Resources

Minnesota Episcopal Spiritual Directors

Anderson, Jymie has been a spiritual director for nine years and has a Spiritual Direction Certificate from Christos Center for Spiritual Formation. “My strengths are asking clarifying questions, listening actively, and acceptance of diverse backgrounds, religious experiences and life styles. I am a Christian contemplative with a commitment to the poor.” Jymie can be reached at 612 925-2390 or ken_jym@eathlink.net. She can meet people in her home in SW Minneapolis or at St. John’s, Minneapolis.

Bestland, Jeanette has been a member of the Church of the Epiphany for over 40 years. She is certified by Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality in St Paul, MN, and is active in the supervised facilitation process. She is also a trained group facilitator and co-leads the education hour at Epiphany. Jeanette has had a number of struggles in her life, including addiction, divorce, loss of family, etc. and has faced them with strength and confidence, and seeks to serve others from her own hard earned wisdom. She is a spiritual seeker of various traditions and modalities with 30+ years of active recovery. Jeanette sees people at Epiphany or in her private office in her home, and can be reached at 763-561-8056 or jeanettebestland@gmail.com.

Horton, Debbi Awareness, knowing and accepting what is “enough” for me, embracing the NOW, holy indifference, parenting a teenager, marriage, mid-life wonders and job transitions are common themes in my life currently. My sense of humor and creativity inform all these areas. So do my spiritual direction relationships. I have received spiritual direction since 1992 and have offered spiritual direction since 2007. I followed a long and winding road to offering spiritual direction, having completed my last paper and receiving my spiritual direction certificate from Christos Center for Spiritual Formation only 15 years after I completed the class work! Throughout those years of having a few papers left to finish, God continued to draw me to spiritual direction. Over the past decade I have served as a facilitator and teacher in Christos’ Personal Spiritual Deepening Program (Ignatian spiritualty) and currently serve on the Christos board of directors. I believe spiritual direction is a powerful practice. It is one of the many different ways we can accept God’s invitation to us to draw near. 651 698-1884

Johnson, Colleen - Spiritual Direction honors the Divine within each of us. When we are allowed to be our true selves, we begin hearing the heartbeat of God alongside our own heartbeats, and when we are allowed to ask deep questions we begin to experience the healing we long for and the discernment we seek. I meet with individuals as well as groups. I am familiar with the discernment process within the Episcopal Church and meet with those seeking discernment of calling. I received my training in  Spiritual Direction at Christos Center for Spiritual Formation where I also have served as facilitator. I can meet people in the Metro area as well as northern regions. You may contact me by phone at 651-402-9342 (cell) or email at colleen_peace@hotmail.com

Dan Johnson – I have been a practicing spiritual director since 1997, specializing in helping people notice God in the particulars of everyday living. I was trained in spiritual direction at Christos Center and is now completing a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality through Creighton University. In addition to individual direction, I am active in adult education, group spiritual direction, and retreat leadership.

I have balanced a dual career in manufacturing/construction and adult spiritual formation for the last fifteen years. This experience, living in a creative tension, provides insight into the connections between work, life, and God. Finding spiritual practices that can be integrated into busy lives is one of my passions.  Such practices are instrumental in supporting vision, purpose, integrity and authenticity in the marketplace.

Together with Judy, I helped raise three children and now we have the joy of being grandparents. We belong to St Matthews Episcopal. You can reach me at dan@loyolaspiritualitycenter.org or (651)808-1438.

