WEBVTT 00:00:09.440 --> 00:00:10.160 Good morning. 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:14.080 I have the opportunity to interview today Monica Ruggio. 00:00:14.080 --> 00:00:18.295 He's a graduate of our spiritual direction certificate program. 00:00:18.435 --> 00:00:19.635 And I'm Michelle Drennan. 00:00:19.635 --> 00:00:22.615 I'm the alumni relations manager for Divine Mercy. 00:00:23.395 --> 00:00:25.475 We're gonna talk to her a little bit about our journey. 00:00:25.715 --> 00:00:36.310 One of the programs that we put together here, the spiritual direction certificate, grew immensely because there's such a shortage in The United States and over and internationally for spiritual director. 00:00:36.310 --> 00:00:38.490 So we're so glad we have Monica as a graduate. 00:00:39.590 --> 00:00:42.230 So tell me a little bit, Monica, if you would. 00:00:42.230 --> 00:00:46.975 How are you using and what are you doing as far as your spiritual direction training? 00:00:48.075 --> 00:00:49.695 So twofold, actually. 00:00:49.755 --> 00:00:59.610 Within my home parish, I serve as a spiritual director for my home parish as well as people within our diocese and beyond because I see people virtually as well. 00:00:59.610 --> 00:01:01.310 So that's, bit of benefit. 00:01:01.930 --> 00:01:07.230 And, also, what brought me into the spiritual direction program is I'm a leadership coach and trainer. 00:01:07.370 --> 00:01:07.770 Uh-huh. 00:01:07.770 --> 00:01:15.955 And my spiritual director actually encouraged me to look into this course because of some of the clients I was working with. 00:01:16.255 --> 00:01:17.295 And I'm like, no. 00:01:17.295 --> 00:01:18.975 That can't be possible for me. 00:01:18.975 --> 00:01:20.195 I'm not worthy enough. 00:01:20.815 --> 00:01:27.555 But after a couple of years of discernment, I went through it, and I recognized the benefit for me personally. 00:01:27.855 --> 00:01:38.360 However, I see how it's helping me even from a professional perspective because there's a total integration now where the clients who I'm working with want that holistic approach. 00:01:38.360 --> 00:01:44.535 And so I'm able I feel very equipped to be able to bridge that gap and integrate the two. 00:01:44.535 --> 00:01:46.155 That was a gift you didn't expect. 00:01:46.295 --> 00:01:46.795 Absolutely. 00:01:47.095 --> 00:01:47.575 Absolutely. 00:01:47.575 --> 00:01:48.155 That's exciting. 00:01:48.215 --> 00:01:48.855 That's exciting. 00:01:48.855 --> 00:01:50.135 So I'm always interested. 00:01:50.135 --> 00:01:52.935 You're doing it both, via Zoom meetings. 00:01:52.935 --> 00:01:54.765 You're also doing it in person Yes. 00:01:55.015 --> 00:01:55.995 Via phone. 00:01:56.420 --> 00:01:57.860 I don't personally Not phone. 00:01:57.860 --> 00:01:58.180 Okay. 00:01:58.180 --> 00:02:08.180 But So how so are you getting most of your, spiritual director folks by referrals or, obviously, you're doing it in the parish, but, how many people are you talking to a week? 00:02:08.180 --> 00:02:09.800 I guess was my bottom line question. 00:02:10.085 --> 00:02:16.985 I'm keeping it small because I'm only seeing specific spiritual direction on specific days of the week. 00:02:17.285 --> 00:02:25.790 So I I'll blend anywhere from 12 to 20 people at a given time just depending on the need of the individuals. 00:02:26.170 --> 00:02:26.670 Excellent. 00:02:26.890 --> 00:02:35.230 Well, we are blessed to have quite a few folks, which we found out in a recent meeting in Louisiana, so you have some nice support and more people to know from that retrospect. 00:02:36.330 --> 00:02:39.965 So you said it took you a couple of years to decide. 00:02:40.025 --> 00:02:40.345 Yes. 00:02:40.345 --> 00:02:41.405 That's a long discernment. 00:02:41.545 --> 00:02:42.045 Yes. 00:02:42.345 --> 00:02:48.425 So what was the main thing that actually took you over the top and attracted you to DMU and said, I'm gonna do this? 00:02:48.425 --> 00:02:55.180 Well, of course, I did all my research whenever, my spiritual director mentioned becoming a certified spiritual director. 