Spiritual Companioning

“'Where two or three are gathered in my name, I AM in their midst.'
Together we can reveal something of God that none of us is able to reveal on our own."

- Henri Nouwen

Spiritual Companioning

The Art and Practice of Spiritual Companioning…

encourages a closer relationship with God through the exploration of your life experience and personal spirituality. A Spiritual Director journeys with you—listening, guiding, and challenging you to grow in attentive awareness of the Divine Presence in your every day.

St. Francis Xavier Parish is blessed with the ministry of the trained and experienced, lay Spiritual Directors who are introduced here. You are invited to meet with a Spiritual Director of your choice in confidential, one-on-one sessions. To make arrangements to meet with a particular Spiritual Director, contact information has been provided in the following introductions. You may also call the parish at 708-352-0168 or email Susan Matthews, Pastoral Associate, at smatthews@sfx-lg.org.

An offering of $50.00 per session is suggested. A sliding scale is available.

Meet our Spiritual Directors:

Sara Griffith Adducci

Contact: [708-606-2831 or sjadducci@aol.com]

Sara is a mid-life woman who has been blessed for the last 14 years as a full-time parent raising 3 daughters with her husband, Robert.  She has lived in LaGrange for 9 years.  As an active SFX parishioner she was involved in ministries of Bereavement, Quest, and Adult Bible study.  She completed Certification for Spiritual Direction from the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in June, 2007 and also has a background as a psychotherapist.  "I have been involved in eclectic spiritual practices that have enhanced my own growth which includes Eastern and Western philosophies, indigenous and interfaith religious circles, Eco-Spirituality, & specific practices of Centering Prayer, Reiki, meditation, Yoga, and mindfulness training.  Stories from scriptures of all faiths and cultures are my passion, as are the stories heard in personal sharing.  Spiritual direction is a place to spend sacred time sharing your story while looking within to explore how the Holy Spirit is moving in your life.  I would be blessed to be the Spiritual Companion accompanying you on the journey."

Barbara Boyd

Contact: [708-354-7309   or   birdieboyd@yahoo.com]

Barbara Boyd is married to Benjamin and they have four children.  A retired educator, she now spends her days enjoying grandchildren, caring for aging parents, golfing, reading and volunteering.  Over the years, Barbara has been involved in Marriage Encounter, The Charismatic Renewal, CCD, RCIA and Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) as a participant and as a spiritual director.  She received her training for spiritual direction from the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation.  Barbara says, "I have a deep love of scripture and cannot describe spiritual companioning any better than the verses  which say ' better two than one by herself...and a threefold cord is not easily broken.'  I have been companioned by so many people on my faith journey with the Lord and I desire to do the same for others."

Marge Branecki

Contact: [708-352-3934   or   branecki140@sbcglobal.net]

Marge Branecki has been an SFX parishioner since 1971 and is involved in numerous parish ministries.  She and her husband have four children and six grandchildren.  Marge graduated from the Archdiocesan Lay Ministry program in 1998 and the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation in 2007.  Over the years she has participated in many retreats and workshops on topics such as Prayer, Enneagram, Meditation, Reiki training, Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, Personal Mission Statement, and more.  "Although I have countless favorite bible passages, my very favorite is Psalm 139, which I believe shows the depth of God's intimate love for us.  My favorite book is Paula D'Arcy's Gift of the Red Bird-The Story of a Divine Encounter.  Through spiritual companioning, I look forward to hearing about other people's divine encounters as they come to recognize and respond to the voice of God in their lives."

Sue Martin

Contact: [708-354-2163    or   bmartin105@comcast.net]

Sue Martin has been a member of SFX for more than 20 years and has been involved in several of the parish's ministries during those years.  Sue and her husband, Bernie, have raised four children here and currently enjoy being grandparents to a granddaughter.  Sue teaches high school Math and Religion.  She has recently completed her training in Spiritual Companioning at The Well at the Sisters of St. Joseph motherhouse.  "I have found spiritual companionship has enriched my own life and am very excited to walk with others as they continue their journey."

Susan Dehn Matthews

Contact: [708-352-0168   or   smatthews@sfx-lg.org]

Sue Dehn Matthews is the Pastoral Associate at SFX.  She has over 30 years of experience in spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, retreat direction, liturgy, prayer and education.  Sue received her training and formation at Dominican University, Loyola University, and The Well Spirituality Center in LaGrange.  She is certified as a Pastoral Associate and Lay Ecclesial Minister.  Sue is divorced and is the mother of two adult daughters. "Spiritual Companioning is essential in discerning the presence and movement of God in the ordinary moments of our lives.  It allows for perspective, insight and wisdom to inform and balance all the elements of our very human existence."

Nellie Pearson

Contact: [708-352-3567   or   nmpearson@ameritech.net]

Nellie has a Masters degree in Education and has been a college instructor and special education teacher for many years.  She received her training in spiritual direction at the Claret Center in Chicago and is enrolled in coursework at Catholic Theological Union.  She is married to Brian Pearson and has four sons and two daughters.  "Spiritual companioning is the presence of a caring individual being there to help others see how God is at work in their lives.  As we know, even ordinary life can get busy and, at times, complicated.  In the midst of that, we can lose track of God's presence in our lives.  A spiritual companion journeys with us as we follow our path.  I sincerely hope to be one who can be there for others as they seek the sacred in their lives."

Debbie Stojic

Contact: [708-712-3092   or   debstojic@yahoo.com]

For many years, Debbie has taught Bible Study at her home church, Christ Church of Oak Brook.  At a bend in her road of life, she began study in the area of Spiritual Formation, eventually taking a Spiritual Companioning course with the Srs. of St. Joseph.  She resides in LaGrange Park with her husband, Peter, and together they have raised their family of three daughters and a son.  Debbie experiences spiritual companioning as "a relationship that provides another set of eyes, ears, heart, and mind to aid a person in discerning God's presence and activity in their daily living. The relationship assumes we all need help to recognize God's movements.  Through a regular rhythm of spiritual companioning, a person becomes aware of God's faithfulness and initiative that is specific to them, as well as increasing attentiveness to the River of Life that flows in and around us all."

To pray is to descend with the mind into the heart,and there to stand before the face of the Lord,ever-present, all-seeing, within you.

- Theophan

One must tend the inner fire...wait patiently yet with much impatiencefor the hour when somebody will come and sit down-maybe to stay.

- Vincent Van Gogh

Spiritual Direction is essentially companioning someone in his or her spiritual life...holy listening, spiritual friendship, sacred journeying.

- Janna Larson