Program Presenters
Barbara Bowe, RSCJ Professor Barbara Bowe is a Religious of the Sacred Heart. She received both her Masters and Doctorate in New Testament and Christian Origins from Harvard University, and also holds a Masters degree in Religious Education from Boston College. Her dissertation on First Clement, A Church in Crisis: Ecclesiology and Paraenesis in Clement of Rome was published by Fortress Press in 1988 as part of the Harvard Dissertations in Religion Series. |  |
Beth Code Beth Code is certified in Healing Touch, an energy modality developed by holistic nurses, which she integrates with healing prayer in private practice. She has worked as a librarian, educator, peer counselor and lactation consultant. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity in spirituality and pastoral care. |  |
Patrick Coffey, LLMSW Patrick Coffey, LLMSW is a former Marine and Vietnam veteran. He is a graduate of Kalamazoo College who recently retired from the United States Postal Service and went back to school to earn his MSW from Western Michigan University. He is an ordained pastor and has been drug-free for over twenty years. He has sponsored more than two hundred men through the twelve steps of recovery. He has been practicing not taking anything for granted (gratitude), on and off for thirty five years. His spiritual path consists of meditation, study, service and celebration. He combines awareness, compassion and humor to evoke and fan the spiritual spark in us all. |
Frankie Dutil, CSJ Frances (Frankie) Dutil, CSJ has a B.A. in French and music, an M.A. in educational psychology and an Associate Degree in art. She spent many years as an elementary teacher and principal. Art has always been a love in her life. Her love of Ireland goes back to her roots on her mother’s side. Both great-grandparents came to America during the potato famine. Her Celtic ancestry and trips to Ireland and Scotland have helped her develop knowledge and appreciation of the unique contributions of Celtic spirituality. Celtic scenes and objects populate her art through which she tries to communicate the ineffable qualities of these places and beliefs. |  |
David Frenette David Frenette is a long time student of Father Thomas Keating the Trappist monk and animator of Centering Prayer. David has worked with Contemplative Outreach for 24 years. He co-founded and taught at a Centering Prayer retreat community for 10 years, and is now an adjunct faculty member at Naropa University, and is a spiritual director and counseling psychologist. David’s work teaches Centering Prayer as a path for integrating the divine life of God with our human life, and is described on the website: www.incarnationalcontemplation.com.
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Diane Hamel Diane Hamel, a lifelong artist, studied fine art at Michigan State University from 1971 to 1975. After raising her family, she returned to Aquinas College in 1989, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology in 1991. She began working as a professional lay minister at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Greenville, Michigan, where she served as the Director of Religious Education for nine years. In August 2000, Diane began working at St. Patrick Parish in Parnell, Michigan, as the Director of the Catechumenate. In addition to her ministry at St. Patrick Parish, she served the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan as a member of the Liturgical Art and Environment Commission for many years. Diane has given numerous workshops on preparing sacred spaces and liturgical environments. |  |
Tom Holmes Tom Holmes has a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology and is Professor Emeritus at Western Michigan University (WMU). He has been training graduate students in psychotherapy since 1985 and since 1996 he has been teaching in the Holistic Health Care Program at WMU. His specialty area is spirituality and the therapeutic process. Tom received training in Internal Family Systems (IFS) from Richard Schwartz in the late 1980's and has been teaching, training and practicing IFS since that time. |  |
Marianne Novak Houston Marianne Novak Houston has a graduate degree in religious studies. She worked for nine years with Dr. Parker J. Palmer, to help found the international formation movement. She is a senior advisor and facilitator with the Center for Courage and Renewal in Seattle, Washington. A teacher for more than 40 years, she now devotes full time to retreat facilitation and trains and mentors future formation facilitators in the U.S. and abroad. |  |
Karen Anne Jackson, CSC Karen Anne Jackson, CSC is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross St. Mary’s, Notre Dame, Indiana. Karen has an extensive history as an educator teaching all ages of students. During the past 20 years, in addition to full time ministry, she has facilitated 12-Step retreats for women in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois. |  |
Ginny Jones, CSJ Virginia (Ginny) Jones, CSJ has been actively involved in environmental education and action for more than 20 years. She holds a doctorate in environmental education and a certificate in spiritual direction. She is known for her work in eco-spirituality and for her efforts in establishing Manitou Arbor Ecovillage east of Kalamazoo. |  |
Gertrude Maurer, CSJ Gertrude Maurer, CSJ is on the staff of Transformations Spirituality Center. She has served as an educator, retreat and spiritual director, and minister for justice in the US and Ghana. She holds a doctorate in American literature and a certificate in spiritual direction. She is also a trained Sage-ing Circle® facilitator.
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Betsy Meagher, CSJ Betsy Meagher, CSJ is the worship coordinator at Nazareth Center, the motherhouse of the Congregation of St. Joseph. She has served as a diocesan liturgical director, liturgist, musician and educator for more than 20 years. She holds masters degrees in liturgy and music education. |  |
Fr. David Porterfield, CSC Fr. David Porterfield, CSC is a member of the Congregation of the Holy
Cross, based at Notre Dame, Indiana. He has many years of experience
walking with men on their 12-Step journeys. Father taught and coached at Niles Notre Dame high school for a number of years, served as Assistant Director of undergraduate Admissions at the University of Notre Dame, was pastor of four parishes in South Bend and currently works as Superior of Fatima (former retreat house). |
Sue Ryder, M.S.W. Sue Ryder, M.S.W., is a therapist and addictions counselor. She earned her master’s degree in social work at Western Michigan University and is a clinical social worker with a specialty in addictions and equine therapy. Sue has used the 12-Steps of recovery as a spiritual foundation for more than 20 years. |
Laura Smith, CSJ Laura Smith, CSJ has experience in counseling, consultation, spiritual direction, retreat work, and teaching. She holds masters degrees in pastoral theology, counseling, and music. She earned a certificate in spiritual direction from the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids and studied with the Sufi Institute for two years. |  |
Elizabeth Tompkins Elizabeth Tompkins has a background in theology, pastoral care, and spiritual formation. She is certified in spiritual direction and labyrinth facilitation, and has extensive experience as a retreat facilitator. She brings a rich diversity of tools, including art and stories, to enhance the retreat experience. |  |
Dominic Vachon, M.Div, Ph.D. Dominic Vachon, M.Div., Ph.D. is a psychologist who is the Director of Behavioral Medicine and Caring Science Training on the clinical faculty for training family medicine residency physicians at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend, Indiana. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine of the Indiana University School of Medicine and Adjunct Professor in the Psychology and Theology Departments at the University of Notre Dame teaching courses for Master of Divinity graduate students and doctoral students in Clinical/Counseling Psychology. He is also the founder of the Institute for the Support and Study of the Caring Professions, a private consulting practice that offers programs for healthcare and other organizations concerned about the stress in helping people. |  |