Our Facilitators
Alison Cornish
The Rev. Alison Cornish is a Unitarian Universalist minister living in Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts. After graduating from Wellesley College, Alison spent the first half of her professional life working as an historic preservationist and architectural historian. After twenty years of work with museums, municipalities and nonprofit organizations, Alison headed to…
Anneke Kat
Anneke obtained a B.A. in International Development and Social Change and a M.A. in Community Development and Planning, both from Clark University. She has several years of academic and practical experience working with refugees and youth on issues of education, economic empowerment, and employment. In 2013 she worked and studied…
Aronda Smith-Benson
Aronda Smith-Benson is an honorably discharged Army veteran; she deployed during Desert Shield-Storm as a medic with 3rd Armored Division 45th Support Battalion. Aronda’s Unit received the Valorous Unit Award. The Valorous Unit Award is the second highest unit decoration which may be bestowed upon a U.S. Army Unit (the highest…
Audrey Garrett
Audrey Garrett is an artist who practices meditation. She seeks to explore and encourage our connections to nature and to each other through sound meditation, movement, and visual art.
Bernadette Rudolph
Bernadette Rudolph, MA, MS, endlessly explores how God is mixed up in human lives and tries to help others see it as well. She believes in an incarnated, merciful God who calls human beings to live an incarnated, merciful faith. With degrees in the liberal arts, religion and religious education…
Boreta Singleton
Boreta A. Singleton, a native of Philadelphia, PA, is an African American ‘cradle Catholic.’ She taught in Catholic elementary and middle schools there and was the Director of the Office for Black Catholics for four years. Boreta is presently the Director of Faculty Formation at St. Peter’s Prep High School,…
Cathy Maguire RSM
Catherine Maguire RSM, a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, has over 20 years of experience in non-profit management, as well as program development and delivery. She facilitates retreats, days of reflection, and is a spiritual director. Cathy was the executive director of Siloam, a mind, body…
Christine Marie Eberle
Christine Marie Eberle is the author of Finding God in Ordinary Time. In 2019, she stepped down as Director of Campus Ministry at Gwynedd Mercy University to pursue a freelance ministry of writing, speaking and retreat facilitation: passionately connecting Scripture, spirituality, and everyday life.
Danny L. Thomas
Danny L. Thomas, Executive Director of The Peace Center, Inc., is professionally trained in conflict management skills. His primary focus of reconciliation and bridge building challenges parties to see the “Now” and work toward the “What Could Be”. He is also a pastor in the United Methodist Church. He has served congregations…
Ella Guimond
Ella Guimond works as a Community Engagement Manager on the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic team at Catholic Relief Services. As Community Engagement Manager, Ella works with Catholic institutions, particularly parishes, universities, and high schools to raise awareness on global issues and promote global solidarity. Prior to CRS, Ella served as a Community Coordinator…
Ellen Birx
Ellen Birx is an authorized Zen teacher and Dharma successor of Roshi Robert Kennedy, SJ. She holds a PhD in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing from the University of Texas at Austin and is Professor Emerita at Radford University. She is the author of several books including Selfless Love (Wisdom, 2014)…
Ellen Murray, RSM
Ellen Murray is a Sister of Mercy. Her area of research is focused on Christian spirituality and medieval women mystics with particular attention to Catherine of Siena. At present, she is Associate Professor in Religious Studies and Director of General Education at Gwynedd Mercy University.
Honora Nicholson, RSM
Sr. Honora Nicholson, RSM is a member of the pastoral-services team at RENEW International, a Catholic publishing house. She enjoys her current work, because of her love of parish ministry and the power of small groups. In addition to certification in spiritual direction and leading retreats, she volunteers with various…
Jackie Newns
Jaclyn Newns is the Director of Campus Ministry at Chestnut Hill College. Since 2010, she has been serving educational and pastoral communities in the Philadelphia and Boston areas through retreats and presentations. Having studied the impact of visual arts on spiritual formation at the Boston College School of Theology and…
James Padilioni, PhD
James Padilioni, Jr. is Visiting Assistant Professor of Religion, Black Studies, and Environmental Studies at Swarthmore College. His research and teaching foreground Caribbean and Latin American folk Catholicism, African Diaspora ancestral memory and mythmaking traditions, and healing justice frameworks based on his ten years-experience in movement organizing and social change activism.
