12 New Spiritual Directors Certified in 2026

Published: June 15, 2026

After three years of formation, 12 people were certified as spiritual directors in May through the School of Spiritual Direction for the Diocese of Little Rock.

Bishop Anthony B. Taylor celebrated a special Mass May 17 at St. John Catholic Center in Little Rock for the students, their families and other program participants.

Six laywomen and six deacons from across Arkansas make up the newly certified. They are:

• Benton, Our Lady of Fatima Church: Taffy Council
• Conway, St. Joseph Church: Yolanda Berumen, Nancy Unverferth and Molly Walchuk
• Fort Smith, Immaculate Conception Church: Deacon Charlie Kuehl
• Little Rock: Guadalupe Alvarez, St. Edward Church; Anne Miskin, Deacon Joe Lukacs and Deacon Angel Volpi, Christ the King Church
• Rogers, St. Vincent de Paul Church: Deacon Sergio Aguilar and Deacon Jose Fabio Cruz
• Russellville, St. John Church: Deacon Larry Fox

Four of the new directors speak Spanish, serving a greater need in the diocese. The three-year program relaunched in 2023 to offer clergy and laity a way to learn and practice the skills of spiritual direction.

Students meet one weekend a month for a series of academic classes in theology and Ignatian spirituality. Classes were held in English and Spanish. In the third year, they also complete a one-year practicum as a director for at least two directees.

A new cohort of eight to 12 students has been added each year since 2023, so there will be new certifications annually. Read Arkansas Catholic to learn more.

What Do Spiritual Directors Do?

Spiritual directors help people who want to grow in their relationship with God or feel stagnant in their prayer lives. They are not counselors and do not provide psychological or mental health care. Their focus is on the person’s spiritual growth. The director and directee usually meet once a month in person or virtually.

While deacons and priests cannot charge for their ministry, lay directors may charge a fee. Anyone interested in getting a spiritual director should contact their pastor. If the pastor determines that spiritual direction is a good fit, he can provide a list of certified directors.