I have been deeply involved in SD-E since the first meeting and am convinced of its value both for myself and for the wider church. It is very helpful to meet with other spiritual directors and to listen to our similarities and differences. The conference has proved to be a real source of inspiration and support to me and to others in what can be a lonely ministry. This is particularly helped by the international and ecumenical nature of the gathering. Although each person brings their own experience and background, it is remarkable how much we have in common across the barriers of church division, nationality and language. Peter Ball [United Kingdom]

Our first contact with SD-E was in 2004, when the annual meeting was held in Lithuania. At that time only some people were giving retreats and spiritual direction in Lithuania. As a result of that meeting we got more contacts with spiritual directors and that encouraged us to give different forms of retreats. Now we are giving retreats around the year. The contacts with SD-E gave the possibility and opportunity for perfection of the skills of the spiritual directors in Lithuania. We invited members of the Executive Committee to come and lead workshops for spiritual directors and this has given us a lot of new ideas. Relations with SD-E and participating in the annual meetings help us to foster the growth of this relatively new ministry of spiritual direction in a post-communistic country. With thankfulness we pray for all who helped us in this area. Valda Sadzeviciute [Lithuania]

Since I came back from USA in 2002 after ending my training/education as a spiritual director at the Center for Religious Development in Boston, the annual meeting of SDE has been something I have looked forward to and really need. SD-E is the only forum in Europe where I meet spiritual directors in the same situation like me. I work in Denmark in a ecumenical atmosphere in a very individual society, and where the need and demand for spiritual directors are increasing enormously. I need a place to exchange - support - nourish my own growth as a spiritual director. SD-E has for me been this "sacred" place where God/Christ is in the center for all we do and one is always respectful toward the many different denominations that are represented at the meeting. Susanne Hoyos [Denmark]

We are developing courses on spiritual companionship and spiritual direction in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Finland. As a member on the team I have taken part in almost all SD-E meetings. I have experienced them as meaningful, professionally as well as personally. Experienced spiritual directors have been sharing in an ecumenical spirit the treasures of their own spiritual tradition and personal experience. SD-E is trying to encourage a network of spiritual directors covering different parts of Europe and it deserves all possible support to be able to strengthen and develop further activities of sharing and learning in the field of spiritual direction. Seppo Häyrynen [Finland]