2023 Sponsored Retreats

Sister Simone Campbell (a Roman Catholic Sister of Social Service) is a religious leader, attorney, and author with extensive experience in public policy and advocacy for systemic change. Currently she is a leader of “Understanding US” a grassroots dialogue effort to promote political healing in our nation. For almost 17 years she was the executive director of NETWORK, Lobby for Catholic Social Justice and leader of Nuns on the Bus. In 2010, she wrote the “nuns’ letter” that was seminal in the passage of the Affordable Care Act. She has twice spoken at the Democratic National Conventions, appeared on numerous television and radio programs and received many awards including a “Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Award” and the “Defender of Democracy Award” from the Parliamentarians for Global Action. Prior to her work in Washington, this native Californian did interfaith state-based advocacy in Sacramento and for 18 years was the founder and lead attorney at the Community Law Center in Oakland to serve the family law and probate needs of working poor families in Alameda County.  Her two books, A Nun on the Bus (2014) and Hunger for Hope (2020), are award winning reflections on the substance of her life and the call to faithful justice seeking.

Mary C. Boys, SNJM, is the Skinner and McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology at Union Theological Seminary, New York City, as well as its former Academic Vice-President and Dean. Author of six books and editor of four others, she has published widely in journals and popular publications. A native of Seattle who loves teaching and learning in varied settings, especially about Scripture, Mary is pleased to return to the west coast and to share once again leadership of a retreat at Villa Maria del Mar with her good friend Miriam Malone, SNJM.

Miriam Malone,SNJM, holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Ministry from Loyola University, Chicago, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She has facilitated retreats, workshops and virtual gatherings for Villa Maria Del Mar. In addition to retreat ministry, Miriam‘s experience includes presentations in various (Arch)dioceses throughout the U.S., teaching liturgy, sacraments, and ministry skills in the Masters Program for Pastoral Ministry at Holy Names University in Oakland, and facilitating gatherings for parishes and religious communities. Five years ago Miriam, together with her canine companion Macintosh, discovered a new ministry as a volunteer with Furry Friends Pet Assisted Therapy services bringing joy and comfort to our aged, mentally ill, lonely, and dying sisters and brothers.

Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ is a Jesuit priest who has been ministering to and with young adults for over ten years. He is an experienced spiritual director, retreat director/speaker, and currently serves as the Vocation Director for the USA West province of the Society of Jesus. Prior to entering the Jesuits, Fr. Radmar was a professional actor in Hollywood. Go check out his IMDB page!

Teresa Nygard has led retreats and worked in ministry with youth, young adults and adults for the past ten years. She currently works as a garden consultant for Gold Feather Gardens in Boise, Idaho. She enjoys exploring the mountain wilderness with her husband, Stu and very opinionated dachshund, Fig.