Spiritual Directors

MARY JO ALDERSON is the director of the RISEN spirituality program at Valley Presbyterian Church.  She received her  spiritual direction training at Mercy Center in Burlingame where she was adjunct staff directing the Ignatian Exercises for many years.  Ignatius of Loyola taught that “God is in all things,” and Mary Jo believes this to her core.  Mary Jo has worked in the corporate world as an accountant; raised her two children as a single parent and now is married.   She is an Elder of the Presbyterian Church and has been a Spiritual Director since 1994.

Contact information:

phone: 650 851-8282 x 114

email:  mjalderson@valleypreschurch.org

DARLENE BATCHELDER is an ontological (being) business and life coach. She partners with others to create and fulfill inspiring visions. Her clients learn to see possibility where it is missing, to see their Essence (greatness) and purpose so they can choose to operate powerfully from it and to break through fear that has them stuck. From Essence and possibility she coaches them to take risks, act with greater compassion, insight, responsibility and integrity. Darlene has been coaching for six years and is currently a Masters in Divinity student at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, a Deacon and member of RISEN and the choir at Valley.

Contact information:

phone: 415 264-8507

email:  DarleneBatchelder@AccomplishmentCoaching.com

JOAN BLACKMON is an Elder at Valley Presbyterian Church. After attending the Mercy Center three-year training course, Joan was awarded their certificate of completion in 1999.  She has provided this service on a limited basis while still involved in an owner-operated business.  Spiritual Direction is a meaningful experience, both as directee and director, and, Joan is fully committed to this process. She is not taking directees at this time.

CATHY BOWERS is an Elder at Valley Presbyterian Church, Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader and past Deacon.  She is studying Spirituality in the Master's Program in Pastoral Ministries, at Santa Clara University.  She is committed to the Spiritual Direction process as both a director and directee.  She served twenty years professionally for both private and non-profit corporations, most recently in affordable housing.  Her special areas of interest as Spiritual Director include retreats and small groups for mothers; spirituality and faith in the workplace; reflections on abundance; and children's spirituality and faith formation.  Cathy is married and a mother of three sons.

Contact information:

phone: 650 964-9604

email: cathy.bowers@comcast.net

WAYNE CHITTENDEN is an Elder at Valley Presbyterian Church. His faith journey led him into Spiritual Direction and eventually to San Francisco Theological Seminary, where he received a Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction.  Wayne retired from a career primarily in hi-tech management and small-business management consulting.  Now he is a Spiritual Director who has special interests in serving business people as well as individuals who have difficult decisions to make and want to discern what God is calling them to do.

Contact information:

phone: 650 594-1394

email:  wkc@morphit.com

MARK GOODMAN-MORRIS has served as Pastor/Head of Staff of Valley Presbyterian Church for over 20 years. He completed his training in Spiritual Direction at Mercy Center in 1999 and has intentionally integrated the values and practices of Spiritual Direction into the life and ministry of Valley Presbyterian Church. He considers the gift of companioning individuals on their journeys of faith as one of the most precious aspects of his ministry.

Contact information:

phone: 650 851-8282 x 107

email:  rvmgm@valleypreschurch.org