Retreat Leaders

Patricia is a Benedictine Oblate of St. Scholastica Monastery in Chicago where she has been connected as an oblate for thirty years. She recently completed her Internship in Spiritual Direction here at Bellarmine. She has been teaching young children for many years and has also served as a high school teacher, college campus minister, DRE, retreat leader, and speaker on the Spiritual Life of Children. Patricia holds a BA and an MA in Religious Studies from Mundelein College and an MA in Reading/Literacy from Northeastern Illinois University.  Additionally, she has studied at Loyola University, the Catholic Theological Union, and the former Institute for Spiritual Leadership. Patricia is the mother of three grown children and the grandmother of twins.

Angela Scaperlanda Bujan, MA, is a bilingual certified facilitator, coach, spiritual director, retreat leader, speaker, writer, editor, and organizational consultant.  She is the co-founder of two organizations: HELP Professional Services LLC and Resilience Land LLC, both dedicated to personal, professional, and organizational growth.

Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ, is a Jesuit brother, Director of the Vatican Observatory and the President of the Vatican Observatory Foundation whose research studies meteorites and asteroids. He is a native of Detroit, Michigan, received SB and SM degrees from MIT, and earned his PhD in Planetary Sciences from the University of Arizona in 1978. Along with more than 200 scientific publications, he is the author of six popular astronomy books. In 2014 he received the Carl Sagan Medal from the American Astronomical Society Division for Planetary Sciences for excellence in public communication in planetary sciences.

Philip Cooley, SJ, is a Jesuit in formation serving as a Theology and Spanish teacher at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Milwaukee. He is a trained spiritual director and has facilitated retreats in Ignatian Spirituality for the past three years. After completing his undergraduate degree in Economics at Xavier University in Cincinnati, OH, Phil worked in the Financial Services industry before discerning a call to the Jesuits. Phil enjoys learning languages, making music, football and basketball, and spiritual reading.

Rosanne Coury is a certified spiritual director and supervisor with education in Religious Studies, Theology, Education Administration and Psychology. Her work experience includes serving as a Director of Religious Education, Pastoral Minister, Campus Minister, Theology teacher, professional Coach, public Speaker and professional Writer and Editor. She and her husband have four adult children and three grandchildren. Although she is native Detroiter, she has lived in the Chicago area for most of her adult life.  She is an avid reader and musician who loves nothing better than a good conversation and shared song.

Deborah Dellumo received her training in a 3-year Advanced Internship in the Ignatian Tradition from Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL., and in a two-year Spiritual Companioning Program from the Spiritual Life Center in Hammond, IN., directed by Fr. Bill Creed SJ. She currently practices Spiritual Direction at St. Paul Catholic Community in Valparaiso IN. and Directs the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in a large group setting in the parish. She enjoys giving the Spiritual Exercises and providing spiritual formation and retreats within the parish. Debbie is a graduate of the Diocese of Gary Lay Ecclesial Ministry Formation Program. She has served as Coordinator of Liturgy and Spirituality, and Director of Religious Education for Children and Adults. She has been married for 44 years, has 4 children and five grandchildren.

Becky is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director passionate about inviting people closer to Christ.  She does this by accompanying people as they navigate deep waters of their faith lives through spiritual direction, writing, retreats, and as founder of Ignatian Ministries.  Becky lives in Baton Rouge, LA, where she meets with men and women of all ages for monthly spiritual direction and leads people through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She directs in-person days of reflections and retreats, as well as online retreats to make the Ignatian retreat experience accessible to all.  She is author of two award-winning books: The Inner Chapel and Busy Lives and Restless Souls.  Becky is part of the Archdiocese of New Orleans Spirituality Center teaching staff where she trains spiritual directors in the Ignatian tradition.  She shares life with her husband, Chris, and their three children, Brady, Abby and Mary.   Learn more about Becky’s ministry at www.beckyeldredge.com.

No Biography Yet!

Sr. Linda Fischer is a member of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ from Columbia, PA.  A teacher by profession, Sr. Linda left the classroom in 2005.  Since then she has been involved in full-time 12 Step retreat ministry. Sr. Linda has been a grateful recovering alcoholic for the past 34 years and says she loves facilitating recovery retreats because “she receives every bit as much as she gives.”  She calls her own journey in recovery one of the greatest blessings in her life.