Joy Clough RSM
Author and storyteller, Sister of Mercy Joy Clough offers imaginative stories that present listeners with fresh insights into familiar scriptural scenes. Her hope is that the invitation to creative reflection on well-known Gospel passages will nourish listeners’ faith lives and spiritual practice in the long tradition of imaginative prayer. Now retired, Joy has ministered in teaching, communications…
Joyce Hadley
Joyce Hadley is a board member of the Bucks County Human Relations Council and is currently an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS), the religious order founded by St. Katharine Drexel. Hadley is the past assistant national director for ASBS, and currently serves as the chair of…
Kathleen McAlpin, RSM
Kathleen McAlpin, RSM, has served as a spiritual director and retreat director for more than 30 years. She is currently an adjunct faculty member for spiritual direction formation programs at Creighton University in Nebraska, Neumann College in Aston, Pa. and at Cranaleith.
Linda Neil, CSJ
Linda Neil, CSJ is a Sister of St. Joseph of Carondelet. She is the co-director of St. Joseph’s Place in Schenectady, a place of hospitality and prayer for the people of the Hamilton Hill neighborhood. Sr. Linda is also engaged in Eco-spirituality work, presenting a workshop series titled Encountering Earth:…
Lisa Mehalick
Lisa Mehalick holds a BS in Psychology from Kutztown University, an MA in Theology and a certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Villanova University where she also worked as a Campus Ministry Intern. She completed the Spiritual Direction Formation Program at Cranaleith Spiritual Center in 2019. Lisa’s professional experience includes serving…
Maria DiBello, RSM
Maria DiBello, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Her experience includes adult faith formation, pastoral ministry, spiritual direction, and retreat ministry. She also has experience in elementary and secondary education. For many years, Maria provided pastoral leadership in a rural Southern community that was…
Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM
Marie Michele Donnelly, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She has extensive experience offering preached retreats to parishes, school faculties, ministry groups, ecumenical groups and religious communities. In addition, she is a frequent presenter for parent and parish groups. Marie Michele has been a…
Marisa Guerin, PhD
Marisa Guerin, Ph.D., is a writer, teacher, and (retired) consultant to leaders and organizations. Earlier in her career she served as the Director of the US Bishops’ Office of Youth Ministry and also worked as the Corporate VP of Human Resources for an international manufacturing firm. Marisa is currently writing…
Mary Anne Nolan, RSM
Mary Anne Nolan, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. Her most recent ministry has been as Co-Director of Mercy Spiritual Ministries, a mobile ministry of the Sisters of Mercy engaging individuals and groups in prayer, reflection and ongoing spiritual development. A spiritual director for…
Mary Elizabeth Looby, GNSH
Sr. Mary Elizabeth Looby is a Grey Nun of the Sacred Heart. She holds a BA in History and Political Science from D’Youville College; a M.Ed. in Educational Administration from Temple University. Her training for spiritual direction and retreat ministry was at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in MD. She added…
Mary Pat Garvin, RSM
Mary Pat Garvin, RSM is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. From 2011-2017 Mary Pat served as a member of her congregation’s general leadership team. Mary Pat holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the Gregorian University where she was a faculty member from 1994-2001. Before being…
Mary Trainer, RSM
Sister Mary Trainer, RSM, is the founding director of Cranaleith Spiritual Center. She earned a Ph.D. in social psychology from Boston University and a certificate in spiritual guidance from Shalem Institute. Mary is also the founder of Mercy International Center in Dublin, Ireland, where the charism of mercy continues to…
Maureen H. McCullough, JD
Maureen H. McCullough, JD is the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Regional Director of Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. CRS saves, protects and transforms lives in more than 100 countries, without regard to race, religion or nationality. As Regional Director, Maureen coordinates and leads regional…
Maureen O'Connell, PhD
Maureen H. O’Connell is an Associate Professor of Christian Ethics in the Department of Religion and Theology at La Salle University. She holds a BA in History from Saint Joseph’s University and a PhD in Theological Ethics from Boston College. She authored Compassion: Loving Our Neighbor in an Age of Globalization (Orbis Books,…