00:02:55.180 --> 00:02:57.760 I'm like, well, who offers this besides DMU? 00:02:57.820 --> 00:03:14.325 And as I started looking around, like, DMU just kept drawing me back in just because of the programming, the simplicity of it, the cost effectiveness of it, all the things, and, of course, because of my spiritual director recommending it, who's a legionary priest. 00:03:14.865 --> 00:03:21.670 And, I think I knew deep down that I was gonna eventually do it, but I was afraid. 00:03:21.970 --> 00:03:22.290 K. 00:03:22.290 --> 00:03:28.790 And I kept praying into it and speaking to my adult daughter who just amazes me with her spirituality. 00:03:29.755 --> 00:03:33.375 And I and I was crying, and I'm like, why me? 00:03:33.435 --> 00:03:38.315 You know, why is this passion continuing to be on my heart and it's not going away? 00:03:38.315 --> 00:03:42.095 Because I didn't understand fully the the process of discernment. 00:03:42.710 --> 00:03:44.790 And she's like, mom, you know you're gonna do it. 00:03:44.790 --> 00:03:45.590 Why wait? 00:03:45.590 --> 00:03:48.390 The longer you wait, the longer it's gonna take for you to finish. 00:03:48.390 --> 00:03:51.910 That apple doesn't far far fall very far from your tree, does it? 00:03:51.910 --> 00:03:52.410 Right. 00:03:52.710 --> 00:03:54.150 And so I'm like, you know what? 00:03:54.150 --> 00:03:54.470 Okay. 00:03:54.470 --> 00:03:55.990 And, you know, it's not set in stone. 00:03:55.990 --> 00:03:57.510 If I don't like it, I can quit. 00:03:57.510 --> 00:03:57.915 Right? 00:03:58.155 --> 00:03:58.955 But I don't quit. 00:03:58.955 --> 00:03:59.635 Never thought about that. 00:03:59.755 --> 00:04:00.555 Submit to something. 00:04:00.555 --> 00:04:05.195 I I I never even went back, and I it's just been a beautiful journey. 00:04:05.195 --> 00:04:05.755 I show up. 00:04:05.755 --> 00:04:06.315 I love it. 00:04:06.315 --> 00:04:06.795 I love it. 00:04:06.795 --> 00:04:08.175 That's what we love to hear. 00:04:09.435 --> 00:04:14.460 Your cohort, do you stay in touch with any of your folks that you're you're in the spiritual direction program with? 00:04:14.460 --> 00:04:15.260 Actually, we do. 00:04:15.260 --> 00:04:20.640 We have a peer supervision group that we've been connecting every month ever since we graduated. 00:04:20.700 --> 00:04:21.520 That's fantastic. 00:04:21.580 --> 00:04:25.740 And I think I told you when I was there, in Louisiana, invite me to one of those one time. 00:04:25.740 --> 00:04:25.980 Yes. 00:04:25.980 --> 00:04:27.680 I would love to just sit in and listen. 00:04:29.765 --> 00:04:48.700 So if you had to take three takeaways away from what has made this journey so valuable for you in spiritual direction and what's made you be better at it than you thought you would be, What are those three qualities that you feel like you either earned from your education or that Divine Mercy University gave you in that teaching? 00:04:49.560 --> 00:05:12.930 I feel for me with DMU, it was that integration of the sciences, the psychology infused with our Catholic understanding and spirituality because I'm more of a heady person, and I have to understand the whys and the hows before I can really immerse myself perspective. 00:05:13.070 --> 00:05:20.910 It was almost overwhelming the the content that was provided to us because it was so rich as well as the support. 00:05:20.910 --> 00:05:31.955 That's the other thing is I felt like virtually my hand was held along the way, and then the relationships that were formed with the cohort was really beautiful. 00:05:31.955 --> 00:05:45.670 And I think that kept me going as well and sharing that experience with one another Because I distinctly remember in our second semester, it was starting to get really deep, and we're all looking each at each other and, like, what did we get ourselves into? 00:05:45.670 --> 00:05:48.710 And we were able to express that and have a conversation around it. 00:05:48.710 --> 00:05:51.770 So that was really beautiful to have that level of support. 