Back in 1983, Sister Thomas Bernard MacConnell really didn't want to take on another ministry. The then-57-year-old Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet was already working full time with older members of her religious community. Plus she had a part-time ministry at Mount St. Mary's College.

But here she was at the Doheny Mansion, 23 years later on a Sunday afternoon, being honored for starting and shepherding the Spirituality Center for more than two decades.

"Through these years Sister Thomas Bernard, you have been a soulful presence for people not only in Los Angeles but in at least two other continents that I know of, and probably more," declared Sister of Mercy Suzanne Krawczyk, president of the center's board, at the June 11 ceremony. "We thank you for your faithfulness in listening, your cheerfulness and tenacity in the face of changes and difficulties, and, most of all, for your spirit of gentleness and peace."

Sister MacConnell pointed out that she usually wasn't a person at a loss for words, but that's how she found herself today. She recalled that Cardinal Timothy Manning's request had been that the Spirituality Center would have a strong focus on spiritual direction.

"I took that as a mandate, and feel that others involved in the center over these 23 years have remained very faithful to the cardinal's mandate," she said. "And I hope it will still be the case in the future."

Sister of Mercy Patricia Beirne, who's worked with Sister MacConnell at the center since late 1989, is convinced it will.

In January, the two women religious switched director and associate director titles. But their duties have pretty much stayed the same, with the former handling the administration tasks and the latter interviewing people seeking spiritual directors along with being a spiritual director herself.

"She has a very friendly, gentle way about her, and I think that's what people would see about her in the spiritual direction program," Sister Beirne pointed out. "She's this woman of wisdom. But there's a real gentleness about her and this wonderful sense of humor.

"And that's neat, especially because I can get more serious and gung-ho on things. So we kind of balance each other out."

Yolanda Davila, a recent graduate of the three-year spiritual direction program, enjoyed Sister MacConnell's wit and wisdom in the classes she taught. But what the director of religious education at San Gabriel Mission liked the most was the role-playing the Sister of St. Joseph did, acting out spiritual direction sessions with Sister Beirne. She says both women were so focused that the practice sessions just came to life.

"Sister Thomas Bernard wasn't too quick to jump in with an answer," Davila recalled. "She always had that look about her: 'God, let me make sure I'm saying the right thing at the right moment with the right person.' That's what I picked up from her demeanor.

"Also, she was always affirmative and saying to us, 'You will know where God is leading you. You will know.' She kept saying, "Look for that. Look for the signs. Look to your feelings, where you're being drawn to.' She was just present to you when she was talking to you."

Sister MacConnell told The Tidings she's been pleasantly surprised by the spectrum of men and women who have enrolled in the spiritual directors program - from Catholics in parish work like Yolanda Davila to people who just wanted to learn how to pray better. The biggest bombshell, however, came from Protestants' interest in spiritual direction. In some years, she notes, they actually equaled the number of Catholics in the program.

Finally, she talked about the joys of the ministry she was reluctant to take on.

"I think the main joy --- and it's an awesome joy --- is when people invite you so deeply into their own lives," said the 80-year-old nun. "It's humbling. And the thing about helping people to grow closer to God is so special.

"You couldn't get anything more joyful than that," she stressed. "Often you can visibly see it. Sometimes it's one little question that I ask, or some phrase that I use. It can be almost an immediate thing.

"Other times, it takes longer for that growth in the journey," Sister MacConnell explained. "But it's there."