School of Spirituality
Welcome to the School of Spirituality! Our goal is to enhance your spiritual journey through personalized guidance and engaging group activities. Our team, trained at Our Lady of Divine Providence, affiliated with Franciscan University, is ready to assist you every step of your spiritual journey
Our Offerings
Inspiring Classes
Dive into the rich traditions of spiritual growth with our engaging classes:
- Lectio Divina – Discover the art of divine reading.
- Ignatian Prayer – Learn the powerful methods of Ignatian spirituality.
- Interior Castle (Teresa of Avila) – Explore the profound insights of Teresa of Avila.
- Stages of Prayer and the Spiritual Life – Understand the journey of spiritual development.
- Masters of Prayer (St. Teresa, St. Ignatius, St. John of the Cross) – Study the wisdom of these great saints.
- Discernment – Gain clarity in recognizing God’s will.
Transformative Retreats
Join us for retreats that rejuvenate your spirit:
- Ignatian Prayer Retreats – Immerse yourself in prayer and reflection.
- Healing Retreats – Experience spiritual and emotional healing.
Personal Spiritual Direction
Experience the guidance of the Holy Spirit through one-on-one spiritual direction, tailored to your unique journey.
For more information and updates, visit our website or check St. Ann’s Bulletin. We can’t wait to walk this spiritual path with you!
Spiritual Combat & Discernment of Spirits
1st Saturday of each month beginning October 5
10 AM - 12:30 PM | Room 311/312 | Cost: $25
Deepen your spiritual life through this course based on Dan Burke’s book. Learn to recognize the movements of the Holy Spirit and overcome spiritual battles with greater clarity and peace.
MEET THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTORS
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Barbara Sanders
Barbara became a Catholic at the age of 18. She married Rex in 1970 and they have 4 children and 20 grandchildren. She had a second conversion at the age of 30 and began studying Catholic Spirituality at the Carmelite Monastery in Dallas where she helped start the Ecumenical Program in Catholic Spirituality. She later attended Our Lady of Divine Providence in Florida where she was trained in Ignatian Spirituality. Eventually the School of Spirituality was formed at St. Ann’s and we now have 7 directors! Barbara has been a member at St. Ann’s for 30 years. She is a Marian Servant and a trustee emeritus of Franciscan University. She has been also trained in healing ministries: Dr. Francis MacNutt, Unbound, and Encounter Ministry.
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Roberta Ward
A lifelong Catholic, Roberta has served in various parish ministries. Over twenty-five years ago she had a conversion experience on retreat which led to a desire to experience the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. Soon afterwards she received and discerned a call to become a Spiritual Director. Her training was at the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence in Clearwater, FL.
An Ignatian spiritual director, Roberta meets with individuals for spiritual direction, co-facilitates Ignatian retreats, accompanies others through Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, and has served at directed retreats at Monserrat. She also serves on the Board of Managers of the Ignatian Spirituality Institute.
A graduate of LSU and retired from American Airlines. Roberta and her husband, Greg, have been members of St. Ann Parish for over 30 years, have two adult children, and enjoy the gift of time with their four grandsons.
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Joy Parsons
Born into a Catholic family, Joy attended both Catholic and public schools, through university. She raised two daughters as a single mom and worked 35 years in the mortgage and banking industry. She was drawn to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius at St. Ann, which led her to training at the Ignatian Spirituality Institute and then at The Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction. She graduated in June of 2018.
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Sue Webb
Sue is a cradle Catholic and grew up going to Catholic school in Pennsylvania. She graduated from the university of Pittsburgh and had a career in Dental hygiene for over 40 years and seven states.
She has been happily married for 42 years to Terry, and they have two sons, a “daughter in love” and two beautiful grandchildren. Sue has been involved in religious education for fifteen years while her sons were growing up. She has also been involved in numerous ministries at the parish. She was drawn spiritually to St. Ignatius and the exercises discerning God’s call and graduated from Monserrat ISI program. She then went on to the Cenacle Our Lady of Divine Providence and is now a Spiritual Director. She has a deep love for the Eucharist and her mission is to walk with others helping them to grow in love and relationship with Jesus.
