Spiritual Direction

Thank you for visiting the Spiritual Direction page. We are thankful for your interest in spiritual direction as a way of deepening your faith. The Archdiocese of Dubuque has committed to maintaining a list of spiritual directors. We are delighted to offer this opportunity, however, we are unable to guarantee the quality or theology of the directors listed. Please read about spiritual direction and then review the following directors, with his or her formation, emphasis, and pastoral recommendation. Again, we do not endorse any spiritual director nor are we responsible for the quality of any direction. Also, you are responsible for the cost of a session of spiritual direction.

*Ask questions of a spiritual director before securing him or her for direction. Also, it is very common for a person to change directors after an initial meeting or after an extended time. Though a director/directee relationship may last for years, even decades, neither the director nor directee need feel embarrassed or offended when one or the other believes a different director may better serve the spiritual needs of the directee.

We believe spiritual direction is for each person who has a hunger for holiness and a desire for a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. We need not walk this journey alone, as we have spiritual guides in the great saints and trained men and women who have walked this path of prayer and discernment before us.

We strongly encourage the men and women in our lay formation programs, such as IMPACT, to secure a spiritual director or spiritual mentor. A spiritual director is a man or woman, ordained or lay, who is trained and holds a certificate or Master’s degree in spiritual direction. A spiritual mentor, on the other hand, may have no professional training, but is someone you believe to be holy, spiritually wise, listens with an open and compassionate heart, non-judgmental, comfortable with silence, and skilled in asking pertinent questions.

Where does one begin? We suggest you begin by reading the Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Spiritual Direction: http://www.johnpaul2center.org/Lay-Formation/Spiritual-Direction.htm

If you believe spiritual direction is a right fit, you may ask, but where do I find an appropriate spiritual director? You may start by asking your pastor or pastoral minister for names of men or women in your area who may be willing to serve as a spiritual director or spiritual mentor (do not expect your pastor or pastoral minister to serve as he or she may be too busy or may not feel adequately trained).

A list of Spiritual Directors in the Archdiocese of Dubuque can be found here:
https://www.dbqarch.org/offices/adult-faith/spiritual-direction/spiritual-directors/

You may also contact area retreat centers, listed in alphabetical order:

New Melleray Abbey, New Melleray, IA: http://www.newmelleray.org/

Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, Dubuque, IA: http://www.mississippiabbey.org/

Prairiewoods Retreat Center, Hiawatha, IA: http://prairiewoods.org/spirituality/

Shalom Retreat Center, Dubuque, IA: http://www.shalomretreats.org/spiritualdir.html

Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Dubuque, IA: http://dubuquepresentations.org/prayer_spiritual.cfm

Siena Retreat Center, Racine, WI: http://www.racinedominicans.org/spiritualdirection.cfm

If you have further questions about spiritual direction, please contact Mary Pedersen at the Office of Adult Faith Formation: dbqcaf@dbqarch.org