Sheila is a writer and consultant with a Master's degree in Pastoral Ministry from Saint Francis Seminary in Milwaukee. In addition to parish ministry and Archdiocesan service, she is the former executive director of Mary's Pence, a fund for Catholic women working toward social justice in local communities.

Mel is a licensed counselor specializing in cognitive-behavioral and positive psychology approaches to counseling including forgiveness therapy. Mel works for the NJ Commission for the Blind and in a private practice in Manasquan, New Jersey.

Brother Don is a spiritual director, trainer and supervisor of directors. He is widely respected as a commentator and workshop leader on the interrelationship of spirituality and psychology. A Marist brother based in New York, he has graduate degrees in liturgy, spirituality and transpersonal psychology.

Dr. Jim Bridges holds both a BA and MSA in Theology and a PhD in Biblical Studies. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Theology, facilitates several Biblical study programs and is the Religious Education Director at St. Gabriel's in Marlboro, New Jersey.

Margaret has years of experience guiding, directing, and preaching retreats both in the United States and Canada. She has trained and supervised spiritual directors for over twenty-five years and continues ministry for lay leadership training and spiritual development in rural counties of the Diocese of New York.

Joan is a Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelphia.   She is an educator as well as an attorney.  Joan has taught from elementary school through graduate school as well as focusing on domestic violence issues as an attorney.  Joan is on staff of WATERSPIRIT.

Maureen is Co-DIrector of the Upper Room Spiritual Center. A certified spiritual director retreat director and supervisor with a Masters in Education, she is part of a core team for Women's Gathering and Taize prayer. Some special interests include the Labyrinth as a walking meditation and teaching the Enneagram to understand self and relationships.

Anita is experienced in giving retreats and workshops. She is the author of several spiritual books and has fifteen years of pastoral care experience Saint Anne Villa in Convent Station. Her other ministries include liturgy, spiritual direction, bereavement support and pastoral counseling in parish settings.

Lois, a member of the Caldwell Dominicans for 53 years, has taught grades 1 through college. She has been a pastoral associate of faith formation pre-school to adults; coordinator of evangelization team at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Boonton, New Jersey; and is the author of Community History, Women After His Own Heart. Lois holds an M.A.in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Spirituality.

Marie is an Amityville Dominican who is engaged full time in retreat work and spiritual direction. She has experience in pastoral work and has served on her Congregational Leadership Team.

Gail, a Sister of St. Joseph of Peace, is an experienced spiritual director who also supervises spiritual directors. She has been involved in formation ministry as well as community leadership.

Renee, owner and executive chef of Cafe Bliss, is an accomplished chef who delights in new creations. She is currently bringing her culinary gifts to the retreatants at Stella Maris.

Margaret, a Franciscan Sister of Peace, is a certified spiritual director. She is an educator and has experience in Congregational leadership.

Jonathan is a Trustee of the DeMello Spirituality Center at Fordham University, New York. He has conducted deMello Conferences with Father Frank Stroud, SJ for over twenty years. After Father Frank's passing, two years ago, he and Desmond Towey have continued the program which remains faithful to the original deMello message and exercises while at the same time providing insights from contemporary spiritual teachers.

Margaret is an Amityville Dominican with a long history of involvement in justice issues regarding both people and planet. She has served as Executive Director of the Intercommunity Center for Justice and Peace and has published two books on Earth-Human relations. Margaret has "Vision Quested" in the desert in Death Valley, CA and spent the 2009-2010 year living in the solitude and silence of the Redwood Forest with the Trappist Monks in Northern California.

Kathleen is a wife, mother and grandmother who is a certified spiritual director. She serves on the staff for the Internship of Spiritual Directors and has vast experience in spirituality.

Eleanor, a Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception, is a certified spiritual director who has experience in formation and community leadership as well as pastoral work with the poor.

Suzanne is the founder and director of WATERSPIRIT.  She is the liaison for the sisters of St. Joseph of Peace at the United Nations where she concentrates on issues dealing with the environment.  She has a certificate in Ecology and Spirituality from Genesis Farm and St. Thomas University.

Marcia, a Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception, is a certified spiritual director with many years of experience. Marcia is former director of the Mission and Ministry in Woodland Park (West Paterson).

