Spiritual Mentoring
Spiritual Mentoring is available free of charge to St. Catherine University students, faculty and staff.
Meet with a trained listener on-campus who will listen to your story completely confidentially. It's your choice to meet once or more. It's not counseling or advice giving, it's not about religion.
It's your journey. A place to say whatever is on your mind and to pay attention to your life. It's time. It's worth looking at!
Apply Now for Spiritual Mentoring.
For more information call Campus Ministry at (651) 690-6724.
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Are you...
...feeling unconnected?
...having relationship problems?
...facing important decisions?
...feeling out of balance?
Do you wonder where God is
...or are you finding God
in new ways?
Spiritual Direction Information:
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St. Catherine University Spiritual Mentors: 2009-10
Spiritual mentors offer prayerful and attentive listening to your story. They are people with academic competence and significant life experience. Others refer to them as non-judgmental, as they provide a space for you to reflect, question, explore, and discover your own path to the divine. All sessions are absolutely confidential.
The following trained spiritual mentors are available to meet with you by appointment. Sessions last one hour, either on the Minneapolis or St. Paul Campus. Please email a spiritual mentor to indicate your interest.
Dorothy Ellerbroek
I’m a spiritual director in training through St. Catherine University. My tradition is in the Protestant faith; I welcome all faith traditions. My spiritual practice goal is to provide guidance through discernment with divine grace and intention through the many and varied paths that life brings to us, including life changes or loss, professional and educational concerns, centering and contemplative prayer.
I am an RN with a long history of healthcare experience. I enjoy reading, theater, gardening, pets, and cooking. I have two adult daughters and two grandchildren.
Email: dellerbroek@comcast.net
Jill Underdahl, CSJ,
Jill Underdahl, CSJ, M.A. degrees in Irenic Studies, peace and conflict transformation, and Nonprofit Management, has worked with young adults in Spirituality, Social Justice, and English education for 15 years. She is also a trained Spiritual Director. Through nature and poetry, she finds a source for spiritual expression. Through meditation, writing, and travel, she cultivates compassion and abilities to see herself, people, and situations through the widest eyes and biggest heart imaginable. She professed vows with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 2001.
Email: junderdahl@csjstpaul.org
Patricia (Pat) DeMont
After a wonderful and richly rewarding career in elementary education, I felt called to enter the Spiritual Direction program at St. Catherine University. I am currently a volunteer Spiritual Director with young adult as well as with others who are seeking wholeness and guidance. The following areas are most beneficial for all seekers:
~Discovering your own identity, gifts and talents.
~What does it mean to have an inner life: To have an inner power?
~How does one work toward a meaningful life?
~When standing at the crossroads in life, how does one make a choice
that will lead to fulfillment and peace?
~How do listening prayers guide one through the challenges and struggles of life?
Email: pmdemon@hotmail.com
Debbie Koop
I am the mother of four grown children and the grandmother of four. My husband and I have been married for 34 years. I was drawn to Spiritual Mentoring by a love of listening to stories – scriptural and real life people. I have participated in and led bible studies and numerous TEC retreats. My husband is a deacon and we were educated and formed together in the Catholic diaconate formation program. I am working toward obtaining a spiritual direction certificate, and a Master’s degree in theology.
Why Spiritual Direction? Anyone facing major life decisions or transitions, interested in deepening their relationship with God and neighbor, or experiencing challenges in life would benefit from Spiritual Direction. I would feel privileged to accompany them on their journey.
Areas of interest: In addition to working with mentees who are Catholic, I would be happy to meet with people of other Christian faith traditions. I am interested in Ignatian Spirituality, Lectio divina and other forms of meditation and prayer, journaling, and the inward journey. My other interests are bridge, gardening, golf and grandchildren.
Available: I am flexible, but the best times are Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday afternoons, Friday all day. My schedule may vary. The best way to contact me to schedule an appointment is by email.
Email: koopx001@comcast.net
Phone: 651-402-6471
Laure Schwartz
Hello, my name is Laure Schwartz. I am in the Masters of Theology and Spiritual Direction certificate programs here at St. Kate’s. I have experienced God’s transformative movements in my own spiritual pilgrimage since taking coursework at St. Kate’s. Through Holy Listening, mindfulness, and journaling I believe we can live in the moment where our engagement with God is enough, without judgment of self and others. This takes practice. If you are interested in exploring God’s movements in your life, please consider utilizing a Spiritual Director. A little more about me -- I am a long distance runner, mother of a beautiful teenager, wife, songwriter, and worship leader. I also train service dogs for Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota.
