you would like to join. Each group is limited to seven (7) members, so you are encouraged to register as soon as possible. Jerry will confirm your registration and email you additional details including the link for Zoom prior to the start of the program.

Offering: The Donation for this program is $70 (plus the cost of the book). To pay via check, please make a check payable to WVIS (with Wisdom Jesus in the memo field) and mail it to 1601 Virginia Street East, Charleston, WV 25311. To pay online, click HERE to be taken to the WVIS Tithe.ly donation page and select “Lent 2023.”

This program will be held via Zoom – a link will be provided after you register. For more information about the program or with questions, contact Jerry McMahon at [email protected].

WVIS is a non-profit 501c3 organization.

A 12-week Group Spiritual Direction Program via Zoom
Tuesdays: February 21 through May 9 - 12:00 to 1:00 PM

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: February 14, 2023
Register by emailing [email protected] and purchase your book by February 14 to be ready for the first session. A Zoom meeting link will be provided after you register.

What is God calling me to? How might I recognize the voice of God? Elizabeth Liebert’s immensely practical book, The Way of Discernment: Spiritual Practices for Decision Making, offers a variety of ways to fine-tune our ability to hear God’s invitations. Using a prayerful process of study and sharing, participants will learn about and practice the approach to listening that Liebert outlines.

DOWNLOAD FLYER

Each person may bring a personal decision or question to be “discerned,” but that is not necessary. Everyone will learn new ways to recognize God in their daily life. The heart of this program might, in fact, more rightly be called a retreat – a dedicated time of meeting God through a variety of spiritual practices and shared listening.

Over the course of 12 weeks, we will learn about and, more importantly, experience together the many ways that God calls to each one of us through memory, reason, emotions, bodily sensation, imagination, and community. Each hour-long session will focus on our response to a chapter of the book. Seven spiritual directors from WVIS have joined together to lead the weekly sharing.

Program donation: $50 (plus the cost of the book which you must purchase on your own).

Registration: Email [email protected] and indicate the title of this program in your email to ensure you are registered for the correct program. You will receive an email confirming your registration along with information on making your offering by either credit card or check.

Questions: To learn more, please email Cindy Neely at [email protected].

Is Spiritual Direction the Next Step in Your Faith Journey?

Presented with permission from The Catholic Community of St. Thomas More.
Is God Calling You to Spiritual Direction?

As you think about opportunities to embrace our Church’s call to Intentional Discipleship could Spiritual Direction be a next step for you in your faith journey?

What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual direction is an ancient Christian tradition of holy listening. In spiritual direction, a directee (seeker) explores the spiritual journey with the help of a trained director to discover the movement and action of God in one’s life.

What happens in Spiritual Direction?
In spiritual direction, a trained spiritual director companions a directee, ie an adult seeker, on his or her spiritual journey. The director and directee come together in sacred conversation to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Learning to discern God’s willful one’s life is an essential component of spiritual direction. This activity can also occur in groups in group spiritual direction.

Why do people seek spiritual direction?
People seek spiritual direction to grow in their relationship with God and to explore how God is acting in their life and leading them.

Who are spiritual directors? 
Spiritual directors are trained professionals who accompany directees on their faith journey to help them grow spiritually. Spiritual directors themselves are trained in many spiritual practices and help directees enter into prayerful presence. A spiritual director may be a trained professed religious or a trained lay person. Directors receive spiritual direction themselves and receive regular supervision by a trained supervisor. 

St. Thomas More and Newman’s Spiritual Directors vet and approve directors who participate in the ministry. Directors follow the SDI (Spiritual Directors International) Code of Ethics.

How do I find a spiritual director?
A directory of locally available spiritual directors can be found using the link below, or you may contact the Spiritual Direction Ministry Coordinator, Lori Eichel at [email protected] or 919-260-6296. 
FIND A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR 

The coordinator manages requests for spiritual direction and puts directees in touch with potential directors. Directees then have an initial conversation with one or more directors to discern the best director with whom to work.

Who can receive spiritual direction? 
Adults 18 and older can receive spiritual direction. Directees are from a variety of faith traditions and can be located anywhere in the world. 

Where does spiritual direction take place? 
Spiritual direction takes place in designated rooms at St Thomas More Church campuses, Newman at UNC facilities, at various other area church meeting spaces, and on Zoom.

What is the difference between spiritual direction, psychotherapy, and pastoral counseling? 
Spirituality and psychology intertwine yet are distinct. Spiritual direction attends to how God is participating and communicating in one’s life to help one grow spiritually healthy. Psychotherapy or psychological counseling address mental and emotional issues to help a person function and achieve well-being. A directee can receive spiritual direction and be in psychotherapy also. Pastoral counseling is guidance given by a priest, deacon, or parish pastoral associate on issues of faith, theology, and religion to individuals, couples, families, and groups. 

What does spiritual direction cost? 
Directors request a donation or stipend for spiritual direction sessions. The local range is $45-$100 per hour. Some directors use donations to support affiliated faith and spiritual direction institutions. Some directors use stipends to help cover directors’ expenses, continuing education, cost of supervision, and use of professional space. 

How often does spiritual direction take place? 
Initially, a directee may meet frequently (perhaps once a week or every other week) with his or her director. After that, spiritual direction sessions are typically once a month and last about one hour.

FIND A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR