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Presenters
Cultivating Compassion 2012
More than forty presenters from around the world and across traditions will share their wisdom and insights with our global learning community during the 2012 SDI educational events.
Presenters are listed alphabetically by last name, and you can follow links to their role in our educational events. See ourresources page for the works that pertain to each presenter’s topic.
Plenary Presenters
Cultivating Compassion Keynote
John Philip Newell is a poet, scholar, and teacher with a passion for peace in the world. Formerly Warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland, he is currently Writer Theologian for the Scottish Cathedral of the Isles and Companion Theologian for the American Spirituality Centre of Casa del Sol in New Mexico, USA. He is internationally acclaimed for his work in the field of Celtic spirituality, including his best known titles Listening for the Heartbeat of God, Christ of the Celts, and his poetic book of prayer Sounds of the Eternal. He is a Church of Scotland minister with a fresh vision for harmony among the great spiritual traditions of humanity.
Rabbi Amy Eilberg is the first female rabbi ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. She co-founded the Bay Area Jewish Healing Center in San Francisco, California, USA and devoted her energy to understanding Jewish ways of healing and helping the sick. She currently lives in Minnesota, USA where she works for the Jay Phillips Center for Interfaith Learning and is involved in peace work. She also regularly teaches about Jewish healing, spirituality, and peace.
Thursday Evening FREE Public Event
Rev. Dr. Kirk B. Jones is an adjunct professor of ethics and preaching at Andover Newton Theological School and Boston University School of Theology. He serves as a guest preacher and teacher at churches, schools, and conferences throughout the United States. His writings have been published in journals including The Christian Century, Leadership, Gospel Today, Pulpit Digest, and The African American Pulpit, a quarterly preaching journal he co-founded in 1997. He is also the author of several best-selling books including Rest in the Storm: Self-Care Strategies for Clergy and Other Caregivers; Addicted to Hurry: Spiritual Strategies for Slowing Down; Holy Play: The Joyful Adventure of Unleashing Your Divine Purpose.
Howard Thurman: Cultivator of Compassion
Institute, Workshop and Session Presenters
F indicates Friday workshop (75 minutes)
FE indicates Fridey Evening workshop (75 minutes)
S indicates Saturday workshop (3 hours)
Lucy Abbott Tucker has been involved in the ministry of spiritual direction and supervision for over twenty-five years at the Institute for Spiritual Leadership in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She has a Masters of Theology from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. Lucy has both national and international experience working with spiritual directors.
Pre-conference Leadership Institute
Wilkie Au, PhD, is a professor of Theological Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, USA. He teaches in the area of Christian spirituality and coordinates the graduate concentration in spiritual direction.
Noreen Cannon Au, PhD, is a practicing Jungian Analyst and a faculty member of the C.G. Jung Institute of Los Angeles, California, USA. She writes and lectures widely on the integration of Christian spirituality and depth psychology.
F1. Gratefulness: A Gateway to Compassion
Rev. William A. Barry, SJ, PhD, is a spiritual director, writer and director of Jesuit tertianship at Campion Residence and Renewal Center, Massachusetts, USA. He is an editorial review panelist for Presence journal and co-author of the book The Practice of Spiritual Direction.
F2. Experiencing God's Compassion in Spiritual Direction
Sr. Kathleen Bryant, RSC, has presented workshops in Australia, Africa, Ireland, and throughout the USA. She holds a master’s degreein spirituality from the University of San Francisco and doctor of ministry degree from Graduate Theological Foundation. Kathleen is a retreat facilitator and spiritual director.
S1. Being Contemplative in a Digital World
Rev. Brenda Buckwell, DMin, teaches spiritual direction and supervision at United Theological Seminary. She is also senior pastor of Westgate United Methodist Church, co-founder of FUMSDRL, and leads the Spiritual Support team for the Greater Area Hilltop Shalom Zone in Ohio, USA.
S2. Healing Through Broken Dreams
Edward M. Cardoza MA, Min, is a spiritual director and the executive director of Still Harbor: Center for Discernment and Action in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He is also the former vice president of development for Partners In Health.
