by Jennifer Coots
assistant perspectives editor
Students, who are currently questioning their faith, have unanswered questions about God or are uncertain about their relationship with God, can obtain guidance through spiritual meetings with trained spiritual directors from the Daylesford Abbey in Paoli.
Father Steve, who lives at the Daylesford Abbey and is a chaplain of the school, brings priests and brothers who also live at the abbey, who are specially trained in this field. They will come to Cabrini through setup appointments and meet on campus with interested students free of charge.
“The spiritual meetings are like walking along with someone,” Steve said. “Something like a companion, who in the process helps you find where God is in your life.”
The meetings are an opportunity to talk to someone objective and who is trained in this type of guidance. “It’s hard to talk to people about God,” Steve said. “It’s much easier if it is done with a trained person.”
Usually lasting an hour, the meetings are held once a month. The meetings are not counseling sessions or for troubled youth, but for average people who have questions about their faith.
Students who wish to attend the meetings are not required to be catholic and the spiritual companions are of different denominations. The companions and student are not matched by religion and can be paired with any member of any religion.
Usually the student is paired with someone for about two or three months to see if the match is helpful and beneficial. If not, the student is simply placed with another partner until they find a compatible collaborator.
Students who attended Search, a religious retreat held by Cabrini, may find the meetings useful, according to Steve, “The whole point of Search is to ask questions about God and leave with numerous unfinished answers,” Steve said. “Our spiritual directors can help students answer these questions.”For more information, contact Father Steve at (610) 647-2530 ext. 21 or email him at salbero@daylesford.org.
