Presenter
Christine Jurisich
Christine Jurisich is the author of Retreat, Reflect, Renew and founder of the Reflect and Renew Ministry, where she serves as a national retreat facilitator, trainer, writer and spiritual director. She initially worked with Ministry of Mothers Sharing founded by the Sisters of Saint Benedict.
Chris James
Along with his spouse, Susan, Chris James is the owner and lead farmer at Fresh Earth Farms, a community-supported agriculture farm in Denmark Township, MN. He began his career in the tech industry and made the transition to farming in 2002. Chris believes in farming with no synthetic chemicals and Fresh Earth Farms donates over […]
Rev. Terri Hansen
Rev. Terri Hansen, BA, MDiv, is Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Central Baptist Church in St. Paul. She is a graduate of Bethel University, both the college and seminary. She recently completed a two-year certificate with the Renovare Institute of Spiritual Formation. Terri does a variety of teaching and facilitating of groups, retreats, and […]
S. Kathleen Atkinson OSB
S. Kathleen Atkinson OSB is a Benedictine Sister from Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, ND. Nationally recognized as an energetic and creative leader in hunger and homelessness education, she has developed service learning experiences for all age groups and led service teams to a variety of foreign and United States locations. Kathleen has been a teacher at […]
Kathy Fleming
Kathy Fleming serves as Artist Coordinator for the Benedictine Center and Co-Chair of the Art and Spirituality Committee. Learn more about her work online at www.kflemingart.com.
Audrey Lucier
Audrey Lucier is the director of the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, Wis. She holds graduate degrees in public health from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and theology from St. John's University, Collegeville, Minn. Audrey was certified and completed advanced training in the Enneagram Spectrum of Personality Types with Jerry Wagner, Ph.D., and has […]
Kathleen Atkinson
Sister Kathleen Atkinson is a Benedictine Sister from the Annunciation Monastery in Bismarck, ND. Nationally recognized as an energetic and creative leader in hunger and homelessness education, she has developed service learning experiences for all age groups and led service teams to a variety of foreign and United States locations. Kathleen has been a teacher […]
Rev. Zanne Ness
Zanne Ness serves as the volunteer chaplain at Ministry on the Margins and as a volunteer at the North Dakota State Penitentiary. She is an oblate at Annunciation Monastery and a spiritual director. Following retirement from a career as a clinical psychologist, she was ordained an Episcopal priest in 2011 and served on the Bishop’s […]
S. Joanne Dehmer SSND
Joanne is a native Minnesotan, having grown up in St. Michael. She and her twin brother are the youngest in a family of six children. Her years with the School Sisters of Notre Dame have spanned a wide variety of activities and ministries. With extensive skills in teaching and training, she also has wide-ranging pastoral experience […]
Diane Boruff
Diane Boruff is a 30 year plus Centering Prayer practitioner who is grateful to have this prayer in her daily life. She now serves as a member of the Minnesota Contemplative Outreach Service Team and is a former Minnesota Chapter Coordinator. Currently commissioned by National Contemplative Outreach as a Presenter of Centering Prayer and the […]
Mary Lapham
Mary Lapham, MEd, has been in a 12-step program as an Adult Child since 1984. Her 11th Step practice led her to Centering Prayer in 1996. She is a commissioned Presenter for both Centering and Welcoming Prayer. She leads a Welcoming/Centering Prayer hour in the meditation chapel on Zoom every Thursday at 11:00 (Thomas Keating […]
Anne Maule Miller
Anne Maule Miller completed a Masters in Theology from St. Kate's in 2007 and Spiritual Direction Training through the FSPAs in 2015. She is a Lay Minister for Spirituality/Theology at Holy Apostles Episcopal Church in St. Paul. Over the past 20 years she has facilitated numerous educational sessions, retreats and group spiritual direction. Anne and […]
Father Michael Peterson, OSB
Father Michael Peterson, OSB is a monk of Saint John's Abbey and currently serves as the Oblate Director and sacramental minister at a local parish. He is an avid musician and swimmer.
Wendy Mitch
Wendy Mitch has been challenging, training, and developing others for more than 30 years. She is a certified Integral Coach through New Ventures West. She has her Master’s degree in Servant Leadership from Viterbo University, and is a licensed facilitator for the Arbinger Institute. She has 30 years of professional service in the Catholic Church […]
Gwen Pickering
Gwen received her training as a spiritual director from the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse, WI. She is a commissioned presenter of both centering prayer and the welcoming prayer through Contemplative Outreach. She also received training in leading the Ignatian Exercises through Sacred Ground. Gwen earned her undergraduate degree in secondary education from the […]
Rev. Sheryl Lyndes Stowman, M. Div.
