Short-Term Program Presenter

Monika Ellis, OSB

Sister Monika is a spiritual director, retreat facilitator, musician and artist. She recently became a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) and is interested in helping people explore the world of art and its connection to the spiritual life. She has experienced how a Zentangle practice brings relief from pain, worry, and stress. It is a healing […]

Hybrid: Silent Retreat with God and the Artistic Process,

Kathy Holley, PhD

Dr. Kathy Holley is a speaker, retreat facilitator, educator, and author of: The Prayer of Silence. With a focus on Christian Contemplative Prayer, Wellbeing, and Embodiment, Kathy is dedicated to helping Christians deepen their understanding and practice of resting in God’s presence. As the founder of Wellbeing in Nature NW and a certified Forest Therapy […]

P.A.U.S.E. retreat: Prayer and Understanding Silent Experiences,

Walter Siegl

Walter Siegl was a teacher in Vienna, Austria and is a retired Architect, enjoying the endless possibilities of ceramics in the peaceful and serene setting of the Studio.  He took evening classes at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, California.

Nancy Joan Brighid

Nancy Joan Brighid is a Baptist preacher’s daughter who has had a calling to the spiritual life since childhood.  From 1988-2016, Nancy held a career as a field botanist, ecologist, and educator. She did botanical and ecological field surveys all over the Inter- and Rocky Mountain West from 1988-2012. Her career was mostly focused on […]

Monty Smith

Monty Smith, who served  as  United Methodist pastor for 25 years,  works now as a Life and Leadership Coach. His daily meditation and coaching  emphasize embodied practices.  The question “ how can  daily life be practice ?”  has sat in him for decades.  He holds  BA, JD, and M.Div degrees and certificates in coaching and […]

Michael Stein-Ross

Michael Stein-Ross founded Cascadia Forest Therapy in 2017 after earning his Nature and Forest Therapy Guide certification from the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. Since then he has guided over 200 forest bathing sessions across the Puget Sound region. Over the last two years he co-facilitated Cascadia Forest Therapy's transformation into a non-profit, organized […]

Sr. Angela Hoffman, OSB

Sister Angela Hoffman is a Benedictine Sister and Prioress at St. Placid Priory, Lacey, WA. She is emerita from the University of Portland where she taught chemistry for nearly 34 years. Sister’s many interests include the beauty and joy of creation, the many ways humans are invited to serve as God’s hands and co-creators, and […]

Jessika Satori, OblSB, Ed.D

Jessika is a writer and poet, global college professor, film director and producer. She has walked with St. Ignatius of Loyola for more than 30 years, including doctoral studies at Seattle University, and has participated in multiple Ignatian retreats including the 30-day Spiritual Exercises.  She has traveled to many of the Ignatian pilgrimage sites including […]

Sonja Weber, OSB

Bio to be posted

Oasis 2024-2025,

Alan Harvey

Alan Harvey is a retired teacher with a master’s degree in education and fellow member of Immanuel Presbyterian Church. The Arts have always fueled his teaching and his passions. Mixing poetry with a spiritual message makes perfect sense. Together with Beth Prevo, they have created multiple spiritual walks around the Tacoma area. Writing haiku is […]