Joan M. McCarthy, CSJ, Director

Joan M. McCarthy, CSJ has been ministering in spirituality programs since 1973. The current Director at St. Joseph Retreat Center, Sister Joan was one of the first directors at the Retreat Center when the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston opened it to the public in 1974. In the intervening years, Sister Joan ministered full-time at Gonzaga Retreat House in East Gloucester for approximately seven years; at an ecumenical, residential treatment center in Canada for two years; on the Congregation Formation Team for four years; and in Congregational Leadership for six years. Over the years Sister Joan has led hundreds of four-day to 30-day retreats at numerous retreat centers in the United States and in Wales, Ireland, England, and Canada. For the past nine years Sister Joan has co-directed an eight-month weekly Spiritual Direction Internship Program which is held in Brighton, MA. Sister Joan has Masters degrees in Biology and Pastoral Counseling, as well as certificates from full-time programs at the Institute of Religious Formation, St. Louis, Missouri, and the Center for Religious Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Jean Martin,
Administrative Assistant

Jean Martin provides secretarial and administrative support at the Retreat Center. She is married and lives in Scituate with her husband David, twin daughters Isabel and Fiona, and son John.

Maria Puno-D'Antonio,
Support Services Co-Coordinator

Maria's responsibilities include all aspects of food service, purchasing, as well as budget and finance. She lives in Cohasset with her husband Ralph, and two children, Tina and Marc.

Jenny Talbot,
Support Services Co-coordinator

Jenny Talbot overseas the maintenance of the house and grounds, contract services, kitchen assistants, and the volunteer program. She grew up in Hanson, Massachusetts and later attended the University of Kentucky where she received a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology with a minor in Linguistics. Jenny spent ten years working in the field of Survey Research for the University. She then ventured out to Denver, Colorado where she spent the next ten years working as a Quality Control Analyst in Television and Film, Manager of a Market Research Firm, Ski Instructor and Owner of her own small business teaching computer classes. In 2009 Jenny came back home to Massachusetts to be near her family and roots. Jenny lives in Hingham with her dog, Charlie, and in her spare time she enjoys outdoor activities such as skiing, camping, biking, running, swimming and photography.

Karen Sugar,
Secretary to the Director

Karen’s responsibilities include assisting the Director with various secretarial duties. Karen grew up in Europe, and moved from CT to MA 15 years ago. She now resides in Scituate with her husband and two children. She graduated from UCONN with a BA in languages. She enjoys biking, boating, reading and skiing.

We also welcome and rely on the assistance of experienced adjunct retreat directors.

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Nan Bouché

Nan Bouché is a wife, mother of four adult children and the proud grandmother of two precious young granddaughters. She holds a Master’s Degree in Theology with a concentration in pastoral care and counseling from Boston College. Nan is a trained spiritual director, having received her training at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation and the Spiritual Direction Internship Initiative. She freelancesin the area of spiritual direction and retreat work. As a certified chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Nan has many years of ministerial experience both in the parish and hospital settings. She continues to remain involved in hospital ministry engaging in per diem and volunteer ministry.

Patricia Boyle

Patricia Boyle, CSJ currently serves as Pastoral Associate at St. Ann Parish in Quincy, MA. She is involved in the spiritual formation of liturgical ministers, programs for elderly outreach and adult faith formation. Sister Pat has previously worked in education, vocation ministry and retreat and renewal work in the Archdiocese of Boston.

John Burchill, OP

John Burchill, OP, STD, has over 30 years of experience in spiritual direction and retreat work. Over the years he spent various periods of time on sabatical and updating from the Jesuits at Berkley, CA and Weston, MA and at Retreats International, Notre Dame, IN. He ministered at St. Stephen Priory, Dover, MA and at Berakah, Pittsfield, NH. In his ministry he has served in Africa, Canada, and througout the United States. Currently he is involved in retreat work, parish missions and some on-going spiritual direction. He lives with his community in Providence, RI.

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Mary Carboy, SSJ

Mary Carboy, SSJ, a Sister of St. Joseph of Chestnut Hill, PA, has a MA in Spirituality from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as certification in Spiritual Direction from the Jesuit Center in Wernersville, PA., and the SSJ Spirituality Center in Chestnut Hill. Mary was in formation for seven years, and in leadership for six years for her congregation. During this time, she was doing spiritual direction, workshops and retreats in varied places. Presently, Mary is a full time spiritual/retreat director st St. Raphaela Center In Haverford, PA.

