Do you seek to deepen your relationship with God and be more attentive to his presence, activity and invitation in your life? Could you benefit from walking the spiritual path with someone who can affirm, clarify and even challenge you along the way? Then, spiritual direction could be of assistance to you on your faith journey.

Spiritual direction isn’t pastoral or psychological counseling. Nor is it confession. Rather, this ancient practice of accompaniment focuses on a person’s relationship with God, including prayer life and life experiences. 

“Sometimes people seeking spiritual direction are looking for someone to tell them what to do,” said Br. Bob Frazzetta, OFM, a member of the leadership team for the Spiritual Direction Training Program at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston. “That’s exactly what it’s not. We’re here to (accompany) people, to discern with them where God could be moving within them.” 

“The core of spiritual direction is always the same,” added Jennie Isbell Shinn, program director. “It’s one person walking alongside another to listen to where God is at work in, though and around the directee.” 

What is a spiritual director?  

Spiritual directors are men and women, single or married, priests or members of religious communities, who have undergone specific training to engage in this ministry. For example, the Spiritual Direction Training Program at the Shrine is a hybrid program that meets in person twice a year and online. The training includes the in-depth exploration of core topics, including self-knowledge, contemplative attitude, practices of prayer and silence, listening and speaking skills, psychological knowledge and discernment.  

How do I find a spiritual director? 

To find a spiritual director, Br. Bob and Jennie suggest beginning by engaging in prayerful discernment and seeking recommendations from one’s parish, diocese, religious communities, retreat centers or other reputable Catholic institutions. They recommend identifying a director who has undergone a comprehensive training program accompanied by ongoing supervision throughout the entire practice of their ministry to maintain spiritual integrity and faithfulness to Church teaching. 

To ensure a fruitful spiritual relationship, Br. Bob and Jennie emphasize the importance of meeting with potential directors to familiarize yourself with their approach to ministry.  

“Learning to pray together is the priority. That introduces trust into the relationship,” Br. Bob noted. “The first meeting is about building trust and getting to know each other a bit. I encourage people to talk about their first remembrance of God, their spiritual upbringing and significant spiritual events in their lives.” 

“I hope that there would be a lot of shared silence and questions that invite the directee to go deeper in their life with God,” Jennie said. “There may be some uncomfortable moments in the relationship because spiritual directors do invite the directee to go deeper and consider new things. Not every director will be the person with whom you have the most trust and vulnerability. It might be someone quite different from you who challenges you while always having deep respect for your relationship with God.”  

The benefits of spiritual direction  

Who can benefit? Every person of faith, said Br. Bob, whether they are experiencing ongoing discernment about a new direction for their life or just seeking ongoing accompaniment. “I believe God calls us to these things, and we all need to hear and learn more about what God has chosen for us and what he is calling us to.”  

“I think that people who are committed to dwelling with God in their daily lives can benefit from having someone who dwells with them in their life with God,” Jennie said. “I’ve also seen group spiritual direction be beneficial. It’s the process rather than the director. Group members take turns bearing witness to God’s invitation in their lives and are enriched by hearing the stories of others.” 

A rewarding ministry 

Jennie and Br. Bob find their ministry as spiritual directors to be rewarding. “It has been such a gift to spend so much of my life listening to people as they describe the invitations they receive from God, invitations of the holy unfolding in ordinary life,” Jennie explained.  

“This is like my dream job,” said Br. Bob. “I love it. There is a hunger to grow in our faith, and for many people, spiritual direction satisfies that hunger. People are eager to share their experience of God, to have that validated. I’ve seen lives turn around as people realize God is really there. It’s a beautiful thing.” 

Applications for the 2026-2028 spiritual direction learning cohort at St. Anthony Shrine will be available in January 2026. For more information, visit the Shrine’s website.