August 31, 2022 – by Henry Frank

This story originally appeared in Summer 2022 issue of “Jesuits” magazine, published but the USA East Province of the Society of Jesus.

On a sunny afternoon, a few miles outside of Jerusalem, a man named Cleopas was walking with a friend to a village called Emmaus. They were anxiously discussing the crucifixion of Jesus, trying to make sense of recent events, when a third man joins them. This man, of course, is Jesus resurrected. As they walk, Jesus listens to their discussion and helps them process what has happened. And as their conversation continues late into the evening, Cleopas and his friend finally put it all together.

"It is that moment when somebody else asks the question that you are having trouble seeing because you are so deep in it. There is something beautiful about that process of sifting and filtering and distilling what is happening,” Anna Alinda said, when asked why she recently began spiritual direction for the first time. 

Anna was connected with her spiritual director through Contemplative Leaders in Action (CLA), an eighteen-month program for people in their 20’s or 30’s offered by the Ignatian Young Adult Ministries initiative of the Office of Ignatian Spirituality (OIS), in which she has been participating virtually since September 2021. She and her cohort members were invited this past spring to try spiritual direction as part of their CLA experience.

The first half of the CLA program is more conceptual, explains Elise Gower, Associate Director for CLA. The themes include “cultivating a contemplative spirituality,” “discernment,” “vocation,” and several leadership models which lend key ideas to the concept of Ignatian leadership, such as “servant leadership” and “transformational leadership.” After the first few months, participants have a firm grounding in Ignatian spiritual practices and have developed an understanding of what it means to be an Ignatian leader.

Spiritual direction is introduced as participants prepare to move into the second half of the program, which is more experiential and practical, according to Gower. “Each theme is meant to build on the one before it, not to be a one-off. Spiritual direction helps participants engage in later parts of the program firmly rooted in what is introduced at the beginning — namely, a robust prayer life.” As the program is encouraging participants to discern where and how God is inviting them to be leaders, one-on-one spiritual direction is offered. "Ignatius taught us about companions on the journey, and we see spiritual directors as accompanying our participants,” said Gower. “We are equipping people with the same tools that Ignatius prescribed. 

Spiritual direction is not mandatory in CLA. Not every person is in a place to receive such accompaniment all the time. But it is strongly encouraged, and at least half of CLA’s 137 current participants are now in direction.

"It is very interesting to me and rewarding to have younger, vibrant people really paying attention to their inner life and their life with God,” said Sr. Donna Steffen, SC, who is directing two CLA participants — one of whom is Anna Alinda.

CLA experienced tremendous interest this year from spiritual directors. OIS asked those registered in its Catalog of Spiritual Directors — more than 500 people — if they would be willing to accompany these young adults. CLA ended up with more directors eager to help than it has participants, and many of the directors offered their time at no cost (spiritual directors typically charge a fee for their professional services).

The desire among the young adults in CLA to participate in spiritual direction and the eagerness of so many directors to walk with them says volumes about the importance of such accompaniment. Prayerful, meditative reflection on one’s experiences is fundamental to Ignatian spirituality and leadership. Like Jesus on the road to Emmaus, a spiritual director listens and helps people notice where God is present in their lives. The goal is to recognize the face of Jesus on the road and walk the rest of the way alongside him.

Anna Alinda is the Director of Strategic Planning at Padua Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school in Wilmington, Delaware. She is a member of CLA’s Virtual Cohort.

Sr. Donna Steffen, SC, is a member of the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati. She worked in parish ministry and with RCIA programs for many years, and currently works as a spiritual director.

To learn more about spiritual direction or to connect with a spiritual director, click here. To learn more about Ignatian Young Adult Ministries, click here.