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Edna Ramos
Edna is a cradle Catholic and was born in San Juan, PR. She studied a bachelor’s in labor relations at the University of Puerto Rico and worked in human resources for several years. She moved to Texas in 1998 with her husband where they have seen their two sons be born and grow. They joined St. Ann in 2008.
Edna worked as a volunteer sharing her love of Jesus with children in two parishes for 14 years while taking adult/catechist formation classes. Once a Certified Master Catechist by the Diocese of Dallas, she was introduced to the School of Spirituality where she started taking spirituality classes and participating of the Ignatian prayer retreats while continuing to get involved in various ministries at St. Ann. It was through the School of Spirituality, a ministry at St. Ann, that Edna encountered Jesus in a personal way and then felt a call to minister to adults in spiritual direction. She loves to bring people into a deeper and personal relationship with God. She is a 2021 graduate of The Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction in Clearwater, Florida.
She is bilingual (English and Spanish).
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Tina Beier
Tina was born and raised Catholic in northern Wisconsin. Since joining St. Ann in 2012, Tina has been active in several different ministries and is a member of the Parish Financial Council. She attended an Ignatian Prayer retreat at the parish that ignited a desire to draw closer to Jesus. After completing the Spiritual Exercises in Daily Life, Tina attended the Ignatian Spirituality Institute’s Spiritual Companioning program at Montserrat. She currently meets with people in ongoing spiritual direction, co-facilitates Ignatian retreats at St. Ann, and accompanies others through the Spiritual Excercises.
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Beth Sargent
Beth is a cradle Catholic who was raised in North Dallas, graduated from St. Monica, Ursuline Academy and Alvernia University in Pennsylvania. She has a Masters in Theology from St. Mary's University, San Antonio. She taught elementary school fro 37 years. Beth also published an early literacy mentoring program. She was married to Bob for 35 years who passed on in 2018. After becoming a member of St. Ann's in 2019, Beth participated in an Ignatian retreat for everyday life and attended a class given by Barbara Sanders. Her heart was stirred, asking if she would be her spiritual director. After discerning, Beth was accepted to the Cenacle of Divine Providence School of Spiritual Direction. Beth is involved in the Ministry of Consolation and the St. Paula Patrons' Ministry. She is a weekday sacristan and when needed Eucharistic minister at those Masses and the funeral Masses. Beth completed her spiritual direction studies at the Cenacle of Divine Providence in Florida, October 2024.
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Marian Servants of Divine Providence https://divineprovidence.org
Ignatian Spirituality Institute https://ignatianinstitute.org
Dan Burke: www.spiritualdirection.com
Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation https://avila-institute.org
Discernment Hearts https://discernmenthearts.com
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Into the Deep by Dan Burke (Available in Spanish Under the title: Mar Adentro)
Journey to God by Daniel Burke
Seeking Spiritual Direction by Thomas Dubay
How to Listen When God Is Speaking: A Guide for Modern-Day Catholics by Fr. Mitch Pacwa
healing the hidden self by Barbara Shlemon Ryan
Making Choices in Christ: The Foundations of Ignatian Spirituality by Fr. Joseph Tetlow, S.J.
A friendship like no other by Fr. William A. Barry, S.J.
Finding God in All Things by Fr. William A. Barry, S.J.
Personal Prayer, A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love by Fr. Thomas Acklin, OSB & Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB
Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila (Available in Spanish)
Call to Life by Fr. Jacques Philippe (Available in Spanish)
Fire Within, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel On Prayer, by Thomas Dubay, Ignatius Press
The Fulfillment of all Desire, A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints, by Ralph Martin, Emmaus Road, 2006
Seeking Spiritual Direction, by Thomas Dubay
Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli (Available in Spanish)
The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas Kempis
The Imitation of Mary, by Fr. Quan Tran, Sophia Press
To Know Christ, by Frank Sheed, Ignatius Press