Non-silent Retreat for Men
Our lives are full of yearning and desires. Often we fill
these with what fails to satisfy. The source of our being
and its fulfillment is our Creator and Lord, Jesus Christ. This
retreat will help redirect our desiring to Him.
Fr. Bernard Bush, S.J., is a spiritual director and psychotherapist by training, background that he believes enables him to see people's lives in a rich and diverse way. He says he enjoys the challenging adventure of helping others find God in their lives, something he recognizes is different for every person. He defines a spiritual director as one who is a servant to others as they grow in their relationship with God.
Born in Humboldt County, California, Fr. Bernie entered the Society of Jesus following graduation from Bellarmine College Preparatory, San Jose, CA. He was ordained in 1965, and then trained as a spiritual director and psychotherapist, earning a Ph.D. in human science (psychology and theology) from the Saybrook Graduate School, San Francisco. —more about Fr. Bernie
Susan Mahan, Ph.D. is Director of Faith Formation at Holy Eucharist Parish in Watsonville and serves as a Master Catechist for the Diocese of Monterey, teaching Deacons, parish educators and lay people. She is also on the faculty of the University of San Francisco. An experienced teacher, leader of retreats and spiritual director, she is married and is the mother of three grown children.
Assisting
Fr. Joseph Fice, S.J., spent 25 years as a religious educator in Jesuit high schools in California and Arizona. He taught at Jesuit High School in Sacramento, Loyola High School in Los Angeles, and Brophy Preparatory School in Phoenix. His academic interests evolved from mathematics to a deep interest in scripture and ethics. After earning a B.S. in Mathematics from Loyola University of Los Angeles, he received an M.A. in Philosophy from Gonzaga University and an S.T.M. in Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. A lecturer in Philosophy at Loyola University of Los Angeles from 1967 to 1969, his subsequent high school teaching focused on Scripture and Catholic Christianity.
Fr. James Flynn, S.J. was born in 1942 in Los Angeles, CA and attended St. Charles Grammar
School in North Hollywood. After graduating from Bishop Garcia Diego
High School in Santa Barbara in 1960, he matriculated at Santa Clara
University. On September 8, 1961, he entered the Society of Jesus at
Los Gatos.
After the normal course of training at Los Gatos, Fr. Jim majored in
philosophy and English at Gonzaga University, graduating in 1967. He
taught at Loyola High School, Los Angeles from 1967-1970, and after
theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, he
graduated with an M.Div. in 1973. He was ordained a priest on June 15,
1973. That same year he completed a Master's Degree in English
at Loyola University, Los Angeles.
The next 12 years Fr. Jim worked in administration in Jesuit secondary
education: Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs at Loyola High School,
Los Angeles, Campus Minister (1967-81) and Principal (1981-85) at Jesuit
High School, Sacramento. After a sabbatical year at the Jesuit School
of Theology in Cambridge, MA, he pursued graduate studies at Andover
Newton Theological School in Newton Centre, MA. His concentration was
Ignatian Spirituality and American Jesuit Higher Education: how to maintain
the Ignatian character of the institutions with fewer and fewer Jesuits.
He graduated with a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1989. — more about Fr. Jim
Bro. Thomas Koller, S.J. first came to The Jesuit Retreat Center over
40 years ago while discerning his own vocation to religious
life; so he comes full circle with this present asignment.
Most recently Brother was stationed for 12 years at St. Ignatius
College Prep in San Francisco, working in school administration,
and moderating some student activities. Earlier he was assigned
as part of the staff of Father General in Rome, where he assisted
Father General at the American Assistancy desk. He also spent
many years as manager at the now closed Novitiate Winery in
Los Gatos where, for almost a century, the California Jesuits
produced sacramental and commercial wines as a means of support
for the young Jesuits in formation for California Province.
