Listing of Spiritual Directors

Here are the spiritual directors who have agreed to be part of this service. All are experienced in spiritual direction, are familiar with Henri’s writings, and subscribe to the guidelines for ethical conduct as outlined by Spiritual Directors International (SDI). You can order your own copy of the guidelines by going to the SDI web site.

Spiritual Directors: Jeff Imbach, Steve Imbach, Ivan Lange, Karen Patena, Susan Vander Woude, Rick Hatem, Joann Nesser

Jeff Imbach

I am 58 years old with two married daughters and two grandchildren. My first wife died four years ago after a long bout with cancer, and I have since remarried a woman named Joy. We now live in Tsawwassen, B.C. Over the past twenty years, my deepest desire in offering spiritual guidance has been to help people experience the joy and power of their own unique journey with the Spirit, whether they have any traditional religious commitment or not. I was trained initially in the Ignatian tradition, and since have broadened to embrace a number of traditions, including inter-faith dialogue. I have written two books: The Recovery of Love: Christian Mysticism and the Addictive Society and The River Within: Loving God, Living Passionately.

Steve Imbach

In October 2001 I left a 23 year career as a dental salesperson to follow my heart and the call of God into the full time ministry of offering spiritual direction and guided prayer retreats (both group and personal). I was personally mentored in the art of spiritual direction by Sr. Lily Quintos, Ph D. and offered spiritual direction on a part time basis for a number of years. I received a Master of Christian Studies degree from Regent College, Vancouver in 1997. I facilitate and teach an eight-module, two-year program of spiritual direction training as well as teaching as an adjunct professor in the area around Vancouver. I find great delight in my 37-year marriage to Jean and we share common interests in backpacking/hiking, cooking, jazz, reading, interior design, gardening and the occasional golf game.

Ivan Lange

I am a retired Catholic man, married for forty-eight years and blessed with ten children and eighteen grandchildren. I have offered Spiritual Direction for ten years and am currently on staff at the Spiritual Life Center in Wichita, Kansas and a Spiritual Guide for the Associates of the ASC. Religious Order. I have been certified by two different spiritual direction schools and have worked with people from various religious backgrounds. I have extensive experience with Cursillo, Twelve Step Spirituality, working with the inner child and am also a Hospice Bereavement Companion. Blessed by God beyond measure, I desire to walk with others as they venture out on their journey and perhaps smooth out the road a bit for them. The primary way that I do long-distance spiritual direction is by email. My hobbies are writing, woodcarving and being out in nature.

Karen Patena

Karen is a diocesan certified pastoral minister as well as a spiritual and retreat director. She facilitates pastoral ministry candidates in spiritual formation. Her ministry includes inner healing prayer. She has a particular love for praying with scriptures and reflecting on the lives of the saints, big ‘S’ and little ‘s’, seeing in them God’s passionate love for us and the invitation for us to respond to that incredible love. Henri Nouwen is a great example to her of a little ‘s’ saint. He has served her at times as a mentor and as a spiritual director through the gift of his life and his writings. His honesty, openness of sharing his life’s struggles, the clarity in which he wrote, and the depth of his insights has touched her life tremendously. Karen Patena lives in Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, Jim. They take great delight in their two grown sons, daughter-in-law and new granddaughter. She also loves reading, walking, flowers, sunsets on the water, butterflies, and visits to Lake Erie.

Susan Vander Woude

I graduated from Tyndale Seminary, Toronto with a Master of Divinity Degree with a counseling focus in 2000, received training in spiritual direction at Tyndale and at Loyola House in Guelph, Onatrio, and have been a spiritual director for several years. Henri Nouwen has been an influential mentor to me through his writing and life witness. I enjoy and feel it is a great privilege to accompany others as they journey spiritually toward God. I also enjoy leading prayer retreat days, teaching listening prayer and facilitating spiritual direction groups. I have been married to Tony for 38 years and we recently moved to British Columbia after Tony's retirement. I'm a mother to three grown children and grandma to six grandchildren. I enjoy walking, hiking, reading, traveling, exploring and being a grandma.

Rick Hatem

I am 53, single and Catholic. I received training as a spiritual director at the Spiritual Renewal Center in Syracuse, NY. Today I work as a spiritual director through The Spirituality Network in Columbus, Ohio. While living in Jerusalem & Bethany from 1986 to 1991 I joined l’Arche and was active in dialogue groups with Jews, Muslims & Christians. Reading the Bible daily, the practice of centering prayer, experiences with the three monotheistic religions, and 12 years in l’Arche have been major influences in my spirituality. I enjoy leading retreats & breaking bread while exploring the Emmaus story and other scriptures. I moved back to Ohio in 2001 to help my parents with the challenges of aging and my mother’s Alzheimer’s. I spend five days a week with my parents in their rural home where we share life in the home and garden, and take trips to visit family, friends and keep up with doctor appointments.

Joann Nesser

I was founder and now retired Director of Christos Center for Spiritual Formation in Lino Lakes, MN. I am a graduate of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, have an MA in Pastoral Theology and Ministry from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN and a D. Min. in Spiritual Direction. I have taught contemplative prayer and spiritual formation at retreats, churches and conferences in the U.S., Europe and Africa. I am the author of Prayer: Journey from Self to God; Prayer: Journey into Reality and Contemplative Prayer: Attending to Prayer When the Well Runs Dry to be released in fall 2007. After reading his books for years, by happy chance I was able to spend a week retreating at Dayspring with Henri. I accompanied him to offer Eucharist at the group homes in Toronto, we ate meals together, washed dishes together and I was able to attend the daily Eucharist as well as informal chatting. I have never met a person so open, and real; a window to God for me. I will treasure these memories always. Because of my schedule, I’m available for email spiritual direction only.

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