Maureen Casey, SND

Maureen Casey, SND has been involved in spiritual direction and retreat ministry for over 25 years. She was a member of the retreat team at St. Stephen priory for 17 years. She is currently an associate staff member of Miramar Retreat Center in Duxbury MA. and is co-directing an eight month weekly Spiritual Direction Internship Program in Brighton, MA.

Glenna Connors, SCH

Sister Glenna Connors is a Sister of Charity of Halifax. She attended the Institute for Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry at Boston College where she received her Masters in Education in Religious Education. She received her certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Spiritual Direction Internship in Brighton. Sister Glenna served many years in Boston's inner city neighborhoods in education and pastoral ministry. She finds great joy in accompanying others through spiritual direction.

Pauline Curley, CSJ

Sister Pauline Curley CSJ has enjoyed making the Spiritual Exercises and more recently the Nineteenth Annotation Retreat. She has Master Degrees in both Pastoral Counseling and Reading and is certified in Spiritual Direction.

Engaged in Spiritual Direction and Retreat work for the last several years she finds it a privilege to listen contemplatively and companion others as they engage in deepening their relationship with the God of Mystery.

For many years she has been called to deepen her own faith life in a Personal God and in a Faith that does Justice. Her work at Shelters for Street Women made the Gospel come alive to her in a new way as she watched the feminization of poverty. Her commitment today is to women and children and to structural analysis as a way of helping the poor.

Presently, Pauline is also working as the coordinator of a Learning Center in a Montessori School with pre-school children, where the face of the Divine is so present. She has also worked in the Archdiocesan School System, in parishes and in hospital ministry.

Patricia Cushing, CSJ

Sr. Patricia Cushing, CSJ has over 35 years of experience in the fields of Liturgy, Prayer and Spirituality. She has worked with bishops, clergy and laity on the diocesan, parish and ecumenical levels in Kansas, Connecticut, Missouri and Massachusetts.
She has given workshops, days of prayer and led retreats on Liturgical spirituality and Centering prayer across the US and in Europe.
Patricia founded the Dear Neighbor Center for Spirituality and Healing in 2001 in Kansas City, MO, a holistic center for body, mind, spirit and a center for spiritual direction.

Patricia is a certified spiritual director and nationally certified/MA licensed massage therapy practitioner.

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Anne D'Arcy, CSJ

Anne D'Arcy is a Sister of St. Joseph and a native of Brighton, Massachusetts. She is Associate Director of the Office of Worship and Spiritual Life (formerly the Office of Spiritual Development) for the Archdiocese of Boston. For many years she has visited parishes throughout the Archdiocese leading programs of spiritual renewal. She has preached at retreats and Days of Prayer for various groups, and has served as Spiritual Director as well as leading people in sharing faith and prayer. Sister Anne has a Masters degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.

Sister Joan Duffy, CSJ

After completing a twelve-year term as a member of the leadership team of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston, Sister Joan Duffy, CSJ has been involved in a variety of retreat programs over the last four years. Sister Joan is an experienced group facilitator and consultant focusing on discernment of heart as a way of being attentive to God's presence in our life as each day unfolds. Having completed a Spiritual Direction Internship Program, Sister Joan offers Spiritual Direction at St. Joseph Retreat Center and at the Motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Brighton, MA. Sister Joan also serves as Assistant Program Director at St. Joseph Retreat Center, and facilitates many Directed as well as Guided Retreats offered at St. Joseph Retreat Center and other retreat houses.

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Carol Fitzsimmons, CSJ

Carol Fitzsimmons, CSJ has 30 years of experience as a Spiritual Director and Retreat Director. She has a Masters degree in Counseling, a Certificate of Study from the Jesuit School of Theology, Berkeley, California, and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Center for Religious Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Following 10 years as Team member and teacher in the Sabbatical Program at St. Stephen Priory and Spiritual Life Center, Sister Carol most recently served as Co-Director of St. Joseph Retreat Center, Cohasset, Massachusetts.

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Mary Gallagher

Mary currently serves as Pastoral Associate for Outreach at St Agatha Parish in Milton following her work as Pastoral Associate in Middleboro, where she coordinated parish needs for the RCIA process, Liturgy planning and training of ministers, and Adult Faith Formation.

