Sacred Encounter Ministry

Fr Alex is a Discalced Carmelite priest and the director of CACS. Biblical scholar and historian by training. Spiritual Direction certification through Franciscan Study Centre, Kent, England. Trained as a reflective pastoral supervisor for individuals and groups.

Fr Kelvin is a Discalced Carmelite priest and a formator on the CACS Spiritual Direction Formation Programme. Accredited member of the Association of Pastoral Supervisors and Educators (APSE). Fr Kelvin offers group and individual spiritual direction and supervision.

Fr Yamai is a Discalced Carmelite priest and trained in pastoral supervision. He has extensive experience in spiritual direction, supervision and individual retreat guidance.

I have been married for 30 years with two adult children. I have been a member of OCDS for over 20 years. I love to hike, travel and learn about other cultures, read, write, drink coffee, and dance. I follow the way of beauty and merciful love found in Carmel, and seek to abide in this with receptivity and expand in this space amidst my littleness, so that I can share it with others through spiritual direction, retreats, talks and writing.

I am a retired software engineer and agile software coach. I have a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Business, a Project Management Professional and Agile Coach certifications.

I am a wife, a mother of 4 and a grandmother of 11. I belong to the Catholic Church of St Patrick’s in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota of the Archdiocese of St Paul and Minneapolis. I enjoy caring for my home, traveling, bike riding, reading, time with my family and friends, and I dabble in writing. My blog is at www.advicefrommymom.net. I graduated with a diploma in spiritual direction from the Spiritual Direction Formation Programme in the Carmelite tradition in October 2023 offered by the Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality (CACS).

I am a Third Order Franciscan (OFS) and a Cursillista. I love our Lord and spending time with Him in contemplative prayer and have been under the direction of a Third Order Carmelite spiritual director for many years. I offer spiritual direction in the Carmelite tradition with the Holy Spirit as your spiritual director and myself as His servant. I am also a trained reflective pastoral supervisor, offering a safe and sacred space for support and accountability to anyone in ministry who wishes to share. Peace and All Good to you.

Marc is a wilderness guide and spiritual mentor who has always felt closest to God out in creation. A mid-life crisis of faith turned him from an evangelical with all the answers into a spiritual seeker lost in the darkness. He studied and practiced many of the world’s wisdom traditions and spiritualities, but it was John of the Cross who showed him that the Dark Night is an essential part of the journey to union with Christ. This ten year journey led him to then train with the Carmelites as a Spiritual Director. Marc’s passion is helping people make sense of the spiritual journey, and connecting with themselves, with the creation, and with the Creator. He has much experience of different esoteric traditions both ancient and modern, and believes that the heart of spirituality is opening to Love and living with an awareness of the divine presence who is always with us. Marc lives with his wife and children in Africa.

Lynn specialises in Carmelite Spirituality, Christian meditation, contemplation, and inner sanctification. She serves as a spiritual director for individuals and groups, and she is available as a reflective pastoral supervisor. Lynn is a definitively professed member of the Discalced Carmelite Secular Order (OCDS). In community she previously served as president, council member, formator, and newsletter editor. In addition, she previously

served on the OCDS Provincial Council for the California-Arizona Province of St. Joseph.

Being accompanied by a Spiritual Director for many years has led to the kind of inner freedom that still takes me by surprise and continues to be an ongoing source of sustenance, humour and all kinds of discovery. Studying with the Carmelites at Boars Hill, having completed their Diploma course in Spiritual Direction in Oxford in 2020, I can offer you a space that is yours to question, explore and ponder where, who and how God is at work in your life. This can and does lead to experiencing more deeply the very personal relationship which draws you closer to God and draws Him closer to you. Having grown up in Ireland, living near Glasgow for about 30 years, I am self-employed part-time as an accredited Cognitive Behavioural Therapist. As a Mum and grandma, I can only marvel at the many and varied ways God speaks to us in the day to day. I have been a secular Carmelite since 1998, and familiar with the times when nothing seems to be happening, when your sense of God seems to vanish and prayer becomes a struggle. Discerning that it’s all part of the journey, and having an experienced and understanding accompanier to sound things out with can be a blessing.

I have also trained and qualified as a Reflective Supervisor, having completed the Reflective Pastoral Supervision course offered by the Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality. Now I am available to offer a safe and nurturing space online to those seeking supervision from a variety of pastoral settings and different traditions.

