Spiritual Opportunities: Franciscan Spiritual Center

	Presenter Biographies

Carmel Boyle is a native of Monasterboice in the heart of Ireland's Boyne Valley. She is best known as a singer, songwriter and recording artist of spiritual songs. Her evocative songs and healing voice have a capacity to draw the listener into a sacred space within. Through her creative reflective expression, she touches and stirs the heart and soul bringing peace and healing. She is an experienced educator, retreat facilitator and spiritual guide.

St. Joseph Brennion OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, has been active in the visual arts all her life. She has had many years of art education and has taught art on many levels. She seeks to aid retreatants in any way she can.

Helen Budzik OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, is the Administrative Assistant of the Franciscan Spiritual Center. Her previous ministry has included both teaching and educational administration as well as parish ministry focusing on adult education and faith formation. Her study and writing on both St. Clare of Assisi and Franciscan solitude, as well as her Masters degrees in theology and pastoral studies , enrich her ministry as a certified spiritual director at the Center and as a supervisor for spiritual directors at Neumann University, Aston, PA.

Anthony Ciorra OFM, nationally known as a speaker and retreat director, is the Dean of the Graduate School of Religion and Religious Education at Fordham Univesity, Bronx, NY. He has served in various ministries and was the former chaplain and director of the Center for Theological and Spiritual Development at the College of St. Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ. He is the author of several books. Among his publications are Everyday Mysticism: Cherishing the Holy and Moral Formation in the Parish: With Your Whole Heart Turn to God.

Antonia Cooper OSF, a Franciscan Servant, is an artist, spiritual director, and accredited instructor of T’ai Chi Chih. She offers workshops, retreats and programs both nationally and internationally in an effort to reunite body, mind and spirit.

Clare D’Auria OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, is returning to our Center as a staff member after completing six years as a member of our congregation’s leadership team. For almost half of her forty years in ministry, Clare has served in retreat ministry, offering directed and conference retreats as well as numerous workshops in Franciscan spirituality. With an M.A. in Theological Studies from the Washington Theological Union, Washington, DC, she is a certified spiritual director and also serves as a supervisor for spiritual directors at Neumann University, Aston, PA.

James M. DiLuzio CSP, is a Paulist Father. Fr. Jim holds a Master of Divinity from CTU, a MA in Arts Drama from the University of Southern California, LA and a BA in English/Education from Montclair State University. He has served in pastoral ministry both in parishes and as a Campus Minister. He is a professional actor, missionary and performer. Fr. Jim uses his writing, acting and musical talents to bring God’s word to life in lively and dramatic ways. In addition to Luke Live!, Fr. Jim is currently writing a new musical, Wild Man’s Journey, filled with spiritual themes and based on the Grimm’s fairy tale, Iron John.

Rose Mary Dougherty SSND, has ministered in the area of spirituality for over thirty years, including her years at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda where she retains the title of Senior Fellow for Spiritual Guidance. She continues her varied ministry especially through spiritual direction, retreats and workshops primarily for hospice care-givers and companions the dying at Joseph House, a hospice for the homeless in Washington, DC. She also directs a program for seniors entitled "Companioning the Dying: Invitation to Contemplative Living". Her book, Discernment: A Path to Enlightenment and a DVD are published by Paulist Press.

Marianne Hieb RSM, MFA, ATR, D.Min, a Sister of Mercy of Merion, PA, directs the Wellness Spirituality Program at Lourdes Wellness Center in Collingswood, NJ. She is an art therapist, studio artist, spiritual director and the author of Inner Journeying through Art-Journaling.

Immaculee Ilibagiza is the author of Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, a New York Times best seller. In it Immaculee shares her miraculous story of survival. Born in Rwanda, Immaculee's life was transformed dramatically in 1994 while she was home from college. In the course of just 100 days, nearly one million men, women, and children were slaughtered. During the genocide, Immaculee survived by hiding in a small bathroom with seven other women for 91 days, while her parents and two of her three brothers were murdered. Immaculee now lives in the United States with her husband and two children. She continues to share her story of conversion, forgiveness and reconciliation around the world.

Bernadette Kinniry RSM, a Sister of Mercy of Merion, PA, is co-founder and program director at Siloam Ministries in Philadelphia, PA, a spiritual healing ministry for the HIV/AIDS community. Before beginning her work at Siloam in 1995, Bernadette served as directress of formation for her congregation. For nearly thirty years, she has ministered in a variety of capacities as educator, counselor, and program administrator for adults and children.

Michael Laratonda FMS, a Marist Brother, served as associate director of Wellsprings. An experienced spiritual director and administrator, Michael has offered numerous workshops in journaling, dreams, prayer, sexuality, intimacy and celibacy. Michael is involved in retreat work, spiritual direction, and facilitating programs for various communities throughout the U.S.

Eric Law, an Episcopal priest of the Los Angeles diocese, is an internationally known professional consultant in the area of multicultural leadership and organizational development. Father Law is the founder and executive director of the Kaleidoscope Institute for competent leadership in a diverse changing world. He facilitates workshops in a variety of ecumenical settings and is the author of six books ranging from spiritual practice to systemic transformational applications such as: The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb; The Bush was Blazing but not Consumed; Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear; and Inclusion.

Andrea Likovich OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, is presently music and liturgy coordinator for Our Lady of Angels Convent in Aston, Pennsylvania. Having degrees in music and theology, she has ministered in education at all levels and has served as liturgist in parishes and retreat centers as well as the program coordinator for the Franciscan Spiritual Center for over two years. Andrea has published two recordings of original music, Songrise (1990) and Greater Than Our Hearts (2001).

Barbara Lucas OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, is an experienced educator, retreat facilitator, and spiritual director. She has ministered as a hospital and prison chaplain and as vocation director for her community. Barbara lived in a West Virginia hermitage for ten years and presently lives and ministers at Abode of Peace, a place of prayer and hospitality in Doylestown, PA.

Elizabeth Murphy OSF, a sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, has ministered as a Pastoral Associate and spiritual director, and has been a team member in retreat work at the parish level and at the Shrine of Our Lady of Knock in Ireland for the past 17 years. Elizabeth has also served as a chaplain for the elderly.

Mary Lou Pappolla, a Franciscan Companion in Mission, is a social worker for the Burn Center of Crozer-Chester Medical Center. Mary Lou began the Hospice Program at Delaware County Memorial Hospital and is co-facilitator of a bereavement support group and a cancer support group.

Ann David Strohminger OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, has practiced spiritual direction and pastoral counseling for over 35 years. She is a certified spiritual director from Chestnut Hill College and received her MS in pastoral counseling from Loyola University, Maryland. Ann presently serves as the Wellness Director at Drexel Neumann Academy in Chester, PA. She focuses on the integration of body, mind and spirit

Jean Ustasiewski OSF is a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia who ministers part time on the Franciscan Spiritual Center staff. Before coming to the Center, Jean served the congregation for six years as the director of Franciscan Companions in Mission and has ministered as a pastoral counselor and a high school guidance counselor.

Mary Walsh OSF, a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia, serves as an associate staff member at the Franciscan Spiritual Center. Her ministry includes spiritual direction, retreats, and workshops in bio-spiritual focusing and holistic spirituality. She is certified as a Spiritual Director and as a Focuser Trainer.

Maryanne Williams has been a Yoga practitioner for 37 years. She is the current President of the Arden Yoga Group. She has taught yoga in the adult programs for New Castle County Parks and Recreation, as well as in wellness programs offered at St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, DE, and through large corporations throughout northern Delaware.

Rooted in the Gospel. . . we welcome all as sister and brother.

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