Each participant is required to secure a spiritual mentor. A spiritual mentor is a man or woman who is willing to walk with the participant throughout the two-year journey of IMPACT.
What is a spiritual mentor?
A spiritual mentor has a depth of spirituality, is steeped in the Gospel, grounded in the Catholic faith, active in a parish/faith community, and willing to make the necessary time commitment.
This person should be compassionate and sensitive to the Spirit. He or she should be capable of listening deeply, of posing reflective questions, of holding a confidence, and leading prayer. A spiritual mentor acts as a trusted companion who supports, challenges, and encourages you on your journey of faith.
The mentor could be a trained spiritual director but they do not need to be. They could be any priest, deacon, religious, or lay person who meets the above criteria. That could include a close friend, family member, former IMPACT participant, or a parish staff member.
What will be required of a spiritual mentor?
A spiritual mentor must be willing to:
A spiritual mentor should be able to respond with appropriate empathy to your joys, sorrows, cares, and struggles—not as an uninterested observer.
How might a spiritual mentoring session proceed?
A mentoring session will normally last for no more than one hour.
It should be held in a relaxed and private setting, and open with prayer.
The spiritual mentor may ask what you have learned or what you have experienced in the past month that has affected your spiritual journey.
The spiritual mentor may pose questions such as: Where do you think God has been working in your life? What have you been learning about yourself and your relationship with God? How is this affecting your relationships at home or work? How is God leading you?
Time should also be set aside to discuss your monthly reflection paper.
Near the end of the session, the spiritual mentor may give suggestions for prayer, reflection, or practical application.
A date should be set for next month’s meeting, and then close in prayer.
(You may want to come to an agreement about how/when to send your reflection paper to the spiritual mentor, giving him or her sufficient time to read and reflect before meeting.)
Where can I find a good spiritual mentor?
Look for a trusted friend who is interested in your spiritual growth.
Ask an area pastoral leader for suggestions.
Review the list of trained Spiritual Directors in the Archdiocese, found here.
Contact Matt Selby at m.selby@dbqarch.org for suggestions of men and women who could serve as your spiritual mentor, and to help discern someone who would be a good fit for you.