Non-silent Recovery Retreat for Men & Women in the Language of Al-Anon
An unhappiness of living with the addiction of loved ones is
our loss of freedom, our feeling bound by "shoulds" foisted
upon us by the other's life. Al-Anon's steps and fellowship
invite us to find freedom and to choose happiness.
Fr. Kevin Ballard, S.J. was born in San Francisco and raised in a traveling military family, joined the Society of Jesus in 1972 and was ordained in 1985. His ministry, mainly in parishes, has also included community organizing, high school teaching, and retreat work. Three years in Kathmandu, Nepal were a highlight and delight. His ongoing interest in Ignatian Spirituality has entailed directing the Spiritual Exercises in their various forms. Since 1981, the blessings of the 12 Steps have been key to life and work. Judaism has been an ongoing inspiration. He is blessed to live sober, one day at a time, since 1981. Kevin is recreated by languages, bird-watching and "staring into space!"
Ms. Julie Woolway grew up in Texas and made a solo move to San Francisco in 1986. She has been in Al-Anon for eleven years and believes that sharing experience, strength, and hope with others in 12-step recovery is the path to living a life of peace and serenity. Raising a special needs child has put her on an unexpected journey of faith and self-discovery. The gift is pure and simple — her heart expanded and filled with an infinite capacity to love and feel God's presence and grace. Julie lives in Redwood City with her husband, 5-year old daughter, and three cats.
Assisting
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.
Early in his career, Fr. Bernie taught at St. Ignatius High School, San Francisco, and assisted the chaplain at Alcatraz, San Francisco. For 13 years, he directed the House of Affirmation, a clinical treatment center for emotionally troubled clergy and religious. Fr. Bush is the author of the Book called Living in His Love: Essays on Prayer and Christian Living, and the Editor of Coping: Issues of Emotional Living in an Age of Stress for Clergy and Religious. He joined the Jesuit Retreat Center staff in 1993 after working in the Diocese of Norwich (Conn.), developing continuing education programs in social justice and the prevention of child abuse for the clergy.
Fr. Bernie continues to advocate for children. He also looks back fondly on his piloting days when he was truly "out of reach, looking down on the world a sort of God's eye view."
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
Ms. Mary Peterson, a wife, mother, grandmother, artist, spiritual director and perpetual seeker, was trained at Spiritual Directors Institute, Mercy Center, Burlingame. She believes that all is a gift, and although sometimes painful, when unwrapped contains a piece of our becoming more real and authentic.
Sister Stephanie Still, P.B.V.M., is a trained Spiritual Director with
a ten-year private practice in San Francisco. She was formally training
in the Spiritual Direction three-year training program at Mercy Retreat
Center in Burlingame. A Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin
Mary (San Francisco) for nearly thirty years, Sister Stephanie has also
had ministry experience as a high school principal and teacher, in leadership
roles, and as a Communications officer for her Congregation. She is currently
the Vocation Director for the Sisters of the Presentation. Sister Stephanie
is a California native and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for
most of her life. As a Presentation Sister, she is committed to those
made poor and to the sustainability of all creation. She deeply believes
in the importance of contemplation and of developing an awareness of
the sacredness of life in order to be a balanced and intentional presence
in the world.
