Bonnie Bar recently graduated from the Alleluia School of Spiritual Direction, Augusta, GA, and received certification as a spiritual director.  The school meets on the campus of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Augusta and each session if likened to a “spiritual boot camp.” The program consists of three two-week sessions over a period of two years, with each day’s session lasting from eight to twelve hours, including weekends. The contents of the sessions focus on prayer, healing and growth and the foundational elements of spiritual direction.

Course topics include Elements of Spiritual Direction, Introduction to Prayer, Living the Discerning Life, The Spirituality and Prayer of the Spiritual Director, The Theory and Practice of Healing Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, The Person of Christ, Maturity in Christ, and Life in the Spirit and Operating in the Gifts.

To receive certification, the student must complete all reading and writing assignments between the sessions, be under the direction of a spiritual director, and complete an additional supervised practicum over a period of sixteen weeks.

Spiritual Direction is defined as “a relationship through which a person comes to better know and follow Christ through the help of a spiritual coach.” Spiritual direction is not a Bible study session and is not counseling or therapy. It is not a “gripe session” about the frustrations of life. Spiritual direction does draw upon scripture and can include a discussion of struggles, some counseling, and addressing current crises. Primarily,” a spiritual director assists a person with their relationship with God, their prayer life, and their response to God’s call.”

Mrs. Bar is a prayer minister and a Eucharistic Minister serving at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Sharpsburg, GA. She is a retired Associate Professor of Nursing at the University of West Georgia. She and her husband, Gerhard, reside in Carrollton.