Joan M. McCarthy, CSJ, Director

Joan M. McCarthy, CSJ has been ministering in spirituality programs since 1973. The current Program 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. During the past seven 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.

Sister Joan Duffy, CSJ, Assistant Program Coordinator

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.

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.

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

Nan Bouché

Nan Bouché is a wife, mother of four and grandmother of one precious baby granddaughter. She holds a Master's Degree in Theology with a concentration in pastoral care and counseling from Boston College. As a board certified chaplain with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Nan has many years of ministerial experience in both parish and hospital settings. She is currently involved in per diem and volunteer hospital chaplaincy. Nan is a trained spiritual director who freelances in the area of spiritual direction and retreat work.

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.

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.

Dolores Clerico, SSJ

Sr. Dolores is a Sister of Saint Joseph from the Philadelphia congregation and lives in southern New Jersey. She holds a Master's Degree in Theology and has training that includes family systems, adult faith formation, and the spirituality of the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Dolores has served in leadership within parish,
diocesan and congregational settings. Currently, her ministry includes workshops, retreats and facilitation among Sisters of Saint Joseph, Associate members and ministry partners in the United States. Dolores also serves part-time on the staff for Christ Our Light Catholic Community in Cherry Hill, NJ.

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.

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.

Joanne A. Fantini, CSJA 

Joanne received her Masters in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Spirituality from BC in 1993 where she also experienced the 19th annotation and schooled in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She currently works full-time with people suffering from addiction, providing Spiritual Direction and programs on Ignatian Spirituality. She is the mother of 4 adult children as well as an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph.

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.

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.

Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ

Kathleen Hagerty, CSJ is a Sister of St. Joseph of Boston. She is currently Novice Director for the Sisters of St. Joseph and part-time chaplain at the Metro Boston Mental Health Center at the Lindermann 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. She is a certified Mid-Life Consultant with Mid-Life Directions, an international group which conducts Mid Life/Long Life Directions workshops throughout the United States and abroad. In addition to her current ministries, Sister Kathleen especially enjoys giving Spiritual Direction and Mid-Life Directions workshops.

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.

Monsignor Thomas Harrington

Monsignor Thomas Harrington is a semi-retired priest and a fire chaplain in Fall River Diocese, Massachusetts. He is author of The Stations of the Cross: Fourteen Stations and Twelve Steps.

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.

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.

Judith LoGerfo

Judith LoGerfo has served as a Lay Ecclesial Minister for over 20 years in parish, campus and hospital settings in the Archdiocese of Boston. She received her Masters Degree in Educational and Pastoral Ministry from Emmanuel College, a Master of Theological Studies from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology and is a board certified Chaplain ( National Association of Catholic Chaplains). In 2004 Judy completed her internship in the Spiritual Direction Initiative.Currently she focuses on Spiritual Direction, Adult Faith Formation and Retreat Ministry with a particular interest in Ignatian Spirituality. Judy and her husband are parents of four adult sons and are active members of their parish, St. Paul in Harvard Square, Cambridge.

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).

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.

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.

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.

Katherine Sullivan-Maher, LICSW

Katherine Sullivan-Maher, LICSW, 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.

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.

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.