Many of us feel a need and a hunger to find someone to help us on our Christian journey; to help us articulate, search out and trust to our questions. Who are we in our relationship with God? How do we pray? How do we live out our faith? What do we do when we feel we have fallen short?

These are some questions we may bring to spiritual companionship. Often called spiritual direction, this ministry is an ancient tradition within the Church. In today's individualistic and secularized western culture, more and more people are feeling a need for such companionship to help them satisfy that profound but unarticulated yearning for a deeper relationship with God that is so much a part of our humanity.

As Margaret Guenther in her book The Practice of Prayer writes:

... It remains for us to build on [this ancient tradition], and to work out a model of spiritual direction that is alive and meaningful for those in the “mixed life”—those who are psychologically aware, who are seekers, and who have no romantic illusions that they can or must be quasi-monastics as they cope with jobs, spouses, partners, children, taxes, and unpaid bills. (p. 94)

The Ministry of Holy Listening

Those offering spiritual companionship seek to help those they accompany to know the unconditional love and forgiveness of God, and to appreciate the activity of God in their life.

The prayerful support of a trusted spiritual companion who cares about us, but wants nothing from us, can set us free to know ourselves better as we reach out to grow in our relationship with God.

Telling the story of our lives, in a prayerful atmosphere with a trusted companion, helps us to recognize where and how God has been and continues to be present and active in that story.

As we reflect upon God’s activity in our life, and allow the spirit of God to shape us in the image of Christ through the ordinary events of everyday life, so we grow in discernment.

Reflecting upon God’s activity in our life helps us grow in discernment.

Spiritual Direction in the Sisterhood

Within the context of a monastic house whose way of life is a balance in work, rest, prayer, and leisure, some of the Sisters and Associates offer the ministry of spiritual companionship. All who offer this ministry under our sponsorship follow a policy statement established by the Sisterhood, which requires our spiritual companions to be under regular spiritual direction themselves, and to be in a process of continuing education and training in this ministry.

If you are considering spiritual direction for yourself, you may call or write to one of our houses (see the contact information below). If there are no openings available, we will be glad to refer you to other possible spiritual directors.

About Payment

We are often asked about our policy on payment for this ministry. We do not charge a fee, but the Sisterhood depends on donations to support its ministry. Also, most people who value this ministry find that giving a donation, depending on their means, helps to establish the practice of spiritual direction as a priority in their lives.

Most people give an offering of somewhere between $20 and $35 per hour session. Some prefer to give the equivalent of what they would make in one hour of their own work. No one is turned away because they are unable to make a contribution.