Our Facilitators
Ada Renée Williams
The Reverend Ada Renée Williams is the Director of the Institute Office of Anti-Racism and Racial Equity of the Sisters of Mercy for the Americas. She holds a Master of Divinity from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, Ca., certificates in Black Church Africana Religious Studies and Women’s Studies in…
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…
Anne McCarthy, OSB
Anne McCarthy, OSB coordinates Benedictines for Peace in Erie, PA, and is active in a number of local coalitions addressing climate, peace and policy for racial justice. A former National Coordinator of Pax Christi USA (1991-1994), she leads retreats on nonviolence, Benedictine spirituality, feminism and contemplative sitting prayer. On staff…
Athena Dugan
Athena Dugan creates Labyrinths and one-of-a-kind jewelry and crafts. She is Volunteers Coordinator and Regional Representative with the Labyrinth Society. She hosts monthly online Handheld Labyrinth Walks, and is host of the blog/talk radio, Living Labyrinths. Athena is the founder of Walkers of the Labyrinth. Walkers of the Labyrinth creates…
Bernadette Rudolph
Bernadette Rudolph, MA, MS constantly seeks to understand the deeper meaning of life. Of particular interest to her is how the divine is woven through human lives. She has an ear cocked and both eyes open for how the Spirit comes to us in the here and now and invites…
Beth Flannery, RSM
Beth Flannery, RSM has experienced the transformative power of tears in times of joy and sorrow, despair and delight. She ministers as a spiritual director and supervisor of spiritual directors with extensive experience in campus ministry (university and secondary). She holds a Masters in Pastoral Counseling and Certificate in Spiritual…
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,…
Cathleen Cohen
Cathleen Cohen was the 2019 Poet Laureate of Montgomery County, PA. A poet, painter and teacher, she created the We the Poets program for children (www.theartwell.org.) Her poems appear in journals such as Apiary, Baltimore Review, Cagibi, East Coast Ink, North of Oxford, One Art Journal, Passager, Philadelphia Stories, Poetica,…
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 A. Hearn
Christine A. Hearn, MA, CSD — Chris has spent most of her life as a religious educator, pastoral minister, spiritual director and retreat facilitator. For more than forty years, she has taught elementary and secondary students in the Dioceses of Camden, Metuchen, Philadelphia and Trenton. Chris has also been an…
Christine Marie Eberle
Christine Marie Eberle passionately connects spirituality, Scripture, and everyday life. After a 26-year career in college campus ministry (including 15 years at Gwynedd Mercy University), in 2019 she shifted to a freelance ministry of writing and retreat facilitation, often performing dramatic interpretations of women in Scripture. She is the author…
Craig W. Giandomenico
Craig W. Giandomenico is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Rosemont College. Formerly, he has been a theology instructor at Merion Mercy Academy and an adjunct lecturer at Gwynedd Mercy University. Born and bred in Philadelphia, he obtained his BA in Religious Studies from Temple University and both…
Dawn Hayward
Drawing inspiration from Catherine McAuley, Dawn Hayward is an experienced leader who understands the power of storytelling and “systems thinking” to effect profound, complex levels of change. She also has a proven commitment to the mission of the Sisters of Mercy, and a deep connection to Cranaleith. Prior to beginning…
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 Valudes
Ellen brings over 20 years of experience working with organizations to engage and develop their people, meet business demands, and align culture with strategic goals. As Vice President of the Dale Carnegie Franchise in the Philadelphia region, Ellen is focused on providing strategic talent management solutions to her clients. She’s…
Greg Williams
Greg Williams was an environmental educator in California, Ohio and Philadelphia for most of his thirty-year career as a teacher/administrator in elementary and middle school settings. His retirement job is to try and make the world safer for his grandchildren and all the children he knew and taught. Greg served…
HMS Acoustic Band
Steve Hart – Song Writer, Guitar and Vocals Steve obtained his first guitar at age 11 and has never stopped playing since (a very long time!), A native of England, he first developed as a performer while studying music at the University of Durham and regularly playing the folk scene…
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…
Jen Norton
Painfully shy as a child, Jen was unable to communicate with anyone outside her family except through drawing. Visual language was her first language and she never lost her passion for its ability to communicate for her. There was never a day she “decided” to become an artist. For Jen,…
Joanne Castner
Joanne Castner is a Mercy Associate of the Sisters of Mercy. She is currently in the second year of Cranaleith’s Spiritual Direction Formation Program. She earned a BA in English/Education from SUNY Albany, an MS, Ed.S. in Counseling and Student Personnel from SUNY Albany and an M.Ed. in Educational Administration…
John Humphreys
John Humphreys is a biochemist, born in England and living in the US since 1999. He has a background in the pharmaceutical industry in sales, marketing, software development and original cardiovascular and clinical trial research. An enthusiastic conservationist and wildlife gardener, he is co-founder of EcoPhilly, the Catholic Archdiocese of…
Johnny Zokovitch
Johnny Zokovitch is the Executive Director of Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace and justice movement. Previously, Johnny worked in Brussels with Pax Christi International as the Senior Communications Officer. For nearly fifteen years, he lived at and co-directed the Gainesville (FL) Catholic Worker House, an intentional community serving…
Josephine Garnem
Josephine Garnem is an advocate and grassroots community mobilizer with over twenty-three years of extensive international and domestic experience. She is passionate about racial equity and justice and immigration. Josephine was born in Sierra Leone and has lived and worked in the Middle East, Sweden, Nigeria, Uganda, Cameroon, Haiti, Pakistan…
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…
Karen Doyle, SSJ
Karen M. Doyle SSJ, D. Min is a Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia, She has been enjoying the ministry of spiritual direction, supervision, formation of spiritual directors, retreat ministry and Ignatian Spirituality for over thirty years. She has ministered to spiritual directors in the United States, Canada, Philippines, Denmark…
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.
