About Us
Souljourners is an in-person, three-year spiritual formation program for the training of spiritual directors, at Sophia Spirituality Center in Atchison, Kansas.
If you are experiencing a call to spiritual renewal and at the same time want to learn the skills of discernment and deep listening to God, yourself, and others, consider attending one of our Zoom or in-person Souljourners Inquiry Sessions, facilitated by Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB:
- March 16, 2023, Thursday, 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (Zoom)
- April 22, 2023, Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. (on-site)
- May 16, 2023, Tuesday, 3:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. (Zoom)
While these sessions are free, we ask that you register at least one week prior to the inquiry session you plan to attend. Persons attending via Zoom will receive an email message with a meeting link the day before the session.
Please note that the application deadline to begin the next Souljourners class, which starts in the fall of 2023, is May 31, 2023. For any questions, please reach out directly to Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB at 913-426-7355.
These sessions provide:
- An introduction to the Souljourners program
- An explanation of a spiritual direction session
- Time for questions and concerns
- Time for prayer and reflection on your call
- A tour of Sophia Center, where we host Souljourners weekend classes (on-site sessions only).
For more information, contact
Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB
Director of Souljourners
Sophia Center
751 South 8th Street
Atchison, Kansas 66002
913-426-7355
Student Requirements
One year of course work in the “Knowledge of God and the Christian Spiritual Tradition”.
One year of course work in the “Knowledge of Self and Graced Human Development”.
One year of practicum.
All Souljourners participate in a week-long residency in June during their first year in the program, and again during the second year of the program. Residency weeks take place at Sophia Center and provide an important opportunity for interaction with Souljourner faculty and fellow students.
The small group process is an important aspect of Souljourners weekend gatherings. It is through small groups, that students are given the opportunity to develop the necessary skills such as reflective listening, asking good questions, and being attentive. Through the small group experience, students establish a level of trust in which good learning can take place. They will receive suggestions and adaptations in their directing and have the opportunity to watch and learn from one another. Students are assigned to a small group and each group will have two Faculty Advisors. The small group will meet twice each Souljourner weekend and Group membership will remain the same for that year of the program.
On-Going Spiritual Direction
All students will participate in ongoing Spiritual Direction while participating in this program. To meet this program requirement, the student will meet every 4-6 weeks with a Spiritual Director outside of Souljourners.
Year 1 & 2 Requirements
For each of the two years of study, Souljourner students are expected to:
- Participate in a week-long residency in June
- Participate in 7 weekend sessions starting on Friday mid-afternoon and ending at 4:30 pm on Saturday. Students unable to attend one weekend session for pastoral or family emergencies will be expected to make up the weekend either by attending that session when it is next available or, in consultation with their advisor, determine an appropriate make-up assignment. With the emphasis placed on small group processes and the communal bonds of prayer, only one weekend absence per year is allowed.
- Completion of reading assignments
- Completion of seven Reflection Papers assigned in conjunction with the weekend/residency sessions. All papers are due one month after the session.
- Completion of five book reflections.
- Complete all of Year 1 and 2 assignments, participation in a discernment retreat, and payment of all Year 1 and 2 fees.
Supervised Spiritual Direction
In September of their second year, students will begin a supervisory experience. In preparation for this, they are to meet with one directee for monthly sessions and bring a verbatim of one of those sessions to the Souljourners weekend. This will then be used in a Supervisory Session, conducted by a Souljourners staff member. The purpose of these sessions is to provide feedback and guidance to foster further improvement of skills as a Spiritual Director.
Practicum
For the Practicum Year, Souljourner students are expected to:
- Complete all Year 2 assignments and pay all Year 2 fees.
- Participate in a three-day silent retreat and a one-day orientation at the beginning of Practicum year.
- Contract to meet monthly as a Spiritual Director with two directees for a 9 month period.
- Write verbatims from the exchanges with their directees. From these experiences, the Practicum student will note their own emotional reaction and how that impacts their own journey of conversion. This information will be shared with a professional supervisor.
- Work with a trained, approved supervisor to obtain professional supervision of their work with directees. This professional supervision will consist of 9 monthly meetings with that supervisor. The focus of supervision is always primarily the inner spiritual/emotional experience of the director.
- Meet with other practicum students at Sophia Center for input and practice in the fall and spring of the Practicum Year.
- Partake in on-going support during the Practicum – Former faculty advisors are available for assistance during the practicum year. If a student has difficulty completing the required number of supervision sessions within the Practicum Year, and upon recommendation of the faculty, the student may be granted a one-time extension for a total period of 24 months, to complete the Practicum.
Want to Help Sponsor a Souljourner?
If you would like to contribute to the support of a specific person in the Souljourners Program, please make sure to include their name in the appropriate field when you donate. We welcome and are grateful for your contribution to the Souljourners’ scholarship fund! Your support helps cover some of the costs of the program tuition.
