Maybe you’ve heard about the spiritual practice of choosing a word as a new year begins. Some believe this practice is less about choosing a word and more about being chosen by the word. That was my experience this year.

Towards the end of last year I came across Awareness, a book by Anthony de Mello. The title jumped out at me and stirred something in my soul. I pledged to read it little by little in the new year.

I began New Year’s Day by opening another book, What Matters Most and Why, by Jim Manney. This book offers a daily Ignatian reflection around a monthly theme. January’s theme? Awareness. Okay, God really was trying to get my attention!

Manney writes that the Ignatian approach “prizes awareness.” Awareness is about awakening to the present moment, being mindful of what’s in our midst and noticing the God who is trying to get our attention. He quotes Mary Oliver, who wrote, “To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”

We seek to bring that proper work of awareness as spiritual directors, paying close attention to the presence of God that permeates the experiences shared with us by our directees. We cultivate awareness, too, of the spiritual gifts we bring and the areas where we notice a need to grow.

As we look ahead, I want to make you aware of the work we’re doing to support you. Please take a few moments to read about our exciting initiatives in this newsletter. And know that I begin each workday aware of the importance of you and the spiritual direction ministry we share.

Blessings,

USA East Province of the Society of Jesus

929-232-3056

Here are a few resources that may be helpful as you begin a fresh year in your spiritual direction ministry.

Ignatian.info, a new section of the OIS website, contains information on twelve foundational topics in the Ignatian tradition. You’ll find some excellent resources in the Spiritual Direction section, including:

Spiritual Direction Training programs. We recently updated our directory of training programs available primarily within the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus (Maine through Georgia), Most have an Ignatian spirituality focus. This list doesn’t include all training programs in the area, but if offers a rich resource for spiritual directors seeking a training program and for those discerning a call to spiritual direction ministry. Click here to view our listing.

Supervision is vital to our ongoing formation as spiritual directors and it’s an essential part of our covenant with spiritual directees. This year, we’re enhancing our efforts to link spiritual directors with groups/individuals that provide supervision by gathering information about:

If you would like to provide information on a supervision group open to new members, please complete a brief questionnaire by clicking here.

If you are a trained supervisor who is available for individual supervision, please complete a brief questionnaire by clicking here.

Our friends at Ignatius House Jesuit Retreat Center in Atlanta sent us a lovely prayer by Maureen Conroy, RSM, for use before a supervision session. Click here to view and/or download the prayer.

"Spiritual Direction means having the opportunity to share my faith and explore how God is working moment by moment in my life. It has helped me see that my work responsibilities are a joy, for they provide me with an opportunity to serve the Master Physician."

If you have quotes to share about the importance of spiritual direction, please email them to me at nsmall@jesuits.org.