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PRC's Associated Spiritual Directors
On this page, you will find a brief introduction to our Spiritual
Direction Associates. Each director has provided this information so that
you can get an idea of who they are and how they might accompany you on
your spiritual journey. Please note: This page is under construction -
information will be added as it comes in, so check back often!
Jeannette Boulet
“The glory of God is the human
person fully alive!” This vision of Iranaeus has been an ongoing
challenge in my life – a challenge to be fully aware, to learn to make
good choices in all of life’s seasons, and to drink deeply of what
Providence offers every day. In our early catechism, we learned that God
created us to know Him, to love Him and to serve Him, but I believe that
with all the good things He set before us, we were also meant to enjoy
ourselves and be creatively productive in the process. My
philosophy of life and spiritual direction is founded on the
Judeo-Christian history of Faith that highlights living according to the
eternal wisdom of the Commandments and the reality of Jesus’ Paschal
Journey in our own journey of service, suffering and enduring hope. The
challenge is in the detail as we weave the tapestry of our daily lives.
Spiritual discernment and prayer, in all of its forms, can enable and
empower us to move forward in what is good, hopeful and joyful. It is my
belief and experience that the ongoing revelation that the Spirit of God
is truly active and present in our lives delights and strengthens, as we
clear our conduits and open ourselves to His Voice in our hearts. To
this end, I offer you support in your own life’s journey – as I have
walked with and supported others, lay and ordained, from many
traditions, in many circumstances and transitions of life. My
Spiritual Direction certification is from the Mercy Centre in
California, and my background includes pastoral psychology and
counselling (MAPPC), training and experience as a Hospital Chaplain (CAPPE),
and completion of a number of courses in theology at the Master’s level.
I am married and a mother. My work life also includes adult education
development, group dynamics, government service, business, volunteer
activity, and ministry.
Sherry Dahl, MASL
These
words have been posted on my wall for many years: “Spirituality is the
pattern by which we shape our lives in response to our experience of God
as a very real presence in and around us.” It speaks to my understanding
of spiritual direction: prayerfully accompanying someone on their journey
toward an authentic spirituality, as they open themselves to the gift of
Presence and discover the sacred pattern woven into the tapestry of their
life. My training came through the two-year Formation for Spiritual
Direction program at PRC, and I hold a Master of Arts in Spirituality and
Liturgy degree from St. Stephen’s College in Edmonton. Several courses in
energy work, including Christian-based healing touch, deepened my
Trinitarian faith and expanded my concept of the universe, bringing a
reverence for creation and an awareness that we are all connected. Though
the United Church of Canada is my home, my path has included rich
ecumenical experiences and I am comfortable accompanying people from all
traditions. As a spiritual director, I seek to foster sacred space for
divine dialogue, both within and without, so that awareness of the eternal
Love, Light, and Wisdom of God has the opportunity to emerge from the
wellsprings of life.
Sr. Jeannette Filthaut (staff)
I believe in the process of spiritual
direction that we are in a sacred space of “listening to the music of
the heart”, to the Divine Presence within us. The Spirit of God is the
main guide in the process of the Spiritual director/guide listening to a
directee share their journey of day-to-day walking with God. As a staff
member of PRC I utilize my adult educational skills in program
facilitation and my religious and spiritual formation in the
“companioning presence” of spiritual direction. I have practical
training in the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, as well as
experience in a variety of ways of praying. My spiritual formation has
been enriched through a variety of workshops and training sessions in
Communications, Co-dependency, Enneagram, Focusing, Human sexuality,
Ignatian 40-day institute for Spiritual Direction, Mid-life
spirituality, Myers-Briggs, Presence Spiritual Direction Program,
Progroff Intensive Journaling, Rochais Personal Growth and others.
Patricia Macdonald B.Ed
M.A. (staff)
Twenty-five years ago I took a social justice
program with a prayer companionship component. I was companioned and
trained by various Jesuits, sisters, and lay persons who encouraged me
to begin accompanying others on their faith journeys. Through the inner
cities of Vancouver and Calgary as well as through Christian
communities, I began to engage with others through lay leadership
and the ministry of spiritual
direction and later pursued further spiritual direction formation
through PRC and Loyola House. I see spiritual direction as a place
where seekers come and share their faith and life experience
in an atmosphere of reverent listening, with a growing awareness of
God’s active presence in their lives. Discerning the direction God is
leading, articulating one’s experience, noticing how one is responding,
and integrating choices all play a significant role in one’s
relationship with God on the sacred journey. Moving through times of
light and darkness can be moments of growth and healing: stepping stones
where God embraces the seeker contemplatively, leading to deeper
relationship and intimacy with the Beloved. I have journeyed with many
from various faith traditions. I am also trained to accompany those
seeking to deepen their spirituality through the Ignatian Spiritual
exercises. Currently I am director of Presence, a two year training and
certificate program in Spiritual Direction Formation at Providence
Renewal Center. Personally I love the outdoors, nature walks, travelling,
family get-togethers, and enjoy a balance between contemplative solitude
and active living.
Faith Nostbakken, MTS
I believe life is both sacred story and
sacred journey because God comes to us in the everyday, inviting and
allowing us to see the holy in our own experiences. My role and privilege
as a spiritual director is to help people discover their own sacred
stories by listening with compassion and respect to what needs to be told
so that it may be more fully and freely lived. I also believe that there
is no landscape on our sacred journeys, whether of doubt or deep
conviction, hope or despair, where God is not prepared to meet us, and
that every landscape is an opportunity for our faith and hope to broaden
and deepen whether through pain, grief, loneliness, joy, or celebration.
And so I encourage people seeking spiritual direction to “come as you
are,” broken or whole, with yearnings or desires, with probing questions
or pending decisions, and be open to the mystery of God’s transforming
love. Trained in spiritual direction at PRC, I also have a PhD in English
Literature and a Master of Theological Studies degree with a focus on
spirituality. I am a Lutheran with appreciation for the many
denominations and expressions of faith, having offered spiritual direction
to people from a broad range of traditions.
Sr. Lise Veillette
I believe that the Holy Spirit and the good and enlightened will and
heart of a person are the primary players in someone’s spiritual
journey. Therefore, my approach to spiritual direction is one
‘hopefully’ of contemplative listening so that I may reflect back to
the ‘pilgrim’ the work of God in one’s life, in the context of daily
living, in order to promote awareness, growth and intimacy with God.
Generally speaking, life experience has prepared me to journey with
someone who desires to grow in their relationship with God. In
particular, I have taken courses in communication skills, non-directive
counseling, personality development, etc. I have been involved in
pastoral work in Catholic parishes setting for several years and I am a
graduate of the Presence Program from Providence Renewal Centre,
Edmonton. I have regularly practiced Centering Prayer or Christian
Meditation for over thirty years. I am also familiar with other
approaches to prayer or meditation. I joined the Sisters of Holy Cross
about thirty years ago. I speak French and English. It would be a
privilege for me to be called to accompany someone on their spiritual
journey.
For more on Spiritual Direction, please contact Debbie
Doornbos, Program Director,
at (780) 701-1853 or by email at
ddoornbos@providencerenewal.ca. |
