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March 24, 2022The Sisters of Benedict of Red Plains Monastery have long been known for their commitment to spirituality and forming spiritual directors.
In 1980, Sister Jan Futrell returned to Oklahoma after having served on the Jesuit staff of Ministry Training Services in Denver. In addition to her work there, she served priests in the Jesuit community in Saint Louis, including her brother, Jesuit priest Father John Futrell. She also traveled internationally, providing spiritual direction by following the exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.
The components of the exercises are prayer, meditation and contemplation of scripture, which are used as tools to guide individuals in strengthening their relationship with God. At the core of the exercises lies the Ignatian principle of finding God in all things.
Her work guiding individuals in spiritual development led her to establish a program in Oklahoma City that offered one-on-one spiritual guidance in the form of prayer and weekend retreats. In 1981, Sister Teresa Ranallo and the Carmelite Sisters at Villa Teresa generously offered the use of their facility to host the retreats.
Mary Diane Steltenkamp participated in that first weekend retreat, and brought a group of friends with her. She recalled the first night of the retreat when they were given the schedule, and informed that the retreat would be silent from that point forward.
“My friends looked at me like what in the world have you gotten us into?! Fortunately, for me, those friendships have remained intact,” Steltenkamp said.
Two years later, a young Methodist minister in Oklahoma City set out on a mission to find a spiritual director. His search led him to the Sisters of Benedict, and Sister Marie Luecke eagerly accepted the role. Shortly after beginning his journey with Sister Marie, the young minister expressed his desire to be guided through the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius.
Sister Marie knew just the right person to help with the mission. Over a period of seven months, Sister Marie, with the help of Sister Jan, guided him on an individual journey through the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius.
That minister, Bob Gardenhire, was so inspired by the experience that he sought to bring it to the members of his own faith community. At that point, Sister Marie had convinced Sister Jan to provide the exercises in a group format, rather than one-on-one.
By the fall of 1984, Sister Marie and Sister Jan were serving as spiritual directors for Retreat In Daily Life, and had formed four groups of participants that met once a week for seven months. Three groups met at the sisters’ home, the other at Church of the Servant. Thus, began the Retreat In Daily Life. At its inception, the retreat was intended to be offered individually as a 30-day retreat in silence and solitude.
Over time, the exercises have evolved into a format that makes it easier for lay people to participate. The current format includes daily personal prayer and weekly meetings with a trained spiritual director over a period of seven months.
As the program expanded, there was an obvious need to train more spiritual directors to facilitate RIDL groups throughout Oklahoma, and not just in the Catholic Church. Steltenkamp, having previously participated in retreats in Ignatian spirituality, was one of several people who entered the first spiritual director formation program in 1985.
“These exercises have always been ecumenical. RIDL was picked up by the Methodist Church, the Nazarene Church, the Episcopal Church and interdenominational churches,” Steltenkamp said.
RIDL continued under the guidance of the Sisters of Benedict until 2011, when they left the Red Plains Monastery in Piedmont to move to Mount Saint Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kan.
The sisters’ departure created a need for leadership if RIDL was meant to continue. A team was carefully chosen to implement the transition and continue the mission of the sisters. Steltenkamp, along with Kay Britton and Joanne Forgue, assumed the new leadership roles and led the transition of the RIDL to the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City.
Each year, the RIDL groups continued to grow. As of 2022, approximately 150 spiritual directors have completed the formation program and more than 2,000 people have participated in RIDL.
Earlier this month, RIDL spiritual directors and participants met for a reunion in Norman. Jimmie Clark, who graduated from the spiritual director formation program in 2016, attended the reunion.
“It was just wonderful to be with all these people who have been where I’ve been,” Clark said.
For Clark, RIDL was an important part of her relationship with God.
“It was the thing that moved me forward spiritually,” she said. “I can’t say enough about what a life changing experience it's been, and continues to be.”
Larann Wilson, director of Parish Leadership Engagement for the archdiocese, explained how RIDL has impacted her spiritual life.
“It has deepened my prayer life and my love for the Lord in ways that I wasn't expecting. It has been a beautiful journey,” Wilson said.
Wilson oversees the RIDL program and also is a new participant in the program. The reunion gave her an opportunity to connect with others and deepen her appreciation for RIDL.
“It was so inspiring to me, especially as I’m now going through it,” she said. “The energy, excitement and joy, you could feel it in the air!”
Wilson described the RIDL as a hidden treasure in the Church.
“Now more than ever it can be such a renewal for our spiritual and daily lives,” she said.
RIDL is offered at locations within the archdiocese as well as throughout the metro area. The RIDL also is offered virtually.
Sally Linhart is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.
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