What is a Spiritual Direction: Spiritual direction is a sacred, confidential conversation with a trained guide who accompanies you in noticing God’s presence, discerning meaning, and deepening your spiritual life.
Life is often complex — filled with both beauty and challenge. At times, we long for a quiet place to pause… to reflect… and to be deeply heard.
Spiritual direction offers a sacred, confidential space to explore the questions that stir the mind and weigh on the heart. It is an opportunity to slow down, listen more attentively to the movement of God in your life, and gain clarity amid uncertainty.
With the gentle guidance of a trained spiritual director, you are accompanied — not advised or fixed — but supported as you discern meaning, navigate life’s transitions, and deepen your relationship with God.
Sometimes we simply need a trusted companion for the journey: Spiritual direction can be that companion.
Pallottine has partnered with gifted people to help you on your journey.
- Persons of all backgrounds are welcomed with respect and care.
- The conversations are confidential.
- Some choose to meet for only a time or two. Others continue longer-term, typically monthly or every other month, or even "as needed."
- Scheduling is arranged by contacting Ron.
- Pallottine offers a sacred, quiet and safe place to meet.
Bio of Ron Knapp:
Ron Knapp brings to spiritual companioning a range of experience: retreat facilitator; parish/congregation minister with youth and families; teacher/advocate/guide with Veterans Upward Bound; high-school teacher/advisor; college campus minister; and admissions director & dean of students at Aquinas Institute of Theology (St. Louis). He finds rich blessing in deep listening in relationships, in the sights and sounds of nature (birdsong is a favorite), in centering meditation, in accompanying friends naturally through the joys, challenges, and transitions of life – plus the unique moments of curiosity, connection, awareness, and delight sprinkled along the way.
He also holds an M.Div., integrating theology, ministry, prayer, liturgy, pastoral care, and spirituality. His approach is to be a spiritual midwife, leaning in to listen with empathy and to offer clarifying questions, so that new life emerges, even within the pain, overwhelm, and anxiety that so often is the reality. He seeks, within all, to be an understanding, supportive, and encouraging presence.
From a first marriage, he has three sons, one of whom died at 18 after a long journey with cancer, which colors Ron’s compassion. Ron and his wife live in St. Louis with their teenage daughter. For restorative leisure, he enjoys “simple” things: a book with a cup of coffee, a bi-monthly evening with his siblings, playing guitar & singing (amateurishly), “porch time” with close friends, and biking/hiking with his family.
Some areas of particular expertise:
- Suffering, Loss, and Grief
- Vocation / Purpose
- Chronic Pain
- Life Transitions
- Prayer Styles
- Self-Discovery
Spiritual Direction is offered by trained and credentialed directors who uphold recognized standards of formation and practice. A suggested stipend of $45 is invited for each 50-minute session to honor the director’s preparation and to reflect the participant’s personal investment in this sacred time of listening, discernment, and spiritual growth.
At the same time, we believe access to spiritual accompaniment should not be limited by financial circumstances. Pallottine’s Pass it Forward Fund can help make adjustments to ensure that all who seek this level of attentive listening and guidance are welcomed.
An email will be sent to the spiritual director/companion of your choice, along with your contact information. Please allow 1 week for a response to schedule a mutually agreeable date and time.