History & Mission

Mission

Our mission is to provide resources to encourage, nurture, and engage the mystery of the human journey through psychotherapy, spiritual direction, body therapies, and related educational experiences.

History

The Claret Center was founded in 1979 by Rev. Marty Kirk, CMF (Claretian Missionary Fathers and Brothers) and Sr. Mary Ellen Moore, SH (Society of Helpers) to bring together the disciplines of spirituality and psychotherapy at a time when those two areas were often seen in conflict with one another. Fr. Marty and Sr. Mary Ellen were both novice directors in their religious communities and trained in spiritual direction; Mary Ellen was also a clinical psychologist.   As the founding co-directors, they sought to develop a center that would provide direct service in spiritual direction and psychotherapy but that could also work with formation directors and religious communities as they guided candidates and full members of religious orders. Activities included retreats, conferences, classes, workshops, and consultation. There were long-standing peer supervision groups for both formation directors (and later, for spiritual directors) and psychotherapists.

In those early years there were great changes and in society and in the church as a result of Vatican II, especially in religious life.  Social changes included greater emphasis on sexuality, the women’s movement, advances in psychology and human development, and challenges to authority and to religious traditions.  Fr. Marty and Sr. Mary Ellen formed Claret to offer a place open to the integration of spirituality and psychology.  Many early clients were members of religious communities or diocesan priests, but there have always been clients who were not members of religious orders as well. Today, we continue to have our services available for all, regardless of faith, religion, or belief.

Organizationally, the Claret Center was a sponsored ministry of the Claretians, who provided both office and meeting space in Hyde Park and financial support.  The Society of Helpers provided Sr. Mary Ellen’s services as well as those of Sr. Mary O’Farrell, SH, as secretary for the first fifteen years.  In the early days, the emphasis was on the ministry more than the structure.  In time there was greater structure, and eventually annual reporting was established as the Claretians continued to help subsidize the operations of the center.  Around 2009 they began to systematically clarify the relationship between the religious community and the Claret Center, addressing finances, job descriptions, accountability, mutual responsibility, by-laws, and the creation of an advisory committee, with mission statement, creed, and logo finalized in 2011.  In 2012 Claret became an independent 501c3 non-profit entity, with its own board of directors, which has been the structure since then, although they continue as a sponsored ministry of the Claretian community.