Colleen McGeady-Ambrose, MBA, is a spiritual director and facilitates workshops and retreats. She completed the Spiritual Direction Internship at Claret Center and has a certificate in spiritual direction from the Institute of Spiritual Companionship where she currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors. Colleen is studying spirituality at Catholic Theological Union and is a candidate for an MA in theology. In addition, Colleen has an MBA from Northwestern University and a background in marketing. Colleen is a Catholic layperson, wife, and mother of two sons.
“Our ordinary, everyday activities abound with Divine invitations to growth and fullness of life. It is a privilege to companion others as they notice and reflect on their experiences and to witness the ways their responses deepen their relationship with God, with themselves, and with others.”
Anna Maria Baldauf, SH,TBG, was trained in Switzerland and has worked in both hospital and private practice as a movement and dance therapist. A member of a religious congregation, the Society of Helpers, she seeks to integrate spirituality, psychology and body awareness into her work as a therapist, sacred dance instructor and spiritual director. She helps deepen awareness of one’s life-processes in connection with mind, body and spirit and helps discover the unique sacred healing space within oneself.
Anna Maria is co-author of a book “Ein Sehen ist uns zu eigen” (To Own Our Longings”) Germany, 2002.
“The moment of my awakening was when I saw, and knew I saw, all things in God and God in all things.” (Hildegard von Bingen) “I am honored to walk with people on this sacred ground of their reality.”
Helen Cahill, OP, MA, DMin, is a Dominican Sister of Peace and an experienced Spiritual Director. She holds a Masters in Theological Studies and a Doctor of Ministry from Catholic Theological Union. Prior to joining the staff at Claret Center Helen spent a number of years in leadership in her community. Helen’s ministry includes giving retreats, doing group supervision for formation personnel and giving workshops on “The Spirituality of Power” and other topics.
“Being companion to people on their life journey is a privilege. I am always fascinated by the rich and varied ways that God acts in each person.”
Ted Cirone, CMF, STL, MA, is a Claretian priest who received his degrees in theology and philosophy and has done post-graduate study at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. His principal ministries have been initial and continuing formation, leadership, and spiritual direction and retreats for his own and other religious communities, on the national and international level. Ted has a wide experience in various cultural situations, and in accompanying those engaged in ministry or preparing for ministry. Ted is available for spiritual direction and retreats in English, Spanish, and Italian.
"It is a privilege to accompany another's efforts to follow God's call to love, freedom, peace, justice, and the service of others."
Maryellen Knuth, MAPS, comes to the Claret Center via her home in suburban Bartlett where she lives with her husband and two youngest children. She is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union with a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies and is currently employed there as Associate Director of Lay Formation. She holds a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Claret Center. Maryellen has worked extensively in parish ministry and leads experiential retreats and workshops. She is available for individual and group spiritual direction.
“It is the spirituality that we hold as sacred beings that interests me. I look forward to journeying with you.”
Pauline La Mothe, OP, MEd, DMin, is a Dominican Sister of Peace, the Administrator of Claret Center as well as a Spiritual Director. She received her Masters Degree and her CAGS in Psychology from Boston College and her Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling from Louisville Seminary. Pauline did the Spiritual Direction Internship at Claret Center. She taught school for many years, was in leadership in her Congregation and has worked with the homeless population in Boston, Massachusetts.
”As the Administrator and a Spiritual Director, I am committed to making Claret Center an open, safe and welcoming space. All who seek Resources for the Human Journey, who feel called to wholeness in body, mind and spirit are invited to experience what Claret Center has to offer.”
Kieran Lyons, MAPS, is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union with a master's in Pastoral Studies and has completed the Claret Center Spiritual Direction Internship. She advocates the involvement of the laity in the church and the importance of community faith development in the parish. Kieran is director of Religious Education at St. Tarcissus Parish and is available for group and individual direction at this location. A member of Spiritual Directors International and the National Conference of Catechetical Leaders, Kieran is married with two grown children.
“It is in the unraveling and reflecting on our stories that we discover the truth and the divine within. Sitting with another in sacred conversation is a profound experience for me, revealing the wonder of being human.”
Beth Saner, FSPA, MA, holds her Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies degree from Catholic Theological Union where her focus was the spiritual journey.
She trained as a spiritual director in the Spiritual direction internship at Claret. Beth now co-facilitates this internship at Claret. She also serves as a companion for those desiring someone to walk the spiritual journey with them.
”In spiritual direction I am invited to walk on the holy ground of another's experience. My invitation to each directee is to notice the Holy One revealed there.”
Terra Solove, LCSW, LMT, is a Spiritual Director and Licensed Massage Therapist. She also has her masters degreein Social Work and has worked extensively in Hospice and Bereavement Care. She completed her three-year Spiritual Direction training at the Dominican Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Terra is available for Spiritual Direction or Massage Therapy. She has a special interest in offering Spiritual Direction to those living with a chronic illness, terminal illness or in bereavement. She also offers workshops throughout the year.
"Spiritual Direction is for people who want to explore the deeper meaning of spirituality in their lives. For some this is through traditional faith/religious tradition. For others, exploration may come from a humanist/spiritual perspective. In any case, Spiritual Direction invites us into the ordinary sacredness of everyday life"
Evelyn Sommers, CSJ, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, began her ministry as a grammar school teacher. She became a social worker with Catholic Charities where she organized community gardens in the inner city and ran food pantries. She was also employed by the Safer Foundation as a women's advocate at the Cook County jail. For many years, Evelyn conducted camping retreats in the Nicolet National Forest, and gave creation centered workshops. Presently Evelyn offers spiritual direction, is a hospice chaplain and offers workshops on Nature Journaling and Prayer.
John Muir once said, "I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found was really going in." Evelyn holds sacred the time journeying with people as they explore and discover the wilderness of their heart as allured there by God.
Ron Stua, CMF, MDiv, is a priest and a Claretian Missionary. He is a graduate of Catholic Theological Union of Chicago, and completed an internship in Spiritual Direction at Claret Center. Ron has worked in parish and campus ministry and has lived in Zambia and Cameroon, Africa. He presently co-teaches a practicum in spiritual direction at Loyola University. Ron is available for spiritual direction, directed retreats and workshops.
“It is an honor to be constantly present at the unfolding of God’s spirit at work in our lives”.
Mary Alice Zander, SP, MA, MPS, is a Sister of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She holds a Masters in Religious Studies from Mundelein College and a Masters in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago. Her ministerial experience includes education and faith formation with schools, parishes, and dioceses, initial and ongoing formation for her Congregation, spiritual direction and retreat ministry. She is currently the director of Providence Associates and continues as a spiritual director with Claret Center.
“Companioning a person in spiritual direction is a way of honoring another’s story and being attentive to the many ways that God invites each one into relationship.”
Lorrita Verhey, SSND, is a School Sister of Notre Dame and a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has practiced in West Africa, and in several clinics in the Chicago area and served as clinical instructor in the Family Nurse Practitioner program at the University of Illinois Chicago. Her clinical experience has been with the poor and with persons with chronic mental illness. Lorrita completed the spiritual guidance program at Siena Center in Racine, Wisconsin and the spiritual guidance internship at Claret Center. She serves as a spiritual companion with anyone interested in exploring her/his spiritual journey.
In the context of the evolving universe story, I offer, as a spiritual companion, a compassionate listening presence in the unfolding story of one’s search for meaning. In life’s day to day events, we seek together ways to discover, integrate, and celebrate the presence of the Divine.