Listen to a talk by Sr. Linda

Rachel Forton holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Public Relations and Religious Studies from Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa). She served as the Retreat and Communications Coordinator for Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House for six years and completed Ignatian Spiritual Direction Training there before stepping into the role of Women's Ministry Coordinator. She has a passion for helping others find God in all things through spiritual direction and retreat ministry, writing, and editing. Rachel serves on the "Prayer and Care" team of her MOPS Chapter (Mothers of Preschoolers) and finds it a great privilege to minister to women of all ages. Her most recent writings may be found at the Cora Evans website, promoting the cause for canonization of the mid-century mystic, wife, and mother (www.coraevans.com/blog/author/102). Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Rachel now lives with her husband and young daughter and son in Palatine, IL.

Fr. Jim Flaherty, SJ, is currently the Director of First Studies and Associate Professor of Philosophy at Loyola University in Chicago. Prior to coming to Loyola University, he served as Pastor of Gesu Parish in Milwaukee, WI, after teaching philosophy at Marquette University. He has preached and/or directed retreats for many years at the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, WI, Demontreville Retreat House in St. Paul, MN, and Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL. He has earned an MDiv and MTS in Theology (Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, CA) and a PhD in Philosophy (New School University in New York City).

Maureen Garvey holds an MA from the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from the Siena Retreat Center in Racine, Wisconsin. She and her husband, Kevin, completed the Diaconate Training Program in 2004 at the University of St. Mary of the Lake. Maureen completed a 30-week at home retreat of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and volunteering twice a week as a member of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. Maureen meets with people seeking spiritual direction in person at Holy Cross Church in Deerfield, IL and online.

A native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Fr. Michael Graham, SJ holds degrees from Cornell College, the University of Michigan and the Weston School of Theology (now, the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry). He entered the Jesuits in 1978 and was ordained in 1988. 

Fr. Graham was Xavier University's President from January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2021. Fr. Graham’s passion for the specifically Jesuit mission of Xavier animated his presidency in multiple ways.  He collaborated with a variety of professionals in the area of Jesuit Mission and Identity to shape and support work to share Xavier’s Jesuit ethos and heart with faculty, staff and students in such a way that its approach to that work is generally regarded as best-in-class.  He helped found a campus center for dialogue that became a crucial hub for inter-religious conversation in the Cincinnati region, and whose work engaged a wide variety of constituencies and topics in areas of justice, sustainability, immigration and more. He likewise championed diversity, inclusion and equity efforts on and off the campus and helped recruit transformative leadership to embed that work firmly within the fabric of the University.  

In his retirement, Fr. Graham looks forward to expanded opportunities for pastoral ministry, especially through various retreats at the Midwest Jesuit Province network of retreat houses, and to assisting Jesuit university trustees and senior executives understand better the Jesuit mission and identity of their schools so as to lead them more effectively and in fidelity to their origins. And, of course, he’ll keep his eyes and ears open for whatever ideas for his future his Provincial Superior may suggest. 

Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago

• Ordained priest: May 23, 1992
• Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago and Titular Bishop of Abora, September 11, 2020
• Ordained: November 13, 2020

Lauren Hackman-Brooks is a seeker of “God in all things.” She serves as a Chaplain at Loyola University Chicago’s Health Sciences Division and chairs the Mission and Identity Committee of the Bellarmine Board of Directors. Lauren earned a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological Union and completed her undergraduate work at the University of Dayton. Lauren has focused her ministry and teaching within the context of Jesuit educational institutions and is currently training as a spiritual director in the Ignatian tradition. This October, she will travel to Spain on an Ignatian pilgrimage. Lauren is a wife and a parent, a voracious reader, an enthusiastic home cook, and a lover of the outdoors.

Terri Davis Hayden is a classically trained and a member of the American Guild of Musical Artists.  She began her career singing with Cincinnati Opera and Washington Opera at Kennedy Center. Her career quickly expanded into performing musical theater, jazz, pop, liturgical and spiritual repertoire. She and Fr Michael have been friends and collaborators for over 30 years.

Brad Held entered the Society of Jesus in 2006 and ordained to the priesthood in June 2017. He was born and raised just outside of Milwaukee, WI. He attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, which is where he discerned a call to priesthood and came to see the Jesuits as the path through which he was to answer that call. Since entering the Jesuits he has studied at Fordham University and Boston College. He has taught at Red Cloud High School on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Marquette University High School in Milwaukee. Since June 2019, he has served as Pastor of Holy Rosary Mission, which encompasses the nine Catholic Churches on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Listen to a sample of Fr. Held's retreat talks below:

Nancy Hulsebosch is a Spiritual Director grounded in the principles of Ignatian Spirituality, having completed a three-year spiritual direction internship at Bellarmine. Nancy’s roots in the Jesuit tradition trace back to Marquette University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in 1986. She later received a Master’s degree from National-Louis University. In addition to providing spiritual direction and leading individuals in the Spiritual Exercises, Nancy is active in various ministries in her parish, particularly Scripture study. Nancy is married and the mother of four children.

