Teacher Bios Archive | St. Placid Priory

Patricia Kay

Patricia Kay CSD, CCH, is a Certified Spiritual Director, Certified Classical Homeopath, teacher, writer, and retired midwife, who studied this form of meditation with her mentor, Dr. Barry Grundland, MD, over a period of 15 years. She works with people as a meditation guide, helping them enter into the territories of the body to heighten […]

Dmitri Andreyev

Dmitri Andreyev was born in St. Petersburg, Russia, and came to the United States in 1991 to study traditional iconography under his father, Vladislav Andrejev, master iconographer and founder of the Prosopon School of Iconology. While living in New York City, Dmitri established the Prosopon School New York City Studio. As an instructor of the […]

Sr. Lucy Wynkoop, OSB

Lucy Wynkoop, OSB is a Benedictine who daily practices living from the heart and is a seasoned retreat leader and has received formal art education. She has an MA in Theology with a concentration in Monastic Studies and a BA with a minor in Art. Sister Lucy is not leading retreats/programs or accepting new directees […]

Julie A. Ferraro

Julie A. Ferraro is a long-time writer and journalist. She is a Benedictine oblate of the Monastery of the Ascension, Jerome, Idaho, also using her skills to serve other Benedictine organizations.

Margaret D. McGee

Author of "Haiku - The Sacred Art: A Spiritual Practice in 3 lines", Margaret D. McGee writes books about being alive in the cosmos, paying attention, and making connections. She is an experienced presenter and teacher, and a lay preacher and liturgist at her home parish, St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Port Townsend, Washington.

Kayce Stevens Hughlett

Kayce Stevens Hughlett, , MA LMHC, is an author, tender, and artist of being alive. Her 2019 memoir, SoulStroller: experiencing the weight, whispers & wings of the world, won the prestigious Nautilus Book award for personal growth. Co-creator of SoulStrolling - a movement for mindfulness in motion - and creator of the SoulStrolling Inspiration Deck, Kayce is […]

Kathleen MacInnis Kichline

Kathleen Kichline, M.Div., is a scripture scholar, author, teacher and retreat leader, a pastoral associate of many years who has also served as adjunct faculty at Seattle University. Much of her ministry is now available online through Sisters in Scripture. She is a frequent and popular presenter at St. Placid Priory.

Evan Clendenin

The Reverend Evan Clendenin is an Episcopal priest, currently serving as interim with Holy Spirit, Vashon WA. He has worked as a horse farmer, gardener, educator, and pastor in Episcopal and Lutheran congregations. He enjoys assorted tinkering with food, various materials and crafts, boatbuilding, trees and gardening, and shares workshop hospitality at The Boat and […]

Raphaela Cady, OSB

Sr. Raphaela Cady is a member of the Oblate team who engages the twelve steps of humility as found in Chapter 7 of the Rule of Benedict as a way of journeying into greater personal wholeness and consciously offering of self to her community and beyond as a by-product of living the Benedictine Rule.

Christine Eberle

Christine Eberle is a retreat facilitator, public speaker, and author of Finding God in Ordinary Time. A campus minister in higher education for 26 years, Christine’s passion is connecting spirituality, Scripture, and everyday life. Her next book, Finding God Abiding, will be published in June. You can follow her at christine-marie-eberle.com.

Christine Valters Paintner

Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, REACE is the founder and director of AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery and global community exploring contemplative practice, creative expression, and ways to nourish an earth-cherishing consciousness. She is a poet, spiritual director, teacher, pilgrimage guide, and author of 20 books on spirituality and the arts including three collections of poetry. Christine has lived […]

Julian Cleary, OSB

Sr Julian Cleary, OSB, has practiced disability law for about 25 years. More recently she has engaged in immigration work. To Sr. Julian the Reverend Howard Thurman has been a model and a mentor in absentia of inner transformation, peaceful advocacy, and a purveyor of dignity and respect to all.

Ongoing Program Zoom: Prayer Practices Certification Program 2025-2026, OASIS 2026 - 2027,

Laura Swan, OSB

Sr. Laura Swan, OSB, is a writer and spiritual director, who also serves St Placid community as Formation Director. She is the author of numerous books, including The Forgotten Desert Mothers and The Wisdom of the Beguines. Sister Laura holds many different hats she is a "YouTube star” too.

Ongoing Program Zoom: Prayer Practices Certification Program 2025-2026, OASIS 2026 - 2027, Hybrid --Waiting with Hope: An Advent Journey,

Lucy Wynkoop, OSB

Lucy Wynkoop, OSB, who is a retreat director and has received formal art education, is not leading programs/retreats or providing Spiritual Direction at this time.

