Meet Our Spiritual Companions
“I believe that spiritual direction…
…is a realtionship for men and women who are searching for the places where, as Frederick Buechner says "their heart's deepest desires connect with the world's deepest needs." Something is nudging them to pay more attention to who they are, where they belong, and what they do everyday. They want a companion to explore with them the meaning of their experiences of God. They seek to discover where God's Spirit may be guiding them for their own well being and for the well being of others through their daily pleasures, challenges, and transitions”—Carol J. Allen
Reverend Carol Allen is ordained in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) where she has engaged in congregational and pastoral care for four decades. Retired from full time ministry, she delights in continuing to meet one on one, in small groups, in classes, and retreat settings with those who seek to explore what they believe and how they practice their beliefs in the world. Rev. Allen is a graduate of Michigan State University, Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Tulane University School of Social Work, and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
“I believe that spiritual direction…
…seeks to evolve a sense of the Presence of God within self and all others. In spiritual direction, we deepen our understanding of our core of goodness and our interdependence with every living organism. We examine everything in the heart of our everyday experiences. We uncover and begin to understand our own strengths and weaknesses, and we observe and integrate moments of joy and contradiction
With a movement toward a contemplative attitude we begin to fathom our sharing in the Divine life. And ultimately, we come to an authentic self-knowing, which is at the same time a knowing of God. By examining our “wild and precious lives” thoughtfully and intentionally, we are able to dance in the “Garden” of balanced restlessness and peace.”—Richard Beeman
Richard Beeman is a Life Coach/Spiritual Companion, graduate of the Coaches Training Institute and student at the Institute of Spiritual Leadership, where he served as member of the Board of Directors from 2000 - 2003. He is also a retired executive from the advertising, broadcast, publishing and paper industries. Richard earned a BA in Communication Arts from Notre Dame in 1955. He is a lay minister at Old St Pat's in Chicago and Mission San Antonio on the Pala Reservation in California. Dick has been involved as an Inner City Mentor in the Pilsen community in Chicago since 1999, and as a Life Coach/Spiritual Companion at Dominican University, River Forest and at the Career Transition Center in Chicago.
“I believe spiritual direction…
…is a call to awaken to who we truly are. As one follows this call to a deepening awareness of Spirit, all of life becomes imbued with meaning. We truly begin to live what we are: joy, peace and--above all--love. To all seekers, I echo the words of Eileen Cady, who said, “Be at peace, and see a clear pattern running through your lives. Nothing is by chance.”—Juliet Beriou
Juliet holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Iowa. After a career in business she became a Secular Franciscan, and received spiritual direction training with the Franciscans. She is now a spiritual companion, retreat director and a life coach. Juliet and her family lived, worked and studied in Latin America, where she dedicated herself to social justice. She is married and has three adult daughters.
“I believe that spiritual direction…
…is a gift that we give ourselves and only later to realize that we were just responding to God’s insistent love for us. For me, spiritual direction is a deep conversation about God’s spirit in my life. In spiritual direction, I hear, see and feel God’s grace. Because of it, I look for and notice God’s grace more often.”—Laura Field
Laura Field is a lay leader of Old St. Patrick’s Church’s acclaimed Beloved Retreat since 2002. She is nearing completion of her Master’s in Spirituality at Loyola University in Chicago. Laura transitioned a career in corporate communications with Fortune 500 and smaller companies into a thriving self-owned PR firm. A single woman in her mid-40s, Laura understands the deep longing for wholeness that informs the life of singles. Laura earned a BA in Journalism and Economics from Indiana University in 1984.
“I believe that spiritual direction…
…assists others in noticing, reflecting upon, and trusting the mysterious (and sometimes almost imperceptible) movements of the Divine Spirit within. The daily experiences and circumstances of life are explored in order for a person to reach his/her full potential.—Madelyn Gould, SSSF
“I believe that spiritual direction…
…implies that the person seeking it is going somewhere, and wants to talk to someone on the way. Spiritual direction also implies the talk will not be casual and aimless, but helpful in finding the way. It is not about ideas, but about our experience of the One we call God. I have been blessed to have had understanding people to talk to on my way as seek to act as companion to others on their journey.”—Al Gustafson
Al Gustafson began his professional life in business, transitioned to non-profit work and then to work in the church. His spirituality is heavily influenced by the Ignatian tradition, and he is trained as a spiritual director by Jesuits. He has a Doctorate of Ministry from Catholic Theological Union. All is married and has three children.
“I believe that spiritual direction…
… is a celebration of the unique and deeply personal relationship with God that each one of us has and that has an infinite capacity to grow. It is a gift to companion others as they expand their awareness of Spirit. Spiritual direction is a sacred space where reflection and prayer bring clarity to the profound presence of God.”—Mary Hogan
Mary Hogan earned a Masters in Pastoral Studies and an advanced certificate in Spiritual Direction from Loyola University. She also holds a BA in Psychology from Illinois State University. Mary is a Vice President at Genesis Underwriting Management Company in Chicago.
“I believe that spiritual direction…
…..means coming to know ourselves as Beloved here on earth is our destiny. A favorite poem of mine is by Raymond Carver called Late Fragment. It captures my experience of and passion for spiritual direction and companionship:
And did you get what you wanted from this life even so?
I did.
And what did you want?
To call myself Beloved, to feel myself Beloved on earth.The process of coming to know ourselves as Beloved is a treacherous adventure that should not be traversed alone. To accompany another human being in the direction of Beloved is a privilege beyond description. Let us walk, tell stories, laugh, weep, pray and re-discover the wonder of it all together.”—Terry Nelson-Johnson
Terry Nelson-Johnson, D. Min. is a street theologian, educator, and companion on the journey. He served on the faculty of the Loyola Academy Jesuit High School for eighteen years and is currently the Director of Faith Formation at Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago. He holds a Master’s from the Institute of Pastoral Studies, Loyola University; and a Doctorate of Ministry from the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Terry and his wife Holly have two children, Ian and Clare.
“I believe that spiritual direction …
…and the Spiritual life is a journey of awakening to the MORE of who we are in relationship to God who is always companioning us in, with and through, all of creation. In this relationship we discover our true essence as the Beloved in whom God delights. We are then free to be this transforming love in the world.
The Sufi mystic, Hafiz, describes God as 'the One … who only knows four words and keeps repeating them saying “Come dance with me, Come dance with me."' As a spiritual companion I am privileged to accompany you as the One who is Love invites you to dance.”—Bridget Sperduto
Bridget Sperduto is an Associate of the Congregation of St. Joseph and a retreat facilitator with more than ten years experience tending to the spiritual awakening of adults and children through retreat work, teaching, spiritual companioning, women’s spirituality groups and ministry to the dying. Bridget is a wife, mother of four and former Catholic school teacher. In addition to a certificate in Spiritual Companioning from the Well Spirituality Center in La Grange Park, Bridget is a certified Reiki Practitioner and Prayer Counselor. Bridget holds a B.S. in psychology from Loyola University and a Masters in Education from Erikson Institute.