Spiritual Directors
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee provides this information to assist you in seeking a spiritual director. The inclusion of a spiritual director on this list does not imply approval or endorsement on the part of the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is not responsible for these people in anyway or for any claims that may arise as a result of the use of the information provided. Rather, the Archdiocese recognizes that these people are Catholics who have received training or have experience in the area of spiritual direction. You are urged to inquire into the qualifications of any potential spiritual director.
Reverend Richard A. Boever, C.Ss.R.
Redemptorist Retreat Center
1800 N. Timber Trail Lane
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
262-567-6900
Reverend Richard Boever is the Director of the Redemptorist Retreat Center in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. He was ordained a priest in 1973 and holds a PhD in Historical Theology. With many years of experience as a director, he describes his style as “non-directive and reflective”. His fee is $35 with no charge for an initial session.
Miriam Brown, O.P.
Siena Center
5635 Erie Street
Racine, WI 53402
262-639-4100 x 1244
Miriam is a retreat facilitator and spiritual director on staff at Siena Retreat Center, Racine, Wisconsin. She holds masters degrees in English and Religious Studies and was trained in spiritual guidance at Claret Center in Chicago. She serves on the leadership team of the Spiritual Guidance Training Program at Siena Center. Miriam listens with the directee for the signs of grace flowing through experiences and situations of life, while letting inner wisdom unfold. She has a sliding scale: $35-$50.
Dawn Capilupo, OSF
4183 N. Bartlett Avenue
Shorewood, WI 53211
414-332-3557
Sister Dawn has a Masters Degree in Franciscan Studies and Spirituality from St. Bonaventure University, New York. She holds a Certificate of Completion for Spiritual Direction and Leadership from the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland. Spiritual direction is her fulltime ministry, which she understands to be “watching the movement of God.” She uses the Franciscan spiritual tradition, Scripture and literature, myth and folktales, as well as the lens of Jungian psychology as her resources. She has a sliding scale of $45-$125 per session.
Jennifer Christ
167 W. Armour Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53207
414-481-1987
Jennifer is a freelance consultant in ministry throughout the archdiocese of Milwaukee. She is a speaker, writer, retreat facilitator, spiritual director, and an instructor in the Diaconate Formation Program for the diocese. Jennifer holds a BS in Education, an MTS from Saint Francis Seminary, and a certificate in spiritual guidance from the Spiritual Guidance Training Program at Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin. She is married and the mother of four young adult children. She meets with seekers in her home office for sessions that are prayerful and led by the Holy Spirit. Her fee range is $30-$55 with provisions for financial need.
Mary DeSantis
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Spirituality Center
2604 N Swan Blvd.
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
414-258-2604, Ext. 27
Mary is a Consecrated Virgin in the Order of Virgins. She offers spiritual direction fulltime in English and Spanish and also serves as a Spirituality Consultant to the Vocations Office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Mary holds graduate degrees in Systematic Theology and Christian Spirituality and a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Directed Retreats. She allows the Holy Spirit to take the lead in her sessions, while using her gifts, training, and experience to gently illuminate the work of the Spirit in the lives of her directees. She has found Ignatian Discernment to be very helpful in her work. Please call to inquire about fee.
Stella DeVenuta, OSF
3221 South Lake Drive
Milwaukee, WI 53235
414-581-4006
stellaosf@lakeosfs.org
Stella is a Sister of St. Francis Assisi, and an artist. Her certificate in spiritual guidance is from the Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin. She holds a MA degree in art education as well as certifications in theology, Capacitar, campus ministry, and the use of the Mandala. She considers the primary focus of direction as listening for the "presence" of the Holy in each person’s sacred life story. Stella utilizes guided imagery, creativity and reflective questions to invite the seeker into living into their own intuitive wisdom to deepen their relationship with God and Spirit. She has a sliding scale: $40-90.
Judith Deysach
Holy Apostles Parish
16000 W. National Avenue
New Berlin, WI 53151
262-786-2035, X109
Judith is the Director of Youth Ministry at Holy Apostles Parish in New Berlin, Wisconsin. She holds a MAPS degree from Saint Francis Seminary and received training as a spiritual director at the Institute of Spiritual Companionship. Using an incarnational approach, Judith serves as companion, listening as the directee recounts his/her story. Areas of exploration such prayer, dreamwork, imagery, focusing, and personality awareness allow the directee to get in touch with his/her inner life. Judith’s fee is $40 per session.
Sister Arlene Einwalter, SSSF
My Good Mourning Place
4005 W. Oklahoma Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53215
414-212-8976
Sr. Arlene is a School Sister of St. Francis whose primary ministry is counseling, spiritual direction, and education. She holds masters degrees in religious education and theology, as well as an Associate Degree in Hospice, Grief Counseling, and Death Education. She has done extensive work as a grief counselor. In spiritual direction she uses prayer, meditation, guided imagery, association, and the enneagram as tools to help a person find God in the stuff of their everyday lives. She has a sliding scale of $60-75 with provision for financial hardship.
Jim Gill
5699 Cardinal Ct
Greendale, WI 53129
414-421-4626
Jim is Religious Education Director at St. Mary’s Parish, Waukesha, Wisconsin. He holds an MA in Religious Studies with post-grad studies in scripture, theology, and spirituality. He received his Certificate in Spiritual Guidance from Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Jim is an Associate of the School Sisters of Notre Dame and is experienced in Benedictine and Celtic spiritualities. He describes his style as “compassionate and supportive.” Jim’s fee is $40.
