The Journey Never Ends ― How to Prepare a Spiritual Will

In the first book of its kind specifically for Catholics, theologian, spiritual director, and social worker Sr. Mary Petrosky, F.M.M., shows how a spiritual will—a document that outlines your values, intentions, and hopes for the future—can help you focus on what’s most important in your life. As you grow older, it will be something you’ll want to share with those you love.

The Journey Never Ends guides you through the process of preparing a spiritual will as an expression of your life’s intentions. If you are a Catholic or Christian of another background, you will find this a useful tool for creating the kind of life you want to live now in order to positively impact the world around you. In addition, like a traditional will, it will help you create a legacy for your family.

Petrosky has helped people on three continents find joy and meaning in their lives and purpose and understanding in their deaths through her work. Able to communicate theological ideas in everyday language, Petrosky organizes spiritual will-making around a theology of remembering, taking as her inspiration the words of Jesus: "Do this in remembrance of me."

She provides a variety of sample wills to illustrate various approaches you can take. In the final chapter of the book, Petrosky will guide you to write your own spiritual will with simple, clear, inspirational prompts and examples. The document is something that could be shared with family, friends, and colleagues later in life.

Following the teachings of St. Francis of Assisi, who lived life with joy and welcomed his death with openness and optimism, Petrosky guides you in how to best appreciate the art of living—and the way of dying.

Sr. Mary Petrosky, F.M.M., is a psychiatric social worker and a spiritual director who has served her religious order—the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary—in the United States, Australia, and Papua New Guinea.

She entered the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary community in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1951 and professed first vows in 1954. She earned her bachelor's degree in sociology from Emmanuel College (magna cum laude) in Boston and made her final vows in 1957. She earned a master's degree in psychiatric social work from St. Louis University in 1957 and a master’s degree in systematic theology with an emphasis on spiritual direction from the Jesuit School of Theology in 1979.

Petrosky has worked in family and child care in New York City and in Sydney, Australia. She founded a counseling center in Papua New Guinea and taught at Holy Spirit Seminary and Xavier Institute of Missiology. She has served in leadership roles for her order in Australia and Papua New Guinea and was provincial of the US Province. She has been at Holy Name of Jesus Convent in New York City, where she has been involved in spiritual direction and pastoral work, since 2003. She also serves in bereavement ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church.

Thomas Lynch is an American poet, essayist, and funeral director. His essay collection, The Undertaking, won the American Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award.

Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.F.M., is president of Siena College in Albany, New York.