Spirituality is an integral part of the Diocese of Charleston and the Office of Spiritual Directors has been created to help promote and expand the practice of spiritual direction in the Diocese as part of the ministry of the local parish.

There are 53 approved Catholic spiritual directors within our Diocese. There are currently ten students in training through Spring Hill College to become Catholic spiritual directors by May 2026.

If you have any questions about spiritual direction, please do not hesitate to contact Deacon Tom Whalen, Coordinator, Office of Spiritual Directors of the Diocese of Charleston at 864-525-0010 or email Deacon Tom Whalen.

God bless you on your journey.

Spiritual direction is a time-honored tradition of the Catholic Church in which a person listens and responds to God’s invitation to draw closer into a relationship. The Spiritual director is educated and experienced in the ways God may be moving, directly or indirectly in a person’s life. In this faith-based process, the spiritual director is present to help the directee develop a greater awareness of God’s personal communication, grow in closeness with God and live God’s desire for his/her life through prayer, discernment, and action. The director walks as a companion on God’s path, by offering holy listening skills and spiritual support. Spiritual direction is neither psychotherapy nor pastoral counseling that aims to solve specific problems.