Ann Jackson, PBVM, is a Sister of the Presentation. Currently, Ann offers spiritual direction and retreat facilitation at Prairiewoods Ecological Spirituality Center in Hiawatha, IA. Blending love of nature, literature, leadership and spirituality, Ann delights in listening with others to the energy of Spirit stirring creativity, passion, discernment and service. She is also currently studying in the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification program hosted by Tara Bracht and Jack Kornfield.

Fr. Al Johnson is a native Chicagoan (South Side) and an Episcopal Priest.  Locally he most recently served as Rector of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Barrington.  Now he serves in the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania on a part-time basis.  Al also serves as the volunteer chaplain for Barrington Countryside Fire District as well as participates regularly in the AA community in Barrington and in Erie, PA.  Fr. Al is also married to Vickie and together they have three children, two alive, Hannah and Zachary, and one that died in 1989, Nicholas.  They have been residents of the Barrington Community since 1990.

Lori Jones is a frequent retreatant at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House where she recently completed their internship program in Spiritual Direction. She currently journeys with those seeking spiritual direction both in person and online. She is a parishioner at St. Mary in Des Plaines having served there in various ministries. Lori received a BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Illinois at Chicago and did her graduate work at Rosary College in River Forest. She worked for 36 years in customer service for FedEx and retired in 2020. Lori is thrilled and blessed to have recently been called to be part of the launch team for Ignatian Ministries, an online resource led by author, spiritual director and retreat facilitator Becky Eldredge. It is a place of accompaniment and support for those inspired by Ignatian spirituality in their ministry work and also a place to deepen their own faith. But according to Lori, her spiritual home will always be Bellarmine.

Fr. Bobby Karle, SJ is a Jesuit from the Midwest Province and co-founder of Ignatian Spirituality & Yoga. He began practicing yoga in 2009, between serving as a Jesuit Volunteer in Belize and entering the Jesuit order in 2010. During Jesuit formation, he completed a 500-hour yoga teacher training, a Masters degree in Philosophy from Fordham University, and a Masters of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, CA. Bobby was ordained a priest in 2021 and works as an associate pastor at St. Mary Student Parish in Ann Arbor, MI. In addition to serving as a priest, he is also in the Master of Social Work program at the University of Michigan.

Fr. Jim Kubicki was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He entered the Jesuits in 1971, was ordained in 1983, and has served his community as vocation director and assistant to the provincial for formation and Native American ministry. From 1989 to 1995 he worked at the Sioux Spiritual Center, a retreat house for Native people and the center for the Rapid City Diocese’s Deacon and Lay Ministry Formation program. From 2000-03 he was the Assistant Director of Demontreville, a Jesuit retreat house in Minnesota. He also served as Director of St. Francis Mission on the Rosebud Reservation in western South Dakota from 2017-2022.

In 2003 he became the national director of the Apostleship of Prayer, the Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network, and traveled around the country giving talks, parish missions, and retreats.  He is a regular contributor to the national Catholic media network, Relevant Radio, and appears regularly as well on Catholic radio stations in Nebraska, Oregon and Ohio.  His book “A Heart on Fire: Rediscovering Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus” was published by Ave Maria Press in 2012 and was awarded third place in the category of “Best Prayer and Spirituality Book of the Year” by the Association of Catholic Book Publishers. His second book, “A Year of Daily Offerings,” was published in October, 2016. 

Currently, Fr. Kubicki gives retreats around the country while serving as a spiritual director at the Milwaukee Archdiocesan Seminary. 

Listen to a talk by Fr. Kubicki.

Since August of 2017, Fr. Macke has been the Jesuit Mission Coordinator at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, Ohio. He works on Conference Retreats, privately directed retreats, and coordinates the Spiritual Direction Internship to train spiritual directors. From 2011 until 2017 he was Executive Director of the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL.

Previously, Father Macke had served as the Secretary for Pastoral Ministries and Jesuit Life for the Jesuit Conference of the United States in Washington, DC for six years. Prior to joining the Conference, Macke worked in Alaska for 17 years, devoting eight years to the Holy Spirit Center in Anchorage, Alaska, where he served as its executive director for six years.