Lea Tran
Lea Tran started her humble life in America as a “boat” person” refugee in 1980. Her parents as well as her own experiences escaping Vietnam have taught her to transform adversity into opportunity, trauma into triumph. She renewed her faith and learned to rebuild her life from the harrowing journey. Now she…
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 nonprofit, business, and religious organizations. She is a former Cranaleith Board member and has conducted many Work and Spirit programs at Cranaleith. Earlier in her career she served as the Director of the US Bishops’ Office of Youth Ministry…
Marissa Jacobs
Marissa Jacobs is an Environmental & Conservation Educator. She blends the arts with science in order to bring glory to God’s Kingdom by teaching others about the wonderful natural world that God created and how to be stewards of that creation. Marissa is an international speaker, professional development facilitator, award-winning nature photographer…
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. She earned an interdisciplinary Ph.D. in the theology and psychology from the Gregorian University, where she was also a faculty member from 1994 to 2001. A lifelong educator, Mary Pat has taught at the elementary,…
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 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,…
Melissa Gyuraki
Melissa is the Wellness Team Leader at the Northeast Family YMCA. She believes that in order to encompass a healthy lifestyle, one must tend to the whole self and nurture their mind, body and soul. During the pandemic, she was blessed to gain her 200 hour YTT through Samudra Global…
Michele Vincent Fisher, CSFN
Sr. Michele is a native of Schuylkill County, born in Pottsville, PA, and raised in Port Clinton, PA. She attended Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville and completed undergraduate studies in psychology, Spanish and secondary education at Chestnut Hill College. She later received an MA in Theology and Ministry from…
Michelle Sherman
Michelle Sherman (she/her) is the 50th Anniversary Coordinator for Pax Christi USA. She 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…
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,…
Pamela Flynn
Pamela Flynn is a mixed media artist. Her work is founded in social/cultural issues. Flynn holds an MFA from New Jersey City University and is a Professor of Art and the Fine Arts Coordinator at Holy Family University, Philadelphia. She is an exhibiting artist of the Ceres Gallery, NYC and…
Patricia Griffin
Patricia Griffin, PhD is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at Holy Family University and Senior International Research Consultant for the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, Region of East Africa. Prior to joining HFU, she held administrative appointments and lecturer positions at Saint Joseph’s University, Boston College, and Cabrini…
Patrick Saint-Jean, SJ, PSYD
Dr. Saint-Jean is a Jesuit Regent. He graduated from undergraduate education at the Universite Victor Segalen de Bordeaux in France and received his graduate degree in Psychoanalysis from the Parisian Ecole Lacanienne de Psychanalyse in Paris and his PsyD from the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico. Dr. Saint-Jean has studied,…
Phaedra D. Blocker, DMin
Rev. Dr. Phaedra D. Blocker is a preacher, teacher, singer, spiritual director and retreat leader. Founder and principal of Word&Wisdom, she is dedicated to empowering individuals and organizations to move toward wholeness and actualize their potential as agents of change and shalom in the world. She serves as Director of the Center…
Rasheeda Hastings
Rasheeda Hastings is a Spiritual Director and labyrinth walk facilitator who resides in Philadelphia. Rasheeda was initially drawn to the Labyrinth as a calming meditation in movement. She became a Certified Labyrinth Facilitator through Veriditas, a non-profit organization that provides training and support of labyrinth facilitators worldwide. She is a…
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…
Stephen G. Hart
Steve is an Executive Coach with The Professional Development Group, LLC, and is also co-founder, Chief Learning Officer, and Senior Consultant with the Agile HR Consortium, LLC. In both organizations, Steve coaches inspiring leaders, develops high performing teams, and helps his clients to create great places to work. Prior to…
Timothy Simmons
Timothy 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 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, Central…