F3. Compassionate Accompaniment: Deploying Spiritual Direction in Times of Trauma and Tragedy
Patrick Cleary-Burns, is a spiritual director and retreat leader from Cleveland, Ohio, USA and the co-director of Itinerant Retreat Leaders. Pat teaches at the School of Spiritual Direction at the Benedictine Monastery in Pecos, New Mexico, USA.
F4. Ministering Outside the Box - So Others Can Come In!
Cath Connelly, MA, from Melbourne, Australia, delighted people at the SDI Conference in Dublin 2009 with her presentation on Celtic spirituality. Inspirational, creative and insightful, Cath returns to us with a new presentation. Yes, she will bring her harp!
Saturday Evening – Music of Compassion: A Celtic Harp Reflection
Catherine Crosby, MPS, MRE, RYT, is a spiritual director, retreat leader, and yoga instructor with a background in education and parish ministry. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
FE1. Sacred Circles: Mandalas as Healing and Revealing
Rev. Michael H. Crosby, OFMCap, has offered workshops to individuals and groups on the topic of compassion for almost twenty years. An award winning author, his most recent book is The Paradox of Power: From Control to Compassion.
S3. Tools to Help Map Relationships for Spiritual Director and Spiritual Directee
Mark A. Dannenfelser, MA, MPS, LPC is a psychotherapist and spiritual director. He founded The Mindfulness Center of Atlanta in Georgia, USA and works as an adjunct lecturer of theology and ministry at Spring Hill College. His interests include the relationship between spiritual practice and psychological healing, especially recovery from trauma.
FE2. Cultivating Compassion through Mindfulness Meditation
Helen Doherty RGN, RCN, MIAHIP, MSDI, is co-founder and director of Caraiosa Retreat Centre in Westmeath, Ireland. She works in psychotherapy and spiritual direction at the centre.
FE3. Compassion through the Lens of Celtic Spirituality
The Rev. Mary C. Earle is an Episcopal priest and spiritual director. Her most recent book is Celtic Christian Writings: Essential Texts Annotated and Explained. She regularly offers retreats on Celtic spirituality.
F5. Practice, Practice, Practice: Perspectives on Spiritual Direction from the Celtic Tradition
Carol Ann Fournier, MS, NCC, is director and founder of the Silver Dove Institute. She trains spiritual directors and counselors internationally. A retreat director and author, Carol has an integrative practice in Vermont, USA.
S13. Cultivating Compassion While Embracing the Mystery of Multiculturalism in Spiritual Direction
Noel Giblett is a therapist and spiritual director in Perth, Western Australia. He has been working with men and couples for nearly thirty years and is the author of several articles on men’s issues, marriage, and spiritual journeys.
S6. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: Cultivating Compassion for Men
Thomas B. Greving has been a member of SDI for over ten years. He creates and implements retreats and workshops for Catholic and Christian adults in the area surrounding Washington, DC, USA.,he also works with men in secular workshops and retreats.
FE4. Cultivating Compassion in Time of War
Paula Hirschboeck, PhD, is a spiritual director in Madison, Wisconsin, USA, a Professor of Philosophy, and a Zen Buddhist priest. She leads a Council of All Beings for a spiritual guidance training program and facilitatescollege, parish, and retreat groups.
FE5. A Council of All Beings: "May All Beings Be Free from Suffering"
Rt. Rev. Barry Hollowell is currently a PhD candidate in Counseling Psychology at the University of Calgary in Alberta, Canada. Using interviews and photography, he is researching the experience of spirituality in the lives of gay men.
FE6. Compassionate Conversations: Opening Opportunities through Photographic Images
Fr. Kevin Hunt, OCSO, is a Trappist Monk at Spencer Abbey for over fifty years. In 2004, he was recognized as the first North American Trappist to be both a Catholic monk and authorized Zen sensei.
S13. Cultivating Compassion While Embracing the Mystery of Multiculturalism in Spiritual Direction
Rev. Anne Ierardi, MDiv, DMin, is aspiritual director, pastoral counselor, and artist at Healthsigns Center in Massachusetts, USA. She illustrated Walking with Grief and a multimedia presentation Authenticity in Lives of Jazz Ladies.