Father Macke entered the Society of Jesus in 1963, earning a BA in classics and a Master of Divinity, both from Loyola University of Chicago. After his ordination in 1973, Macke went on to receive a MA in counseling psychology from Loyola, and a D. Min. in pastoral psychotherapy from the Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.

Fr. Macke has also served in Jesuit formation as the vocation director for the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus from 1989 until 1993.

Erin Maiorca has been the Executive Director at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House since 2019. She first attended a retreat at Bellarmine as a high school senior making a Kairos retreat. She fell in love with Jesus on that retreat. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois, and a Culinary Arts Degree from the Washburne Culinary and Hospitality Institute. She spent 20 years active in her parish and working in corporate America. She held positions in hospitality management, training, and communications nationally and globally for a fortune 500 company. She had a calling however, to serve the people of God in a different way. In 2012 she began a new chapter at Bellarmine serving as the Associate Director. A long-time student of the Ignatian traditions, she entered the Spiritual Direction internship program in 2016. Erin’s hobbies are cooking, reading, day-hiking, and kayaking. She and her husband Tom reside in Glenview, Il and have two adult sons.

Father Chris Manahan entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1993 at the age of 37 after a 15-year career as a newspaper reporter and editor in Minnesota and Iowa. After ordination in 2003 he served two years as a parish priest on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota; spent a year working with Jesuits in the Philippines and northeast India; served eight years on the staff of the Jesuit Novitiate where men discern whether to profess vows; and, for seven years was director of the Jesuit Retreat House on Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Father Manahan currently assists the provincial in caring for Jesuits in the Midwest Province awaiting final vows and for the province’s senior Jesuits who are 70 and older. He lives in the Taylor Street Jesuit Community in Chicago.  

Fr. Tim Meier, SJ was a Chaplain at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (2019-2023) and in the California Army National Guard (2006-2018) who deployed overseas without a weapon four times. Fr. Meier earned an undergraduate degree in music and biology, master’s degrees in philosophy, immunology, divinity, and theology; as well as a doctorate in molecular neurobiology from Stanford University where he served as the Undergraduate Research Coordinator and Director of the Honors Program in Biology. 

He has been clean and sober since September 1979 and has been leading recovery retreats since his apprenticeship under Fr. Tom Weston, SJ in 1990.

As a Jesuit Scholastic in 1982, Fr. Meier sang solo, a cappella, during a Mass for Canadian pilgrims at Castel Gandolfo, Vatican City State celebrated by His Holiness, Pope Saint John Paul II.

After years as a practicing physician, medical educator, and administrator, Fr. Muccino, now serves as Associate Director of Pre-Health Professions Advising at the College of the Holy Cross. He is also Assistant Professor of Medicine at UMASS Chan Medical School where he directs a course on Health Systems Science.

Throughout his Jesuit life he has also allotted time to pursue his passion for giving preached conference retreats, workshops, and days of recollection to all seeking to grow in their relationship with God.

Rev. Dr. Carol Ann Munro is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She has served as a parish pastor, hospital chaplain, development officer, retreat leader and spiritual director. Primary areas of focus for her ministry have been 12-step spirituality, adult faith formation and biblical literacy. She is currently a volunteer with the Ignatian Spirituality Project, which provides spiritual companioning for people recovering from homelessness and addiction, and she serves as a spiritual resource for the Peace and Justice Ministry of St. Gertrude Roman Catholic Church in Chicago.

With more than 35 years of daily spiritual practice, Elizabeth understands the gifts of a contemplative journey.  A graduate of The Institute for Spiritual Guidance in Wisconsin Elizabeth serves as a retreat leader, spiritual director and supervisor. 

As a spiritual companion, Elizabeth brings attentive listening, and open-mindedness to individuals who desire a dedicated time to explore their unique spiritual path. In a retreat setting, she provides questions and content that encourage individuals to go deeper into self-knowledge and explore their experience of the sacred in their lives. Elizabeth has degrees in Art and Business and has completed coursework in Mindfulness and Self-Compassion. Past careers have included Fundraising, Photography, Employee Assistance Programming and Funeral Service.

Since 2018, and with his provincial’s direction, Roc O’Connor, SJ has been composing and writing nearly full-time. In June of 2020 OCP published his collection of eight new songs, All Shall Be Well: The Hand of God. During the lockdown from COVID he submitted a three year writing project on liturgical spirituality for publication. It twins with his article to be published in Worship magazine, July 2021. 

