Walking with You
in Wonder

Walking with You in Wonder Walking with You in Wonder Walking with You in Wonder


Walking with You
in Wonder

Walking with You in Wonder Walking with You in Wonder Walking with You in Wonder
More

Anamchara Companion

Anamchara Companion Anamchara Companion Anamchara Companion Anamchara Companion

Spiritual Direction

Mary Bridget Coyle, M.A.; M.A.P.S. 

soulfriendmbc@outlook.com

Learn More

Anamchara Companion

Anamchara Companion Anamchara Companion Anamchara Companion Anamchara Companion

Spiritual Direction

Mary Bridget Coyle, M.A.; M.A.P.S. 

soulfriendmbc@outlook.com

Learn More

About Anamchara Companion

What Does Anamchara Mean?

What is Spiritual Direction?

What is Spiritual Direction?


Anamchara is from Middle Irish-Gaelic and contains the words for “soul” and “friend.” This term was used in the early days of Celtic Christianity to denote a priestly confessor; however, over the centuries, it has come to be applied to the laity as well and used more broadly to mean “spiritual adviser” and “confidante.” It is in the latter sense that I use the word. 



What is Spiritual Direction?

What is Spiritual Direction?

What is Spiritual Direction?

 Spiritual direction invites you to share your spiritual journey with another seeker, a companion ready to listen deeply and honor your sacred stories while encouraging thoughtful stillness, discernment, and reflection. As your spiritual director/companion, I will support and accompany you as you discover, uncover, and recover the Divine 

 Spiritual direction invites you to share your spiritual journey with another seeker, a companion ready to listen deeply and honor your sacred stories while encouraging thoughtful stillness, discernment, and reflection. As your spiritual director/companion, I will support and accompany you as you discover, uncover, and recover the Divine in your life. 


Spiritual direction is not psychotherapy or life coaching. 

My Philosophy

What is Spiritual Direction?

My Philosophy

My studies at the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction (hesychia means “inner stillness”) were experiential, ecumenical, and interfaith, and my practice provides a confidential, inclusive, non-judgmental ministry of spiritual companioning for all seekers.  


I am happy to answer your questions.  Please email me for more information and/or

My studies at the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction (hesychia means “inner stillness”) were experiential, ecumenical, and interfaith, and my practice provides a confidential, inclusive, non-judgmental ministry of spiritual companioning for all seekers.  


I am happy to answer your questions.  Please email me for more information and/or to set up a free consultation.  Both face to face and Zoom meetings are available. 

About Me

My Formation & Training

My Philosophy

I am a desert transplant from Boston where I grew up amid the poetic cadences of my grandparents’ Irish brogue. This no doubt influenced my early love of literature, language, and listening. As an undergraduate, I completed a double major in English and History at Fitchburg State University, in Fitchburg, MA, and then went on to earn a ma

I am a desert transplant from Boston where I grew up amid the poetic cadences of my grandparents’ Irish brogue. This no doubt influenced my early love of literature, language, and listening. As an undergraduate, I completed a double major in English and History at Fitchburg State University, in Fitchburg, MA, and then went on to earn a master’s degree in Irish and British Literature from Clark University, in Worcester, MA. After traveling and living in Europe, I joined the Liberal Arts faculty at a small community college in rural Southeastern Arizona where I spent most of my nearly thirty-year career teaching a variety of literature and humanities courses. 


Since 2006,  after returning to my faith, I have become engaged in various ministries and earned another graduate degree in a different field within the Humanities, an M.A. in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL. I also served as chaplain for a year at a local regional hospital while earning two professional units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). 

My Formation & Training

My Formation & Training

My Formation & Training

I currently serve as a co-facilitator of the ecumenical GriefShare program in my parish.  Having discerned the call to spiritual direction for many years of my teaching life, I eagerly attended the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona and received a Certificate in Spiritual Direction

I currently serve as a co-facilitator of the ecumenical GriefShare program in my parish.  Having discerned the call to spiritual direction for many years of my teaching life, I eagerly attended the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction at the Redemptorist Renewal Center in Tucson, Arizona and received a Certificate in Spiritual Direction. 


Through a variety of activities and studies, I am continuing my own spiritual formation to augment my training; for example,  I have completed many Continuing Education Units (CEU) through my membership in Spiritual Directors International (SDI). Having now retired from fulltime teaching, I am focusing on providing spiritual direction in my community and online. 


Getting Started

My Formation & Training

My Formation & Training

If you feel compelled to pursue this soulful experience, please contact me at soulfriendmbc@outlook.com for more information or to set up a free consultation appointment. After that initial meeting, if we both decide to continue the spiritual companioning relationship, we will discuss the honorarium. 


I suggest a sliding scale fee of $40 t

If you feel compelled to pursue this soulful experience, please contact me at soulfriendmbc@outlook.com for more information or to set up a free consultation appointment. After that initial meeting, if we both decide to continue the spiritual companioning relationship, we will discuss the honorarium. 


