Executive Director – bio and blog

James E. Hayes, D. Min., M. Div.

James E. Hayes, D. Min., M. Div., Executive Director of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center, and a spiritual director.

 

Jim’s Blog

2/11/22 – Celebrating Black History

11/4/21 – Why Get Vaccinated?

5/5/21 – Mental Health Awareness Month

3/15/21 – Women’s History Month and the Center

12/8/20 – Save or Savor?

10/13/20 – Living, Breathing, Values

6/10/20 – Healing is Hard Work

4/6/20 – A Memorable Birthday

3/18/20 – Be Not Afraid

2/13/20 – HELP, THANKS, WOW!

11/11/19 – All Saints

8/20/19 – And The Two Shall Be One

7/9/19 – Look for the Helpers

3/14/2019 – The Wonder of Generosity

2/7/2019 – The Precious Present

1/9/2019 – Generous Spirits

10/8/2018 –Trauma Sensitive Living: What Can I Do?

4/11/2018 –The Other Side of Change

2/12/2018 Deep Gratitude for our Board of Directors

1/11/2018 – A mighty thaw

12/13/2017 – It’s been a great first year

9/13/2017 – Whistle while you work

8/10/2017 – Consider the roots

6/9/2017 – Forgetting ourselves on purpose

5/10/2017 – Good grief

4/17/2017 – The Center at 45 years

3/15/2017 – A reflection on trust

2/14/2017 – Hope is the thing with feathers

1/18/2017 – Start where you are – Greetings from our new executive director

1/1/2017 – Health Tip – Exercise Gratitude

Jim’s Bio:

Jim is the executive director of the Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center and a spiritual director. In this role he advances the Center’s mission to bring understanding, hope and healing to people of all ages through counseling and education.

A native Iowan, Jim holds a master of divinity degree from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, and a doctoral degree in homiletics from the Aquinas Institute at St. Louis University. He studied philosophy at the Pontitifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome, Italy. His life has been blessed with opportunities to teach, counsel, write, minister, preach, lead retreats and provide spiritual direction. He also has experience in non-profit administration, motivational speaking, pastoral and campus ministry, facilitating workshops, adult learning and training programs, civic engagement advocacy, strategic planning and consulting.

Previously, Jim served students and faculty at Simpson College in a variety of roles including Religion Professor; Vice President; Associate Dean, Director of the Center for Vocation and Integrative Learning; Director of Service Hub, a center for service and learning; and Associate Program Director to assist students with vocational exploration.

He has also served as campus minister at Iowa State where he continued to expand his global awareness through study abroad and work with international students, including the use of conversational English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Before his work in the higher education sector, Jim provided spiritual counseling and pastoral ministry in a wide variety of settings through Priestly Ministry in the Northeast Iowa Archdiocese of Dubuque.

Throughout his career, Jim has dedicated himself to building up individuals and institutions for positive community engagement, whether across the street or around the world.

Jim and his wife live in Des Moines with their two children.

Jim Hayes is available to speak or preach at your business, organization, school, congregation or other settings.