Spiritual Direction
We are grateful that our campus is also home to a vibrant Jesuit community, who is trained in Ignatian Spirituality and eager to serve students. Our multifaith staff of chaplains each draw on their own traditions to walk with students on their faith journeys. Even in a season of being a dispersed community, learning remotely to help fight a pandemic, all of these faith leaders are willing, able, and eager to connect via phone or zoom. Email them to set up an appointment and a way to connect.
Spiritual Direction with a Jesuit
Spiritual Direction with a Jesuit
All Xavier students are invited to consider the practice of spiritual direction, which is a spiritual conversation with a Jesuit or another minister on campus, in order to grow in prayer and to discern where God is present and working in one’s life. Typically, a person would meet with a spiritual director for 50 minutes to an hour each month.
If you are interested in learning more about the possibility of meeting with a spiritual director, feel free to contact any of the directors listed below.
David Inczauskis, S.J., is a Jesuit regent and visiting instructor of Classics and Modern Languages. David has studied Spanish, Social Philosophy, and Religion at Wake Forest University (2014) and Loyola University Chicago (2019). He received formation in spiritual direction through a year-long internship in the Ignatian tradition at the Institute of Pastoral Studies of Loyola University Chicago. For him, spiritual direction involves companionship and conversation to promote the deepening of a person’s intimacy with God. David offers direction in English or Spanish. inczauskisd@xavier.edu
Fr. Chris Mapunda, S.J., a Jesuit priest from Tanzania, belongs to Eastern Africa Province of the Society of Jesus. He has studied philosophy, theology and educational psychology, and he is currently doing doctoral studies in educational leadership at Xavier University. Chris was trained in spiritual direction at Hekima University College (Jesuit School of Theology) in Nairobi, Kenya, and he worked for two years as part of the Eastern Africa Jesuit formation team at St. Gonzaga Gonza Jesuit Novitiate (the formation house) in Arusha, Tanzania. Spiritual direction, for him, is the “quality moment with God as one is invited to be aware of God’s present in his or her life.” mapundac@xavier.edu
Fr. Eric Sundrup, S.J., is the pastor of Bellarmine Parish on the campus of Xavier University. He is a graduate of Xavier University, class of 2003. Before returning to Xavier in 2019, he was an associate editor and director of audience development at America Media in New York. As a Jesuit, Eric has worked in media, secondary education and Hispanic Ministry. Eric was trained as a spiritual director at Loyola University Chicago and the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. For Eric, spiritual direction is about accompaniment. He describes spiritual direction as an opportunity to walk alongside someone as they journey with God. As you walk along together, the director and directee can point out important markers and explore them. Often at different points in the journey the directee begins a conversation directly with God, Eric happily drops back a few paces to allow that crucial conversation the space it needs. It is a privilege to be able to witness people connecting more directly with God. Eric offers direction in English or Spanish. sundrupe@xavier.edu
Fr. Nathan Wendt, S.J., serves as the Road Through Xavier Program Coordinator in the Eigel Center for Community Engaged Learning. Fr. Wendt studied public relations, social philosophy, and theology, with past Jesuit work experience in elementary and high schools in several Midwest cities, where he coordinated work/study programming, developed programming for students from lower-income families, taught, did chaplaincy, and other administrative leadership projects and endeavors. Fr. Wendt’s ministry interests include directing retreats for men transitioning from homelessness and in recovery from addictions, prison chaplaincy, and Ignatian spirituality. Fr. Wendt was trained as a spiritual director at Loyola University Chicago and the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. For him, spiritual direction helps the directee be attentive to the active presence of God and discern responses. wendtn@xavier.edu
Multifaith Staff
Tala Ali, Muslim Chaplain - alit@xavier.edu
Rev. Abby King-Kaiser, Presbyterian - kingkasiera@xavier.edu
Rabbi Jennifer Lewis, Jewish Chaplain - lewisj40@xavier.edu
Rev. Nelson Pierce, Jr. - Baptist Chaplain - piercen@xavier.edu