Sheryl Lyndes Stowman is an interspiritual spiritual director and consultant, a minister within the United Church of Christ and a Diamond Approach Teacher. She has spent many years teaching spiritual development with professionals and providing spiritual guidance with groups and individuals. She has practiced both Christian and Buddhist meditation and other contemplative and expressive modalities […]
Sister Carmel Posa SGS
Sister Carmel Posa SGS, BSc, BTh, Grad Dip Ed, MA (Monastic Studies) PhD Sister Carmel Posais a member of the Good Samaritan Sisters. She completed her Bachelor of Theology from Flinders University in 1994 and then studied in the USA at St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota, where she completed a Master of Arts in Theology […]
Mary Ebb
Mary is the Spiritual Formation Coordinator at the Benedictine Center. Mary received her training as a spiritual director from Christos Center for Spirituality in Lino Lakes, MN. She is a retired attorney. Before law school at the University of Oklahoma, Mary served in full-time ministry for about ten years. She has a B.A. in English […]
Peer Support Group for Spiritual Directors, Discovering Benedictine Values, Benedictine Spirituality - Practices and Principles, What is Spiritual Direction?, What is Spiritual Direction?, What is Spiritual Direction?, What is Spiritual Direction?, What is spiritual Direction?,
Linda Cherek
Linda’s work in bringing God’s presence to those she encounters is grounded in her understanding and commitment to notice the Holy in everyday life especially in the significant challenges we experience. She embraced the gifts of spiritual awareness and the opportunities for growth in her spiritual journey following the unexpected death of her oldest daughter. Her […]
Travis Salisbury, OblSB
Travis Salisbury serves as Director of Mission Advancement (since 2022) and Director of the Benedictine Center at St. Paul’s Monastery (since 2024), where he advances strategic vision, donor engagement, volunteer development, and spiritual programming grounded in Benedictine values. An Oblate of St. Paul’s Monastery since 2015, Travis previously spent nearly two decades at The Basilica […]
Visio Divina: "Seeing the Word" Lenten Series with the Saint John's Bible, Discovering Benedictine Values, Book Group: Wisdom, The Good Life, Terra Divina: Praying with Creation, Evenings with the Saint John's Bible: Incarnation Series, Book Group: Ten Evenings with God,
Eamon Cavanaugh
Eamon Cavanaugh is the Assistant Curator of The Saint John’s Bible at Saint John’s Abbey and University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Eamon graduated with a history major from Saint John’s University in 2025 where he also worked for two years as a student intern for the Bible project. During that time, Eamon led tours and presentations […]
Sr. Dawn Annette Mills, OSB
Sr. Dawn Annette Mills is the major superior of the Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. As part of a contemplative monastic community Sr. Dawn Annette has specialized in the study and practice of prayer and spiritual disciplines. She has been a Benedictine Sister for almost 50 years. She has been a spiritual director for over […]
Susan Stabile
Susan Stabile is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and an adjunct instructor in Theology at St. Catherine’s University. She previously held the position of Director of the University of St. Thomas Office for Spirituality. Susan is a spiritual director and retreat leader trained in the Ignatian tradition. […]
Christine Luna Munger
Christine Luna Munger serves as Coordinator & Professional Professor of Theology for the Spiritual Direction Certificate in the graduate department of Theology at St. Catherine University. She is a College of Saint Benedict alumna ('02) and graduated with a double major in Theology and Peace Studies. Christine completed her master’s degree in Christian Spirituality at […]
Sister Mary White, OSB
Mary White, OSB is both a licensed psychotherapist and a skilled teacher of Christian meditation. Her work draws on the wisdom of the world’s great spiritual traditions as well as her extensive background in psychology and sociology. She is a member of St. Paul’s Monastery.
Fr. Michael Joncas
Fr. Michael Joncas is a prolific composer of contemporary Catholic music, a professor at the University of St. Thomas, and a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
S. Michaela Hedican OSB
Michaela Hedican OSB is former Prioress of St. Benedict’s Monastery (St. Joseph, MN), former Prioress of St. Bede’s Monastery (Eau Claire, WI) and former President of the Federation of St. Benedict. She was named one of the outstanding Catholics of the Year 2016 by Our Sunday Visitor.
Eily Marlow
Eily Marlow serves as the Program Associate for Vocation and Reflection in the Center for Civic Engagement at Macalester College. She enjoys working with people as they discover how their values and convictions inform their actions in the world. She understands vocational discernment as both a personal and communal activity and believes listening to and sharing life […]
Norman Wirzba
Norman Wirzba is Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Agrarian Studies at Duke Divinity School. He studied history at the University of Lethbridge, theology at Yale Divinity School, and philosophy at Loyola University, Chicago. His writing and teaching focuses on understanding and promoting practices that equip both rural and urban church communities to be more faithful and […]
Jody Reis Johnson
Jody Reis Johnson, M.Div., MSW, is a retired mental health professional who worked in a variety of settings including ministry development, private practice, and with political refugees at the Center for Victims of Torture. She has a special interest in the intersection of spirituality and psychology. A longtime practitioner of Centering Prayer, Jody received her […]
Jackie Bohrer
Jackie Bohrer has been working with children and youth for 25 years as a teacher and clinical social worker in Minnesota. She is as well an artist who has an ability to create meaningful liturgical experiences for a variety of communities with passion and enthusiasm.
