Diocesan priests complete spiritual direction program

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
Feb. 28, 2008

Through a program to learn how to provide spiritual direction to other priests, participants discovered spiritual nourishment for their own lives.

Seven priests of the Diocese of Sioux City recently completed a training program for certification in spiritual direction through the Institute for Priestly Formation.

Priests completing the program were Father Larry Burns, Father Clem Currans, Father Dan Greving, Father Andy Hoffman, Father Bill McCarthy, Father Richard Ries and Msgr. Richard Zenk.

Participants attended class in three one-week sessions each May, October and January for three years. It was held at St. Mary of the Lake University Seminary at Mundelein, Ill.

Two priests from the diocese - Father Patrick O'Kane and Father Kevin Richter - were on the teaching staff for the program.

"It started with the specific intention to train priests to be spiritual directors for other priests and that remains the emphasis," said Father O'Kane, who added that many of these priests also serve as spiritual directors for lay people.

In addition to teaching priests valuable skills for use in spiritual direction, Father O'Kane said the program provides a wonderful opportunity for the priests themselves to grow in their relationship with the Lord and helps priests understand the dynamics of prayer so that they may be better prayer leaders.

Found value in program

"I went through the program myself and found it extremely beneficial, so when they asked if I wanted to help as a faculty/staff person I said yes because I think the program is so helpful and positive," he explained.

While the program is intended to help train priests to serve as spiritual directors for other priests, many participants praise the program for the spiritual nourishment and direction it brought in their own lives.

"It was a wonderful opportunity for renewal in my own spiritual life, which then impacts what you do in ministry," said Father Burns, who is pastor at Sacred Heart in Early and St. Joseph in Schaller.

The program, he noted, gave him a new experience. He mentioned that when he was in the seminary years ago, they didn't have much for formation in spiritual direction.

Like Father Burns, Father McCarthy of Remsen found that it led him to look closer at how God was speaking to him in his own life.

"For me, it was a realization of where God is working in others lives and where God is knocking on the door of my own heart - to let him enter in new ways," he said. "It provided a deeper realization of how God is so alive and wants everyone to be strengthened on their faith journey."

Practical exercises

Father Burns explained that they learned the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius, which led them to an experience of God.

"I would highly recommend the program," he said. "It was a very good experience."

The program, noted Father Greving, gave him a rekindled sense of the identity of priesthood.

In order to be part of the program, Father Greving pointed out that they were required to have a spiritual director and that requirement proved fruitful.

"We need to have a spiritual director because it's possible for us to get off track and become disillusioned like anyone else," he said. "It's good to be able to talk to someone to lead us in our walk of faith and our relationship with God."

Through role-playing and other exercises the priests learned practical skills that will aid them in spiritual direction.

"I think through the program I have become a better listener in regard to giving spiritual direction to other people," said Father Greving, who is pastor at Assumption Merrill St. Joseph Parishes in Neptune, Ellendale and Struble. "We have to listen well and be attentive to the movement of God's spirit in their own lives as they are speaking with us." In addition, he said he believes himself to be a better confessor.

While he noted that his program is designed for priests to help other priests, he said it was so much more than that as he has used skills nurtured in the program within his parish ministry.

Father McCarthy agreed.

"By participating in that program, it has given me some basic tools to make my own ministry stronger and help those whom I counsel," he said.

The seven priests from the Diocese of Sioux City were among those who participated in the program, many of which were from other Midwest dioceses, but some were from the East coast and the South.

The Diocese of Sioux City was one of three dioceses who provided startup money for this Chicago-based program, during the tenure of Bishop Daniel N. DiNardo. Sioux City remains one of three dioceses that are the major underwriters of the program. Bishop R. Walker Nickless attended a few days of the final session of the program in January.