We will walk again the human and divine pilgrimage of faith and creation. The First Creation—told of in Genesis—invites us to explore the relationship between order and chaos, the Second Creation—Incarnation—to discern the manifestation of the sacred in the ordinary, and the Third Creation—the Paschal Fullness of Time—to contemplate the unfolding presence of God in moments of Beauty and Truth.
Fr. Thomas O'Neill, S.J., has long been interested in the deep and abiding connections between spirituality and the arts. Tom's interest in the arts is rooted in his own personal pilgrimage of faith and creation. After several years teaching high school history and religion, Tom began to be haunted by a deep sense that something was missing in his soul. This search led him from the classroom to the studio, and from California to New York, where, in 2002, he received an M.F.A. in painting from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn.
Assisting:
Fr. Bernard J. Bush, S.J., Ph.D., worked for 13 years as a therapist for clergy and religious. He has written articles on spirituality, social justice, and child abuse prevention and the book Living in His Love: Essays on Prayer and Christian Living. He edited Coping: Issues of Emotional Living in an Age of Stress for Clergy and Religious.
Fr. Gerald F. Hudson, S.J., was, for many years, a mathematics teacher (at Loyola High School, Loyola Marymount University, and St. Ignatius College Preparatory). He has served several times as a director in the JRC 36-Day Program. He joined the staff of the JRC in August of 2006 and has been involved in retreats and spiritual direction.
Ms. Susan Votaw's experience teaching art, special education, and English in secondary schools led her into administration at both continuation and comprehensive high schools in San Jose. During her last six years of principalship she participated in the Advanced Lay Leadership Program offered by the Diocese of San Jose's Institute of Leadership in Ministry, receiving an MA in Pastoral Ministries from Santa Clara in 2005. She is currently on staff at St Francis of Assisi Parish, working in the areas of spirituality and liturgy and in the Pierre Favre formation program at JRC. Her other ministries include spiritual direction and working with the homeless.