I am a lay missionary and Spiritual Director/Pastoral Supervisor in the Roman Catholic tradition. I trained as a spiritual director through the two-year formation programme offered by the Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality (CACS) and their ‘Pastoral Supervision Programme’ and I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Theology for Ministry from the University of Cambridge. My experience spans both the charismatic and contemplative streams of Christian spirituality, and I value the richness that each brings to the life of prayer. At the heart of my ministry is a desire to accompany others as they grow into who God calls them to be, deepening their awareness of His presence and their relationship with Him. My vocation has long been rooted in pastoral care, which I find profoundly life-giving. As a trained Pastoral Supervisor I invite those engaged in ministry into a secure and prayerful online space where your experience is honoured and your journey is held with care. Supervision offers a place of attentive listening, accountability and gentle guidance, as well as space to be encouraged and renewed, trusting that God is at Work in every season of your calling. In recent years, I have also become increasingly attentive to the place of neurodiversity in our spiritual lives. My diagnosis of dyslexia in my mid-forties has deepened my self-knowledge and compassion, and has enriched the way I accompany others in their own uniqueness.

I see spiritual accompaniment as two friends walking one another home, attentive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Martha Hanley, a 2023 graduate of the CACS Spiritual Direction Formation Programme, lives in Iowa, USA, and is a Carmelite Secular. As she meets with those seeking to detect the actions of God in their lives, she sees the power of holy listening and of holding space for the Holy Spirit, the true director. She has particular interest in the impact of disability on individuals and families. She is available for supervision, having received training through CACS in 2025.

For several years I worked in the UK as a lay missionary in evangelisation and am now parish-based. My spirituality is rooted in the Roman Catholic tradition and I participate in both the contemplative and charismatic streams of the Church. My formation in spiritual direction began with a two-year course in the Carmelite tradition through the Centre for Applied Carmelite Spirituality (CACS).

For me, spiritual accompaniment is a shared journey in which directee and director walk together in attentive search of God within the everyday events of life. As this journey unfolds, self-knowledge deepens and we discover anew that God has always been waiting for our desire and longing for a closer relationship with Him. The Holy Spirit continually invites us to draw nearer, encouraging a greater openness to God’s loving presence and action. As a trained reflective pastoral supervisor, I invite those engaged in ministry into a secure and prayerful online space where your experience is honoured and your journey is held with care. Supervision offers a place of attentive listening, accountability and gentle guidance, as well as space to be encouraged and renewed, trusting that God is at work in every season of your calling. Having completed the Reflective Pastoral Supervision course with CACS, I would be glad to accompany and support you as we seek together the Spirit’s wisdom, consolation and growth.

Michael Woodward has a love of both Carmelite and Benedictine spirituality. He was elected first leader of the Lay Community of Saint Benedict in 2003.

He is an experienced spiritual director having been formed at the Centre for Carmelite Spirituality in Oxford, following earlier participation in an Ecumenical Ignatian accompaniment team in South Wales. Michael brings extensive experience in leading retreats and pilgrimages. During spiritual direction he offers a safe space to explore your spiritual journey towards a deeper relationship with God. You will take time to explore what God is doing in your life, and seek to listen and respond with grace and compassion to the guidance of the Holy Spirit during the session.

During spiritual direction I offer a safe space to explore your spiritual journey towards a deeper relationship with God. We will take time to explore what God is doing in your life, and seek to listen and respond with grace and compassion to the guidance of the Holy Spirit during the session. I graduated from the SDTP with CACS in 2022 and now offer Carmelite spiritual direction online via Zoom. I am happy to work with all people of faith, including those who are tentatively questioning or exploring their spirituality.

I am a Secular Carmelite and member of the mid-Wales OCDS group. I am married with two grown-up sons, and have lived in a small village in rural mid-Wales for 24 years. I am also a qualified social worker and work part-time for the Local Authority.

I trained originally as a Nurse and went on to work in the community as a Health Visitor and Community Practice Teacher.

As an Accredited Counsellor I have over 25 years’ experience of offering therapy and as an experienced Spiritual Director since 2013 in both Ignatian and Carmelite Spirituality with an MA in Pastoral Theology and involvement in catechesis, I am also a Secular Carmelite. I see people in person, on Zoom and for the camera shy by telephone. Although a cradle Catholic myself I have an ecumenical outlook that I believe is welcoming to all on the spiritual journey. I have a background professionally as a clinical supervisor and trained in supervision for spiritual direction in 2019.

