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Are you interested in spiritual guidance?
Our parish has a team of certified spiritual guides under the direction of our parochial vicar, Fr. Mike Mitchell.
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What is Spiritual Guidance?
Many people are seeking to grow spiritually and to experience a deeper relationship with God. They long to find meaning and a purpose in their lives, or perhaps they have a need to discern an important life decision. Spiritual guidance offers an opportunity to fulfill these yearnings and desires and to answer some of the deeper questions about life.
A spiritual guide is a companion on a person’s journey of faith. The guide has the privilege and the responsibility to help people discover the presence and action of God in their daily lives. Sessions are scheduled at regular intervals, often monthly.
In a welcoming atmosphere and a confidential and safe environment, the guide encourages those who want to grow closer to God to explore ways that help them experience that closeness.
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Spiritual guidance offers a safe and non-judgmental venue for sharing one’s hopes, dreams and struggles. Being able to “bounce ideas off” another person can always be helpful, as is seeking wise advice from those who may have walked a certain road before. One is helped to sort things out by listening to the guides feedback and suggestions.
A personal transformation gradually takes place. He or she may become more hopeful and serene. Maybe they notice that they are more generous toward others or more accepting of people. Perhaps they see that they are more forgiving and less anxious and controlling.
Having a supportive companion and guide on our spiritual journey helps us to take stock of our lives and to notice how God gently moves us toward an ever-closer relationship with Him.
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Each session usually begins with a short prayer asking for God’s presence and guidance. The Holy Spirit is the true Guide, the unseen Guest, who is always present during these sessions. A person might need help in identifying and trusting his or her own experiences of God.
The guide will listen with care and respect and perhaps help the person to pay attention to how God communicates with him or her. Another person may be in need of affirmation to be able to see how he or she has been graced by God with unique and special gifts. Sometimes the guide will gently encourage someone to give up certain masks or pretenses that are obstacles on the spiritual journey. Oftentimes the guide will provide clarity, insight and help with discernment, especially during crossroads and transitions in life.
The sessions last about an hour, are completely free, and often include some “homework” for the month.
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The spiritual guides at St. Gabriel have a strong spiritual life and show a deep understanding of the human person. They must demonstrate a profound self-awareness, must exhibit a pastoral approach to encouraging gradual moral and spiritual development, and must respect both the truths of the moral and spiritual life and the unique dignity and goodness of each person. They receive ongoing formation and supervision from Fr. Mike Mitchell.
TO REQUEST SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE, use the contact links in the "Meet and Contact our Spiritual Guides" section below.
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Meet and Contact our Spiritual Guides
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Fr. Mike was ordained as a priest in 2011. He has a degree in humanities from Salamanca, Spain, a licentiate in philosophy and a STB in theology from the Pontifical University Regina Apostolorum. He finished further studies in theology at Holy Apostles College in Connecticut and in spiritual accompaniment at the University of Francisco de Victoria in Madrid, Spain. He has led dozens of retreats, spiritual exercises and provided spiritual guidance to many. His books include I Saw His Face and a forthcoming book, A Time for Apostles.
As a spiritual guide, Fr. Mike walks with those that wish to go deeper in their faith and climb higher up the mountain of God. He also helps with vocational discernment both for the priesthood and for religious life.
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Craig Bischoff was born in Scottsburg, Indiana and raised in Atlanta. He served in the US Navy from 1990-1994, and traveled to Europe, Africa, and South America. Following the Navy, Craig graduated from Georgia Tech and Emory University. In 1999, Craig was received into the Catholic Church at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Craig has two children and two grandchildren, and survives his lovely late wife, Michelle.
Craig has been a parishioner of St. Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville since 2013. In 2018, Craig completed the Lay Ministry Formation Program with the Diocese of Charlotte. In 2020, Craig completed his coursework for the Spiritual Direction Certificate Program at Divine Mercy University, and is currently in practicum. Craig has been providing spiritual guidance since 2017.
As a spiritual guide, Craig serves men who wish to grow deeper in the prayer life, understanding of the faith, as well as to grow in their roles as husbands and fathers.
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Patricia has been a parishioner of St. Gabriel for 20 years. She grew up in Philadelphia and married her husband Bill in 1965. They have 5 children, 12 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.