00:05:52.055 --> 00:05:54.795 And, of course, we were going through all of this during COVID. 00:05:54.935 --> 00:05:55.435 Right. 00:05:55.575 --> 00:05:55.855 Exactly. 00:05:56.135 --> 00:06:01.355 Really, compounded the importance of it, I felt. 00:06:01.815 --> 00:06:08.510 So and then the third thing, I feel maybe the credibility of the university. 00:06:10.410 --> 00:06:14.170 You know, because there's a lot out there, and I'm I'm not trying to discredit anyone. 00:06:14.170 --> 00:06:33.625 But for me, it just carried a lot of credibility in having those credentials behind my name that gave me the confidence when sometimes I was feeling a bit intimidated to step into that, especially early on when we were doing our, our I'm losing my words. 00:06:33.830 --> 00:06:37.290 When we were practicing our, our skill sets. 00:06:37.510 --> 00:06:50.755 And so coming out of it, remembering to that we have the training and we are fully equipped, and now it's just allowing ourselves to lean on the Lord in the way that we were formed. 00:06:50.895 --> 00:06:51.395 Right? 00:06:52.175 --> 00:06:56.595 My final question is, this is obviously what we call a hybrid program. 00:06:56.655 --> 00:06:57.055 Yes. 00:06:57.055 --> 00:06:59.315 So you came to campus several times. 00:06:59.535 --> 00:07:00.415 I came once. 00:07:00.415 --> 00:07:00.655 Once. 00:07:00.655 --> 00:07:03.855 Did our, residency virtual virtual because of COVID. 00:07:03.855 --> 00:07:04.230 Mhmm. 00:07:04.310 --> 00:07:11.370 So how valuable was that to you to have the opportunity to come to the campus and be in that Immersed. 00:07:11.510 --> 00:07:11.910 Immersed. 00:07:11.910 --> 00:07:12.150 Yes. 00:07:12.150 --> 00:07:16.565 It was invaluable because I had the benefit of having both Yes. 00:07:16.565 --> 00:07:19.525 With the virtual during COVID, and that was intense. 00:07:19.525 --> 00:07:19.685 I bet. 00:07:19.685 --> 00:07:21.065 And that was so good and rich. 00:07:21.285 --> 00:07:44.080 However, being able to meet in person and meeting with the professors and meeting with the staff and our cohort from all over the world, forming those bonds and those relationships and talking about the unique things that we go through as spiritual directors in this process that not a lot of people in our lives can really relate to. 00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:49.035 Because I didn't know any other lay spiritual directors until I started going through this program. 00:07:49.095 --> 00:07:53.835 And I know recently having attended a diaconate event, there is such a shortage of spiritual directors. 00:07:53.975 --> 00:07:54.055 Yes. 00:07:54.055 --> 00:07:58.480 And they were delighted that our program's two years long, not six months or five months. 00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:00.560 We say, how can you do it in that time frame? 00:08:00.560 --> 00:08:03.600 And your commitment and all your cohort has made such a difference in the world. 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:04.920 Thank you for your gift of time today. 00:08:05.120 --> 00:08:05.440 You. 00:08:05.440 --> 00:08:09.300 Are there any other questions or thoughts that you'd like to share that I didn't ask you? 00:08:09.425 --> 00:08:27.730 I would just not for me personally, but for anybody who may be seeing or listening, if you're even in tree and the thought keeps coming back, please look into DMU and just allow your heart to follow that path and consider becoming a spiritual director if that's where the Lord's calling you. 00:08:27.730 --> 00:08:28.050 Thank you. 00:08:28.050 --> 00:08:30.380 That's a lovely commercial, and we appreciate it. 00:08:30.460 --> 00:08:31.420 God love you, dear. 00:08:31.420 --> 00:08:32.480 Thank you so much.