I am dedicated to guiding individuals on their spiritual journey through the ancient practice of Contemplative Spiritual Accompaniment. I offer a space where we can together delve into the depths of your being, nurturing an authentic connection with Spirit. Drawing from both ancient wisdom and modern insights, I facilitate a process of deep inner exploration, inviting you to “take a long, loving look at the real.” As a trained spiritual director and Internal Family System (IFS) therapist, I accompany you on this journey with compassion and reverence, supporting you in a safe sacred space of exploration and discovery, I honour the uniqueness of your path and the diversity of spiritual backgrounds. Whether you resonate with established traditions, other faith traditions, or creative worldviews, I am here to walk alongside you, offering guidance and support. My journey of learning and growth includes a Diploma in Contemplative Spiritual Accompaniment from the Carmelites in Oxford. I trained at the Centre for Action and Contemplation’s Living School, as well as a Masters in Applied Spirituality. Together. Let us embark on a pilgrimage of the soul, where we honor the sacredness of each moment and each breath, allowing your true self to unfold and thrive in the embrace of divine love.

I live in a small village above the river Wye where I moved from Cambridge 6 years ago. From a rational, scientific anti-religion background I gradually found – it was found by – God through music, history, grace and John of the Cross. I spent several years in a contemplative Benedictine monastery: the need for contemplative prayer has never left me and for years I struggled to assuage the hunger for the desert and the call of the inner space. The result was a long dark night but one fortunately punctuated with glimmers of light. Once freed from the toils of wage slavery I was able to embrace more music and prayer. did the first spiritual direction training programme with the Carmelites and now am a joyous alumna of CACS. I now spend my time singing early music, lead a Lectio Divina group at Belmont Abbey, with others am exploring a new form of coenobium. I have a small

but growing group of directees and am an associate of the Cistercian monastery at Whitland.

I live in the Bristol and South Gloucestershire area and am a graduate of the Carmelite Spiritual Direction Formation Programme and the Carmelite Reflective Supervision Programme. It has been a privilege to accompany fellow travellers on their journey into the realisation of the depth of their relationship with our Triune God, with Christ at the centre of their lives in the many ministries in which I have worked over the years. In my various ministries, supervision has been central to the development of my practice as a minister and chaplain. My background is as a National Health Service Chaplain, and I have worked in domestic violence and sexual abuse charities. I have also held a number of ministries as a secular Franciscan.

Academically alongside the Carmelite spiritual direction and supervision programmes, I hold a Master’s degree in Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy from the Cambridge Theological Federation and blend my love of the centrality of Christ in the midst of Creation with the depth of Carmelite teaching of the soul’s journey to God.

I am Fr. Martin prior and novice master in Carmel community of Bruges. I was ordained priest in 2015. Followed a 2-year programme of spirituality in Toulouse (France), then followed a 2 year programme in SD at CACS Oxford from 2020-2022. In 2023 I was asked to be novicemaster.

Two statements from Christians from very different eras underpin my understanding of what we are about in spiritual direction: “To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him the greatest human achievement.” Saint Augustine

“It may be said that the chief purpose of life, for any one of us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all the means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks.” JRR Tolkien.

So my guiding image is of the spiritual director as spiritual midwife; my inspiration and model for this ministry is the figure of St Francis de Sales. I try to bring to it all I continue to receive from Benedictine, Carmelite and Salesian spirituality; from academic study of literature, the Fathers of the Church and catechesis; from work as pastoral assistant in parish and university chaplaincy; from school and university level teaching; from early training and experience in social work. Insights from therapy and training with Frank Lake in Clinical Theology remain foundational for my understanding of the relationship between spirituality and psychology, especially in experiences of darkness and apparent dereliction. Above all, though, I hope I bring to it my own desire for God and awareness of the personal reality of Y B Yeats’ lines I must lie down where all the ladders start/ In the foul rag and bone shop of the heart.

I trained with Carmelite friars through Springs of Carmel in Preston and followed this up with the Art of Spiritual Accompaniment course in Sheffield; from its inception, I’ve been involved with the Carmelite Spiritual Direction Formation Programme as teacher and accompanier, and in preparation for that gained, an APSE Certificate in Pastoral Supervision. At the moment, I meet with directees online or by phone but am happy to meet in person where this is practicable.

I am a Certified Supervisor from IPSRP (Institute of Pastoral Supervision and Reflective Practice) and a member of APSE (Association for Pastoral Supervision) working towards becoming an Accredited member of APSE.

