Grow and Glow: Women Companions of Color

With pandemic-era roots and sponsorship by the Ignatian Spirituality Center, a small but mighty group, Women Companions of Color, has discerned and developed a Spirit-led ministry model of shared leadership and spiritual companioning that seeks to be compassionate witness and welcome to nontraditional voices and cultures, and to facilitate community building experiences for all. I am humbled by the gentleness of our processes we have grown over time, the recognition and honor given to our respective and collective gifts, and the impact our work has on the community as we step into providing retreat leadership and host other sessions that foster safe harbors for creative engagement and personal reflection, as well as small and large group sharing.

I am grateful for Carla Orlando’s earliest vision and invitation to each of six of us to expand what it means to provide spiritual companionship beyond the educational rigor of spiritual direction with an aim to model Spirit-led leadership in its purest sense to all in witness and service. Women Companions of Color are a particular mirror to that end that together identify and grow our natural gifts while responding to the needs of the community. We are flexible in who, how, and where we serve and look forward to journeying with the ISC to both grow and glow our ministry of presence. Reception to our offerings thus far has been a thirsty welcome with invitations to do more. At a steady, considered pace, we are indeed growing our ministry.

Cézanne Hardy is a certified Spiritual Director, Advance Practice Board Certified Chaplain, visual artist, educator, and member of St Therese Parish and Shades of Praise Choir. Expressive arts, trauma-informed care, and transformational healing guide her work to inspire mind, body, soul, and spirit integration.