- February 10, 2022 Association
In April, during the State of Association online gathering, the Association Leadership Board (ALB) announced the openings of regional coordinators of Association. Regional coordinators are volunteers that serve associates within their region in collaboration with Director of Association Mary Armbrust. Their work is to support the unique ways of initial formation, ongoing spiritual formation and living out the charism in their own communities.
The ALB is happy to announce the first regional associate coordinator, Associate Diane Burr of Denver. Get to know a bit about Diane as she shares about her life and work experiences and what she brings to the regional coordinator position.
My Life in Denver
I retired from my long-term employment as a nurse at the health system in Marquette, Michigan, and moved to Denver in June 2007. For several years, my life was focused on helping my son care for and raise my grandson, Nathan. I had been very involved in several activities at my new parish in Denver up until the pandemic.
My days now are pretty quiet, filled with reading, household chores, chatting and/or having lunch with friends and with association activities. I also continue my long-term study of scripture with a couple friends, one of whom is a scripture scholar.
How I Became an Associate
For many years now, I have been drawn to groups of people who pursue a spiritual life in some form or the other. From 2013 to 2015, I was enrolled in the Benedictine Spiritual Formation Program, obtaining certification as a spiritual director. Later that year, I learned of CSJ Association through my friend, Peg Connolly. She invited me to a “Come and See” in January 2016, and I’ve been hanging around ever since.
I made my initial commitment in March 2017 and my ongoing commitment in the middle of the pandemic in Peg’s backyard last October. The most meaningful part of being an associate is involvement in a group of people who wish to grow spiritually and live according to spiritual ideals. Being a part of this community of women who have now become my friends has been most meaningful.
The Gifts I Bring to the Regional Coordinator Position
I bring 72 years of lived experience to this position. This not only means the personality traits that fit the job perfectly—i.e., I take my responsibilities seriously, am dependable, organized and a hard worker (I earned a master's degree in nursing while a single mother and working full time), but other hard-earned skills and experiences. In the crucible of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous), I learned about the spirituality of imperfection, along with “Sharing of the Heart” before it was ever practiced in associate meetings.
With skills and insights gained through years of spiritual practices, including eight years of meditation, I am able to share deeply, knowledgeably and honestly with people I trust. I have also learned other valuable life lessons through the death of my son almost 26 years ago, perhaps the most important being compassion.
And, now, in my new position, I look forward to meeting new people and being exposed to new ideas, experiences and challenges.