Spiritual Direction

Jesus Christ used to take the Twelve Apostles away to a lonely place to pray with them.  He also would reveal to them the deeper meaning of the Scriptures and even revealed to some of them a special place or mission they had in His work. 

Since then, and all throughout the history of the Church, spiritual direction has had an important place in the Christian life.  Here at St. Paul's, we are dedicated to providing for anyone who wants it, good people to guide you in the spiritual life.

If you want to be holy then you are ready to have a spiritual director.  Below we have an excellent list of priests and religious to act as spiritual directors for any who request them.  You can contact a director at your discretion and meet with them on your schedule.

Your director will not speak for God, but will help you to better understand the Word of God and how God is speaking to you.


Below are the visiting spiritual directors that St. Paul's will have throughout the year. 

Msgr. James Bartylla James.Bartylla@straphael.org	Msgr. James Bartylla is the Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Madison and Master of Ceremonies to Bishop Robert C. Morlino.  Msgr. Bartylla was ordained in 2001 and served as a parochial vicar in various parish assignments before becoming administrator at St. Mary's, Bloomington, and St. John's, Patch Grove.  From June 2003 to June 2004, Msgr. Bartylla was pastor of St. Ignatius, Mount Horeb, and St. Mary's, Pine Bluff.  Before Msgr. Bartylla attended seminary, Msgr. Bartylla had a business career with an academic background including a B.B.A. in Accounting, an M.S. in Finance, and a J.D. in law.
Fr. Eric Sternberg esternberg@uwcatholic.org	Fr. Eric Sternberg grew up near Madison in Prairie du Sac, WI.  In 2000 he graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point with a degree in Biology and shortly after entered the seminary.  He received his Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology in 2005 and on May 27th of 2005 he was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Madison.  He has served as the parochial vicar of St. John the Baptist Parish in Waunakee and as the pastor of St. Bridget Parish in Ridgeway and Immaculate Conception Parish in Barneveld.  On Oct. 1, 2008 he became the co-pastor of St. Paul University Catholic Center.  He is also an advocate for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Madison.
Fr. Eric Nielsen enielsen@uwcatholic.org	Fr. Eric Nielsen has been the Pastor of St. Paul's since 2006 and a priest of the Diocese of Madison since 1995.  The oldest of seven children, Fr. Nielsen grew up in Oshkosh, graduated in 1984 from the UW in Civil Engineering, and entered Mundelein Seminary in 1990.  As a young man he enjoyed a lot of outdoor activity and travel but now spends most of his time at St. Paul's encouraging students to focus on study and prayer as a path to know, love and serve Jesus Christ.
Fr. Michael Berry, O.C.D. ocdvocation@gmail.com	Fr. Michael Berry of the Heart of Jesus, O.C.D. is vocation director of the Discalced Carmelite Friars of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Province which includes the East Coast and the upper Midwest of the U.S.  He currently lives at the Monastery of the Sacred Heart in West Milwaukee, WI.  Fr. Michael is a native of the metropolitan New York area, with a B.A. degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.  A professed friar since 2000 and a priest since 2006, Fr. Michael recently completed a year of post-graduate studies in spirituality of St. Theresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross at the Order's International Center in Avila, Spain.  In addition to his responsibilities as director of vocations, he also currently serves as provincial councilar.
Sr. M. Stephania Newell, FSGM    snewell@dioceseoflacrosse.com	Born and adopted from Vietnam, I was raised in an Air Force family and have one sister and three brothers and six nieces and nephews.  My father is a Permanent Deacon and my brother is a religious brother in the Intercessors of the Lamb (Omaha, NE). As a high school student, I worked as a CNA for Sisters of Notre Dame taking care of elderly sisters.  After attending Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration/Management.  The Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George study and teach at Franciscan University and so it was there that I met, prayed with, and became interested in our community and religious life.  On September 8, 1995, I entered the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George at our Provincial Convent in Alton, Il.  On August 15, 1998, I made my First Profession and on August 15, 2002 professed perpetual vows to Our Lord as His bride forever. The apostalates to whichI have been assigned have been housekeeping, working in our Provincialate Office, working with young children in our day care center and formation.  I am currently the Director of the Office of Consecrated Life of the Diocese of LaCrosse for eight years, I have served as the Director Mater Redemptoris Convent and House of Formation.  My tasks include giving vocation talks, helping with retreats for young people, and helping young people discern the vocation to which God is calling them.
Ms. Helen Simon, OSV	Helen Simon received her Masters in Teaching and in Botany from UW-Madison after which she taught biology in Baraboo for thirty years.  Spending a year on the mission field in Colombia, South America, Ms. Simon taught at a mission school for nine months and was with the Cacua Indians in the jungle for three months.  She converted to Catholicism in 1985.  For five years she was parish coordinator at St. Camillus, Durward's Glen, and St. Mary's, Merrimac.  In March 2001 she recieved the Consecration of Virgins Living in the World from Bishop William Bullock.  As a Consecrated Virgin, she continues to pray the Liturgy of the Hours, prays for the intentions of Bishop Morlino, diocesan priests, consecrated life, and for vocations.  At the present time, Ms. Simon works and prays with the Cistercian Sisters at Valley of Our Lady Monastery in Prairie du Sac.
Fr. Tim Uhen tjuhen@yahoo.com	Father Tim Uhen was born in Milwaukee and raised in Oklahoma City.  After receiving a BA from Marquette University he entered the seminary to study for the priesthood.  Father Uhen was ordained a priest for the Prelature of Opus Dei in 1996 and obtained a Doctorate in Sacred Theology from Santa Croce Pontifical University in Rome the following year.  His brother is also a priest ministering in Peru.  Father Tim currently resides in Milwaukee, devoting his time primarily to retreats and spiritual direction.  Father Tim's interests include sports and reading.
Sr. Marcia Vinje  srmarcia@schsrsmary.org	Sr. M. Marcia Vinje is a member of the Schoenstatt Sisters of Mary.  She has a BA in Religious Education from Mount Mary College, Milwaukee and an MA in theology with a Marian concentration from the University of Dayton.  She has studied at the International Marian Research Institute and is a member of the Mariological Society of America.  Her past experience includes teaching Catholic schools, community formation, directing a retreat house, extensive work in adult formation and parish experience as a DRE.  Sister Marcia currently serves as the associate director of the Office of Vocations.