Spiritual direction is an ancient form of helping people walk more closely with God. This page offers a directory of persons who offer spiritual companionship in the diocese. They have undergone training and supervision, are pilgrims on their own spiritual journeys, and are experienced in journeying with others.
Spiritual direction is usually a regular time (e.g. once a month) of conversation. During the conversation, the director listens for how the Spirit is working in the person's life and encourages them in developing a real and authentic relationship with the divine. The purpose of spiritual direction is to grow and mature in Christ for the sake of the world.
Click on these links to read more about what spiritual direction is and what to consider when looking for a director.
Note: these directors are neither specifically recommended nor screened by the diocese. Responsibility for selecting and screening a director lies with the individual seeking a director.
A list of spiritual directors in alphabetical order:
Rev. Melanie Calabrigo
Contact: sthildegards@icloud.com
Melanie is a priest and spiritual director. She is a graduate of the Vancouver School of Theology, Pacific Jubilee Program for Spiritual Direction, and Pacific Coast Family Therapy Training Institute. Her background is in spiritual formation and creative practice, family systems, pastoral care, and expressive arts. She has accompanied diverse life journeys in a variety of settings. Melanie is the gathering priest for St. Hildegard’s Sanctuary, an inclusive, arts-based, contemplative community, within the parish of St. Faith in Vancouver and the interim assistant to the rector at Christ Church Cathedral.
Rev. Anne Crosthwaite
Cell: 416-834-3400 Email: anne@contemplativefire.ca
Website: www.contemplativefire.org and www.mysticinmotion.org
Location: Personal visits at home in Lions Bay or online
Retreat Opportunity: Our home, located in the mountains of Sea to Sky Coast, with a view to Howe Sound has on the ground level a self-contained apartment. My husband and I are comfortable offering it as a retreat space and if desired, I offer spiritual companionship during the retreat time.
Personal Information: I’ve been receiving spiritual direction since early 1990’s and received training in direction at Regis College, University of Toronto, Tyndale Seminary and University and Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. Contemplative Fire has also been formative in my spiritual life. I’m deeply committed to spiritual growth for there is nothing more important in life than to know God, to know you’re loved by God and to seek to follow the Spirit’s beckoning. I will attempt to listen to you and to how the Spirit is calling to you in your life.
Alfred DePew
Contact: adepew@earthlink.net
Location: Alfred has an office in the West End of Vancouver, near Stanley Park and is also available to work with people by telephone or online. Training: Spiritual direction program at Center Quest (2015) Supervisor Training: Together in the Mystery (2016) Supervision: I am in a peer supervision group which meets monthly. I also get regular individual supervision. Fee scale: $75 - $150
Rev. Denise Doerksen
Contact: deelynndoerksen@icloud.com
Denise is a priest and received 2 years training in Spiritual Direction from The Haden Institute. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International and her profile is https://www.sdicompanions.org/sdi-profile/denise-doerksen/. She is also a member of the Canadian Fellowship of Christian Spiritual Directors. She prefers meeting people in-person but is open to online direction. She currently sees a seasoned spiritual director and has peer spiritual direction supervision. Her approach to fees is to ask people to pay what they can afford or feel they want to offer. (E.g. anywhere from $0 to $100.)
Rev. Laurel Dykstra
Contact: salalandcedar@vancouver.anglican.ca
Laurel is the priest of Salal and Cedar, an itinerant church with a vocation for environmental justice. Laurel has availability for a small number of paying (or sponsored) directees. Laurel offers a focus on contemplative listening in nature and is particularly happy (and has specific skills) to work with queer and gendry folk, people discerning direct action, and those struggling with climate anxiety.
Cathy AJ Hardy
Contact: cathyajhardy@shaw.ca Info: www.cathyajhardy.com / www.soulcare.ca
Cathy's passion is to create spaces of soul care for large groups or individuals through spiritual direction, retreats, and more. Cathy offers spiritual direction through her home in Mission or on-line through zoom. She directs the Soul Care Ministry which also includes training for spiritual directors and a 3-year formation program. Cathy offers Soul Care Retreats across Canada and has led Evenings of Sung Prayers in the Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland for the past 22 years. She has a great desire to support those in ministry through the companionship of spiritual direction. She went through the Haden Institute for her training as a spiritual director and her work is largely influenced by Ignatian prayer practices, Celtic spirituality, and Jungian psychology.
Katherine Murray
katherine.murray22@gmail.com
Katherine Murray is a spiritual director and an experienced retreat & group leader. She is also the Associate Director for the Centre for Spiritual Renewal at St. Dunstan's Parish. She is passionate about intimacy with God and contemplative life, and teaches and guides spiritual practices. As a spiritual director, she offers you accompaniment on your spiritual journey rooted in awareness of God, deep listening, presence, and compassion. Her hope is to offer you a sacred space where transformation, healing, and integration can unfold, and where you can cultivate living as your truest essence. Katherine holds a Bachelor of Social Work degree and a Master’s degree in International Relations. She completed the SoulGuiding program with Pacific Jubilee and has studied theology courses at the Vancouver School of Theology. Please contact Katherine at katherine.murray22@gmail.com for more information on rates and availability.
Rev. Louise Peters
Contact: sapiencespiritualdirection@gmail.com
Website: https://sapiencespiritualdirection.wordpress.com
Louise is a retired priest after 35 years of ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada. She has served as a university chaplain, a parish rector, as clergy team member in two cathedral, as an executive director of a retreat and conference centre and as a Cathedral dean. Throughout these years she has offered spiritual direction to a small client base. Louise now dedicates her energy and prayer to this vital and important soul work. Her direction is available online or by telephone. She holds degrees in psychology and practical theology. Her fee is a sliding scale between $50-100.
Leah Postman
Contact: leahpostman@gmail.com
Website: https://www.leahpostman.com/
Leah has been a Spiritual Director since 2009. Experienced in 12-step recovery, career/religious call discernment, Benedictine spirituality. Available over Zoom and in-person. Also available for workshops and retreats. Sliding fee scale. BA (UBC), MFA (UBC), Certificate in Spiritual Direction (SoulStream).
Rev. Jeanette Stiggers
Contact: jastigger123@gmail.com, t. 604-988-0264
Jeanette is a retired Anglican priest in the diocese. She received training from Spiritual Directors International and Spiritual Directors Europe. She is available in person, online, or on the phone. Her fee of $50 is donated to charity.