My journey started as a BACP counsellor, in bereavement, substance abuse, with people affected by cancer and their families (MacMillan training). All such experience consistently confirmed that the spiritual dimension is essential to all well-being (C. Jung). In 2021, I became an OCDS and qualified as Spiritual Director with CACS. Since then, I have been working as a Spiritual Director and Accompanier through the CACS Sacred Encounter Ministry. To spiritual directors in training or practising, I offer spiritual support in relation to God’s presence in their lives like to find meanings, make decisions or face difficulties, and more. As a Certified Supervisor and member of APSE, I offer supervisees, like chaplains, pastors, ministers, spiritual or prayer group leaders, supervision on their pastoral work. I consider both roles as a vocation and because of this I offer my work and experience as a volunteer to all who might require it, of whichever faith, denomination or just within a spiritual frame. I work on zoom if people prefer, offering on both media the safe formative and spiritual space needed for such work together.

I discovered my spiritual home when I returned to the Catholic faith after a number of years without it. Since coming back into the Church, I have sought to explore my faith more deeply and this led me to study prayer life. Subsequently I trained as a spiritual director and supervisor. I offer space and active listening journeying with individuals to encourage and affirm them in discovering their own spiritual needs and development.

I have one daughter and live in Cheshire, England. I have worked in the probation and prison services with offenders and staff, assisting individuals to move forward with their lives and careers. I have an interest and experience in restorative justice. Now retired, I find creative outlets in painting and writing.

I experience life as one of movement, hence the photo of myself in a car. Central to that movement is my growing relationship in intimacy with God which Carmelite Spirituality and belonging to the Carmelite religious and lay community of CACS and my local parish continues to be nurturing and life giving. My CACS training as a spiritual director was inspiring and enriching. This was followed some years later by a contrasting, robust and wonderful training as a supervisor by the Jesuits.

I work in supervision and project management in Spiritual Communities, my work now focuses mainly on supervising those undertaking spiritual direction, leadership roles, or project management.

Previous to this I have worked extensively in different voluntary ministries in the church and have held paid professional senior educational roles in a university, the Catholic Education Service, and other sectors in education in the UK.

I enjoy working as a supervisor with:

those recently qualified as spiritual directors

or with Spiritual directors or pastoral or parish leaders who are leading innovation and transition in a systemic sense in their parish or religious community

those spiritually directing directees with mental health issues or identifying as having ongoing trauma

I am married with an adult son who joined our family at five years, I have learnt much about what it is to be human and overcome adversity from my son, from being married for many years, and from the many teams I have been a member of. I am inspired by St. Teresa of Avila’s a leader and by her deep understanding of so much about the human journey on earth and the path to heaven. I am also inspired by the spirituality of John of the Cross and St. Therese of Lisieux. They both enabled me to see suffering and non attachment in new ways. Having always lived in global cities I am committed to inter-faith dialogue and to working for the common good in society.

Formerly a physician, I am now working as a parish priest in the Church of England. Married with three children, I have been offering Spiritual Accompaniment since 2009.

Vivien is a Carmelite Secular with a particular love for the spirituality of St John of the Cross. She completed CACS Spiritual Direction Formation Programme in 2022 and has continued to accompany subsequent students and provide group facilitation. She works professionally as an academic and has significant experience mentoring young professionals. Vivien is married with a teenage son. Thanks to her family background, she also speaks fluent Spanish. She has lived on both sides of the Atlantic, now being based in Oxford UK in the GMT time zone.

Discalced Carmelite priest and a formator on the CACS Spiritual Direction Formation Programme. Fr Liam brings many years of experience in pastoral and retreat ministry to the practice of spiritual direction and supervision.

Anne completed the Carmelite SDFP in 2025 and provides SD both in person and via Zoom. She also facilitates Contemplative Circle small groups at her local parish and is in formation as a Secular Carmelite. It’s Anne’s joy and desire, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to accompany others as they grow in closer relationship with Jesus and a greater awareness of self.

I am a Discalced Carmelite Friar and a priest with many years of experience in spiritual and retreat directions as well as spiritual accompaniment. I offer a safe space for spiritual encounters, exploring the direction where the Holy Spirit may be leading each you to a divine union. I welcome seekers and spiritual travellers from the Christian religion who are willing to discern God’s direction for them on this journey. I hold a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, a Master’s degree in Carmelite Studies and have been trained in the Spiritual Direction Formation Programme at Centre for Applied Carmelite Studies, Boars Hill, Oxford. I am also hold a certificate in Pastoral Supervision and Reflective Practice from The Institute of Pastoral Supervision and Reflective Practice (IPSRP). I have experience working as a Rector and Director of Students (formator) in Carmelite House of Studies.

