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The joy of being Spiritual Directors: Refresher course for Salesians of Chennai Province

27 September 2024

Animation, Formation,

- SAVARINATHAN John Britto [INM]

The Salesian Province of Chennai organized a timely refresher course on spiritual direction as part of its commitment to ongoing formation. Held from September 23 to 27 at the Don Bosco Skill Mission campus in Bangalore, the program brought together 28 spiritual directors. The Don Bosco Renewal Centre (DBRC), Bangalore, facilitated the course to deepen the Salesians' understanding and practice of spiritual direction.

Fr. Joe Mannath SDB, a seasoned and highly resourceful spiritual director, opened the sessions with a profound reminder: “The essential quality for any spiritual director is love.” He emphasized that spiritual direction is not a skill to be learned from seminars or books but one that matures through lived experience. Those who have walked the path of spiritual direction become the most effective guides. Fr. Mannath distilled his wisdom into five key insights: spiritual directors must communicate love, learn from receiving direction themselves, prioritize the person over qualifications, listen more than they speak, and nurture individuals into authentic, loving human beings.

Fr. Jossie D’Mello SJ led the subsequent sessions, focusing on the discernment of spirits. He emphasized the importance of the inner journey, stating, “For spiritual direction, we must journey into the interior world.” Discernment, he explained, involves sifting through one’s inner experiences to understand their origin and orientation. Fr. Jossie highlighted three critical moments in spiritual direction: before, during, and after. Before the session, the seeker prepares by reflecting on personal experiences; during the session, the seeker shares these reflections in the presence of both the director and the Lord; and after, the seeker continues to reflect with the Lord’s guidance. He stressed that spiritual direction is not about offering solutions but accompanying the seeker, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead.

On the third day, Fr. L. Don Bosco, Provincial of the Chennai Province, celebrated the Holy Eucharist. In his homily, he spoke of the transformative power of spiritual direction within the Church and urged spiritual directors to cultivate the habit of responding thoughtfully rather than impulsively to people and situations.

The course concluded with a thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Fr. John Alexander, the Vice Provincial, who urged the participants to embrace this ministry with gentleness and generosity. “Spiritual direction is an act of grace, and we should allow the Holy Spirit to play a central role in this ministry,” he said. In the final discussions, participants expressed their hope that the province would continue to enrich its culture by organizing guided retreats and regular sessions on the art and benefits of spiritual direction.