ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW
                    ABOUT SPIRITUAL DIRECTION


                             WHAT IS SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Christian spiritual direction is help given by one Christian to another which enables that person 

           to pay attention to God`s personal communications to
                him/her
           to respond to this personal communicating God
           to grow in intimacy with this God, and 
           to live out the consequences of this relationship
        
A spiritual director is most interested in what happens when the person, (the directee) consciously attempts to relate to God.  The director is interested in the  whole person, but particularly in the prayer experiences where the directee has been attuned to the God who disires to communicate with him/her.

Contemplation and personal reflection bring this communication to awareness.  Articulating and clarifying these experiences with a spiritual assists the person to notice even more about their conscious relationship with God.  Direction offers a safe, non-judgmental place of welcome for the directee where their experiences are taken seriously.

                   WHY DO PERSONS SEEK SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

*  If you are experiencing a new sense of God in your life...
*  If you are feeling distant from God...
*  If your are facing an important decision or making a 
       discernment...
*  If you are desiring to deepen your relationship with God...
*  If you are facing a change or transition in you life...
*  If you are feeling fragmented, disjointed, out-of-touch,
       fearful, angry...
*If your are involved in ministry within the Church...
*  If your ministry is more burdensome than life-giving...

If you have answered yes, then individual spiritual direction may be something for you to seriously consider.

            WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR

Spiritual direction has had a long and respected tradition in the history of Christianity.  The desert fathers and mothers were sought out to share a word, to listen, to invite persons into deeper relationship withGod.  So it is today, as spiritual direction provides a way of revitalization for God`s people.

When seeking a companion for the journey of faith, the prospective is free to ask the following about a director:

*  Does the director see the direction experience as facilitating
       the directee`s experience of God...
*  Is the director involved in ongoing direction on a reular basis...
*  Is the director part of an individual or peer group supervision 
      experience on a regular basis...
*  Has the director had adequate ministerial formation in direc-
       tion which included a practicum component...
*Is the pespective director hospitable and empathetic...

                   HOW TO FIND A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR   

Here are a few suggestions that might assist you in seeking 
a spiritual director...

*  Word of Mouth...
*  Diocesan Offices of Formation and Spirituality...
*  Retreat Centers within your area or diocese...
*  Regional Coordinators for Spiritual Directors International...
        
            Central & Upper Michiagan
            Suzanne Eichorn, O.P.
            517-669-8321

            Metropolitan Detroit & Eastern Michigan
            Charlotte Hoefer, O.P.
            313-730-8759

            Western Michigan
            Diane Zerfas, O.P.
             616-459-2910, ext. 150

*Interns and graduates from recognized spiritual direction 
      programs...