Spiritual Directors

Spiritual direction is for each person who has a hunger for holiness and a desire for a closer relationship with Jesus Christ. A spiritual director is a man or woman, ordained or lay, who is trained and holds a certificate or degree in spiritual direction. They offer one-on-one sessions to discuss your spiritual life, provide a listening ear, and provide some guidance to help you grow in holiness.

The Archdiocese of Dubuque has committed to maintaining a list of trained spiritual directors who have met the following qualifications:

• Completion of a Spiritual Director training program resulting in certification. Qualifying programs must be aligned with Catholic Church teachings.
• Be in good standing with the Catholic Church.
• Provide evidence of a strong spiritual life (e.g. a daily personal prayer life, a commitment to regular reception of the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation, and actively practicing the faith, etc.).
• Endorsement by their parish pastor, religious superior, or their own Spiritual Director through a Letter of Recommendation.
• Show evidence of skills essential to the ministry of Spiritual Direction (e.g. good listening skills, good interpersonal skills, hospitable, pastoral, etc.).

Those who have provided evidence that they meet the above qualifications after review by an Archdiocesan committee are included on the list below. That said, as the Spiritual Directors operate independently, the Archdiocese of Dubuque does not endorse any spiritual director's work nor are we responsible for the quality of any direction. Also, directees are responsible for paying the cost of a session of spiritual direction (each director determines what, if anything, they will charge). 

Recommendations for Choosing a Spiritual Director:

• Contact a potential director and ask questions to learn more before securing him or her for direction.
• Setup an initial meeting to get to know each other. It is common for a person to change directors after an initial meeting or after an extended time. 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.
• If the director seems like a good fit, commit to regular sessions (monthly is recommended).

Jill Andresen

Location: Preston (Will travel up to 60 miles or meet virtually)
Email: circlea@netins.net 
Phone: 563-357-3900
Training/Certification: 
Heart of Christ Spiritual Direction Program in Partnership with the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation (Completed in 2022)

Click Here for Jill Andresen's Bio

Sr. Linda Bechen, RSM

Location: Cedar Rapids (Will travel up to 50 miles or meet virtually)
Email: L.bechen@mtmercy.edu
Phone: 319-651-7018
Training/Certification: 
Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse, WI (Completed in 2007)

Click Here Sr. Linda Bechen's Bio

Fr. Robert Gross

Linda Hansmeier

Location: Mount Vernon (Will travel up to 75 miles or meet virtually)
Email: L.Hansmeier@dbqarch.org
Phone: 319-540-1190
Training/Certification: 
Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse, WI (Completed in 2015)

Click Here for Linda's Bio

Sr. Virginia (Ginny) Heldorfer, OSV

Sr. Annette Kestel, PBVM

Fr. Dave O'Connor

Location: Marion
Email: d.oconnor@dbqarch.org
Phone: 319-377-4869
Training/Certification:
Creighton University

Carolyn Pfiffner

Nicholas Weber

*The spiritual directors listed here are not employees of the Archdiocese of Dubuque. The services provided by them function independently of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and are the responsibility of the spiritual director. The Archdiocese of the Dubuque is neither responsible nor liable for any advice, teaching, or other services offered by these individuals. Compensation rates are determined by each spiritual director at their discretion.