Karen Nelson

Karen Nelson is in her second year of training in LWS. As a former professional musician and music educator as well as a church worship/music associate in various churches for the past 40 years, she brings a unique perspective on navigating the path of artistic expression as a way of spiritual development. Using music, instruments […]

Paul W. Jacob (Jake)

Paul W. Jacob (Jake) - www.nomadicdevotion.com - is an author, college professor, scholar of world religions, and a contemplative guide. His intensive study of the contemplative and mystical traditions of world religions has led him to 30 countries and 48 states. He facilitates contemplative retreats and leads spiritual formation groups at centers throughout the United States. *100% of the facilitator's […]

Rosemarie Oliver, OblSB

Rosemarie Oliver, OblSB is a Benedictine oblate since 2007. She is also a Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist who has worked in the field of nutritional practice since 1978. Rosemarie became an MB-EAT (Mindfulness-Based Eating Awareness Training) qualified instructor in October of 2020 and obtained a Certificate in Mindful Eating by The Center for Mindful Eating in January […]

John Creasy

The Reverend John Creasy is the founding executive director of Garfield Community Farm, a permaculture based non-profit in Pittsburgh, PA. He is also a founding Pastor at The Open Door Church. John lives with his family a mile from the farm in Stanton Heights where they practice permaculture in their 90 year old home with rainwater collection, […]

Beth Prevo

Beth Prevo’s home church is Immanuel Presbyterian in Tacoma’s North End. She holds master's degrees in Pastoral Studies (2019) and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (2001), both from Seattle University. Retired from teaching since 2018, Beth is Parish Associate at Immanuel, where she’s involved with visiting the home-bound and working with the Deacon […]

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 […]

Sonja Weber, OSB

Sr Sonja Weber, OSB, enjoyed art throughout her life, and later focused mostly on iconography, combining her desires for contemplation and creativity. She is a Prayer Practices, Oasis, and Retreat Leader.

Ongoing Program Zoom: Prayer Practices Certification Program 2025-2026,

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 […]

Angela Hoffman, OSB, PhD

Sister Angela Hoffman is currently the Prioress at St. Placid Priory and is very interested in our environment. She cleared the original paths on the Priory property in the 1960s and is still involved in their care. She is emerita from the University of Portland where she taught chemistry for nearly 34 years. Sister’s many […]

Ora et Labora: Care for our earth --Almost Labor Day,

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 […]

Monty Smith

Monty Smith is a pastor and now a Life Coach - emphasizing embodied practices. The question “ how can daily life be practice ” has sat in him for decades. He holds BA, JD, and M.Div degrees.

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 […]

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 taught evening classes at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California.

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. Additionally, as the founder of Wellbeing in Nature NW and a certified Forest […]

Monika Ellis, OSB

Sister Monika is a spiritual director, retreat facilitator, musician and artist. She is an enthusiastic Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) who loves to lead people into discovering the beauty of simple black lines on white paper . She has experienced how a Zentangle practice brings relief from pain, worry, and stress. It is a healing practice.

Nancy Romanovsky

Nancy Romanovsky is a Pacific Northwest landscape oil painter and educator whose work is rooted in forests and close observation of nature. She teaches oil painting as a quiet, mindful practice grounded in light, shadow, and presence. You may want to visit Nancy virtual gallery https://www.nancyromanovsky.com/

Therese Gonneville, OSB

Therese Gonneville, OSB, is a spiritual director and leads retreats at St. Placid Priory. “I journey with others with a listening heart, especially with loss and grief, healing of the inner child, and the desire for reconciliation to God, others, and self.”

Beth Amsbary and Tamara Roberts

Beth Amsbary and Tamara Roberts are a teaching team. Tamara is a spiritual director, therapist and minister in the United Church of Christ. Beth is a storyteller, song leader, and weaver of community experiences. Together they explore spirit through creative pathways.

Fr. Damian Higgins

Fr. Damian of Holy Transfiguration Monastery has been painting icons for his own monastery and for churches and homes around the world for the last 27 years. He began teaching the process at the request of those who felt drawn to the depth and beauty of an art form and wanted to understand more about […]

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 […]

Ongoing Program Zoom: Prayer Practices Certification Program 2025-2026, Zoom --Curves: A Zentangle Series, Hybrid --Waiting with Hope: An Advent Journey,

Oasis Presenters

Monika Ellis, OSB Retreat and Spiritual Director Masters in Education Laura Swan, OSB Retreat and Spiritual Director Masters in Theological Studies Masters in Church Ministry & Renewal Anna-Camille Wooden, OSB Retreat Leader, Master of Education Commissioned Centering Prayer Presenter Sonja Weber, OSB Retreat Leader Paz Vital, OSB Retreat Leader and Spiritual […]

Bob Delastrada

Bob Delastrada is commissioned to present Centering Prayer by Contemplative Outreach. He graduated from the Christos Center for Spiritual Direction and Formation, and received his Master's degree in Theology and Spirituality from St. Catherine's College.

Joseli Alves-Dunkerson

Joseli Alves-Dunkerson is a psychotherapist and a spiritual director who works with personal and spiritual development. In her personal life, she has struggled with living the road of forgiveness, a journey similar to that of many of us.

Joann Terranova

Joann Terranova is an experienced Catechist and adult Formation Leader for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. The exploration of the power of stories and how they shape our lives is a theme that resonates in her life. Joann has a Masters in Adult Christian Community Development as well as a Masters in Pastoral Studies.