F7. Healing the Heart Chakra: Holding Joy and Sadness with Compassion
Samuel E. Karff, DHL, is a rabbi who has ministered to congregations for forty years. He currently develops and teaches curriculum at the University of Texas Medical School focused on the non-biomedical, relational, or spiritual dimension of being a healing physician.
F8. Cultivating Compassion through a Religious and Non-religious Spirituality
Ann Kline is a chaplain and spiritual director who trains group facilitators and spiritual directors. She has over fourteen years of experience leading others.
S4. Spiritual Care for Spiritual Care Givers: The Blessing of Group Spiritual Direction
Dr. Alexandra Kovats, CSJP, is an adjunct professor in spirituality at Seattle University in Washington, USA. She is also a spiritual director and retreat facilitator in the USA and internationally.
F9. Two Views of Compassion: Mysticism and Science
Dr. Carrie La Jeunesse, DVM, CT, CCFE, serves as a spiritual director, a certified compassion fatigue educator, a bereavement facilitator certified in Thanatology, as well as a veterinarian with twenty-eight years of experience in emergency and critical care.
S7. Compassion Fatigue and Compassion Satisfaction
Wendie Bernstein Lash, MS, is a spiritual director, supervisor, and retreat leader located in Redwood City, California, USA. She mentors spiritual directors and is the author of two CDs: Blessing: Jewish Chants for Blessing and Healing and Sacred Relaxation: Mind-Quieting Techniques to Melt Away Stress.
F10. The Earth as Spiritual Director
Sandra L. Lommasson, MA, is founder of Bread of Life in Sacramento, California, USA. Her passion for creating processes for the formation of spiritual directors and organizational leaders includes blogging on the four-fold pattern of transformation in life.
S8. Four Movements of Grace; Four Faces of Compassion
Sheila McHugh BA (Hons) Counselling/Psychotherapy, MAPCP MAISGA, MSDI, MIITD, works in spiritual direction, Hellinger Constellation Work, counselling and psychotherapy. She currently lives in Mullingar, Ireland.
FE3. Compassion through the Lens of Celtic Spirituality
Bernadette Miles, BTheol, MAppSci-Organizational Dynamics, is a spiritual director, supervisor, and program director for the Institute for Christian Spirituality and Pastoral Formation (ICSPF). She is also a council member for the Australian Ecumenical Council of Spiritual Direction in Melbourne, Australia.
F11. Spiritual Direction as a Compassionate Support in Organizational Development
Rev. Dr. Ruqaiyah Nabe, RN, DMin, is a semi-retired registered professional nurse, an independent interfaith minister, and a spiritual director (Islam and Interspiritual), serving through a number of centers, groups, and organizations. She performs life-cycle events.
S9. Sowing Seeds of Love, Reaping Blossoms of Compassion
Mary Elizabeth Nono escaped the inner-city UK language classroom in 1993 via cancer and chemotherapy into fullness of life: Ignatian spirituality, spiritual direction, Christian mysticism, interfaith friendships, and creative cosmic sacred space, especially Anglesey beach walks!
FE8. Divine Silent Fire: Creating Contemplative Sacred Space
Rita M. Otis, MS, is an educator, spiritual director, Commissioned Minister of Spiritual Direction, UCC. She is also a certified Tai Chi Chih® teacher and Interplay® leader in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
Barbara Perry, CHF, BA, BMus, DipSacred Dance, is a Holy Faith Sister and Dance Meditation teacher at the Luisne Centre for Creation Spirituality at Kilcoole, County Wicklow, Ireland. She leads regular dancing circles and workshops in Ireland and abroad.
FE10. We are the Dance of the Divine
Dr. Trudy Corry Rankin is a spiritual director, a psychotherapist, and a sand play therapist in Lakeland, Florida, USA. She also authored Soul Notes of a Composition: In the World between Two Worlds in Grief from Suicide.
