Familiar face in Diocese has northern exposure

Someone new is greeting Catholics who come to The Priory retreat house in Chestertown.

Patricia Mousaw is taking up the reins of co-director there. She succeeds Sister Francis Anne Gilchrist, CSJ, who is retiring. Mrs. Mousaw, a spiritual director, had been administrator of the Diocesan Pastoral Council and coordinator of the annual diocesan-wide Parish Convening.

She will work with the Priory's co-director, Sister Connie Messitt, CSJ, in developing days of prayer, guiding retreats, hosting musical programs, serving as a spiritual advisor, and offering a listening ear and a sense of hospitality to those who stay at the center.

Perfect fit

Mrs. Mousaw said the opportunity to work at the Priory "just really fit with the studies I've been doing on retreat work and spiritual direction. I believe very strongly that providing people with a place, both literally and figuratively, to rest a while is sorely needed today, especially by those who work in ministry in the Church."

She holds a master's degree in theology from St. Bernard's Institute of Theology and Ministry in Albany, and two certificates in spirituality and contemplative group leadership from Shalem Institute in Maryland.

In her work on the Diocesan Pastoral Council, she said, "one of my focuses was to encourage the various groups to be prayerful committees rather than 'committees that prayed.' We engaged in prayer and faith-sharing with the hope and expectation that our decisions would come from the Spirit."

A first

Mrs. Mousaw will be the Priory's first non-resident lay director and is "excited" to see such opportunities open for laypeople.

"It excites me -- spiritual direction and working with people one on one," she said, adding that she wants "to do some contemplative-style prayer and retreats."

Spiritual direction, she explained, "helps people notice the movement and action of God in their prayer and in their life. People are so busy, scattered and stressed; they need to take time to quiet down, to still the waters."

Familiar place

The Priory has always been close to Mrs. Mousaw's heart; a Queensbury resident, she has been attending retreats there "basically since its inception. It is a warm and welcoming space for people in a beautiful wilderness setting.

"Retreats are for everybody. It's a chance to take care of yourself, slow down a bit and get in touch with the spiritual side of yourself. You don't have to be 'super-holy' to spend a day or an overnight at a retreat house. This is for ordinary people."

Taking the position "has been a dream," she explained. "To have this opportunity come up almost in my backyard was a delightful gift from God."

(Call The Priory at 494-3733 or visit www.prioryretreathouse.org.)

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