Greetings! Thank you for your interest in the ministry of spiritual direction. Often, it can be a challenge to know where to begin in the spiritual life. Meeting with a spiritual director can be a meaningful step to help you connect with God. The information below will help you to understand what spiritual direction is and is not.

What is Spiritual Direction:

Spiritual direction facilitates the growth of our relationship with God. It helps us to…

* Be attentive to God’s self-communication as we experience it in our feelings or emotions

* Savor, relive, and enjoy the richness and depth of this experience

* Respond to our self-communicating God in our lives, prayer, and relationships

Watch a video about spiritual direction here

What Spiritual Direction is not:

* Spiritual direction is not counseling or therapy. While it may be appropriate at times to discuss personal and relational struggles in the context of spiritual direction, a spiritual director is not a psychotherapist, nor does the spiritual director provide such services. 

* Not “directive” in the sense of telling a person what to do

* Not a relinquishing of personal responsibility

* Not primarily informative 

* Not primarily advisory

* Not the sacrament of penance

* Spiritual direction is not financial advice

Frequently Asked Questions about spiritual direction

Spiritual Directors:

Wendy Enloe

Wendy Enloe is the Director of Adult Faith Formation and a spiritual director at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St. Amant, Louisiana. She meets with individuals and retreatants for spiritual direction at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary and offers programs on Christian formation and spirituality. As an instructor for the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center Spiritual Direction Internship program in New Orleans and for the Diocese of Baton Rouge Ministry and Theology Certification program, Wendy shares her passion for spiritual direction, spirituality, and prayer with adults in formation. Wendy holds a Master of Religious Education from Loyola’s Institute for Ministry in New Orleans, a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Archdiocesan Spirituality Center in New Orleans, and a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Creighton University.

Contact:  Phone: 225-647-3696 or Email: [email protected]

Sr. Joan Manuel CSJ

My name is Sr Joan Manuel and I reside in St Amant. My Church parish is Our Lady of Holy Rosary. I was Ignatian trained through the Archdiocese of New Orleans Spirituality Center and from there completed a Certificate in Spiritual Direction. Since my early 20s, I have been graced and guided through life by Spiritual Companions and wonderful Spiritual Directors. This guidance helped me celebrate the great joys of life and survive great sorrows and challenges. As a Spiritual Director I have been privileged to accompany others in their spiritual journey and to witness how the Spirit moves through their lives with a gentle power encouraging healing, truth, trust and faith. 

I have been a Sister of the Congregation of St Joseph for 23 years. However, my first vocation was motherhood. I am the proud mom of 2 sons, who have blessed me with 6 grandchildren. Besides being a proud mother, loving grandmother and devoted religious sister, I have been blessed with various calls within the call. I have been a nurse and a teacher of theology. I have completed a one-year residency program as a hospital chaplain. These vocations allowed me to be a midwife of babies into this world and a midwife of souls into their eternal life with God. Birth and rebirth are some of the most sacred times of our lives. In my 13 years of teaching theology in secondary education, I introduced students to biblical and scriptural studies, Catholic Social Teaching, World Religions, various methods of prayer and a variety of other studies. Participation in student retreats was a blessing.  In Parish work my services included Parish Nurse, Eucharistic ministry to the homebound, facilitator of Lenten and Advent programs, and teacher of PSR classes. It has been God’s plan for me to be a life learner. In that pursuit, I have completed studies in psychology and theology through Fran U, Loyola, and the LIM program through the Salt and Light organization of Canada. I am presently pursuing classes in accompaniment of persons in the LGBTQ plus community. It is my hope that they find safety and welcome in their desire for spiritual direction.  

I am available to provide Spiritual Direction in person at Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant and virtually via Zoom. I can be contacted via email [email protected]. 

Tammy Vidrine

Tammy Vidrine is Director of Campus Ministry at Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University (FRANU). She is a graduate of Nicholls State University with degrees in Political Science and Education and Loyola University, with a Master's in Religious Education. She is a certified Spiritual Director graduating from the Archdiocesan Spiritual Direction Program.  She has twenty-four years in ministry which include her current position, Certification Coordinator in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, Coordinator of Youth Ministry at Holy Rosary in St. Amant. She has also taught developmental English at Nicholls State and RPCC.   In her ministry, she develops and facilitates retreats, catechetical workshops for parishes and Catholic schools, pilgrimages, and presents at the GO Conference (Gulf Coast Faith Formation Conference) in New Orleans and at the Association for Franciscan Colleges and Universities. She is experienced in directing youth, young adults, elderly, male, female, and ordained deacons.  She has been married for 32 years with three adult children and two grandchildren.  

Contact: [email protected] or cell 225-348-2073