Phyllis is an experienced designer and educator for over 6 years. She combines spirituality with her artistic background to facilitate programs on interior design, color, fang shui, life skills and other holistic studies. She is also a Healing Arts Practitioner who has developed a holistic spirituality.

Carol is a Sister of St. Joseph of Philadelpha and, for ten years was the DIrector of Bon Secour Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, MD. She has degrees in Theology and Spirituality and is a certified spiritual director.  Carol works full time in retreat/spiritual direction ministry.

Alice, a Dominican of Caldwell, brings wide teaching, preaching and pastoral experience to us. She holds an M.Div. from Immaculate Conception Seminary. Alice has been a hospital Chaplain as well as a trainer of Chaplains for the Archdiocese of Newark.

Jean is a School Sister of Notre Dame and a certified spiritual director. Currently, she is a pastoral counselor in a multi-cultural SSND educational center. Jean gives retreats and days of prayer in the tri-state area. Jean is on a team at Fairfield University offering spiritual direction to students, faculty and staff.

Doris is a certified spiritual director and experienced retreat director. She has had experience in Congregation Formation Ministry and has a current practice in pastoral counseling and spiritual direction.

Fr. Terry, an associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, is a spiritual director, writer and retreat director. He has given retreats and workshops on theology and spirituality in over twenty-five countries.

Michael has over 40 years experience in retreat, education, parish and adult education ministries in Australia. He is interested in helping Christians examine what they believe and why they believe it, what they imagine and why they imagine the way they do. His books include God is Near (1992),Tomorrow's Catholic: Understanding God and Jesus in the New Millennium (1997), Is Jesus God? (2001), Praying a New Story (2004) and From Sand to Solid (2007).

Jan is a retreat facilitator, song writer, wilderness fast guide and a leader of song for retreats, congregational chapters and other spiritual and/or Earth focused gatherings. Her primary commitment is to exploring and awakening the emerging new consciousness.

Vida, a Sister of Mercy of the Mid-Atlantic, is the former DIrector of the Francis of House of Prayer. A certified spiritual director, she has vast experience as a spiritual director and retreat presenter.

Carol is a mother and grandmother trained in the art of spiritual direction. She delights in accompanying others on their spiritual journey.

Kitty has taught ten years at the undergraduate and graduate level and form years as an Organizational Education and Training Specialist teaching life-skills such as stress and conflict management, communication and team building. Kitty is an Associate of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace.

Elise, a Dominican of Caldwell brings vast pastoral experience to her preaching and ministry. She holds a Masters Degree in Religious Studies from Villanova. Her creative energies enliven her parish leadership and liturgical ministry.

Ann Marie, a Dominican Sister of Caldwell, NJ, holds an MA in Systematic Theology and is a certified spiritual director.  She is Program Director at Stella Maris Retreat Center.

Anne Ryan is a mother and grandmother who has had long experience as a spiritual director. She is on the core team at the Upper Room Spiritual Center in Neptune, New Jersey and is a team member who trains spiritual directors.

Jane is a licensed Jungian psychoanalyst, psychotherapist, spiritual director, board certified music therapist and a teacher of drawing assessment. She has taught on all levels of education and has led workshops, retreats, staff training and group facilitations. As a licensed clinical social worker and pastoral counselor she has worked in a variety of hospital and clinical settings and led bereavement groups for hospice. Dr. Selinske is currently a teacher and supervisor on the faculty of the C.G. Jung Institute of New York and the Institute of Expressive Analysis with a private practice in Montclair, New Jersey. She is a presenter who has united the fields of education, psychology, spirituality, music and art therapy.

Liz works as a spiritual director for individuals and groups in Wilmington, Delaware. For the past ten years Liz's perspective has expanded to include integral spirituality and consciousness transformation.

Desmond is a Trustee of the DeMello Spirituality Center at Fordham University, New York. He has conducted deMello Conferences with Father Frank Stroud, SJ for over twenty years. After Father Frank's passing, two years ago, he and Jonathan Galente have continued the program which remains faithful to the original deMello message and exercises while at the same time providing insights from contemporary spiritual teachers.

Honora is a Dominican Sister of Caldwell. She has twenty years experience in "pulpit preaching" (parish missions, retreats) and has served as professor of theology with an emphasis in preaching at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore. After leaving Congregational Leadership, Honora presently is Director, D.Min. Program (preaching) at Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, Missouri.