Spiritual Direction is the art of sacred listening and companionship. If you are curious to learn more about spiritual direction and why people choose to work with a spiritual director, you may be interested in reading what Spiritual Directors International says about Christian spiritual direction. Several of our Franciscan Sisters are experienced spiritual directors. The process of choosing a spiritual director is personal; you may wish to read a little about each of our directors. Call to schedule an initial appointment to learn more and make the right match for you.
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"The whole purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of a person’s life, to get behind the façade of conventional gestures and attitudes which one presents to the world, and to bring out one’s inner spiritual freedom, one’s inmost truth, which is what [Christians] call the likeness of Christ in one’s soul. This is an entirely supernatural (spiritual) thing, for the work of rescuing the inner person from automatism belongs first of all to the Holy Spirit."
~ Thomas Merton |
Meet our Spiritual Directors!
S. Kathleen Branham, OSF
S. Kathleen is the Community's current Vocation Director. Her degree in Sociology has led her to minister in the social service sector while being trained in Trauma Informed Care and Adoption Competency. She ministered several years with abused and neglected children living in the Foster Care system. She has completed her certification in Spiritual Direction with the Global Benedictine Spiritual Direction Program. Mary Waskewich
Mary is the Administrative, Program & Marketing Coordinator of the Oldenburg Franciscan Center. Her passion is to see lives transformed through a profound experience of being known and held. She has completed her training and certification with the Global Benedictine Spiritual Direction Program. S. Olga Wittekind, OSF
S. Olga is the director of the Oldenburg Franciscan Center. She is a psychologist, Jungian analyst, spiritual director, and retreat director. She has a passion for accompanying others on their journeys with God and has abundant experience and interest in working with dreams. S. Olga also facilitates workshops on spirituality & psychology at OFC check out those offerings here! |
S. Barb Pillar, OSF
S. Barb has been an Oldenburg Sister for 53 years, serving as an educator, pastoral associate, congregational leader, music minister & director. She has a Masters in religious education, completed her Inter-Faith Spiritual Direction training at the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction in Tucson, and enjoys walking with others as a spiritual companion. Christy Wesselman
“Christy has been an associate with the Oldenburg Franciscans several years and is the founder of Listening Heart, LLC. She is a trained spiritual director and completed the Spiritual Direction Internship at Benedict Inn in Beech Grove, Indiana in 2018. She is a certified Veriditas Labyrinth facilitator, a trained SoulCollage® facilitator and a trained INELDA End of Life Doula. Christy has a bachelor’s degree in religious education from Marian University, a master’s degree in Pastoral Ministries from University of Dayton, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton. Christy is dedicated to helping spiritual seekers regardless of faith or religious background, including the “spiritual but not religious” on their spiritual journey through deep listening and creative spiritual practices. www.listening-heart.com or [email protected]” |