Home
In the News: Mary Ann Scofield, RSM, and A Ministry of Listening << Previous Next >>
March 24, 2010: A Ministry of Listening: Mercy Sister reflects on her 30 Years in the Art of Spiritual Direction by Liz Dossa, published by Catholic San Francisco online edition.
Please read the entire online article. It's excellent. A few seeds to picque your interest:
"One of the graces Sister Scofield brings to her work is intense listening and gentle questioning. This focused and delicate work is the art of spiritual direction, or spiritual companioning, an art which she has practiced and taught for 30 years at Mercy Center and all over the world."
“Tell me about the experience,” Sister Scofield responded. “What exactly happens?” “I just feel that God is very near and loving me,” the man responded. “But, in the middle of the night? Am I supposed to do something?”
"The heart of the spiritual accompaniment is listening to the story,” she has said. “Everyone has a story to tell. It takes patience, discipline, and can make us feel vulnerable, to listen to the whole story.” A person needs to feel a call from God to become a spiritual director, but also needs a solid theological and intellectual foundation. Spiritual directors in training also have intensive formation which includes supervised practice with directees.
"[In 1990] Sister Scofield became the executive director of the fledgling Spiritual Directors International, and Sister Ruffing was on the first coordinating council. The group drew together people from training programs all over the world. Sister Scofield felt the international dimension was especially important. “We wanted to be of service to spiritual directors wherever they were,” she said."
Links
Article: A
Ministry of Listening: Mercy Sister reflects on her 30 Years in the Art
of Spiritual Direction by Liz Dossa
Watch SDI YouTube video: "Spiritual Directors International learns from Mary Ann Scofield, RSM"
Video: "Mercy Sister on her 60th jubilee: "The thirst for God is palpable"
Book: Sacred Is the Call: The Transformational Work of Spiritual Direction Programs for Personal and Professional Growth
Plenary keynote, Mary Ann Scofield, RSM, during San Francisco educational events: Gratefulness: The Heart of Spiritual Care, April 8-12, 2010
03/29,2010, at 16:46
Thank you for this article. It expresses the essence of spiritual care through the art of spiritual direction, and also celebrates a spirit-filled pioneer. I celebrate Mary Ann Scofield, and the many people who she has guided and inspired!
08/10,2010, at 16:03
Ahh!!! Sr. Mary Ann Scofield, How well you listened to me when I was a postulant in the Mercy, Burlingame Community. You had the ART of Listening then, in 1967. 43 years ago! Wow! I so hungered to develop my spirituality and prayed that my life would be a continued Journey into the LIGHT, and that is has been. I then went on after leaving Mercy, to serving in Pastoral Care, at three Hospitals, then on to getting my Masters in Counseling, The Art of Listening. Now at age 63 and disabled, I have spent much more time listening in my daily Meditation, while still being there for many who need to be heard and encouraged along their Path as you so well, listened and encouraged me. Tis amazing, not to always have so much clutter in my mind, to really be able to be still and quiet for much longer periods in my life. Still, "longing as a deer for refreshing waters". Formerly, Sister Linda Marie. aka Linda Seidel.