Email: laure.a.schwartz@comcast.net.
These words from Tilden Edwards may peak your interest:
In the heart we sense much but are clear about little. Even though what the heart senses doesn’t have the clarity of the mind, it can have a sense of great substantiality. It can sense a moving divine force at work in our lives, however obscure this is to our minds. We are left to trust that movement and perhaps catch its tail just enough to give the mind and will something to keep them from starving, just enough to shape the next action called for.
Patrick O’Connor MD MPH
Dr. O’Connor is a Senior Investigator for HealthPartners Research Foundation and also a practicing clinician of family medicine in Minneapolis, MN. His research interests are primarily focused in diabetes, hypertension, and related chronic conditions, as well as spirituality in medicine. Currently, Dr. O’Connor is the Principal Investigator of a number of research projects, including the $2.5 million Personalized Physician Learning Intervention to Improve Hypertension Care (PPL) which delivers web-based interventions to physicians treating hypertension and the $2.6 million Reducing Clinical Inertia in Diabetes Care, a randomized trial designed to decrease clinical inertia of patients with uncontrolled hypertension. He is also Co-PI for numerous other NIH-funded studies, featuring the $5 million Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) study; SimCare, a web-based simulated learning intervention to improve diabetes care in primary care residencies; and Keep Active Minnesota, a study designed with interventions to maintaining physical activity in older adults. In addition to his involvement with writing research articles, Dr. O’Connor frequently gives talks at conventions around the United States and the world, including recent presentations at the American Diabetes Association in June 2009 and Spiritual Directors International meeting in March 2008.
Email: patrick.j.oconnor@healthpartners.com
Richard Sjowall
Why in the world would a college woman want to meet with me for assistance in sorting out her spiritual life when there are many compassionate, professionally trained women available to assist her? I was having trouble responding to this question until I realized they might want my assistance because I am a loving, compassionate grandfather and father. I have a wonderful family including a daughter, a son, a granddaughter and four grandsons. In February, I am expecting my second granddaughter, the Lord willing. Yes, I am professionally trained. I am completing my Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction and my M.A.T. (Master of Arts in Theology) from St. Catherine University. I have a B.S.B. and a M.B.A. I still see friends from grade school, high school and college as well as from other periods of my life.
You can not go wrong with having any of our wonderful group help you but if you are looking for a grandfatherly type who is up to date on today’s world and one who is an excellent listener, nonjudgmental, cares about you and is there only to help you, contact me. I will be delighted to spend time with you helping you sort out your spiritual and life issues. We can meet in the Campus Ministry Center next to the Chapel. Joyful Blessings!
Area of Interest: Being there for you.
Email: richardsjowall@comcast.net
Chris Thour
If you are looking a time and place to explore the spiritual side of your life, come to Spiritual Mentoring! I am open to spiritual direction with all faiths though my background is Catholic. I was the single parent of 3 daughters for 14 years before I met my husband and we blended our families. We have 4 daughters and a son, ages 19-27 and are looking forward to our two grandchildren due this year. Most of our time is occupied with our two new Shih Tzu puppies, our cats, and a bunny. Otherwise we are at the lake or enjoying time reading under my favorite Maple tree in the backyard.
Email: cmcslt@comcast.net
Amy Ogren
A spiritual director in training, I am also pursuing a master’s degree in theology here at St. Kate’s. I have spent the past 11 years teaching English literature and writing to middle and high school students.
My own participation in spiritual direction has helped me find ways to “practice the presence of God,” whether I’m knitting, canoeing in the Boundary Waters, walking my dog, or pulling weeds in the back yard. I would like to help you do the same—notice God in the “grittiness of everyday life” (from M. Guenther, Holy Listening).
I live in Northeast Minneapolis with Lucy, my dog, and I attend House of Mercy Church in St. Paul.
Email: akogren@comcast.net
Nancy Loyd
I am a graduate of the Masters of Theology program here at St. Kate’s and my love for this University along with my work in pastoral ministry and grief counseling has led me to return to St. Kate’s and pursue the Spiritual Direction Certificate. I feel especially called to journey with those who are seeking a deep and intimate relationship with God in their everyday joys, losses, and struggles. Often the college years can bring deep questions of faith to the surface and I offer to you a safe and sacred place to spend time with these or any other questions you may wish to explore. I look forward to meeting with you.
Email: nloyd@integra.net