She has a BA in Sociology from the University of South Carolina. In 2014, Patricia entered the 2-year program at Our Lady of Divine Providence School (OLDP) of Spiritual Direction in Clearwater, FL. This program is associated with Franciscan University of Steubenville and is a combination of academic study and personal healing. In 2016, after completing the program, Patricia received her certification as a spiritual guide.
As part of her continuing education, Patricia attends graduate seminars given by OLDP twice a year and participates in the mentoring program for student-directors during their practicum.
As a spiritual guide, Patricia serves women with whom she meets as a companion on their journey of faith, encouraging them in their prayer life and helping them to see how God has been present and active in their lives.
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Ashley is a Charlotte native and became a St. Gabriel's parishioner in 2020. Her unusual high school career led her through Charlotte Catholic HS, homeschooling, and a boarding school in New England for young women who want to jump-start vocational discernment to lay consecrated life. During her time of formal discernment after high school, Ashley completed 2 years of a BA in Religious and Pastoral Studies. However, God called her back to Charlotte to discern religious life more broadly, and she completed a BA in Psychology from Belmont Abbey College. God then nudged her in a different direction vocationally, and she married her husband Thomas in October, 2019.
As the oldest of 5 children, Ashley found herself in many natural mentoring positions growing up, and these opportunities only multiplied as she attended, led, and even founded a variety of girls' virtue clubs, retreats, and bible studies for young women. As God placed more and more women on her path with questions about the spiritual life and vocational discernment, Ashley felt called to receive formal training in spiritual direction. She has completed 4 of 6 eight-week intensive courses in the Spiritual Direction Certification Program through Divine Mercy University, and has begun her practicum.
As a spiritual guide, Ashley accompanies young women who wish to go deeper in their life of prayer, as well as those who may be in a moment of discernment. Ashley can help them discover the Holy Spirit's action in their hearts and daily lives, and explore vocational discernment to consecrated and religious life, as well as the call to marriage.
To request spiritual guidance from Ashley Olik,
contact her here.
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Deacon Larry O’Toole has been active in ordained ministry for over 25 years. He was born and raised in the South Bronx, NY and has been married to his wife Judy for 57 years. They have 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren. He originally served in the Archdiocese of New York before moving to Charlotte in 2010.
Deacon Larry studied at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers where he received diaconate ordination in 1996. He was appointed by Cardinal O’Connor to the chaplaincy of the New York Medical College. He also worked as a Victim’s Assistance Coordinator for the archdiocese and as a formation facilitator for the diaconate program.
He continued his studies at the Archdiocese of New York School of Spirituality and Psychology, a certificate program led by Fr. Benedict Groschel OFM, and Dr. Annmarie Wallace. He studied as well at the Institute for Preaching and Liturgy of the Archdiocese of NY, the Fordham University Pastoral Care Program and the Harvard Medical School’s Spirituality in Medicine Program.
As a spiritual guide, Deacon Larry walks with those that wish to go deeper in their faith and experience God in their prayer. He brings a wealth of experience from many years of pastoral ministry, and often helps with marriage and family topics.
To request spiritual guidance from Deacon Larry, contact him here.
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Judy O’Toole has been a parishioner of St. Gabriel since 2010. She and her husband, Deacon Larry, have three daughters and five grandchildren.
Judy attended the School of Spirituality and Psychology of the Archdiocese of New York led by Fr. Benedict Groschel and Dr. Annmarie Wallace. In the late 70’s she attended the Spiritual Development program in the Diocese of Houston Texas.
She also was in the Diaconate Formation Program for candidates and wives at St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York.
As a trained mediator for the 9th Judicial District of New York, she did private mediations and also served in small claims court. This fulfilled her desire to bring peaceful solutions to problems within the community.
Through contemplative studies, retreats and training for over 30 years, Judy brings an appreciation of silence and holy listening in her spiritual guidance for one’s search for God.
To request spiritual guidance from Judy O'Toole, email her here
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"As she has always done, today the Church continues to recommend the practice of spiritual direction not only to those who desire to follow the Lord closely but to every Christian who wishes to live responsibly his or her Baptism, that is, new life in Christ. Everyone, in fact, especially those who have heeded the divine call to follow Christ closely, needs to be accompanied personally by a guide reliable in doctrine and expert in the things of God, this guide can help people to watch out for facile forms of subjectivism, making available their own knowledge and experience lived in the following of Jesus."
Address of Pope Benedict XVI to the Pontifical Theological Faculty “Teresianum”, Rome, 19 May 2011
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