As Director of St. Joseph Center for Spirituality, I am often asked, "What is spirituality?" The dictionary definition of spirituality is a "concern for religious values or sacred matters." However, I believe that Christian spirituality has a deeper significance, one that derives from the word “spirit” which literally means "breath" in Latin. It therefore refers to the breath of Christ
St. Joseph's Center has a two-fold purpose: 1) providing spiritual direction to individuals and groups and 2) training lay people and religious to become spiritual directors or prayer guides of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The Center can arrange for you to meet with a spiritual director on a weekly, monthly or as-needed basis at a time and location convenient to your schedule. At your meetings the director will encourage you to find God in all things and Christ in your everyday life.
The Center offers a selection of associate directors who follow different faith traditions. You may choose from single or married laywomen and men. All of the directors have completed the two year Spiritual Direction Training Program
The process is for you to meet with a member of the staff by calling the Center at 759-6893 x 408. At the conclusion of the meeting, the staff member will recommend two or three names and telephone numbers of directors that she thinks would be a good match for you. You will choose one and schedule the appointment yourself. After meeting with the director several times, if you do not feel you are a good match, you may return for the name of another spiritual director.
If it is inconvenient for you to meet at the Center in Clarence we have a meeting place at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. There is a sliding fee scale of $20-$50 depending upon your economic circumstances.
Rev. Fredrick Leising, former President-Rector of Christ the King Seminary, wrote the following in his April 1996 issue of Seeds. "Every magisterial, papal, and episcopal document attendant to priestly and lay formation over the last quarter of a century has urged upon ecclesial ministers in particular, and upon Catholics in general, the habit or pattern of spiritual direction. The Church wisely affirms our personal need for mentoring and companionship on the pilgrimage of faith."