Cecily Markham

Award winning poet and artist, integrates her extensive experience in writing and performance poetry in her poetry programs. A previous workshop participant writes, “…it was magical. Deeply moving and transformative, so creative!”

Darcie Richardson

Darcie A. Richardson, Ph. D. is a Personal Life Coach with an expertise in Depth Psychological Practices. She conducts workshops, speaking engagements and maintains a private practice in Olympia, WA.

Janet Rhodes

Janet Rhodes, an inspiring teacher, has been studying and teaching non-violent communication (NVC) and Bible for many years. She has presented other classes at the Priory such as Finding Yourself in Transition.

Steve Reiland

Steve Reiland is a Chaplain, a Spiritual Director, and a Tai Chi Instructor. He teaches tai chi for holistic wellness and as a spiritual practice (e.g., "Dancing with the Divine").

M Freeman

Media artist, writer, spiritual director, and independent scholar, M Freeman works at the intersections of reckoning and resiliency, queerness and film, and contemplative, creative and social art practices. They are author of The Illuminated Space: A Personal Theory and Contemplative Practice of Media Art (The 3rd Thing, 2020) and creator of Cinema Divina—short films for […]

Roy DeLeon, OblSB

Roy DeLeon, OblSB is a Benedictine oblate with St Placid Priory, a trained spiritual director, a visual artist, author and illustrator of Praying with the Body, and illustrator for The Pope’s Cat series.

Pamela Bradburn

Pamela Bradburn brings years of joyfully practicing SoulCollage ®. She has a MA in Transforming Spirituality and a Spiritual Director certificate. She looks forward to introducing you to SoulCollage ®.

Jan Alkire

Jan Alkire has led retreats in parishes and at spirituality centers including The Priory Spirituality Center. She is the author of five books including her newest one: Seeking Christ Through Friendship.

Kathryn Rickert

Inspired by the challenging depths of biblical spirituality in both the Old Testament and New Testament, Kathryn is a teacher, musician, liturgist, cook, theological artist, grandmother, and lover of Creation. She lives on Whidbey Island.

Anna-Camille Wooden, OSB

Anna-Camille Wooden, OSB is St. Placid Priory's sub-prioress, Oblate Director, a program presenter, and helps care for the monastery cat. She has a long time Centering Prayer practice, is a commissioned presenter of Centering Prayer, an experienced retreat leader, and is on the Contemplative Outreach Northwest Leadership team.

Ongoing Program Zoom: Prayer Practices Certification Program 2025-2026, OASIS 2026 - 2027, Hybrid --Waiting with Hope: An Advent Journey,

Cathy Raymond

Cathy Raymond is an artist and a spiritual director. She uses art in its many wonderful forms to explore the depth of the heart through individual and group spiritual direction and through faith-based retreats.

Jane Valencia

Jane Valencia is an herbalist, nature instructor, and harper-storyteller. Jane loves helping others discover the wisdom, beauty, and practical knowledge for health and wellness found within medieval and folk healing traditions. Visit Jane and Erin at chantsandplants.com

Marilyn Vancil

Marilyn Vancil is the author of Self to Lose – Self to Find: A Biblical Approach to the 9 Enneagram Types. She is a trained spiritual director, life coach, and Certified Enneagram Professional in the Narrative Tradition. She facilitates introductory and advanced workshops on the Enneagram for individuals and couples.

Janice Ariza

Janice Ariza is a Saint Martin’s graduate with an Interdisciplinary degree in history and religious studies. Currently, Janice works as the Spirituality Center Coordinator for St. Placid. As a participating member of The Washington Museum Association for 10 years, she observed the depth of creativity in humanity. She served as Board President of The Karshner […]

Beth Prevo

Beth Prevo holds two degrees from Seattle University: a Master’s in Education and a Master’s in Pastoral Studies. She considers herself to be a lifelong learner and seeker of God.

Paul Rietmann

Paul Rietmann is a retired Episcopal priest, spiritual director, retreat leader and commissioned Centering Prayer presenter. Dedicated to the contemplative path, Paul is active in interfaith meditation and dialogue.

Kenneth Peterson

Kenneth Peterson is an Oblate of St. Placid Priory. A singer of chant, he wrote Prayer as Night Falls: Experiencing Compline in 2013. He presented "Julian of Norwich and Christ's Passion" in 2021, and has given programs previously at the Priory on Julian, compline, and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Susan Bosse

Susan Bosse, BFA, MA is a Plein Air artist who paints oil landscapes during warm weather. She paints with ink in her home studio during cold weather. She is a member of several local art organizations and actively participating in art exhibits.

Betsey Beckman

Betsey Beckman, MM is the founder of The Dancing Word, a ministry of dance, storytelling, spiritual direction, retreats and video artistry. She directs the Movement Ministry at her home parish, St. Patrick in Seattle, and works closely with Abbey of the Arts to create contemplative embodiment resources.

Short-Term Program Presenter