Karen Monro Walker graduated from the Institute for Ministry Formation in the spring of 2024 from the Spiritual Direction program. She lives in the North Hills of Pittsburgh and works as the Pastoral Minister at Saint Luke the Evangelist Parish.

Jomel Brondial graduated from the Spiritual Direction program at the Institute for Ministry Formation in 2023. She is originally from the Philippines and currently resides near Bloomingdale, Ohio. She is a part of the Apostolate for Family Consecration (AFC), where consecrated lay people take private vows and dedicate their lives to mission. Jomel has been part of the AFC for over 30 years.

In this post we will be featuring Angela Rosson, who graduated from the Institute for Ministry Formation in May 2024. She completed the Spiritual Direction certificate and currently lives in Vancouver, Washington State. Angela is a lay Franciscan affiliated with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. She works as a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, providing therapy support to individuals and couples in a private practice. Angela also helps with seminary formation at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon. She also does life coaching and has continued to provide spiritual direction.

Patty Chase graduated from the Spiritual Direction program at the IMF in 2023. She currently resides in Michigan. Patty found the IMF with friends after they experienced a calling to make spiritual direction more available in their diocese. As the group progressed through the program, they added more people from the Archdiocese of Detroit.

James Van Matre is a FOCUS alumnus and graduated from the IMF in 2023. He was a part of the Spiritual Direction program. He currently resides in Houston, Texas. James will be launching his own counseling practice in the coming months. Additionally, he is glad to have had the experience of attending Divine Mercy University. The program there prepared him well to embark on his “little v” vocation as a counselor.

Annamaria Rodrigues, a student at the University of Houston, shares the transformative experience of a group of college students from The Catholic Newman Center at the University of Houston who journeyed together in making their Marian consecration, using Fr. Boniface Hicks O.S.B.’s book, The Fruit of Her Womb: 33-Day Preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus.

Sheila Dwyer Grove graduated from the Spiritual Direction program at the Institute for Ministry Formation in 2023. Sheila is from Erie, Pennsylvania, and recently celebrated her 40th wedding anniversary with her husband Bill. They have three children and two grandsons. She is enjoying retirement from her career as a licensed psychologist. Before retirement, Sheila worked briefly with the Diocese of Erie in communications. Sheila owns a small spiritual direction practice, paints with pastels and watercolors, and happily volunteers in her parish, Saint Peter Cathedral in Erie.

Mark Richards graduated from the IMF in 2021 with a certificate in the Spiritual Direction Program. He resides in Calgary in Alberta, Canada with his wife, Patricia. Between them, they have six adult children. Mark has his own consulting company focused on leadership development for executives. As he begins to transition into retirement over the next few years, Mark hopes to do more spiritual direction, ministry, and volunteer work with his newfound free time.

Fallon Scanlan is a FOCUS missionary who graduated from IMF in May 2024. Through the IMF, she studied Spiritual Direction and now practices spiritual direction in Colorado. Originally born in Texas, Fallon grew up in New Mexico. In college, FOCUS impacted her greatly, and she became a FOCUS missionary after graduating. She served four years as a missionary at Texas A&M.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, engaged with the Institute for Ministry Formation to support and strengthen their parish’s focus on Radical Hospitality. Jane Ann Regan, a member of the parish’s leadership team, shared her experience of working with the IMF:

Every year the Institute for Ministry Formation hosts SD1: The Art of Accompaniment at St. Vincent Seminary. The course is offered in a 5-day intensive format with students staying on campus. The in-person option for this course becomes an immersion retreat in accompaniment with opportunities to participate in the Liturgy of the Hours, chanted by St. Vincent monks and to attend Mass with the monks each morning. This summer, seventeen students gathered at Saint Vincent Archabbey to take the course.

Saint Joseph’s Catholic Community engaged the Institute for Ministry Formation to support us with an Art of Accompaniment series at our parish. Kristin Molitor offered a half-day kickoff in September and served as our main speaker for a 2-day retreat in November. These sessions formed the backbone of a monthly program intended to form parish lay leaders in relational discipleship. The presentations were chock full of information with ideas for practical application. Kristin modeled depth, openness, and vulnerability and facilitated a welcoming and supportive atmosphere for our parishioners. Our group is now primed to work together as prayer partners and to spread knowledge of spiritual accompaniment throughout our parish.

Each year the Institute for Ministry Formation hosts SD1: The Art of Accompaniment at St. Vincent Seminary. The course is offered in a 5-day intensive format with students staying on campus. The in-person option for this course becomes an immersion retreat in accompaniment with opportunities to participate in the Liturgy of the Hours, chanted by St. Vincent monks and to attend Mass with the monks each morning. Listen to Phil’s testimony of his experience:

Here is part 2 of the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community. The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We are excited to share its story with you.

We’re excited to share the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community. The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We can’t wait to share its story with you.

This episode of the Transforming Hearts podcast features Jeanette Meyer, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Minnesota Grief to Grace retreat. Jeanette courageously shares her personal journey of healing from trauma, along with her dedicated work accompanying other survivors through the Grief to Grace program. She highlights the power of vulnerability, compassionate presence, and the work of the Holy Spirit in accompanying others toward healing.

In this episode of the Transforming Hearts podcast, Kristin Molitor interviews Gary Fritsch, Director of Evangelization at Sts. Martha and Mary Parish in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Gary reflects on the power of vulnerability in ministry. Through his own faith journey and stories from those he has accompanied, he illustrates how vulnerability can foster healing, conversion, and lasting transformation. Check out Gary’s blog here: https://www.hookedonjoy.org/ Click here to purchase Gary’s Book: “Catching Fire: Relating the ancient to the everyday – 50 day

Here is part 2 of the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community. The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We are excited to share its story with you.

We’re excited to share the “Meet Saint Vincent” series — a look into the rich history and roots of the Saint Vincent community. The IMF is built on the strong foundation of Saint Vincent Archabbey and Seminary, and we’re honored to be part of this community. We can’t wait to share its story with you.

The Institute for Ministry Formation was honored to serve as one of the sponsors for the 2025 Spiritual Direction Symposium, held last week, June 19-21, at Saint Vincent Seminary. It was an inspiring gathering where spiritual directors from across the nation came together for fellowship and ongoing formation.