Mary also serves as Spiritual Director for individuals throughout the archdiocese and assists the Chrism Office on the South Shore in areas of spiritual direction. Through these aspects of her life and especially in her roles as wife and mother of four children, Mary continues to be grateful for the presence and activity of God in her life.

Julia Grey, OP

Julia Grey, OP, a Dominican Sister of Peace, has a MA in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University. She is a graduate of the Institute for Spiritual Leadership (ISL) in Chicago, IL. and the Center for Religious Development (CRD) in Cambridge, MA. Julie worked full time at Emmaus Spiritual Life Center in Uncasville, CT. for 15years, doing spiritual direction, programs and giving directed retreats throughout New England. After five years of ministry in formation for her Congregation, she joined the staff as a full time director at St. Raphaela Retreat Center in Haverford, PA., where she presently resides in full time ministry.

Catherine Griffiths, SND

Catherine Griffiths, SND is an experienced retreat and spiritual director who has directed retreats in the United States, Europe, and Africa. Her main focus for over 30 years has been praying with others for healing of memories.

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Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ

Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ is a Sister of St. Joseph of Boston. She is currently chaplain at the Solomon Carter Fuller Mental Health Center in Boston. Sister Kathleen holds an M.A. in Religious Education and a Masters in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. She is also a N.A.C.C Certified Chaplain. Kathleen is a Certified MidLife/LongLife Consulants with Mid-Life Directions, an internationally known group of Consultants who conduct Workshops throughout the U.S. and abroad. Kathleen especially enjoys giving Spiritual Direction and conducting workshops for midlife and older adults on human/spiritual development and aging.

Catherine Hannigan, PBVM

Catherine M. Hannigan, PBVM is a 1987 graduate of the Center for Religious Development (CRD) and past major superior of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She has served as Director of Continuing Education at Weston Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has been involved in the ministry of spiritual direction and retreats for many years. She joined the staff of CRD in 1997.

Russell Holmes

Russell Holmes is a Jungian analyst, residing in Jamaica Plain, MA. He is a faculty member and training analyst at the C.G. Institute in Newton, MA. He was a member of the Discalced Carmelite Order for 25 years in ministries of initial formation, retreats and spiritual direction. He holds a Masters Degree in Religious Education and a Diploma in Analytical Psychology from the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich, Switzerland. He has been practicing as an analyst in the Boston area since 1979 where he has lectured widely on the interconnectedness of Religion, Psychology and the Arts.

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Ellen T. Keane, SND

Ellen T. Keane, SND is a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. Her ministries have included teaching, administration, pastoral counseling, spiritual direction and retreat work. She was in ministry in Kenya for 12 years. Ellen has been on staff at the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, MA, where she was engaged in a training program for those who feel called to the ministry of spiritual direction and retreat work. When the Center closed in June 2009, she joined the staff of the Jesuit Collaborative in Watertown, MA.

Patricia Keefe, CSJ

Since 1976 Pat has been engaged in spiritual companioning through retreat and direction ministry, full time since 1995. She has ministered as well in the fields of education, campus ministry, religious life formation, and Congregational leadership.

Spiritual companioning deepens joy and wonder as we listen more deeply and awaken to the Holy One within our own hearts and discern our response to the Holy within each Word of creation in the communion of life.

Nancy C. Kehoe, RSCJ, PhD.

Nancy C. Kehoe, RSCJ, PhD. is a member of the Religious of the Sacred Heart. She is a Clinical Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry at The Cambridge Health Alliance, affiliated with Harvard Medical School, a position she has held since 1980. Her area of expertise is religion and spirituality in the clinical context. For twenty-seven years, using a model she created, Dr. Kehoe has led groups on spiritual beliefs and values for adults with psychiatric disabilities. She currently consults with healthcare providers in mental health and geriatric settings, teaching them how to address the religious and spiritual needs of individuals. She has presented at regional, national, and international conferences and published on the subject of religion and psychotherapy. Additional information can be found on her website: www.expandingconnections.com.

John F. Kerr, CFX

John F. Kerr, CFX was a high school teacher and principal for 21 years at Cardinal Hayes High School in The Bronx, New York, and at Xavier High School in Middletown, Connecticut. He served for 12 years in leadership in his congregation, during which he resided at the Xavieran Brothers Generalate in Rome, Italy, and London, England. He has a Masters degree in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, and an MTS from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, California. From 1992 through 2004 he was a staff member at St. Stephen Priory Spiritual Life Center in Dover, Massachusetts, where he was a retreat director, theology teacher and spiritual director. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Brother John currently leads retreats, works in adult education, offers spiritual direction, and is involved with prison ministry.