Meet the Staff
Sister Mary Elizabeth Schweiger, OSB, is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica. She earned her master’s degree in Liturgy from St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN, and in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University. Mary Liz worked in pastoral ministry for many years in the Kansas City area. After 12 years as sub-prioress of Mount St. Scholastica, she has been on the staff of Sophia Center since 2011. She is the Director of Souljourners and Coordinator of the Oblate Directors of the Mount. Mary Liz also serves on the Community Council, does spiritual direction, and offers retreats.
Mary Kay Whitacre is a 2005 graduate of Souljourners and has been on the Souljourners staff since 2005. She has worked in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for more than 40 years. She has a master’s degree from Seattle University and has recently received her Doctor of Ministry from Seattle University. Mary Kay is Associate Director of Souljourners and does spiritual direction, supervision, and a variety of retreats.
Sister Micaela Randolph, OSB, is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica. She earned a master’s degree in Religious Education from St. Meinrad’s in Meinrad, IN in 1979 and a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in 1990. Micaela is a former Director of Initial Formation for her community. She has been ministering in Sophia Center since 2003 and served as Director of Souljourners for 15 years. She continues to serve on the staff of Souljourners along with offering spiritual direction, supervision, and retreats.
Sister Marcia Ziska, OSB, is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica. She earned her master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction. She has served in pastoral care and received her pastoral certification from Bethany Medical Center in Kansas City, KS. Currently, she serves her community as Vocation Minister and is on the staff for Souljourners. She offers spiritual direction, supervision and retreats.
Renee Bhatia is a Spiritual Director living in Overland Park, KS. She serves as a staff member of the Souljourners program from which she graduated in 2015. She received a Masters of Divinity degree from Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. She currently is studying Expressive Arts and its relationship to spirituality and spiritual direction.
Bernadette “Bernie” Graves lives in Kansas City, MO. She is a graduate of the New Wine Lay Ministry Formation program and participated in parish ministry for many years. She graduated from Souljourners in 2013 and was an intern with the Souljourners program from 2015-2017. She is presently serving on staff.
Nick Pickrell is a 2020 graduate of Souljourners. He has a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from UMKC. Nick is a seeker and has been heavily involved in church through the years. He lived and worked in the Cherith Brook Catholic Worker House where he remained for five years and currently serves as a trustee. He is the founding pastor of the Open Table, a socially progressive church that is committed to liberation and healing, which is part of the Presbyterian Church USA. He has over fifteen years of experience doing anti-poverty and anti-racism work, and is presently a real estate agent in the Kansas City area.
Sarah Pickrell earned her bachelors of Arts in Art degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. In 2018, she completed her program to become a certified yoga teacher. She graduated from Souljourners in 2020. She is married to Nick, works in the Presbyterian Church, and is an active leader at the Open Table. She ministers to others through spiritual direction, being a yoga teacher and especially through her art. Together with Nick, they host an Airbnb in the Kansas City area.
Sister Mary Pat is a member of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, KS. Mary Pat studied at Gonzaga University and earned a master’s degree in Christian Spirituality and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. She is a spiritual director and retreat leader and enjoys Jungian psychology, dream work, and Christian contemplative and meditative practices.
Donna Kehoe earned a master’s degree in English Literature and worked for more than thirty years as an adjunct faculty member, writer, and editor, spending many of those years in Christian publishing. She graduated from Souljourners in 2018 and served as an intern, until joining the staff. Donna has been active in local church ministry for many years, leading small groups, mentoring youth, and offering spiritual direction. She is passionate about the ways the Spirit transforms and accompanies people in their daily lives.
S. Susan Barber, OSB, is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica in Atchison, KS. S. Susan currently serves as the community’s liturgist and director of music. She graduated from Souljourners in 2018 and has offered days of retreat centered on Teilhard de Chardin and The Divine Milieu, Handel’s Messiah, and Music for Advent. She is a staff member for the Souljourners program and writes intercessions and blessings for Give Us This Day.
Sister Patricia Seipel ministered as a teacher for many years in Missouri and Kansas. She also worked at Keeler Women Center. Presently she serves as Community Formation Director, does spiritual direction and is a team member of Souljourners. She enjoys art, being outdoors, arranging flowers for the chapels, working with the bees and making various kinds of rosaries for Monastery Goods.
Janice Brandon-Falcone has been active in parish work for many years and is a retired professor of United States History at Northwest Missouri State University. She holds a PhD in American Studies from Saint Louis University. Janice graduated from Souljourners in 2014 and has been a staff member in the program since 2015. She hosts a weekly community meal at her parish in Maryville, does spiritual direction, and is interested in contemplative prayer practices and spiritual listening.