Non-silent Recovery Retreat for Women & Men in the Language of Al-Anon
Al-Anon members can, through the practice of the Twelve Steps, not just grow up. They can grow beyond what they have ever imagined or hoped. Enjoy this liberating time of companionship in working the Steps.
Fr. Jim Harbaugh, S.J., has been a member of the Jesuit order for forty-four years and a priest for thirty-one. He worked for many years at the Jesuit universities in Denver and in Seattle. First he taught English and Humanities and later Addictions Counseling. He has a doctorate in Victorian Novels from the University of Chicago and has been a Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor as well as otherwise active in working with addictions for 25 years. Most recently he worked in parishes in Seattle and Tacoma. He is the author of two books on the Twelve Steps, including A 12 Step Approach to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius (Sheed and Ward, 1997) and A 12 Step Approach to the Sunday Readings (Sheed and Ward, 2002).
Assisting
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. 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.
Fr. Duc Vu, S.J., a software engineer before joining the Jesuits, was ordained in 2002 and served in a parish until 2007. An M.F.A. in Creative Writing reflects his interest in life as story. He likes to explore the creative dynamic among stories human and divine, as well as the fascinating dialectic between our corporeality and spirituality.