F12. Transference, Counter-Transference, and Co-Transference
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Andrew Rudd is a poet and university lecturer. He is a lay reader in the Church of England, a spiritual director, and leads writing workshops, retreats and quiet days. He teaches on an interdenominational course for ministry formation, as well as a regional course for spiritual directors. His PhD explored the connections between poetry and spirituality.
S11. Out of Words: A Creative Journey
Wendy Rudd is a textile artist, mentor, and teacher who leads quiet days and retreats. She has created large scale contemplative installations which have toured many churches and quiet spaces throughout the UK. She is particularly interested in the potential of art to go beyond words. A significant part of her daily work with young children with complex needs is understanding how they communicate without words.
S11. Out of Words: A Creative Journey
Dr. Janet K. Ruffing, RSM, PhD, is professor of the practice of spirituality and ministerial leadership at Yale Divinity School in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. She has a PhD in Christian Spirituality and twenty-five years of experience training spiritual directors at Mercy Center in Burlingame, California, USA and Fordham University in New York, USA. She has presented workshops for spiritual directors throughout the world. Her most recent book is To Tell the Sacred Tale: Spiritual Direction and Narrative.
S10. Spiritual Direction and Narrative
Marsie Silvestro is an interfaith retreat leader, spiritual director, author, and internationally known feminist recording artist who is presently the executive director of A Safe Place, a domestic abuse support service agency in New Hampshire, USA.
F4. Ministering Outside the Box - So Others Can Come In!
Sandra Smith, MDiv, is a retreat leader, workplace consultant, and spiritual companion. She is a certified Enneagram teacher in the Enneagram Studies in the Narrative Tradition (ESNT), founded by Helen Palmer and David Daniels, MD. Sandra lives in Asheville, North Carolina, USA.
S12. Opening to Receptivity and Spiritual Experience: Using the Enneagram as Grace-filled Guide
Mirabai Starr writes fiction, creative non-fiction, and contemporary translations of sacred literature. She teaches philosophy and world religions at the University of New Mexico-Taos and speaks widely on contemplative practice, grief, and loss. Mirabai has received critical acclaim for her translations of Dark Night of the Soul by sixteenth century Spanish mystic, Saint John of the Cross, and The Interior Castle and The Book of My Life, both by Staint Teresa of Avila.
Rabbi Jacob J. Staub, PhD, is a professor of Jewish philosophy and spirituality and chair of the Department of Medieval Jewish Civilization at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Wyncote, Pennsylvania, USA. He also directs the first program in Jewish spiritual direction at a rabbinical seminary.
FE11. Created in the Divine Image: Cultivating Compassion for LBGT Directees
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Michele C. Tamaren, M.A., Spiritual Director, life coach, writer, presenter, former special educator. Michele presents widely on spirituality and healing, and her new book, ExtraOrdinary: An End of Life Story Without End is now available.
S5. Peace Before Passing: Compassionate Care and Spiritual Healing During Illness and at the End of Life (Michele C. Tamaren, M.A.). Serious illness or an end of-life journey may herald the blessings of wholeness, peace, and deep healing. Explore compassionate care, holy listening, and keen awareness of fears, needs, and longings in people who are ill and dying. Learn how to gently support their spiritual quest on the path to peace with God, self, and others: opening to the arms of spirit. 50% 25% 25%
Sr. Patricia Lucy Tierney, RSJ, is a regular presenter at Australian Network for Spiritual Direction Queensland regional meetings. She completed Theological Studies in Sydney, Australia and Pastoral Studies in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She serves as a spiritual director and supervisor for individuals and at a formation program in Brisbane, Australia.
FE12. My 'Cosmic Story' Pattern: Heart Beat of Spiritual Direction
Rev. Kevin F. Tripp, MDiv, is a hospice chaplain, spiritual director, and marriage officiant in Guerneville, California, USA. He has experience in health care ministry educating chaplains and health care professionals. He is a graduate student at Notre Dame University and did spiritual director training at Mercy Center.
FE13. Compassion Can Fatigue You!
Roslyn G. Weiner, PhD, is a psychologist and spiritual director with over six years of experience leading spiritual direction groups.
S4. Spiritual Care for Spiritual Care Givers: The Blessing of Group Spiritual Direction
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