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…
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 is a native of Houma, Louisiana. She is an honorably discharged Army veteran. She resided in Philadelphia for twenty years, where she earned a master’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in Organizational Dynamics, as well as master’s certifications in Organizational Coaching, Organizational Development and Change Studies and Organizational…
Athena Dugan
Athena Dugan creates Labyrinths and one-of-a-kind jewelry and crafts. She is volunteer 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
With degrees in the liberal arts, religion and religious education and educational leadership, Bernadette has been a volunteer teacher on the Navajo Reservation, a middle school and high school teacher of literature, religion and math, a pastoral minister in a parish setting, a K-8 principal, adjunct faculty at several universities…
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…
Christopher Grosso
Christopher Grosso’s latest collection of poems, Said to Godhead, was published by Alien Buddha Press in July 2022. His poetry collection, Philadelphia Swank, won the Thirty West 2017 Chapbook Competition and was published that same year. He is the author of three novels, (Godfat’s Door, Mauled, and Mouth to God’s…
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 studies focused on Christian spirituality with particular attention to Catherine of Siena. She is Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Gwynedd Mercy University.
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…
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…
Jackie Chaszczewicz
Jackie is a 200 Hour RYT and meditation teacher. Jackie’s time on the mat has helped to manage anxiety and has been instrumental on her journey of self-love and body acceptance. She encourages her students to use yoga and meditation as a way to settle their minds, connect inward 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.
Jason Richmond
Jason is President/CEO and Chief Culture Officer for Ideal Outcomes, Inc., and an authority on helping companies build strong, sustained revenue growth by empowering their employees and developing energizing office cultures. During his career of more than twenty years, Jason has partnered with numerous start-up companies to help build solid…
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,…
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…
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.
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…
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…
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 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,…
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
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 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…