Fr. Bill Kremmell

Reverend William Kremmell is a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, a retired pastor, and a former college chaplain. An experienced leader of retreats and days of prayer in a variety of settings, he also has been involved in various peace and justice ministries for many years, is a current member of the advisory board of Pax Christi, Massachusetts and assists, as needs arise, in a number of parishes in the Archdiocese.

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Katherine Maher

Katherine Maher has worked in the field of clinical social work providing counseling and advocacy services for children and families for 25 years. She is a trained spiritual director, completing her post-masters certificate in 2002, with a background in Ignatian Spirituality rooted in her experiences in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. Katherine has accompanied others on the Spiritual Exercises 19th Annotation Retreat and in on-going direction. She has been a recent presenter with the Magis Program: Ignatian Leadership for Mission supported by the Jesuit Collaborative, and has facilitated retreat experiences with the JVC. Along with her husband, she is blessed with parenting two sons and a daughter.

Gene Merz, SJ

Eugene F. Merz, S. J., has offered spiritual direction and retreats based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and has given Ignatian Spirituality workshops around the world for laity, priests and religious men and women. His years of ministry within the Society of Jesus, in the diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, and at the Center for Ignatian Spirituality, Marquette University, have focused upon the spiritual renewal that was encouraged by Vatican Council II. Gene holds graduate degrees from St. Louis University. He is the coauthor, with Carol Ann Smith, SHCJ, of the widely acclaimed book

Moment by Moment: A Retreat in Everyday Life (2000), which makes the retreat process of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius available to a wide audience for use in homes, parishes and many other settings. Moment by Moment won First Place for First Time Author in the 2001 Catholic Press Association Awards. He is also the coauthor, with Carol Ann Smith, SHCJ, of Finding God in Each Moment (2006).

Sister Pat McDermott, IHM

Sister Pat McDermott, IHM has been involved in Spiritual Direction and Retreat ministry for more than 20 years. She has been on the Retreat Team at Loyola Retreat House in Faulkner, Maryland for 15 years. She is currently the Director of Ignatian Spiritual Programs at Loyola Retreat House.

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Kathryn O'Connell Cleary

Kathryn O'Connell Cleary holds a Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry from Boston College. She worked in parish ministry for 20 years, in the role of Pastoral Associate and Director of Liturgy and Music. From 1992 until 1998, Kathryn was a member of the Retreat Team at St. Stephen Priory. Presently she offers Spiritual Direction as well as Directed and Guided Retreats on a freelance basis. She is a certified Energy Healing Practitioner. Kathryn is married, and has recently and joyfully become a grandmother.

Gail O'Donnell, RSCJ

Gail O'Donnell is a Religious of the Sacred Heart who has been doing Spiritual Direction and retreat work for the last 30 years.
Gail has been doing Formation work for her community for the last 20 years including serving on their International Formation Team in Rome.
She has her Masters of Divinity from Weston Jesuit School of Theology where she has served as Director of Continiung Education. Gail is currently working at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College.

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John Phalen, CSC

Father John Phalen was ordained a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1974. He attended Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1970; a Master of Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1973; and pursued additional graduate studies at Fairfield University. Currently Fr. Phalen is President of the Mariological Society of America and a member of the Hispanic Ministry Committee of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He is a Faithful Friar of the Cardinal O’Connell Assembly of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus and serves as a member of the Province Investment Advisory Committee of the Congregation of Holy Cross. He has preached missions around the world. Father Phalen has served as President of Holy Cross Family Ministries since 1996. While serving the Hispanic community in the South Bend area, Father John founded La Casa de Amistad Youth Center, which has served the needs of the Hispanic population since 1973. Father Phalen has served as Vicar for Spanish-speaking in South Bend, Assistant Novice Director in Waterford, New York, Pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Brooklyn, and Associate Director of Vocations. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Stonehill College and the Board of Family Rosary, as well as the Provincial Council of his Province. He has served as a leader in various community organizations, such as East Brooklyn Congregations, Central Brooklyn Churches and Brockton Interfaith Community.

