I once heard a religious sister interviewed on television, who said that when she was born, she had Catholic stamped on the souls of her feet. That image describes me! I am a fifth generation Irish, Catholic, Australian, educated in Catholic schools. Although I attended Macquarie, a secular university, I became involved with the ‘Tertiary Catholic Federation of Australia’. This connection broadened my understanding of Catholic theology, spirituality and social justice. It also informed my career in education and ministry, which has ranged from teaching kindergarten, through to Year12, being an REC, lecturing in Systematic Theology at ACU, presenting adult education workshops in spirituality and the Enneagram, and my current practice of spiritual direction.
Deep Marist Connections
Since 1989, my family have belonged to the Marist Father’s parish, Holy Name of Mary, Hunters Hill, with our main contribution being to the music ministry. Our three children attended Villa Maria primary school and our daughter went to Marist Sisters College Woolwich. In the 90s I studied at the Marist Fathers Catholic Theological Union and was awarded a master’s degree in theology. This qualified me to study spiritual direction. Currently, I offer spiritual direction in a beautiful, historic sandstone building on the Marist Fathers grounds at Hunters Hill, where through assisting contemplative conversations, I witness, in awe, the amazing work of the Holy Spirit acting in people’s lives.
My connection with the Marist Brothers began in 2002, when I taught at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College, Alice Springs, where my husband, Tom, was principal and I was a riveted audience member at Kate Fogarty’s production of “Marcelin Champagnat, this is Your Life!” In 2007 I began teaching the special needs students at Trinity Catholic College Auburn/Regents Park, under the wonderful leadership of Paul Fensom and Catherine Hannon, and worked very closely with Brothers Tony Vaughan and Robert Hayes, who all humbly modelled the Marist Way. I was thrilled to be even more connected to the Marist family when, after attending the National Assembly in Adelaide, I was invited on to the retreat team at The Hermitage in Mittagong. I thoroughly valued that privilege, where over five years I accompanied the retreatants in spiritual direction and presented at the Care for the Soul retreats. I look forward to participating in this work again, should the opportunity arise.
The Nature of Spiritual Accompaniment
Spiritual direction is a relationship in which one person assists another in attending to God’s presence and call. It focuses upon the wisdom of the Holy spirit within the directee (the person receiving spiritual direction). It is more accurately ‘spiritual companioning’ or ‘accompaniment’, since the Holy Spirit is the ultimate director. The person who seeks spiritual direction is encouraged to allow God to be the centre of attention. In a conversation that takes place in a prayerful and trusting setting, the person will be helped to notice and attend to the wisdom of the Holy Spirit within them, who seeks to develop a personal relationship, through simple every day life occurrences.
A Vital Ministry of the Church through history
Spiritual Direction has been a vital ministry in the Church down through the ages, beginning with the Desert Fathers and Mothers, continuing with St Benedict and the Monastics, and being the subject of many of St Theresa of Avila’s spiritual writings. Throughout Christian history, spiritual direction has traditionally been practiced by ordained clergy and those in religious orders. In recent years, this practice has widened to embrace the spiritual gifts of the laity as well.
Why Undertake Spiritual Direction?
During spiritual direction the Directee shares with the Director a particular, personal experience where they have noticed the presence of God. The Directee is then encouraged to notice what was felt during the experience and is invited to respond more fully to the God who is communicating with them, through that experience.
Spiritual Direction is an affirmation of the true essence - Holiness (wholeness) of the individual as created by God. It is an experience of reflecting upon sacred communication and an emersion in the contemplation of the Mystery of the Creator.
Dominique Galea
Auburn Local Group, Sydney
Members of the Marist Association may wish to contact Dominique for in-person or online Spiritual Direction, through her website, or seek spiritual accompaniment through the 2026 Programs and Events booklet, P13.