Meet our Spiritual Directors
The journey toward God is not meant to be a solitary one. We will help you find a director who is a good fit.
Our spiritual directors work from a variety of perspectives, and we welcome people of all cultures, genders, sexual orientations, faith traditions, and races.
We seek to provide a safe non-judgmental place where you feel comfortable sharing your story.
All of our Spiritual Directors have graduated from established spiritual direction programs and are committed to continued learning.
We require our spiritual directors to be in spiritual direction themselves, both personally and professionally.
Our Spiritual Directors have committed to abide by the Spiritual Directors International Guidelines for Ethical Conduct.
To schedule an introductory interview, call Pat Lawlor at 585-473-6893 or email: [email protected]
Giovina Caroscio
Spiritual Director
An experienced spiritual director with 30+ years of training and practice, Giovina offers individual spiritual direction at Mercy Spirituality Center. With a special interest in Ignatian Spirituality, Giovina guides retreatants through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in the 19th Annotation format. She has also trained others to guide the Spiritual Exercises.
Giovina has a particular interest in fostering a contemplative dimension of ministry, developing lay leadership, and linking spirituality and action for justice. Her administrative work experience is extensive with secular and church agencies, including spirituality and social ministry with parish and diocesan groups. She is skilled in group facilitation and social justice education.
Giovina holds a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, Rochester, NY and a Master’s Degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Giovina is retired and lives in Geneva, NY in the heart of the Finger Lakes Region of New York State. She enjoys spending quality time with family and friends, cooking in the local soup kitchen, gardening and bicycle-riding in the natural beauty of the Finger Lakes Region.
Lucien Cayer
Spiritual Director
Lucien received his spiritual direction training at the Haden Institute in 2018 and has been offering direction for Mercy Spirituality Center since then.
He has a Master's Degree in Theology and worked for 25 years as a drug and alcoholism counselor.
Lucien is retired, married, has four grown children, and six grandchildren.
Susan (Sue) DiVita
Spiritual Director
Sue found her calling as a spiritual director while studying mysticism with Caroline Myss in CMED Institute in 2005. She is a graduate of CMED’s Entering the Castle program which is based on the work of Teresa of Avila and the Interior Castle.
During her time at CMED, she became certified as an Archetypal Consultant in the Sacred Contracts program which explores the patterns that we carry in our lives and how we can live a more authentic life aligned with our soul’s purpose.
Continuing on her spiritual path, Sue became certified as a Spiritual Director and Dreamwork Facilitator through the Haden Institute. She continued her Dreamwork studies in the Robert Moss School of Active Dreaming and is a Reiki Master Teacher.
Having begun her college studies in environmental science, Sue is naturally drawn to finding the Divine in Nature. She has a passion for safeguarding the Earth and all its inhabitants during these challenging times.
Sue leads workshops, retreats, and dream groups. She specializes in finding the Soul’s purpose, navigating the Dark Night of the Soul, the Interior Castle as spiritual practice, living with chronic illness, dreams and the potential for healing, and the mystical path. She lives in Chili with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.
Sr. Elaine Englert, SSJ
Spiritual Director
I have been a Sister of St. Joseph of Rochester for 57 years.
For the first 50 years I was devoted to the ministry of Catholic Education as Teacher, Principal in elementary and secondary schools, Assistant Superintendent, Diocese of Rochester, NY, Creator of SSJ Women’s Leadership Program for/in a co-ed Catholic High School.
Served three years in ministry to those underinsured and uninsured at St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center. Served 13 years as Co-Director of our SSJ Associate Program (an extra-curricular!)
Served one-year as Coordinator of our Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse Community and then was elected to our Congregation’s Leadership Team
Certification in Spiritual Direction
- the Haden Institute, Ontario, Canada, 2008
I direct people of various ages, female and male. I have done “Busy Person Retreats” for adults, teens and young adults.
I have done weekend retreats for high school and college students, and young adults.
I served on a Directed Retreat Team at Mercy by the Sea in Madison, CT and have been directing for Mercy Spirituality Center for a year now.
Patricia (Pat) Lawlor
Spiritual Director
Pat attended Nazareth College and majored in religious studies. She attended St. Michael’s College in Vermont and received a Master’s Degree in Theology.
Pat has worked as a Catechetical Leader in parishes in the Rochester Diocese and in Maryland. She has also worked in the Diocesan offices of Catechesis in Rochester, and Greensburg PA.
She has a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction through the WINGS program. She also has a Certificate as a Prayer Guide for the 19th Annotation, and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius through the Mercy Prayer Center.
She has been sharing her gifts as a Spiritual Director with Mercy Spirituality Center for many years.
Maureen M. Martin, MDiv.
Spiritual Director
Maureen is a spiritual director and writer from Western NY. Previously, she lived in Evanston, IL where she was a hospice chaplain.
She is a graduate of the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University Chicago and received her certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Norbertine Center for Spirituality in De Pere, WI.
Maureen has provided spiritual direction for over 20 years and has been a director for Mercy Spirituality Center for over three years.
She lives in Brockport, NY. On summer mornings, look for her riding her e-bike along the Erie Canal, where she sings God’s praises with good cheer.
Edward (Ed) Redmond
Spiritual Director
Edward Redmond has been a Spiritual Director since 2012 and was trained at the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brentwood, Long Island. He is also a facilitator for the 19 Annotated Retreat of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Mr. Redmond also co-leads a monthly Men’s Spirituality Group at the Mercy Spirituality Center. He is a retired clinical social worker.
Sr. Theresa Rutty, RSM
Spiritual Director