Megan Brown, RSM
Megan Brown, RSM, D. Min., is a member of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English, a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree in Applied Ministries. Fascinated with the interplay of psychology and spirituality, Megan is also a…
Michelle Sherman
Michelle Sherman earned a BA from Saint Mary’s College and an MA in Theology with a certificate in Pastoral Ministry from Villanova University. She completed the Spiritual Direction Formation Program at Cranaleith Spiritual Center in 2019. Her previous professional roles include serving as the Campus Minister for Retreats at Villanova…
Mickey O. McGrath, OSFS
In a nutshell, I paint, write and tell stories, and then travel all over the place telling the stories behind what I paint and write. My first formal art lessons were at the Moore College of Art in downtown Philadelphia, my hometown. They had classes for young people on Saturday…
Mike Poulin
Mike Poulin works as a member of the justice team for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. He also serves on the core committee for the Institute Office of Anti-Racism and Racial Equity. Prior to joining the Mercy team, Mike worked in Catholic parish ministry and social justice education.…
Nicholas Collura
Nicholas Collura is a board-certified chaplain and Director of Pastoral Care at Holy Redeemer Health System. He earned a Master of Divinity and trained as a spiritual director at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry, and he serves as a visiting retreat director at St. Raphaela Center in Haverford, PA. A former Jesuit,…
Phyllis Strock
Phyllis Strock is a practitioner of sound healing. Using Tibetan bowls and crystal bowls, Chant and sound, she leads people to inner peace and discovery. Her perspective is informed by her experience in counseling, spirituality and writing. She has worked with diverse populations, both individually and in groups, including cancer survivors, impoverished children, teens…
Renee Yann, RSM
Sister Renee Yann, RSM, D. Min, is a writer, poet, and speaker on topics of spirituality, mission, and ethical business practice. After twenty years in teaching and social justice ministry, she served for over thirty years in various mission-related roles in Mercy Health System of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Sister Renee has…
Ruth Picozzi
Ruth Picozzi has led historic tours of Cranaleith and has a strong interest in the local roots of the Women’s Suffrage Movement. She coordinates the Gift Shop at Cranaleith and has been a long time member of the Somerton community.
Scott Hutchinson
The agape life of Jesus has sung a love song to Scott Hutchinson as long as he can remember. Scott is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, serving in local congregations for more than three decades. Scott’s life and ministry embrace the transforming power of forgiveness, a…
Sharon Browning
Sharon Browning is currently working on the JUST Listening Project, fostering social and personal change and transformation through just and effective communication. She serves as a consultant, coach, and facilitator to programs and organizations in the public interest and social services communities, concentrating on the affective dimensions of change and organizational…
Suzanne Neisser
Suzanne Neisser, RSM, began North Philadelphia Spiritual Ministries out of her longstanding commitment to the spiritual growth of women in North Philadelphia. She is a valued resource in the area of spirituality and cultural diversity at the Jesuit Center, Wernersville and Neumann University. Suzanne holds a Masters degree in Spirituality…
Tim Simmons
Tim Simmons is a former Mercy Volunteer, a Mercy Associate and a music teacher at Delaware Valley Friends School in Paoli, PA. A lifelong drummer and multi-instrumentalist, he has developed a music curriculum for adolescents with learning differences called “Song in Everything”. He also recently released a new album called “Transforma: Light Returning”. You…
Tylia Barnes
Tylia Barnes joined the Sisters of Mercy, South Central in March 2011. On September 24, 2012 she answered her call, making covenant as a Mercy Associate on Mercy Day. Currently, she serves as Executive Director of Association and is directly responsible for more than 3,000 associates across the United States,…
Valerie Lee-Jeter
Valerie Lee-Jeter is a native Philadelphian and forty-year member of St. Vincent De Paul Parish where she is also the Music Director. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Chestnut Hill College and a master’s degree in theological studies with a concentration in liturgy from LaSalle University, both in…