Rev. Kenneth S. VanHaverbeke

Fr. Ken is diocesan priest of the Diocese of Wichita, ordained in 1991.  Graduating with a degree in Biology from Kansas State University he attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary.  As pastor of various parishes in the Diocese of Wichita, he gained experience of shepherding souls and cultivating the gifts of preaching, teaching, and healing.  Currently he serves as director of the Spiritual Life Retreat Center and Director of Stewardship for the Diocese of Wichita.

Rev.  Jim Mainzer

Fr. Jim was born in Chicago, IL grew up in Wichita, KS and was ordained to priesthood in 1987 after graduating from Wichita State University with a BA in Business Administration.  For over 24 years, Father Mainzer has served the Diocese of Wichita in various parishes. Most recently he successfully completed spiritual direction training through Creighton University at the Institute of Priestly Formation studying Jesuit spirituality and discernment, as well as other spiritual direction models.  Father Mainzer can be contacted for spiritual direction at 316-282-0459 and generally meets individuals for spiritual direction at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Newton, Ks., unless other arrangements are made.  (Newton is a 20 minute drive from the Spiritual Life Center)

Rev. Kenneth J. Schuckman

Fr. Ken was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Wichita in 1992 after receiving a Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies and a Masters of Divinity from the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.  A native of Wichita, he holds an undergraduate degree from Newman University in Elementary Education.   He has served the Diocese as a high school teacher and chaplain, associate pastor, and for the past seventeen years has been a pastor.  He has also served as a Serra Club Chaplain and a Knights of Columbus chaplain for the State Council of Kansas.  In 2011, he completed a three year program on spiritual direction through Creighton University at the Institute of Priestly Formation, studying Jesuit spirituality and discernment.  Fr. Ken can be contacted at 316-796-1224 and meets individuals at his parish, Sacred Heart in Colwich, Kansas.

Mary Mertes

Mary has been serving as a spiritual guide at the Center since 2002. She and her husband, John, have been married for over 50 years and are parents to nine children and 31 grandchildren. Mary and John have been involved in counseling for married couples since 1970. They currently work in our diocesan Retrouvaille retreat program for couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage. Mary studied at the Pecos School of Spiritual Direction in New Mexico. Her witness to the vocation of marriage and family life is edifying to all who know her.

Sister Joan Marie Burger, CSJ

Sister Joan is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph.  Sister Joan earned her Master in Spirituality from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA.  Her ministry is in the area of spirituality (retreat work and spiritual direction). Sister ministers in this capacity in Wichita and southeast Kansas.

Sister Ann Diskin, CSJ

As a Sister of St. Joseph, Sister. Ann has experienced 15 years of classroom teaching, fifteen years as a principal and over thirty-five years as a Pastoral Associate. Sister holds degrees in Administration, Reading Specialist and Pastoral Care.  Sister Ann feels that the greatest gifts she has to share are her life experiences along her journey.

Sister Marie Veronica Janousek, CSJ

Sister Marie Veronica is a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Sister’s varied ministry careers were in the hospital setting and most recently spiritual direction.  She is an NACC/APC Board Certified Chaplain.  She received her certificate in Spiritual Direction from the SOULJOURNER formation program at the Benedictine Sophia Retreat Center in Atchinson, Kansas.

Sister Mary Ellen Loch, CSJ

Sister Mary Ellen, a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph, is certified as a Spiritual Director by the Institute of Religious Formation at St. Louis University, which ended in the 30 day Spiritual Exercises in Manresa, Spain.  She received her MA in counseling at St. Louis University, an MSW from Washington University in St. Louis and has taken post-graduate courses in theology and Sacred Scripture from SLU.  Sister has served in Formation and leadership roles in her Congregation and has worked as a counselor for abused women and children.

Eric Massanari

Eric has served in pastoral-ministry with the Shalom Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas since 1999.  He received his Master of Divinity degree from Iliff School of Theology in Denver (1999).  Following his completion of the Soul Joumers formation program with the Benedictine sisters in Atchison, Kansas in 2007, he has offered spiritual direction and retreat ministry in the Newton and Wichita area.  He finds joy in joining with others as they listen for God’s presence and guidance in their daily living.

Sister Janice Miller, CSJ

Sister Janice entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Medaille, now the Congregation of St. Joseph.  She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, MN and her Master from the University of Notre Dame.  She was trained in spiritual direction in Guelph, Canada under the supervision of Father John English, S.J.

Carol Mullikin

Carol has been a spiritual director for many years.  She has worked extensively with the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius with both individuals and groups.  Carol is an Adjunct Faculty Member for Friends University’s Master of Arts in Christian Ministry program where she teaches coursework in Spiritual Formation.  Carol loves literature and the arts and integrates these disciplines in her approach to Christian Spirituality.

Philip St. Romain

Philip St. Romain holds a Doctoral Degree of Ministry in Spiritual Direction and is a professional Substance Abuse Counselor.  He has 33 years experience in leading workshops, retreats, seminars and classes.  He has authored many books and magazine articles on personal growth and spirituality.   Currently  he is a spiritual director and retreat leader in Catholic retreat centers in Kansas (Heartland Center for Spirituality in Great Bend and The Magnificat Center in Wichita.)

Sister Mary Kevin Rooney, ASC

Sister Mary Kevin is a Sister Adorer in Wichita, Kansas. and has been a spiritual director and retreat leader for many years. In 2000, Sister accepted a position with the International ASC Center of Spirituality in Rome, Italy serving there until 2005. Sister then returned to Wichita and resumed the ministry of spiritual direction and retreat ministry both locally and nationally.

Sister Joann Schneider, CSJ

Sister Joann is a member of the Congregation of St. Joseph and holds certification for Spiritual Direction by the Institute of Religious Formation at St. Louis University and from the Washington Theological Union, Washington, D.C.  Studies included Spirituality and Theology.  Sister has served in Religious Formation, retreat ministry and spiritual direction with laity, religious and clergy for many years, as a missionary in Japan and in the United States.