Krakowski, Michele has been listening to sacred stories of individuals for over a decade.  She received her training and certification through the Cenacle in Wayzata.  Michele has always made her home in the Episcopal Church and is comfortable with seekers of many beliefs and traditions. Michele draws on her knowledge of Celtic and Ignatian spiritualities and experience with her own grief and loss issues as she listens to another’s journey. Michele is a mother and grandmother and lives in Eagan with her devoted husband and faithful dog. She meets with people at Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality in St. Paul and can be reached at 651.696.2765 or via email at michelek@sacredground spirit.org

Leonard, Barbara has been a spiritual director for almost two decades.  She received her initial certificate from the Cenacle in Wayzata and her second certificate from the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge Massachusetts.  The later was a year long intensive program. She worked with Sacred Ground as spiritual director and a supervisor for directors in training for seven year.  Barbara now works for Loyola Spirituality Center in St. Paul.  She is a member of the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Stillwater MN.  She serves as Provincial Chaplain for the Society of. St. Francis—she’s a life professed member since 1990.. Barbara is a nurse educator with more than 4 decades at the University of Minnesota as a researcher and educator in the School of Public Health and School of Nursing as well as the Center for Spirituality and Healing at the UMN.  She is married with two grown daughters and two grandchildren. Her interests include simplicity in living, self-care and healing within the mission of the church. You may contact Barbara at 651-641-0008 or my email at leona001@umn.edu

Maxwell, Kate is a contemplative of the Benedictine sort who has been walking with individuals on their spiritual journeys for more than 30 years. She has worked with people from various religious backgrounds and no religious backgrounds, folks in crisis or discernment, individuals who simply want to deepen their experience of God or find meaning in their lives. She is a volunteer at City House, where she has worked with women in shelters and members of a mental health drop-in center. Kate  leads directed retreats for individuals and retreats and workshops for groups (e.g. Centering Prayer, Lectio Divina, Praying from Where You Are); she is available as a facilitator for supervision groups. Kate holds a master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas’ School of Theology, Houston, TX. She did DMin studies at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, where she also taught courses in the area of spirituality and did spiritual direction and retreats with Divinity students. She was part of the ministry team at the Cenacle Retreat House in the early 80’s. Kate can be reached at: 651 263-3840, katemaxwell1109@gmail.com, and will meet with you at a mutually convenient place.

Oker, Kathy a trained spiritual director, invites you to consider spiritual direction as a gift to yourself. As a skilled listener, I will hold sacred space for you and witness your journey as you explore where God is in your life, how God is working through you, and your relationship with God. During spiritual direction you may discover your inner wisdom, your place of wholeness, and what feeds your soul. I am in ongoing supervision at Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality working towards my certification. I belong to St. John’s Episcopal Church in MPLS and can be reached at kathyoker@yahoo.com or 612-722-3045.

Sirany, Mike was certified through the Wayzata Cenacle as a spiritual director and has been directing since 1995. He teaches and supervises in the spiritual direction training program at Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality in St. Paul, and teaches theology as an adjunct professor at the College of St. Catherine. In his spiritual direction practice, he works with a wide variety of clients, including clergy and pastors. He is currently a member of St.Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Roseville. He can be reached at 651-483-8261, or at msirany@comcast.net.

Smith, Mary received her certification as a Spiritual Director from Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality. I am a convert to the Episcopal Church and comfortable with seekers of many beliefs and traditions. I am a widow who has dealt with issues of grief and dying; a cancer survivor; a member of Al-Anon who has worked the 12 Steps and dealt with alcoholism. My life experiences have led me to listen and walk with others, helping them to discern and find peace.   do individual direction, group direction and facilitate retreats. I can be reached at 952-474-4192, bonelake02@yahoo.com.

Swanson, Sue My ministry is based on helping people find Sabbath time in the midst of a busy lifestyle. Because time passes quickly, it is easy to forget to stop and intentionally connect with the Holy. Spiritual Direction is a time-honored practice that provides a monthly touchstone where we can gather thoughts, feelings and emotions in order to reflect on how the Spirit is working in our lives. I listen people through ordinary time as well as times of transition. I believe that beauty is an attribute of God and so I use music, art and silence as keys to open the door of our hearts. My ‘Prayercraft” retreats and classes use art as a means of deepening prayer and meditation. I hold a Master of Divinity degree from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities. I am a Veriditas certified labyrinth facilitator. I am a wife, mother and grandmother who attends Christ Episcopal Church, Woodbury and live at 1258 Saddlebrook Lane, Woodbury, MN 55125, (651) 738-7441.

More names and resources available upon request