Leadership

During 2022, Spiritual Direction Colorado reorganized its leadership structure. Rather than having one person as the Chair, the leadership and planning occurs within what is called the Guiding Circle. The purpose of the Guiding Circle is to provide structure, direction and the mechanisms needed to carry out the vision and mission of SDCO. The members of the Guiding Circle are committed to carrying SDCO into the 21st century through creating a collaborative, consensus-building, open, and inclusive leadership practice.

The members of the Guiding Circle conduct their work by consensus, collaboration, and shared leadership. Members take turns opening, closing, and leading meetings. They report on any work they have done and contribute to discussions. They are also responsible for coordinating the efforts of the various specialty circles.

GC members share in the overall operations of SDCO as they share in visioning, planning, and participating in the various initiatives of SDCO. They can also serve SDCO within a specialized arena called Specialty Circles.

Currently the specialty circles include: The Programming Circle, External Communications Circle, Membership Care Circle, and Finance and Administration Circle. Potential future circles include the Professional Support Circle and Social Media Circle. Participation in the Guiding Circle and the specialty circles is open to members who seek to contribute to and become engaged in the unfolding of SDCO.

If you are interested in contributing to the sacred efforts of GC by participating in either the Guiding Circle or a Specialty Circle, please indicate[CB1]  your interest by providing us some information about yourself and how you’d like to participate.

Guiding Circle Members

Nancy Arko

I find meaning in art as spiritual practice and the living images of dreams. I draw joy and inspiration in the natural world through my love of hiking, trees and gardening.

Nancy completed her Spiritual Direction training at the Haden Institute in March, 2022.  She was raised a Catholic in both the Roman tradition and Malachite Rite. After 35 years as a psychiatrist she is now retired and has a passion for bringing people together in sacred community beyond church. She is widely read, Jungian in her orientation and interested in understanding the soul’s path through life’s thresholds. She has designed and led an Elder Circle and has served as facilitator for the Denver Guild for Sacred Studies, focusing on Jesus’ true message as reflected in the Synoptic Gospels. She currently facilitates an ongoing dream circle. 

Catharyn Baird

I discovered spiritual direction as a faculty member at Regis, a Jesuit university in Denver. Over a nine month process, I was able to participate the “retreat in daily life,” a way for people to complete the Jesuit Spiritual Exercises while working. Embracing life at Regis, I was able to make many retreats—both at my home university as well as within the larger Jesuit network. Finally, a colleague and I engaged in mutual spiritual direction, which introduced me to the discipline of being a spiritual director—albeit I never was anything but a novice. 

 She and her husband of 44 years enjoy spending time together with their two cats, as well following the lives and activities of four adult children (and spouses) and eight grandchildren. To get a bit of balance, she spends her at-home time gardening and reading—with an occasional spot of crocheting.

For the past 15 years, Catharyn has been the CEO of EthicsGame, an ed-tech company that provides ethics education and simulations to universities and corporations. The core learning tool is the Ethical Lens Inventory, which helps people explore their ethical identity and supports members of organizations living into their core values. She is also active as the Clerk of the Vestry at St. Martin’s Parish in Aurora and as a member of the Board of Colorado Council of Churches.

An educator at heart, after several years of practicing law, Catharyn was hired by Regis University in Denver to teach law and ethics. During that time, she fell in love with the Jesuit Spiritual Exercises and
Ignatian Spirituality. With that introduction, she taught classes in Spirituality in Business as well as wrote extensively in the area of spirituality and work. Her spiritual direction activities were primarily
counseling students as they worked to make sense of their faith within the context of their calling and vocation.

Valerie Langston Brettillo

My journey.  

My background in spiritual directon.

Calvin Wulf

I realized my identity as a spiritual guide several years ago. My passion as a spiritual director is to encourage people along on their journey.

My convictions say anyone with a desire to see God will have that encounter in due time. Historical Christian spiritual practices open the heart and mind to experience God. Prerequisites like purity or wholeness are not necessary. One only needs to be intentional and present.

 Compassionate listening and hearing the Spirit with my heart are my primary tools. Spiritual discernment is also a vital gift in the work of spiritual direction. I listen way more than I direct.

 Everyone has a story, and all stories are sacred. My craft helps people find Jesus at work in their everyday stories, healing and shaping them along the way.

Calvin Wulf is an ordained spiritual director in the historical Christian contemplative and mystical tradition. He studied theology, church history, and spiritual formation at the Fuller Theological Seminary Extension Campus in Colorado Springs and has practiced spiritual direction since 2007.

 He is a respected spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and spiritual writer. His faith journey has led him through Sacramental, Charismatic, and Pentecostal spiritual traditions. Calvin has served as Spiritual director for clergy, seminary students, aspirants, and other everyday saints. He possesses a broad view and experience in all things spiritual.

Rev. Wulf has studied ancient Jewish and early Christian meditation, contemplation, and mystical practices and is well versed in those traditions. Calvin completed the Thirty-Day Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius Loyola at Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House in 2012 under the direction of Father Vince Hovley, SJ.

 Calvin was certified as a trainer and train the trainer for team and leadership development by The Atlanta Consulting Group when he worked in corporate human relations management.

Since moving to Colorado Springs in 1999, Calvin co-founded Spiritual Formation House, a ministry he shares with his wife Lisa, served as Convener for The Spiritual Formation Network and on the board of directors for Community Roundtable..