Listen to a talk by Fr. Roc

Father Pacwa received his B.A. in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Detroit, summa cum laude. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1976 with the Society of Jesus, as a Master of Divinity and S.T.B. from the Jesuit School of Theology of Loyola University, magna cum laude. At Vanderbilt University, he received his Master of Arts as well as his Ph.D. in Old Testament. He is best known for his appearances on EWTN for over the last thirty years. Fr. Pacwa is a best-selling Catholic author and has written numerous books on a variety of topics about the Scripture and our Catholic Faith to continue to teach us and generations to come. To leave a Legacy means to: bequest, give an inheritance or endowment. That is the singular driving motivation for Father Pacwa‘s fervent desire to reach out and speak to groups of young Catholic adults. Father Pacwa’s vision is to create a “Legacy of Faith” for the next generation of Catholics who strive to grow and mature in their faith and become the future leaders of our Church. Father Pacwa ardently believes that personally reaching out to young adults in an intimate setting where he can connect and answer questions is the most effective way to reach across generational gaps. He reminds us all that through our Baptism we are called to be sharers of the Church’s mission which is to continue the works of Jesus Christ and to make His name known and loved. For more information visit: http://kingsservants.org/legacy-of-faithinitiative.

Listen to a talk by Fr. Pacwa.

Michael Pederson, SJ is currently teaching environmental science & sustainability at Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago.  In addition to his teaching, Michael is an academic advisor, spiritual director, and leads a CLC. He is a former landscape laborer, high-school biology and psychology teacher, soccer coach, and 5th grade teacher.

Fr. Mark Scalese, SJ is currently the religious superior of young Jesuits in the First Studies Program at Loyola University Chicago. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Fairfield University in Connecticut, where he was a tenured professor in the Film, Television and Media Arts program and the director of campus ministry. Born and raised in Scranton, PA, he taught elementary school art before entering the Society of Jesus in 1987. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1997.

John and Leah Sealey made two commitments in 1989. The first was the sacrament of marriage. The second was a two year journey with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) in Belize. Together, with fellow JVs, they attempted to practice the four components of the program: keeping faith, doing justice, building community, and living simply ... a practice that continues to this day!

Currently, John works on the provincial staff with the Midwest Jesuits coordinating international ministries. Leah is a spiritual director (trained at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House) and convenes MKE Spiritual Directors. They live in Milwaukee and parent three young adult children.

Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ is a retreat director and spiritual director at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington.  He holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and a Doctor of Ministry from St Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. He is the founder of Charis, a national Jesuit retreat ministry for young adults in their 20s and 30s, and has trained spiritual directors at Loyola University-Chicago.  

A prolific writer and speaker, Fr. Michael has published books, CDs, and DVDs on prayer, discernment, and the sacraments with Franciscan Media, Paulist Press, Liturgical Training Publications, Loyola Press, and Heart to Heart. He is seen regularly on Shalom World Catholic Television and is heard regularly on Sacred Heart radio in Cincinnati and WSFI Catholic Radio in greater Chicagoland. 

His latest co-authored book is What’s Your Decision?  An Ignatian Approach to Decision Making and is published by Loyola Press.  

Fr. Michael’s weekly video homilies can be seen online at www.HtoH.US.

Listen to a talk by Fr. Michael.

No Biography Yet!

The ministry team and other trained Spiritual Directors lead the spiritual direction of retreats and programs at Bellarmine.  

No Biography Yet!

No Biography Yet!

Fr. Tom Weston, SJ, entered the California Province of the Jesuit Order in 1965 and was ordained a priest in 1978.  Currently based in Oakland, CA, he has devoted most of his priestly life to counseling and retreat work with alcoholics and other addicts.  In addition to his Twelve Step work, he was part of a team that taught English to ministry students in Thailand and Vietnam each summer.  “Wherever he is, Fr. Weston sees the power of God working in people’s lives, but perhaps most acutely in his recovery work:  ‘People get well.  People come back to life.  Families come back together,” he says.  ‘It’s the Resurrection—and you see it all the time.’ ” (Tyson, Gail.  “Helping Others Find Sobriety.”  Mission 2008 Summer:  pg. 7.  Print.)

Vinita Hampton Wright recently retired from a 32-year career as a book editor, the last 22 years at Loyola Press (Chicago), a Jesuit ministry. She is the author of various books, fiction and nonfiction, and has been leading workshops and retreats for 20 years on writing, creativity, the intersection of creativity and spirituality, prayer, and Ignatian spirituality. She received her certificate in spiritual direction from Loyola University, Chicago, and has a growing practice now during her retirement. Her books on creativity and spirituality writing--The Soul Tells a Story (IVP) and The Art of Spiritual Writing (Loyola Press)--continue to help writers in their vocation.