Spiritual Direction -
Franciscan Retreats Center
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Spiritual Direction is a sacred time and serves to deepen your relationship with God. It allows you the time and space to reflect, listen, share and ponder your life with the aid of a trained director. It is also an anointed time to better open your mind and heart to God’s will through the
presence of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual Direction is confidential and provides a conducive environment to enter more deeply into your faith and its experience.
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Self-Questionnaire for Spiritual Direction:
·How would I describe my relationship with God?
·What is my image of God?
·What is my personal prayer life and how would I describe it for my director?
·What do I see as personal obstacles to growth in the spiritual life?
·What are my priorities regarding my spiritual life?
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Self-Examination Questions to Aid Your Preparation for Spiritual Direction:
·What is uppermost on your mind or in your heart?
·Has something struck you during prayer, at Mass, listening to a conference or from your reading?
·Is there an issue regarding your relationship with your family or with others that is hindering your relationship with God, your faith, your surrender, your trust?
The whole purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of a man's life, to get behind the façade of conventional gestures and attitudes which he presents to the world, and to bring out his inner spiritual freedom, his inmost truth, which is what we call the likeness of Christ in his soul. - Thomas Merton
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Here are Spiritual Directors who are associated with Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center that you might consider for a Spiritual Director:
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Kathy Berken
Kathy earned her master’s in theology and graduate certificate in Spiritual
Direction from St. Catherine University, St. Paul. Previous to her arrival in Minnesota, Kathy was a house coordinator for the L’Arche community in Clinton, Iowa. Kathy is a Wisconsin native with two children and four
grandchildren. She authored: Walking on a Rolling Deck: Life on the Ark, a memoir of work at L’Arche.
[email protected]
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Cindy Geiger
Cindy is a certified spiritual director with a master’s degree in theology from St.
Catherine University. She brings much wisdom, patience, and humor into spiritual direction. Raised as a Presbyterian in a biracial family of seven children, she joined the Catholic Church in
1993. Her various experiences provide her rich understanding of the sacred art of listening.
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Debbie Koop
Debbie began serving at Franciscan Retreats in March of 2013. She earned her
master’s degree in theology and a certificate in Spiritual Direction in 2012 from St. Catherine University.
Debbie has been a long-time volunteer and leader for many organizations. She and her husband, Deacon Steven Koop have worked as a couple on marriage retreats, marriage preparation, and served the Archdiocese in many capacities.
[email protected]
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Jayne Krim
Jayne is a spiritual director trained at Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality in their five-year program. Her many educational pursuits in the field of spirituality include a course of study and certification in the Extended Ignatian Exercises. Though she is a "cradle Catholic", Jayne welcomes seekers of all spiritual and faith traditions. Within her work, particular interests include guided prayer, Centering prayer, body meditation, dream work, and other healing practices. When not spiritual directing, she finds life in dance, playing the piano, practicing yoga, and spending time with her husband, adult children, and grandson.
[email protected]
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Terry Shaughnessy
Terry has been a spiritual director and retreat leader since 1997, when he completed his education and training at Creighton University. Terry is available for spiritual direction at his office in St. Paul and via zoom or phone. Terry offers a compassionate and affirming presence in his work along with a dedication to contemplative prayer and spiritual resources focused on discernment and deeper relationship with God. Contact him at Terrenceshaughnessy.com.
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Fr Jim Van Dorn
Fr. Jim is the Guardian of St. Joseph Cupertino Friary. Fr. Jim returned to Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center to serve on the preaching staff in early 2009. He also served here during the 1970’s and 1980’s. Fr. Jim has served in a variety of ministries in the province: parish ministry, preached retreat ministry, initial formation ministry, vocation outreach, and parish mission ministry and Spiritual Direction. Fr. Jim brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center and we are thrilled to have him in our community and on our preaching staff.
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An opportunity for Spiritual Direction is built into all retreats at Franciscan Retreats and Spirituality Center in Prior Lake MN at no extra charge. This optional, personal, one-on-one session with a trained Spiritual Director as part of a multiday retreat is an excellent way to experience Spiritual Direction and decide if it’s right for you. Many retreatants continue by scheduling visits with their Spiritual Director monthly on an ongoing basis. If you’d like to get a taste of Spiritual Direction for the first time as a part of a weekend or mid-week retreat, sign up for a retreat by calling our office at 952-447-2182 or registering online at www.franciscanretreats.net.
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