Spiritual Directors Institute

"Steeped in the rich spiritual heritage of our forebears."

God's Embrace Ministries Spiritual Directors Institute is in place to help our participants accept generously and wholeheartedly Jesus' invitation to become saints and to serve His people in the Church.

Our trained spiritual directors go through rigorous formation in discipleship within God's Embrace Ministries so that they can help others within our covenant family.

Our formation is steeped in the rich spiritual heritage of our early church fathers, John of the Cross, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, whose roots, traditions and spiritual practices are still present in our Church today.

Let's start with what spiritual direction is not:

Spiritual direction is not counseling and it is not therapy.

Spiritual Direction is a one-to-one or group experience with spiritual mentors with extensive formation to help deepen their relationship with the divine, or to learn and grow in their own personal spirituality.

Michael Fonseca, D.Min

Michael has been the Coordinator for Spiritual Formation in the Diaconate Program of the Diocese of Victoria, Texas since 1998. He and his wife Cherrie founded God's Embrace Ministries which trains spiritual directors, offers formation classes, hosts weekend retreats and parish missions on Catholic Spirituality. Along with the guidebooks and leader guides for the formation programs of God's Embrace Ministries, Michael has also written Living in God's Embrace and Loving the Master's Footsteps.

To schedule an appointment call the God's Embrace office at (979) 561-8883.

Del DelVecchio

Del is a member of The Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn, Texas.

He was born in Long Branch, N.J. and moved to Texas when he was 25 years old.

Del has been married to Sandy DelVecchio for 40 years and they have four grown children and three grand-children.

He has been involved in several church ministries over the years, the latest being God’s Embrace Ministries since 2011.  Del has participated in most of the teaching programs offered through God’s Embrace Ministries, either as a participant and/or a facilitator.

Currently Del is a team member in the retreat and mission programs offered by God’s Embrace, and is also in the Spiritual Director’s Institute completing his second year under the supervision of Dr. Michael Fonseca.

To schedule an appointment call the God's Embrace office at (979) 561-8883.

Sandy DelVecchio

Sandy is a member of The Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn, Texas and a native of Fayette County, Texas born in LaGrange.

She has been married to Warren DelVecchio for 40 years and they have four grown children and three grand-children.

Sandy has been involved in several church ministries over the years, the latest being God’s Embrace Ministries since 2011.  She has participated in most of the teaching programs offered through God’s Embrace Ministries, either as a participant and/or a facilitator.

Currently Sandy is a team member in the retreat and mission programs offered by God’s Embrace.  She is also in the Spiritual Director’s Institute completing her second year under the supervision of Dr. Michael Fonseca.

To schedule an appointment call the God's Embrace office at (979) 561-8883.

DeeAnn Hooper

DeeAnn Hooper is a cradle Catholic and grew up in Flatonia, TX. She has been married to Chris for 22 years and together they have 3 children, Jack (forever 10), Will (14), and Cate(3). She is a Wal-Mart pharmacist in Gonzales, TX and the Founder & President of Turtle Wing Foundation.

DeeAnn is an active member of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Schulenburg, TX, where she Lectors and is an Eucharistic minister. She is currently a member of the Holy Rosary ACTS Core and has completed the second year of the GEM Institute of Spiritual Directors under the guidance of Dr. Michael Fonseca.  DeeAnn had a conversion experience in 2007 through the ACTS movement  and has been involved with God’s Embrace since 2012.

To schedule an appointment call the God's Embrace office at (979) 561-8883.

Kathi Mickan

Kathi has been married for 46 years to her husband, Roger. They have 5 children and 21 grandchildren. She is a cradle Catholic and stays very involved with her church, Immaculate Conception, in Sealy. She is a Co-facilitator of the Lead Me into the Deep, Lord classes and a Bible Study group. She is a Rosary Leader, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and a volunteer with Nursing Home and Bereavement Ministries. She has made an ACTS Retreat and served on Team and has also made a Lead Me Retreat through God's Embrace and is now in the Spiritual Director Institute.

Kathi meets out of Immaculate Conception Church Center in Sealy.

To schedule an appointment call the God's Embrace office at (979) 561-8883.

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Sharon Muzny

Sharon Muzny is a Licensed Paramedic and Director of Fayette County EMS. With nearly 15 years in the emergency medical services business, Sharon has experience communicating with affected individuals and their family members during various life events. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Master of Public Affairs from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sharon is a lifelong member of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Plum and is married with two daughters.  She and her family live in La Grange.

To schedule an appointment call the God's Embrace office at (979) 561-8883.

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Stacy Oeding

Stacy is a cradle Catholic, loving wife to Eric and devoted mom to Julia, Evan, Claire and Anna.

She is the Advancement and Faith Formation director at St. Rose of Lima Catholic school where she also teaches Religion. She is a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in High Hill where she also served as lector and Eucharistic minister. She is also a member of the parishes' St. Anne's Society. She has a strong passion for youth and family ministry and volunteers as the VBS Coordinator and  along with her husband in leading the parish youth ministry at St. Rose. After experiencing a conversion in the fall of 2009 her faith was furthered deepened on an ACTS retreat. She began serving in the ACTS community and seeking ways deepen her faith. This led her to discover God's Embrace Ministries in 2012 through which The Holy Spirit has continued to strengthen her discipleship.

To schedule an appointment call the God's Embrace office at (979) 561-8883.

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Arlene Zapalac

Arlene is from Sacred Heart Parish in La Grange. She is a retired teacher and a parish and community volunteer. She Arlene and her husband David have a son, a daughter and two grandchildren.

Arlene's journey started long ago with attending Catholic School, continuing with ACTS, and now daily faith formation and prayer through the programs of God's Embrace Ministries.

Arlene meets out of the Sacred Heart Parish Office in La Grange.

To schedule an appointment call the God's Embrace office at (979) 561-8883.