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Sr. Line Rioux, CSJ

Sr. Line Rioux, a Sister of St. Joseph of Lyon from the Maine Province, has been a spiritual director and retreat director for nine years serving as guest director at several retreat centers. She holds a certificate in Spiritual Direction and Directed Retreats from Creighton University in Omaha, NE. Sr. Line presently is Director of Living Water Spiritual Center in Winslow, ME before which she served for 21 years as Pastoral Associate in various parishes, most recently at Our Lady Star of the Sea in Staten Island, NY and at the Parish of the Holy Spirit in Waterville, ME. She has a BA and a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University in Chicago. Sr. Line is a member of Spiritual Directors International.

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Virginia Sheehan, SND

Virginia Sheehan, SND is experienced in retreat ministry and spiritual direction. She facilitates support groups in parish settings and works in hospice with guided meditation and relaxing exercises.

Kathleen Short, CSJ, MA, LADC (Level 1)

Kathleen Short, CSJ is an experienced retreat director and spiritual director. She is also a pastoral counselor, a licensed drug and alcohol counselor, a holistic practitioner, and a nationally certified massage therapist. Sister Kathleen brings a wealth of experience to her programs. She has offered Twelve-Step Spirituality retreats for over 20 years. Sister Kathleen is a massage therapist and a retreat director at St. Joseph Retreat Center in Cohasset, Massachusetts, and in many other settings. She is a member of the Credo Liturgical Dance Company of Boston, Massachusetts.

Kathy Simisky

Kathleen Simisky, MA, CAGS holds an MA in Pastoral Ministry and a Certificate in the Practice of Spirituality, both from Boston College IREPM. She also completed the Spiritual Direction Internship Initiative with Joan McCarthy, CSJ and Maureen Casey, SND in Brighton, MA.. She is a Certified Catholic Chaplain (NACC). Kathy has enjoyed a variety of professional roles in ministry including Chaplain, Director of Pastoral Care, Theology Teacher, Campus Minister, Retreat Leader, and Counselor. Kathy is married and has two grown children and three small grandchildren. Her spirituality is grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

Maryalice Sullivan

Maryalice Sullivan is a wife, a mother of four grown children and a proud grandmother of nine grandchildren. She is an ordained Episcopal priest with a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School. For the past fourteen years she has been the rector of Grace Episcopal Church in North Attleboro, MA. Before that she served four churches that were bound together in a regional ministry in the diocese of Connecticut. Maryalice has been ordained for twenty years. She has a certificate in Congregational development and is a trained spiritual director. She received her training through the Guelph Jesuit Center in Ontario, Canada and the Spiritual Direction Intern Initiative.

Paul Sullivan, SJ

Paul M. Sullivan, S.J. is a New England Province Jesuit and a member of the staff at Eastern Point Retreat House in Goucester, MA. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Bangor Seminary (Maine) and has completed a training program in directing the Spiritual Exercises sponsored by the New England Province and an internship in spiritual direction. Prior to joining the staff at Eastern Point in 2005, he served as pastor of parishes in Maine and Connecticut and as director of the Catholic campus ministry center at the University of Connecticut. He is also an Associate Member of the Iona Community, based in Scotland.

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Judith Talvacchia

Judith Talvacchia is a married Roman Catholic lay ecclesial minister who has offered spiritual direction and programs in spirituality for over 10 years. She is a graduate of Weston Jesuit School of Theology and is a Board Certified Chaplain. She served as a chaplain for 9 years at Mary Immaculate Nursing/Restorative Center in Lawrence, MA.

Jane Tyler

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Dorothy Welch, CSJ

Dorothy Welch, CSJ, M.A., M. Div. is experienced in Spiritual Direction, and sees the Directed Retreat as a singular time for movements of grace. Her Master's degrees are from Catholic University, and Jesuit Weston School of Theology. Previous ministry includes co-directing Cohasset's Retreat House, pastoral ministry, teaching and administration. S. Dorothy is grounded in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, influenced by the work of Thomas Berry, and prophetic voices of women and men. She facilitates groups in appropriating the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises for daily life, and directs retreats in New England and other states.

Anne Marie Willhite

Anne Marie Willhite holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv) Degree from Weston Jesuit School of Theology and a Master of Theology (ThM) from Boston College. She is a lay ecclesial minister and certified pastoral associate in the Archdiocese of Boston. Anne has done ministry in both parish and hospital settings. Her passion in ministry is to enable and empower others: to live their baptismal call to discipleship and to enter more deeply into relationship with God and others. Anne is a trained spiritual director who currently freelances in the area of spiritual direction, retreat work and enrichment programs for parish communities.

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