CRA President, Peter Carroll FMS officially launched the new website of the Conference of Spiritual Directors Australia this month, with the new online presence aiming to promote the practice of spiritual direction to the general public.

CSD Australia is a professional not-for-profit association of spiritual directors committed to a contemplative approach in the ministry of spiritual direction.

*The homepage of the new website for the Conference of Spiritual Directors Australia.*

“In promoting the practice of spiritual direction to the general public, the first three features/links on the home page move the visitor through a process of asking questions,” the CSD newsletter for March says.

“Firstly, ‘What is Spiritual Direction?’ which describes the practice; then wondering ‘What’s it been like for others?’ which includes testimonials from those who have received spiritual direction; and then ‘How to find a Director?’ This feature will be a searchable list of our participating members by state and suburb.

“For directors, there’ll be a short history of CSD; everything a director needs to know in order to become a member; the latest and past newsletters and other resources; and upcoming professional development events.

“We’ll also progressively introduce our members with a ‘Profile of a Member’ feature also linked from the home page.”

The new website describes Spiritual direction as “the conversation one believer has with another about their life in the light of their faith”.

“Spiritual direction is a conversation in which the director helps the person to notice the action of God in their ordinary experiences of life: to stop, look and listen to the movement of God in their heart and in their lived experience,” it says.

“As the person responds with greater awareness to this personally-communicating God, the relationship deepens and the capacity to live out with greater freedom the consequences of the relationship grows. The consequences of the relationship changes the person and so impacts on all their relationships: with self, with others, and with God.

“At CSD Australia, we believe that it is in ordinary human experience that God is revealed. The focus of this kind of spiritual direction practised by members of CSD is clearly on experience rather than ideas, and especially that dimension of experience that evokes the presence of the mysterious Other whom we call God.”

Sr Rita Malavisi RSJ is the current interim chair of CSD Australia.

To learn more about spiritual direction in Australia, visit the new website. at www.csdaustralia.com.