I suggest a sliding scale fee of $40 to $60  an hour and trust that you will choose to compensate based on your ability to pay. If the lowest end of the scale would present financial hardship, I am open to exploring options. Don’t let financial worries prevent you from reaching out. Generally, spiritual direction sessions last for one hour once a month (though more /less frequent or longer sessions may be an option). 



Archived Events

3/13/2024

Brown Bag Lunch Lecture

Noon

-

1:00pm

Center for Lifelong Learning Cochise College DTC Sierra Vista, AZ

Event Details

3/13/2024

Brown Bag Lunch Lecture

Irish History, Hagiography, Legends & Lies


Join a whirlwind tour of ancient, medieval, and modern Irish history told in pictures, poetry, and...

Event Details

Noon

-

1:00pm

Center for Lifelong Learning Cochise College DTC Sierra Vista, AZ

3/17/2024

A Musical History of Ireland

3pm

-

5pm

The Morning Star Cafe Stage 10428 E. Highway 92 Palominas, AZ

Event Details

3/17/2024

A Musical History of Ireland

Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a lively and emotive performance of Irish/Celtic music by beloved singer, guitarist, songwriter, Beca Reyes...

Event Details

3pm

-

5pm

The Morning Star Cafe Stage 10428 E. Highway 92 Palominas, AZ

3/19/2024

Belief in Books

7pm

-

8pm

St. Andrew 's Parish Library Madonna Hall 800 Taylor Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ

Event Details

3/19/2024

Belief in Books

Reading Discussion Group for Adults 

  

Welcome spring with a thoughtful discussion of Sr. Joyce Rupp's spiritual memoir, Walk in a Relaxed Ma...

Event Details

7pm

-

8pm

St. Andrew 's Parish Library Madonna Hall 800 Taylor Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ

5/21/2024

Belief in Books

7pm

-

8pm

St. Andrew 's Parish Library Madonna Hall 800 Taylor Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ

Event Details

5/21/2024

Belief in Books

Reading Discussion Group for Adults 

  

Mexico, the late 1930s: A paramilitary group has outlawed the Catholic Church and is executing its cle...

Event Details

7pm

-

8pm

St. Andrew 's Parish Library Madonna Hall 800 Taylor Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ

More Events

Upcoming Events

8/27/2024

Belief in Books

7pm

-

8pm

St. Andrew 's Parish Library Madonna Hall 800 Taylor Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ

Event Details

8/27/2024

Belief in Books

Reading Discussion Group for Adults


Get ready for autumn by falling upward into a great read: Richard Rohr’s Falling Upward—a Spirituality fo...

Event Details

7pm

-

8pm

St. Andrew 's Parish Library Madonna Hall 800 Taylor Dr. Sierra Vista, AZ

10/29/2024

Archetypes of Ancient Ireland

6

-

8pm & Zoom

Center for Lifelong Learning Cochise College DTC Sierra Vista, AZ

Event Details

10/29/2024

Archetypes of Ancient Ireland

  

Did you know that Newgrange, an earthen pyramid in Co. Meath, Ireland is older than the Egyptian Pyramids of Giza? No worries. Most people...

Event Details

6

-

8pm & Zoom

Center for Lifelong Learning Cochise College DTC Sierra Vista, AZ

Spring 2025

ENG 260 Irish Literature

Online

-

Jan-May 2025

Offered by Mary B. Coyle Cochise College Sierra Visa, AZ

Event Details

Spring 2025

ENG 260 Irish Literature

  

I am offering my 3-credit course in  

Irish Literature (ENG 260) at Cochise College completely online in the Spring 2025 semester (January-...

Event Details

Online

-

Jan-May 2025

Offered by Mary B. Coyle Cochise College Sierra Visa, AZ

Welcome to our Blog

Kevin O'Brien

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved the outdoors and felt God’s presence most keenly in the natural world. Whether it’s in the stars, desert, mountain forest, cypress swamp, river, or beach, I can see the Creator’s hand in their beauty.  I must say, though, I love the Southwestern desert and mountains where I live best. 

Mary Bridget Coyle

Two divergent landscapes inhabit my soul. One is the rugged, rainy seacoast of my ancestral home in Donegal, Ireland. I hear the waves crashing in my dreams and feel the ocean wind gusting across my face even though I am far from that land. The second is the mountainous high desert oasis in Arizona that I call home. Both landscapes are highly charged and changeable, striking and spiritual. I need both to nourish me.

Right: Celebrating our 15th Wedding Anniversary at our favorite restaurant in Mexico.


All photos on this website are our own originals unless otherwise credited.  



Walking in Wonder

We hope you enjoy our musings.



Blessings,

Mary Bridget & Kevin

Our Blog

Contact Us

Email us at anamcharacompanion@outlook.com

Disclaimer

 All ideas expressed on this website and blog belong to the authors alone.  Any third-party individual, site or organization that provides a link to this site is not responsible for its content, nor is doing so an endorsement of its content. Users of online forums, commentary, or other public communication tools available on this site are responsible for their postings. The authors are not liable for outsider postings to this site.  The authors reserve the right to remove any offensive or inappropriate postings.   

Copyright © 2024 Anamchara Companion - All Rights Reserved.