Articles

ACCOMPANYING THEIR STORY

by Gerry McCarthy

The symbol the Spiritual Companioning program uses for their brochure. Painting by Diego Rivera

Six-years ago Sr. Mary Ann Clifford was providing spiritual direction for people living in the Mission District of San Francisco, which is the Spanish-speaking district of the city.

     But she soon realized the overwhelming need for what she was offering. "In the city of San Francisco there were only two Spanish-speaking spiritual directors besides me that we know of," she says. "People started saying to me: You have to start preparing us, because you can't see all the people that want to see you."

     That's when Sr. Clifford (who is a Sister of Mercy) started thinking about launching a spiritual direction program for Spanish-speaking people.

     Her vision was realized in September 2004. That's when a Spiritual Companion program was first started for Hispanics in the San Francisco Bay Area. Funding came from two sources: A Mercy Action Grant (made possible by the Mercy Sisters international order) and the Ministry for the Poor Fund operated by the Mercy Sisters in Burlingame, California (where the Mercy Center is located).

     Sr. Clifford is the director of the program which has 14 people enrolled. She teaches and mentors the group with assistance from Sr. Diane Clyne (a fellow Mercy Sister) and laywoman Barbara Jimenez.

     For many years, Sr. Clifford witnessed the benefits of spiritual accompaniment or mentoring. Since 2000 she has worked full time at the Mercy Center. The Center has been operating for 25-years, and has built a solid reputation for their training of spiritual directors.

     But Sr. Clifford also saw the importance of spiritual accompaniment when she did missionary work in Peru for 16 years. "In the work that I was doing with the Aymara people I realized that this type of listening was very helpful to people and their personal freedom," she explains. "Because of that they were able to make unique contributions to their society, family, and the future of their own life and the Church."

     She adds that: "I learned this at Mercy Center, but found this wasn't just for wealthy people in the U.S. It was also a wonderful gift towards freedom for the poor. I figured that since I have some skills in working with the poor as well as Spanish-speaking people --I wanted to make spiritual direction available to the Spanish-speaking."

     Sr. Clifford received her Master of Theological Studies from the Franciscan School of Theology at Berkeley, California. Prior to her missionary work in Peru, she taught elementary school and was involved in lay, religious, and clergy formation.

     It's the diversity of the people in the Spiritual Companioning program that has particularly impressed Sr. Clifford. For example: There is a religious educator, small businessman, a mother of four, and a permanent deacon. Their spiritual work has already involved arranging to see people by appointment in conventional settings. But it goes further. Some are working with gang members in San Francisco, homeless people, and visiting jails.

     Forty-four-year-old Sr. Norberta Villasenor is the director of Religious Education at a Catholic parish just outside of San Francisco. She was eager to enrol in the Spiritual Companioning program. "I thought --this is what I need. This is what I'm looking for. Because in my ministry working with a Hispanic community we don't call someone a spiritual director," she explains. "We haven't heard of that term."

     Sr. Villasenor emigrated from Mexico to California with her family when she was 16. She is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity. She's grateful for different things she has learned in the program. "All their teaching in the program has been very helpful," she says. "I'm overwhelmed sometimes and think: Oh my God that's what they taught us yesterday and I've already put into practice."

     But she stresses what's at the heart of spiritual direction. "We're not there to solve problems or advise people," she says. "We're put there to listen, to be open, and help the person to become closer and find peace with God."

     Reina Parada is a mother of four children. She emigrated to the U.S. from El Salvador in 1981. Currently she works for the Archdiocese of San Francisco.

     I reach Parada by telephone at her workplace. She's glad to be enrolled in the Spiritual Companioning program, but realizes the dilemmas spiritual directors sometimes face. "There's a tendency to fix problems," she says. "But we're just there to be present."

     She adds that: "I've found through my experience in life that everybody has the answers within. It's just a matter of letting it out. Sometimes they come to a conclusion themselves. That's where it's so important to be that listening presence in somebody's life and story."

     At first, Parada says she saw the program as a way to learn more about spiritual direction. But her thoughts run deeper now "The longer I'm in the program I realize it's a calling from God," she says.

     Both Sr. Villasenor and Reina Parada say Sr. Clifford has launched a "pioneering" program. "We've encouraged her to start the program in other areas," Sr. Villasenor says. "The need is great and overwhelming. A lot of people have no one to share with."

     Antonio Ambriz is in the Spiritual Companioning program with Sr.Villasenor and Parada. He's also a permanent deacon in the Catholic Church. While studying to be a deacon, he had the opportunity to see how important it was to be prepared for spiritual direction.

     Among other things, Ambriz was pleasantly surprised how the themes and teaching in the program have been adapted to the Hispanic culture. He's also impressed with Sr. Clifford. "Sr. Mary Ann is someone who inspires confidence. She knows how to listen and how to guide you in understanding our human reality," he says.

     Sr. Villasenor recognizes Sr. Clifford's work too. "She's a wonderful woman and witness to the Gospel," she says. "She's a great mentor."

     In my conversation with Sr. Clifford, I return to the question of individuals wanting spiritual directors to fix their problems. "Yes, they want you to solve their problems," she says. "But when you don't --a lot of good things can happen inside of them. They start to recognize their own resources and gifts. Sometimes by not solving their problems --although you're listening to them-- they become more empowered to go and look for other resources."

     Currently Sr. Clifford is trying to establish Spiritual Companioning programs for Spanish-speaking people in Oakland and Miami. She also realizes there is a continuing need in the San Francisco Bay Area. "We know there are more people that want this, but because of personal and finances we can only do one program at a time," she adds.

     As we conclude our conversation, I ask Sr. Clifford about signs of hope she's observed since the program was launched. She mentions the "fidelity" the participants have to the work and the teaching. And she recognizes that the Mercy Center staff took a risk in allowing her to start the program. But she is particularly moved by the actions of the people in her class. "They want to do this for others that really are on the margins and poor," she says. "It's amazing to me how God is moving among them."

Gerry McCarthy is Editor of The Social Edge.