Sr. Joan Manuel CSJ
My name is Sr Joan Manuel and I reside in St Amant. My Church parish is Our Lady of Holy Rosary. I was Ignatian trained through the Archdiocese of New Orleans Spirituality Center and from there completed a Certificate in Spiritual Direction. Since my early 20s, I have been graced and guided through life by Spiritual Companions and wonderful Spiritual Directors. This guidance helped me celebrate the great joys of life and survive great sorrows and challenges. As a Spiritual Director I have been privileged to accompany others in their spiritual journey and to witness how the Spirit moves through their lives with a gentle power encouraging healing, truth, trust and faith.
I have been a Sister of the Congregation of St Joseph for 23 years. However, my first vocation was motherhood. I am the proud mom of 2 sons, who have blessed me with 6 grandchildren. Besides being a proud mother, loving grandmother and devoted religious sister, I have been blessed with various calls within the call. I have been a nurse and a teacher of theology. I have completed a one-year residency program as a hospital chaplain. These vocations allowed me to be a midwife of babies into this world and a midwife of souls into their eternal life with God. Birth and rebirth are some of the most sacred times of our lives. In my 13 years of teaching theology in secondary education, I introduced students to biblical and scriptural studies, Catholic Social Teaching, World Religions, various methods of prayer and a variety of other studies. Participation in student retreats was a blessing. In Parish work my services included Parish Nurse, Eucharistic ministry to the homebound, facilitator of Lenten and Advent programs, and teacher of PSR classes. It has been God’s plan for me to be a life learner. In that pursuit, I have completed studies in psychology and theology through Fran U, Loyola, and the LIM program through the Salt and Light organization of Canada. I am presently pursuing classes in accompaniment of persons in the LGBTQ plus community. It is my hope that they find safety and welcome in their desire for spiritual direction.
I am available to provide Spiritual Direction in person at Holy Rosary Church in St. Amant and virtually via Zoom. I can be contacted via email jmanuel@csjoseph.org.