Sister Virginia Matter, OSB
(Sister Virginia is open to meeting with retreatants, but is no longer meeting with ongoing spiritual directees.) Virginia Matter, OSB is a member of St. Paul’s Monastery and came to the Center from the health care field. She worked in nursing and in pastoral ministry. Virginia has done significant preparation in the area of spirituality, […]
Victor Klimoski
Victor Klimoski, Ph.D. is the former Director of Lifelong Learning at Saint John's School of Theology and former director and consultant for the Benedictine Center of St. Paul’s Monastery. He holds a doctorate in adult education from the University of Minnesota and works extensively as a group facilitator and project consultant. He is also author […]
Barbara Sutton
Barbara Sutton has been Adjunct Professor of Theology at Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary (Collegeville, MN) since 2007 and served as a visiting scholar at the Benedictine Center during the 2017-2018 program year. She holds a doctorate in ministry from Saint Paul Seminary and School of Divinity (St. Paul, MN). Barbara maintains research interests in Christian […]
Kathleen Cahalan
Kathleen A. Cahalan is professor emeritus of practical theology at Saint John’s University School of Theology and Seminary where she taught courses on pastoral ministry, pastoral care, and spiritual practice. Her forthcoming book is Pressing in on the Word of God: The Practice of Lectio Divina (Liturgical Press, 2026). She is co-author with Laura Kelly […]
Practicing Lectio Divina with Scripture, Creation, and Life Experience,
Peter Watkins
Peter received training as a spiritual director from Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality in St. Paul, Minnesota. He earned an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from St. John’s in Collegeville, Minnesota and his M.Div. from University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Peter taught religion to high school students for many years. Peter’s approach to spiritual […]
Steve Arnold
Steve is a spiritual director in the Christian tradition and received his training in spiritual direction from Christos Center in Lino Lakes, Minnesota. He is a teacher, retreat leader, speaker, author, chaplain, and a Deacon within the Lutheran confessional movement of the Church catholic. Steve’s formal education includes graduate work culminating in a Ph.D. Steve tends […]
Rev. Peggy Thompson
(Rev. Peggy Thompson is open to receiving new spiritual directees at this time.) Rev. Peggy Thompson (known as Margaret Carroll in the art world) is a chaplain, spiritual director and artist who enjoys combining creativity and spirituality in her own work and with her clients. Peggy received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from The School […]
Carol Quest
Carol Quest has been practicing Centering Prayer for over 25 years and is an active member of the St. Olaf centering prayer group. As a part of the Minnesota centering prayer network, she is a member of the Minnesota Contemplative Outreach Service Team, a former chapter coordinator and a commissioned presenter of the Introductory Centering […]
Michael Dennis Browne
Michael Dennis Browne came to the United States in 1965 from England, where he was born, of mostly Irish ancestry, in 1940. After graduating from the University of Iowa, he taught at Iowa, Columbia, Bennington, and the University of Minnesota. He is now a professor emeritus at the University of Minnesota, where he taught for thirty-nine […]
Sister Paula Hagen
Sister Paula Hagen is the co-author of Ministry of Mothers Sharing. For over thirty years, she has created and facilitated various national retreats for hundreds of parishes. Currently, she is a retreat facilitator at the Benedictine Center of St. Paul's Monastery.
Kirsten Malcolm Berry
Kirsten Malcolm Berry’s paintings combine image and text from the Greek New Testament. She has shown her art in 65 solo and two-person exhibits, and a similar number of group shows. Religious periodicals, book covers, and Augsburg Fortress Sunday bulletins have featured her work. Kirsten lives in Minneapolis with her husband Paul; they have two […]
Diane Millis
Diane M. Millis, PhD, is an educator, author, spiritual director, and leadership coach. She is the founder of Companions on a Journey at the College of Saint Benedict, funded by the Lilly Endowment, Inc., and the Journey Conversations Project. Diane has also served as a coach and consultant for the Lilly Endowment, Inc., working with leadership teams at […]
Cathy Scherer Stubbs
Cathy Scherer Stubbs is a writer and musician who grew up on a farm west of the Twin Cities and presently lives in Stillwater. She received her B.A. in Communications from St. Catherine University and her M.A. in Theology/Pastoral Ministry from Saint John’s University and has served as a pastoral minister at several parishes. Her […]