The person who seeks Spiritual Direction is encouraged to allow God to be the center of attention. All of life's issues are appropriately brought to Spiritual Direction. A prayerful and trusting atmosphere is sought where the goal is recognizing God at the heart of daily life.

What is required of you? A willingness to seek God through prayer and to reflect upon life experiences.

This can take place individually or in group direction. Typically, Spiritual Direction is once a month for an hour.

A Basic premise of Spiritual Direction is that:

God Is Love

• God's love is personal
• God's love is communicated
• God's love is experienced
• God's love is gift

"The Lord requires of you:
only to act justly, love tenderly and
walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8

Consideration is given to:

Awareness of God's presence

Living in the present moment

Seeing God in the ordinary

Recognizing God at work

Responding to God

• reliance upon God in everyday life
• integration of faith with all of life
• trust and openness

Staff

Fr. Richard Flaherty OFM
Fr. Richard was ordained in 1982 and did his theological and pastoral studies at Blessed Ppe John XXIII Seminary. Ministry experiences include Prison Ministry during the Vietname War, working with special needs children and adults, Campus Ministry at St. Bonaventure University, Counseling, Retreat work and Parish Ministry.

Sr. Margretta Flanagan, MFIC
Sr. Margretta holds graduate degrees in Education, Holistic Spirituality, Spiritual Direction and is certified in focusing. Ministry experiences include extensive involvement in pastoral care, spiritual direction, directed retreats and the Spiritual Exercises.

Sr. Linda Greenwood, OSF
Sr. Linda is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi. She is the Director of San Damiano House of Prayer in Lowell, MA. She studied at Sacred Heart School of Theology, WI; Fairfield University, CT; Franciscan Studies, St. Bonaventure, NY; internship at St. Francis Retreat Center, WI and ministered at the Franciscan Center in Andover as a spiritual director and retreat facilitator.

Fr. John Hogan, OFM
Fr. John's ministry experiences include: service Churches, formation director for candidates to the Franciscans, vocation director, retreat director, adult faith formation, spiritual direction and spiritual assistant for the Secular Franciscan Order. He completed his theological and pastoral studies at the Washingotn Theological Union and studied spiritual direction at Mt. Augustine Apolstolic Center in Staten Island, NY.

Bro. John Maganzini, OFM
Bro. John holds degrees in Education and Religious Studies. He holds certificates in Church Leadership from Boston College and Spiritual Direction from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT. Ministry experiences include teaching, adult faith formation, Catholic School leadership, religious education, retreats, days of recollection and pastoral ministry.

Fr. Raymond Mann, OFM
Ordained in 1959, Fr. Raymond has ministered in Georgia, Bolivia, Boston and New Mexico. After studying Franciscan Spiritual Direction in Cincinnati, he served as Spiritual Director at a treatment center for priests and religious. In 1991 he returned to Boston where he continues his ministry of Spiritual Direction.

Mr. Rene Perreault
Mr. Rene Perreault is a married man with children and grandchildren. His background is in Philosophy, Theology and Management . He is a certified Spiritual Director and presently serves on the Spiritual Direction Teams of St. Francis Chapel City Ministry Center in Providence and is a volunteer at the Franciscan Center for Spiritual Direction at St. Anthony Shrine. Ministry experiences include: Men's Groups, Youth Ministry, Retreats, American Catholic Theatre Producer/Director, Director of JPIC and Hospital Ministry.

Fr. Gene B. Pistacchio, OFM
Ordained in 1989, Friar Gene has been assistant pastor and spiritual assistant for the Secular Franciscans. He is an experienced youth minister, retreat leader, teacher of scripture, prayer and liturgical music. He has a Master of Divinity from Washington Theological Union and is a certified Spiritual Director.