The Franciscan Spiritual Center

Mary Erickson came to the Center in July 2006 as the Executive Director. Her background includes thirty years experience working in leadership positions for Sears, FarWest Federal Bank and AT&T Wireless Services. Her educational background includes a Bachelors degree from Marylhurst College, where she is currently a candidate for a Master's in Applied Theology. She is a trained spiritual director as well as wife and mother of two daughters.
Sister Guadalupe Medina has a B.A. in Religious Studies/Philosophy and Certificate in Pastoral Ministry/Spirituality from Marylhurst University and from the Mexican American Cultural Center in Texas. Her work has been primarily with the Spanish speaking community in California, Oregon and Washington serving as a Pastoral Associate. She is also a certified spiritual director and trained facilitator in Couples Communication and Pre-marriage preparation.
Sister Emma Holdener is a massage therapist and office manager for the Center: She has her BA in music and got her Oregon massage license in 1996 from the Oregon School of Massage here in Portland. She believes that massage is a way of compassionate care for another person. Among the many benefits are a sense of well-being and deep relaxation.
Sister Mary Jo Chaves is a spiritual director and retreat leader. She has her Masters in Applied Theology, a certificate in spiritual direction and a certificate in supervision of spiritual directors. She is also a certified Veriditas Labyrinth Facilitator. Sister Mary Jo has been doing retreat work and spiritual direction in the Portland area since 1996.
Sister Carmel Gregg is a spiritual director, workshop facilitator and retreat leader. She has her Masters in Sacred Theology from Regus College in Toronto, Canada, her Masters in Religious Studies from Gonzaga University and a certificate in spiritual direction. She is also a trained facilitator in Centering Prayer and Couple Communication.
Sister Mary Lonergan, OSF is a spiritual director and workshop and retreat leader. She has her Masters in Education and in Spirituality, with specific interest in Celtic, Franciscan and Women's spirituality. She is certified in spiritual direction and has missionary experience in Africa and Central America.
Sister Celeste Clavel is the Business Manager for the Center. She has a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College plus a BS in music education from Marylhurst. She taught for 35-years in elementary schools and has been at the Center since October 2005. Presently she is also a minister of music and liturgy at Ascension Parish in Portland.
Sister Carol Ann Warnke is a spiritual director, workshop and retreat leader with missionary background in the West Indies. She has her Masters in Education from Lewis and Clark College and is certified in spiritual direction, grief group facilitation, couple communication, marriage preparation, parenting education, mediation, Centering Prayer and Reiki ll. She led the project team that designed and implemented the Center.
Joy Wallace, Development Director, started working part-time at the Center in October 2006. In addition to development work, she conducts parent involvement workshops for educators and conducts project evaluation as a consultant. She has her BS in Sociology from the University of Oregon and Masters in education from Oregon State University.
Roberta Wong joined the Center in June 2007 as Administrative Assistant. A graduate of Portland State University, she has volunteered and worked in the non-profit community since the 1980s, working within the Asian, arts, and social change communities promoting diversity and equity. Wong is a native Portlander, a conceptual artist/sculptor, a wife and mother of three.
Photographs by Bruce MacGregor