Spiritual Direction at Mission San Luis Rey
“If you do not have someone to guide you, to hold onto you during the times of not knowing, you will normally stay at your present level of growth.” –Father Richard Rohr
Spiritual Direction offers a safe, supportive space for personal reflection and growth in your spiritual journey. It’s a confidential and non-judgmental conversation with a trained Spiritual Companion who listens with compassion and kindness. Those seeking spiritual direction may be looking to heal from spiritual wounds, navigate life’s challenges, or be yearning for a closer relationship with God.
What to Expect
Explore questions like:
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- How is God present in your life?
- How do you navigate change or decision-making?
- How can you deepen your spiritual life?
A Spiritual Director is not a counselor, or a priest to give reconciliation, but is a special director, who through deep listening, helps to guide and reflect upon God’s presence in your life, further strengthening your faith and relationship with God.
“The first task of seeking guidance then is to touch your own struggles, doubts, and insecurities—in short, to affirm your life as a quest. Your life, my life, is given graciously by God. Our lives are not problems to be solved but journeys to be taken with Jesus as our friend and finest guide.” ― Henri J.M. Nouwen, Spiritual Direction: Wisdom for the Long Walk of Faith
Our Spiritual directors have been fully trained and certified, and bring a profound understanding of Franciscan Spirituality, guiding their companion with an emphasis on love, creation and the inherent dignity in every person.
Spiritual Direction is available at the cost of $60 per session. In an effort for spiritual direction to be accessible to all in need, if you are in need of financial assistance, please contact the retreat center directly.
If you would like to sign up for a time that is not listed/posted, please call the office directly as there may be other time opportunities.
📞 Call (760) 757-3659
Meet Our Spiritual Directors
Kelly Leisten
Kelly Leisten is a certified Spiritual Director within the Diocese of San Diego, holding a certificate from the Franciscan University of Steubenville. She provides individual spiritual direction and supports the Diocese of San Diego's Deaconate Program by guiding candidates through The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius during their discernment process.
Drawing on her deep, lived experience of the spiritual life, Kelly's foundation was developed through years of personal contemplation while raising a family. Her background includes eight years leading a vibrant women's Bible study, advanced theological training in the Theology of the Body at The Theology of the Body Institute in Philadelphia, and certification as a Yoga instructor. This unique combination fueled her passion for helping others live in harmony with the body and the spirit. Through her holistic approach, she weaves scripture into her practices, guiding individuals toward awakening the body to a profound spiritual experience.
Br. Dick (DT) Tandy, OFM
Br. Dick (DT) Tandy, OFM describes himself as “actively retired” following nine years as a chaplain at St. Anthony's Foundation in San Francisco. He is a certified spiritual director with specialties working with recovery groups, all 12-step folks, and those experiencing vicarious trauma.
Br. DT’s spiritual practices include contemplative prayer for almost 30 years and mindful movement for all abilities. His real passion is photography and he sees it as a wonderful way to express God's beautiful creation and the human condition. Br. DT currently resides at Mission San Luis Rey.
Richard J. Bonacci
Richard’s work as a spiritual director has roots in both his academic education and in his interest in contemplative traditions. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Georgetown University and earned his certificate in spiritual direction at the University of San Diego’s Center for Christian Spirituality. He pursued advanced studies in supervision at the Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA.
Richard completed Contemplative Outreach’s Living Flame program and continues to augment his understanding of contemplative practice through the study of Christian and non-Christian traditions, with special emphasis on the Desert Mothers and Fathers and Christian Monasticism.
Richard has a particular interest in male spirituality and is active in Richard Rohr’s men’s movement Illuman. He has presented workshops and retreats on the spirituality of the desert to local churches, to both San Diego’s and the national Spiritual Directors Association, as well as to Contemplative Outreach of San Diego. Currently, he serves as presenter on this topic for Contemplative Outreach’s Living Flame program.
Joe Lonergan
Joe Lonergan grew up in Los Angeles, and now resides in Carlsbad, California. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University in 1980, a Master of Divinity from Franciscan School of Theology (FST) in 2020 and completed his certification as a spiritual director from the Art of Spiritual Direction program at the Center for Spiritual Development.
Joe is currently the Director of Student Services and Spiritual Formation at FST. He has served as a retreat coordinator and speaker, and continues to be active with Illuman, a non-profit, non-denominational organization to help men to do deep inner work, build relationships with God, other men, and creation and find what is theirs to give to the world. With Illuman, an organization he has been a part of for twenty years, Joe has served as a team member on Men’s Rites of Passages throughout the United States. He has worked with Anne Richardson, author of Not Alone: Transforming Trauma and Accompanying Survivors offering workshops to ministers, teachers, or spiritual directors who happen to encounter those who have suffered trauma in any form. Joe offers spiritual direction and guidance to people of all faiths.
