Rev. Fr. Joe Mannath SDB, a seasoned and highly respected spiritual director, launched the sessions with a profound reminder: “The essential quality for any spiritual director is to love.” He emphasized that spiritual direction is not a skill that can be acquired through seminars or books, but one that grows through lived experience. Those who have walked the path of spiritual direction often become the most effective guides themselves. 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 work to nurture individuals into authentic, loving human beings.

Rev. Fr. Jossie D’Mello SJ took over the subsequent sessions, focusing on the discernment of spirits. He emphasized the significance of the inner journey, explaining, “For spiritual direction, we must journey into the interior world.” Discernment, he explained, involves sifting through one’s inner experiences to understand their orientation and origin. Fr. Jossie underscored three important moments in spiritual direction: before, during, and after. Before the session, the directee prepares by reflecting on personal experiences; during, the directee shares these reflections in the presence of both the director and the Lord; and after, the directee continues to reflect on the insights with the Lord’s guidance. He stressed that spiritual direction is not about offering solutions, but about accompaniment, allowing the Holy Spirit to play the central role.

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

The course concluded with a thanksgiving Mass celebrated by Fr. John Alexander, the Vice Provincial, who urged the Salesians 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 spiritual direction.

By Joseph Raj Arokiyaraj, SDB

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