Diocese of Scranton Office for Clergy Formation Spiritual Direction for Clergy

Office for Clergy Formation Msgr. Vincent J. Grimalia, V.G.  Diocesan Secretary for Clergy Formation   Fr. Louis A. Bonacci, SJ, STD Coordinator for Spiritual Direction for Priests and Permanent Deacons and Editor of Newsletters for Priests and Deacons

Coordinator for Spiritual Direction for Priests
and Permanent Deacons

I.  Introduction:

The services provided by the Coordinator for Spiritual Direction (Sp.D.) include:

1. On-line and e-newsletters offering resources aimed at developing a spirituality for the “new evangelization,” a spirituality rooted in ongoing spiritual formation in the disciplines of the spiritual life, of the Heart, the Book and the Community, and one which is supported by ongoing Sp.D. for continuing spiritual growth and development.  Interested persons can find these resources at www.dioceseofscranton.org. 

2. Provision of Sp.D. for priests, aspiring and permanent deacons by appointment, on a first come, first served basis.  Where desirable, assistance in finding a director may be provided. 

3. Development of a multi-media spiritual library to supplement and complement resources already available at the Resource Center on the third floor of the Guild Building with the aim of making more accessible visual and verbal resources for those interested in learning about the connection between the intellectual and spiritual life.

II.  What else ought one know about the opportunities available for spiritual direction?

Please be sure to make appointments for Sp.D. with enough lead-time. You may also drop in to browse the library or possibly visit with Fr. Bonacci.  To be certain of meeting Father, call ahead for the Sacrament of Reconciliation anytime or a “spiritual conversation”.  The Office of Coordinator of Spiritual Direction for Priests and Permanent  Deacons is at 400 Wyoming Ave. , third floor, room 318 in the Guild Building .  Sp.D. sessions will take place normally in the Jesuit Community at Campion Hall of the University of Scranton, or at pre-scheduled times and places in different parishes of the different regions of the Diocese as requests increase.

III.  Please contact Fr. Bonacci for the following services:   

Spiritual Direction:  clarifying, discerning, confidential, spiritual conversations at the service of spiritual formation for the new evangelization through growth and development of the disciplines of the spiritual life aimed at the integration of spiritual, intellectual, emotional, apostolic and other aspects of life while keeping in mind the traditional practices of sacred reading, contemplation in action, action-reflection, “Examen of consciousness,” journalizing for truth and decision-making-in-the-context-of-thinking-and-feeling-with-the-Church. 

Spiritual Conversations: informal, confidential talk about the spiritual life of the individual, in the context of their own personal salvation history, or how they are perceiving, or not, the Spirit of God present and active in their life-experience and decisions in the midst of the daily struggles of life.

Group Spiritual Conversations: informal, confidential talk about the integration of spiritual and organizational principles within a group of parish leaders in the context of their own group history of contemplation in action, action-reflection, methods of prayer, thinking and feeling with the Church, or, for example, how the members of a parish staff or council are perceiving, or not, the Spirit of God present in the midst of their daily struggles to serve the People of God.

Sacrament of Reconciliation:  spiritual conversation about our struggles with sin and grace in the context of sacred scripture and in the process of fulfilling our vocation as authentic disciples of Christ within our own particular state in life.

Half-days of Reconciliation:  Group experience offering insight into the meaning, purpose and value of spiritual direction in the lives of priests, deacons and those with whom they serve the Lord most closely.

“Examen of Consciousness”: daily review of one’s life of grace and sin, attitudes and actions, in the context of Gratitude to God, Inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Repentance linked with appropriate fasting and Hope in the Spirit of the Risen-Crucified Christ.

Shorter and Longer Periods of the Directed Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola:  Negotiated periods of regular, meditative and contemplative prayer over the content of the “Weeks” of the Spiritual Exercises with the aim of deepening one’s life of prayer, refining one’s apostolic choices and actions, and/or choosing a state-in-life or vocation. 

Directed spiritual exercises in-the-course-of-daily-life:  Scripturally based directed, spiritual exercises inspired in part by the Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Lectio Divina (lectio, meditatio, oratio, contemplatio) and Journalizing (recording what one has done in prayer, what happened or was experienced in prayer and what is going on in our hearts during this reading, prayer and reflection.