Ian has enjoyed a deep sense of belonging to the Carmelite tradition since reading the poems of St John of the Cross in 1996, and then making the first of many retreats at the priory at Boars Hill.

He seeks to allow the love, devotion and insight of the Carmelite saints and blessed ones to shape his prayer, his life and his spiritual direction. As Beloved Life with his wife Gail, he leads retreats – themes for 2026 include ‘Strong in Love, Peaceful and Restful – the blessing of Julian of Norwich’ and ‘Let it Be – living boldly and generously with Mary and Joseph’. His experience is that beauty is a doorway to goodness and truth, and I seek to share that possibility through writing and photography. He is an Anglican priest, Spirituality Lead at Church Mission Society and author with Canterbury Press..

After many years immersed in Carmelite spirituality and lay communities in the UK and Italy, drawing from this contemplative tradition, Lizzie offers a gentle, reflective space for both spiritual direction and pastoral supervision. Through prayerful attentiveness, together we can discover God’s loving presence in every aspect of your life. With deep listening to your sacred story, identifying formative experiences and discerning how you are being called to deeper inner freedom, you can learn to live and flourish ever more deeply in the joy of the Lord. Learn too about contemplative prayer, gaining unique insights into your own heart and deeper union with God: precious, welcomed, accepted and loved.

Whether you are at a crossroads, discerning vocation or next life steps, facing difficulties, loss, seeking inner healing, or want to go deeper in your relationship with God, desiring to know yourself better, Lizzie offers individual or small group spiritual direction in the form of Carmelite contemplative circles.

Listening deeply, with empathy and compassion, you collaborate in a mutual exploration of your practice to reflect theologically as you grow in God directed self-awareness and discern the movements of the Holy Spirit in your practice, in a welcoming accepting space that values you and fosters your growth. Supervision is an opportunity to pay attention to the wisdom revealed in your pastoral encounters, helping you to lead from a more grounded and resilient place in your patience.

Drawing upon the theories and models of pastoral supervision, you will reflect on the content, process, and relational aspects of your work, embarking on an inner journey into your ministry. Listening to your internal experience, as you reflect on your work, incorporate skills to help you stay aware of your own reactions, triggers and unconscious dynamics to reinforce healthy boundaries within the space and grow in confidence, for the sake of those you serve.

I am a cradle Catholic who has been married to my wife Lisa for 38 years. We have 6 children and 6 grandchildren with more on the way. I reside in the Chicago IL area. I was a minister of care in a hospital for nearly 20 years. I completed a 2 year Lay Ministry training offered by the Archdiocese of Chicago in 2005 and studied spirituality at Catholic Theological Union (CTU). I completed an extensive study of St. John Paul II‘s Theology of the Body with the Theology of the Body Institute in Pennsylvania.

In 2015 I graduated from a 3 year Spiritual Direction Internship, training in the Ignatian Tradition. In 2020 I finished the 2 yr. Living School with the Center for Action & Contemplation (CAC) located in Albuquerque NM. In 2025 I graduated from the 2 year spiritual direction training in the Carmelite tradition through CACS.

In addition to Carmelite and Ignatian spirituality, and a Theology of the Body perspective, I have done a lot of work immersed in nature using it as a mirror for our wholeness and deepening our relationship with God.

I believe God’s love is all encompassing and can be found in every situation. God desires our healing and wholeness more than we can imagine and continuously beckons us to it using all of creation to reveal His infinite love for us.

As a Secular Carmelite and graduate of the Carmelite Institute of Spirituality (CACS), I offer spiritual direction grounded in the rich, contemplative tradition of Carmel.

Inspired especially by St. John of the Cross and St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, my approach invites the soul into deeper silence, interior stillness, and loving union with our most Tender Lord.

With an M.A. in Rehabilitation Counseling and a professional background as a Catholic counselor, I have spent decades walking with others through seasons of healing, discernment, and transformation. Now, as I enter a new season of life, I feel called to more fully dedicate myself to the ministry of spiritual direction.

I accompany those who long to grow in prayer, seek clarity in times of transition, or simply desire a deeper awareness of God’s indwelling presence. I strive to hold a gentle, attentive space where the Holy Spirit can move freely and where souls can rest in Him.