Spiritual direction is a relationship focused on fostering the bond of love between the soul (the Beloved) and God (the Lover) by:

      -   paying attention to God’s personal communication to the person

      -   exploring how to respond to and grow in intimacy with this personally-communicating God 

      -   seeking ways of living out the consequences of this relationship with God

It’s a professional, confidential relationship and does not involve telling anyone what to do (despite sounding like it would).

What do people talk about in spiritual direction? All kinds of “life” things - decisions, work, relationships, but central to the session is you and God. Your spiritual director is an extra pairs of eyes and ears with you, present in the highs, lows and plateaus of ordinary life, looking and listening with you for the invitations of God to you. Your spiritual director is not a guru, but a sounding board. Not a judge, but friend to your soul. Not a teacher, but a resource. Not an advisor, but a skilled listener.

We are, as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, spiritual beings on a human journey. How’s that journey going?

Solace has two practising, trained spiritual directors and one co-creator:

Fran Francis has been loving this gig since 2006. She holds a Master in Ministry degree from St Stephen’s University, Canada, has a fair few miles on the clock in pastoral ministry, is an Inter-Active Drawing practitioner, retreat creator/leader, writes for Spiritual Directors International and is the National Co-ordinator of the Spiritual Directors Formation Programme offered by Spiritual Growth Ministries Trust here in Aotearoa. She enjoys kanohi ki te kanohi (face-to-face/personal) sessions and working with groups. She also offers supervision and retreats. Fran is a member of the Association of Christian Spiritual Directors and Spiritual Directors International.

Vic Francis completed his formation as a spiritual director in 2020 and has a particular interest in spiritual companionship of church leaders/pastors/clergy. He has 30-plus years’ experience in local pastoral ministry and national responsibilities within a denomination. He holds a Master in Ministry degree from St Stephen’s University, Canada, and is an ongoing learner and a member of the Association of Christian Spiritual Directors. He also offers supervision and retreats.

Kris Telfer is our co-creator and, with Fran, began Solace back in the day. She creates resources and dreams up retreats and quiet days. She is a nurse and has been since the days they wore funny hats and white shoes. She has been involved in Faith Community Nurses, The Emmaus Walk and creates and leads retreats and quiet days both with Fran and without!

Spiritual direction sessions are 50 minutes, usually monthly and cost $100. Online bank transfer is preferred, BNZ 02 0112 0147429 002. Appointments will be charged for unless notice is given 24 hours prior, except in the case of emergency. Overseas folks can use PayPal - fran@solace.org.nz.

To book a session or find out more click here.

And you can see the Code of Ethics for Spiritual Directors at www.acsd.org.nz