Alice Hatzenbeller
4376 South 52nd Street
Greenfield, WI 53220
414-327-7873
Alice is a Pastoral Care Minister with a MAPS degree from Saint Francis Seminary and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Mercy Center, Colorado. She believes prayer, deep and holy listening, presence and attentiveness are essential to the sacred, confidential process of spiritual direction. She sees her role as holding up a mirror for the person, helping them uncover and ponder their lived experiences: the joys, challenges, shortcomings and their holy longings. Alice charges $35 per session.
Sr. Eileen Kazmierowicz
St. Alphonsus Parish
5960 West Loomis Road
Greendale, WI 53129
414-421-0690, ext. 424
Sr. Eileen is the Director of Adult Formation and Development at St. Alphonsus Parish in Greendale, Wisconsin. She holds an MA in Education and Theology, a D.Min with focus on adult spiritual formation, and a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Spirituality. She received her certificate in spiritual direction from the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. She approaches each person uniquely, listening to their faith journey, and encouraging faith and life connections. Her fee is $25 per session, with no charge for an initial session.
Deacon Dan Kehrer
4816 7th Avenue
Kenosha, WI 53140
262-551-8170
Dan is an ordained deacon for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. He holds a certificate in spiritual guidance from the Spiritual Guidance Training Program at Siena Center, Racine, Wisconsin. Dan considers himself a companion on the directee’s journey to a deeper relationship with God. He helps one to listen and hear God speaking in the midst of all the events of life. Dan does not charge for his sessions.
Sr. Ann Kelley
5727 S. 23 Street
Milwaukee, WI 53221
414-282-5326
Sr. Ann is a Sister of St. Francis of Assisi who has experienced a deep on-going call to accompany others on their spiritual journey. Answering this call she has earned a Master’s degree in Christian Spirituality with a concentration in spiritual direction and retreat direction from Creighton University and a MAPS degree from Loyola of Chicago. She also has certificates in Holistic Growth; and Healing, Transformation and Empowerment. Ann is committed to relying on the Spirit’s creative movements during sessions, and in promoting relationships with the Holy One, self, others and creation which are intimate, integrated and authentic. Her fee is negotiable.
Doris Klein, CSA
1522 N. 52nd Street
Milwaukee, WI 53208
414-476-4127
Sr. Doris is a spiritual director, artist, and author. She holds a BS in art education and an MS in Secondary School Administration, as well as a certificate in spiritual guidance from the Spiritual Guidance Training Program at Siena Center, Racine, Wisconsin. She directs out of an inclusive spirituality that draws on the mystical experience of the Mystery we name God. She believes the wisdom and grace in individuals longs to be expressed in a setting free of judgment, shame, and fear. She listens and mirrors back, often using deepening questions and metaphors. She has a sliding scale: $30-$75.
Mary Michna, O.P.
Siena Center
5635 Erie Street
Racine, Wisconsin 53402
262-639-4100, Ext. 1301
Mary Michna is a Racine Dominican who has had extensive experience ministering to men and women seeking Spiritual Direction. She has an M.A. in Scripture and Theology and Spiritual Direction Certification through studies at Fordham University. Her fee for Direction is $30. She is also certified and has led some through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius over 30 weeks-- the 19th Annotation-- while engaging in one's regular ministry. If interested for more information on this. Simply call her at Siena Center where she lives.
Joan Penzenstadler, SSND
Mount Mary College
2900 N. Menomonee River Pkwy.
Milwaukee, WI 53222
414-256-1226
Joan is Vice President of Mission for the School Sisters of Notre Dame. She holds a Ph.D. in theology and education from Boston College as well as a certificate in Spiritual Guidance from Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Joan tries to provide a space where the Spirit of Truth can emerge and where the directee knows s/he is safe and heard and called to grow. Joan meets with directees at her office on the campus of Mount Mary College. She has a sliding scale: $30-60.
Lynn Ann Reesman
St. Mary’s Visitation Parish
13000 Juneau Blvd.
Elm Grove, WI 53122
262-782-7057 or 262-674-1027
Lynn Ann is a school principal, wife, mother, and grandmother. She holds various degrees including a MAPS from Saint Francis Seminary, an MA in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University, and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction and Directed Retreats from Creighton University. Formed in Ignatian spirituality, she believes spiritual direction to be a graced time during which two people of faith attune themselves intentionally to the movement of God in their hearts and lives. She sees the director’s primary role as one of listening for and assisting in the discernment of these movements in the directee. Her sliding scale is $20-$50.
Sister Kathleen Sowinski, SSSF
10444 W. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53226
414-453-1392
Sr. Kathleen does free lance work in adult formation and education. She holds various degrees including an MA from Sacred Heart School of Theology in Franklin, Wisconsin, and a Certificate in Spiritual Guidance from the Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin. Sr. Kathleen sees her role as assisting the seeker in becoming more aware of God’s presence in his or her life. As director, she helps to nourish the “God-seed” within the person. Fee: $40, with provisions for financial need.
Sr. Mary Jane Wagner, SSSF
1501 S. Layton Blvd.
Milwaukee, WI 53215
414-481-1464
Sr. Mary Jane is a liturgical musician, holding degrees in theology, liturgy, and religious studies, as well as a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Claret Center in Hyde Park, Chicago. She listens for the Spirit speaking in both words and silence, tears and laughter. Her directees have described her as “gentle, but firm.” Her fee is negotiable.