Artist: Therese Quinn

NEWS FROM NATIONAL CHAIR

From the National Chair

Universal Themes of Life

In 2017, Pixar released a children’s musical fantasy movie called Coco, about the Mexican day of the dead or Día de los Muertos.  Every year at the beginning of November, I watch this movie. I also use this movie for Eucharist Faith formation sessions with children and their parents.  The movie’s exploration of family, memory and tradition resonates deeply with me. In my family, we visit the graves of our loved ones more than once a year, and in particular on All Souls Day.  All of us have experienced the loss of loved ones.  Coco invites us to reflect on the importance of honouring our ancestors and keeping their legacies alive, a theme that is comforting and thought-provoking. The movie allows me to appreciate the rich cultural representation with the universal themes of life, death and remembrance. The movie also tackles the ideas of identity, purpose and forgiveness.

If you are with me on All Souls Day, you may get lucky, and know what movie I will be watching that night.As we are in the month of November, may we keep remembering and giving thanks for we are standing on the shoulders of the ones who went before us. 

With every blessing on your ministry.

Rita Malavisi rsj

National Chair

 

BOOK REVIEWS

Enneagram Companions: Growing in Relationship and Spiritual Direction by Suzanne Zuercher reviewed by Patricia Naughton. here

Present Moment, Wonderful Moment by Thich Nhat Hanh reviewed by Fran Smullen. here

Spiritual Direction Supervision: Principles, Practices, Storytelling by Lucy Abbott Tucker reviewed by David King. here

Conversations with Silence: Rosetta Stone on the Soul by Sally Longley reviewed by Maureen O’Halloran. here

Walking the Labyrinth as the Beloved in John’s Gospel by Sally Longley reviewed by Marie O’Shea. here

The Immortal Diamond: The search for the True Self  by Richard Rohr reviewed by Gerry Kalinowski. here

Christ-Figures: There on our Screens by Peter Malone msc reviewed by Rita Malavisi. here

The Simple Care of a Hopeful Heart: Mentoring Yourself in Difficult Times by Robert J Wicks reviewed by Gail Paxman. here

Intercultural Ministry: Hope for aa Changing World by Grace Ji Sun Kim and Jann Aldredge – Clanton (Eds) reviewed by Gail Reneker. here

The Moment of Life: How Empowering Women Changes the World by Melinda French Gates reviewed by Rita Malavisi. here

The Life You Can Save by Peter Singer reviewed by Marlene Foote. here

The Joy of Ageing: A Spirituality for Oldies by Brian Gallagher msc reviewed by Carmel Tedesco. here

10 Minutes: Gospel Reflections for Minds & Hearts by Peter Malone msc reviewed by Jeff Hood. here

Strengthening Spirit – Releasing Potential: Spiritual Direction for Leadership and Organizational Development by Bernadette Miles Read a review by Kristen Hobby here.

Three recent book releases from Brian Gallagher MSC can be viewed here.
Set Me Free: Spiritual Direction and Discernment of Spirits;
The Eyes of God: Living Discernment;
God’s Foolishness: A Spirituality of Heart.

No Greater Love by Brian Gallagher MSC. Read a review by Michelle Vass here.

See with the eyes of the heart by Chris Monaghan CP. Read a review by Tim McCowan here.

Grace by Michael Casey OCSO. Read a review by Tim Moloney CFC here.

AECSD CODE OF ETHICS

Code of Ethics for Spiritual Directors (Revised March 2019)

Introduction

In presenting this revised Code of Ethics we acknowledge the desire of the gathering of religious leaders to preserve the integrity of the practice of spiritual direction. We also acknowledge and give thanks for the wisdom and dreaming of the interim council which led to the birth of AECSD. ….

For the full text of the revised AECSD Code of Ethics click here.