New Leadership for the St. Brigid School of Spiritual Direction
The Rev. Canon Tony Moon, Ph.D. will assume leadership of St. Brigid’s School of Spiritual Direction as its new Dean, a position vacated upon the recent retirement of The Rev. Susan Joplin.
Dean Moon brings a full toolbox to the position as an ordained Episcopal priest with a doctorate in educational technology. He is a spiritual director and member of Spiritual Directors International. Fr. Tony has worked with the School since its inception as a member of the Steering Committee, as an instructional designer, faculty member, and most recently as Director of Operations. Tony’s background includes many years of service as a licensed counselor and family therapist, additional years as a senior organizational consultant in healthcare, and as a vocational deacon for twenty-one years prior to being ordained as a priest in 2018. Tony is a Benedictine Oblate associated with St. Gregory’s Abbey, Shawnee. His second spiritual director’s training has a Benedictine emphasis.
While working with Bishop Ed Konieczny, Canon Tony noticed a gap arising in available training for spiritual directors (sometimes called “spiritual friends” or “spiritual companions”) in this geographic area. He proposed to Bishop Ed that the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma sponsor such a program. With Bishop Ed’s encouragement, he approached Spiritual Director and Cathedral Canon, Mother Susan Joplin shortly before her retirement from the Cathedral. After some thought and prayer, Canon Susan agreed to lead this program, which was soon under development.
Bishop Poulson shared, “As we celebrate Canon Susan for her essential work as founding Dean of the St. Brigid School of Spiritual Direction, I am delighted to welcome Canon Tony into the role. Tony is a wise and experienced leader, grounded deeply in spiritual practice, and in organizational leadership. I can’t think of anyone better to carry this flame forward."
Fr. Tony says that he enrolled in the first cohort of our Diocesan program primarily as a support to Mother Susan and to assess the program’s instructional and formational processes. Before long, he felt a distinct calling to take on this sacred work—which he says, he “loves!” “Spiritual directors have conversations of the heart that often don’t occur in our day-to-day. I’m looking forward to training quality spiritual directors to serve their congregations. Their work will encourage deeper relationships with God, and I’m certain we will see these parishioners and their congregations thrive.”
Curious about becoming a spiritual director or spiritual companion? Please contact Fr. Tony Moon.
