Spiritual Direction Is…
Christian spiritual direction, or companionship, creates a space where a person can explore their spiritual life, and see more clearly how God is working in their life. Through listening, mirroring, and holding holy space for the directee, the spiritual director allows the directee to more deeply see and experience the love of God in their life.
Spiritual Direction Is Not…
Spiritual direction is not therapy, and it is not coaching. It is not pastoral care. Directors are not priests or confessors. These disciplines are out of the scope of practice for Spiritual Direction. In spiritual direction sessions, the task will be to care for your spiritual life, and while any topic can relate to your spiritual life, some topics will be best addressed in other care settings, like therapy, pastoral care or coaching. If things come up that could be better served by another support, the director may suggest you seek a referral.
Interested?
If you might be interested in spiritual direction, I encourage you to check out the Spiritual Direction page on our church site. It is under the “Get Involved” heading. Feel free to contact me, any of our clergy, or anyone on the Directors list if you would like to explore direction.As a very particular and exciting opportunity, my learning cohort are at the point of identifying volunteers who would like to work with us. Volunteer directees would be assigned to a student director who is not from your own parish. You would work with your director for 12 sessions over the next year. You would be contacted by one of our faculty to discuss the 12 month commitment. But before that, I would have a conversation with you about spiritual direction, and answer any questions you might have. If you might be interested, contact Michael Brown at michaelbrownmarcellus@gmail.
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St. James' Episcopal Church Spiritual Directors
Debra Rose has been an active parishioner at St. James’ since retiring to Auburn six years ago with her husband, Santo. She has been active in Stephen Ministry, serves as a lay reader and chalice bearer, facilitated an adult Lenten study on “Race through the Lens of the Gospel” in 2017, and is a member of the St. James’ Racial Justice and Reconciliation Commission. Debra Rose received her BA in Literature from Bard College, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University, and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Andover Newton Theology School. She is currently enrolled in a 2-year Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. After an initial career in publishing she worked for over twenty years in trademark law, as a paralegal and manager. Debra is involved with Celebrate! Diverse Auburn and the Harriet Tubman Boosters. She was certified as a spiritual director in 2018 and loves listening to people and walking with them on their spiritual journeys.You may contact Debra Rose via email at debra_rose@live.com and via phone or text at 617-515-8948.
I am currently enrolled in a 2 year Spiritual Director Training program out of St. Anthony’s Shrine (Franciscan) in Boston. As an active director for five years, I am taking this course as a refresher and an opportunity for recommitment to the calling. St. James has offered spiritual direction to our members at no cost, for several years. This is just to remind folks what spiritual direction is, and what opportunities might be available.
Michael Brown’s credentials include degrees in Music, Library Science, Educational Administration, and a Masters in Theology and Social Justice. I worked in school libraries for 40 years, most of them in the lower grades, using books, storytelling and music, to spark the imagination and empower a life of creative thought. I see Spiritual Direction as a process involving two persons but focusing on one, the directee. The director offers the gift of mirroring: reflecting back to the directee the image of Christ that is within that person. I was trained as a Spiritual Director through the Horizons Program at the Spiritual Renewal Center in Syracuse. This is a two year program in Spiritual Direction with an Ignatian undergirding. As a Tertiary in the Third Order Society of St. Francis, I find the melding of Franciscan and Ignatian Spiritualities to be a delight. I see Ignatian Spirituality as connecting with the intellectual side of my spirit, and Franciscan Spirituality connecting with my heart. As Francis spoke the words, “I have done what was mine to do,” I believe we each do our best to follow this advice by learning and doing what is ours, and ours only, to do by the indwelling Spirit of Christ.
You may contact Michael Brown by email: michaelbrownmarcellus@gmail.com
Christina enjoys spiritual companioning with others- knowing Jesus is always delightfully present. One of her passions is cross-cultural spiritual exploration and listening to others’ journeys.Christina completed her Spiritual Direction Training via the Horizon’s program at the Syracuse Spiritual Renewal Center in 2021. Background training includes: Masters in Cultural/ Applied Anthropology, Bachelors in Social work and an Associates in Human Services, along with training in mediation work and facilitating group dialogue on cultural and diversity issues. Currently Christina teaches cultural studies at a local community college.
She enjoys worshipping with St. James Episcopal church and being part of community relationship ministries. Watching nature’s beauty feeds her soul. She loves discovering anew God’s great Love for each of us as we journey together, an amazing privilege.
Christina Stavenhagen-Helgren is currently taking a pause in her spiritual companioning ministry. Please reach out to one of the other wonderful people on this page.