On January 25, 1959, Blessed Pope John announced his intention to convene a world-wide church council. Father Richard McBrien recalls the event in a story for the National Catholic Reporter.

The pope noted famously in his diary that the small group of assembled cardinals on that day in January, 1959 had greeted his announcement with “impressive, devout silence,” perhaps reflecting not only their surprise but their disapproval as well.

John, after all, had just been elected on October 28, 1958, as a so-called transitional pope. He was just a month shy of his 77th birthday at the time of the conclave. After Pope Pius XII’s lengthy pontificate of more than 19 years, the cardinal-electors were looking for some breathing-space before his “real” successor could be named.

But John XXIII had a different idea. He informed the cardinals that the decision to call a council was his alone, and that it was final. He explained that he was motivated “solely by concern for the ‘good of souls’ and in order that the new pontificate may come to grips, in a clear and well-defined way, with the spiritual needs of the present time.”

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You may remember Membership Services Coordinator, Cynthia Jordan Delaney, who joined Spiritual Directors International after Hurricane Katrina wiped out her home in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. The Spirit prevailed and created new life for Cynthia and Kevin. Kevin writes, “Our first baby, Katharine Elise, was born Sunday morning (12:56 am on January 18). She weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces and was 22 inches long--a long baby! She was born at the Bozeman [Montana, USA] Birth Center a mere half hour after we arrived there, a much shorter time than we had anticipated. She had a gentle water birth, and I caught her when she came out in the spacious birthing tub. Cynthia appreciated me as her birth partner, and we both appreciated the efforts of our midwife Stacey and our doula Sasha. We are ecstatic at her arrival and good health, and are adjusting to the wonders of life with her.”

Please join the us in celebrating new life in Cynthia’s family and pray in gratitude for their newly expanded family.

Member Regina Roman wrote to celebrate how the inaugural events connected with Spiritual Directors International conference in Washington, DC:

One item that stood out for me that I wanted to share with you is the wonderful benediction Rev. Joseph Lowery gave after President Obama's speech. He used the words of President Washington that Spiritual Directors International used for the worldwide silent meditation at the conference in March 2008. I could not help but ponder that, when we allow the prayer to pray itself, it becomes much larger than any one of us. Spiritual Directors International offered a prophetic prayer whose thread continued to flow into January at the inauguration.

Perhaps it may be an nudge to invite all members to continue to ponder what we are being called into at the deepest levels. It warmed my heart to witness Spiritual Directors International at the edges of change.

Blessings upon your day,
Regina

 

This is the text of the prayer that Dr. Barry Black, chaplain of the United States Senate, led before the inaugural luncheon yesterday.

Lord of all nations,
whose kingdom is above all earthly kingdoms,
and who judges all lesser sovereignties,
look with favor upon President Barak Obama, Vice President Joseph Biden, and members of the Cabinet.
Empower them with the wisdom, courage and strength needed for our times;

And protect them from any moral arrogance
that obstructs the making of a world of justice, peace, and righteousness.

Infuse them with a passion to act in ways pleasing to you.

Lord, preserve their families in health and strength by your mercy and power.
And may they find your grace sufficient for every need.

We ask also that you would shower your blessings upon the American people.
Give us the wisdom to support our new president with our prayers, patience, and perseverance.

Bless now this luncheon and the nourishment we receive from your bounty.
We pray in your sovereign name. Amen

Liz Ellmann is heading to St. Mary’s food bank to sort food for the hungry. If you would like to join me or participate in other service events, check out these opportunities, http://tinyurl.com/886lq3. Barack Obama has requested that today, Martin Luther King Day, be a day of service in America. In a spirit of service internationally, I invite everyone to focus attention on service today.

Many of you may remember Jan Lebow from the Spiritual Directors International conference in Costa Mesa, California, USA (she is pictured here with Will.i.am choir members Greta, Rickie and Jason). Well, Jan is heading to Washington, DC to sing at the Presidential Inauguration. She writes, “Yes, by ALL means, please hold us in prayer. Every time I try to picture how we're going to get from point A to point B with all the security measures, my stomach turns to jelly! Then I have to take a deep, deep breath and remember that we are going to DC by divine appointment, and that everything will unfold exactly as it should. Still, the more prayer, the better!”

Executive Director, Liz Ellmann has a New Year’s resolution to contemplatively stroll in the wooded and wet neighborhood around the office of Spiritual Directors International. By taking a half-hour walk midday to reflect, to join others praying for peace, and to listen for God’s voice among the birds and dump trucks doing construction nearby, I hope to grow closer to God and contribute to peace with each step. What’s your prayerful resolution?

In an article for UU World, Michelle Bates Deakin writes about the small but growing trend in spiritual direction among Unitarian Universalists.

“A lot of Unitarian Universalists are really crying out for more of a connection to the spirit, and they don’t exactly know what to ask for,” says the Rev. Jade Angelica, a UU minister, spiritual director, and a founder of the Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Directors’ Network (UUSDN). “There is a growing hunger for spirituality and spiritual companioning in our culture, and UUs are no exception.”

To read more about spiritual direction in the Unitarian Universalist tradition, click here.

Six years ago, Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF, was hired as a part-time spiritual director for St. Raphael Parish, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. She meets with spiritual directees in a spare room in the parish house, which is also her home. At first, she promoted her ministry by speaking at weekend liturgies and handing out business cards at parish events. Now she meets regularly with about seventy-five people a year. Anyone is welcome without regard for faith tradition, parish membership or ability to pay.

“I view spiritual direction as an important and necessary facet of adult faith formation,” says Sister Ann Marie. “It deepens and personalizes theology, doctrine, liturgy, morality and spirituality.”

 Click below to see a video of Sister Anne Marie’s story.