Conference Performers, Musicians and Staff

Speakers

Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB

Sr. Joan Chittister, a Benedictine Sister of Erie, Pennsylvania, is a best-selling author and a well-known national and international lecturer. She is founder and executive director of Benetvision: A Resource and Research Center for Contemporary Spirituality and past president of the Conference of American Benedictine Prioresses and the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Sister Joan has been recognized by universities and national organizations for her work for justice, peace, and equality for women in Church and society. She is an active member of the International Peace Council

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM

Fr. Richard Rohr is a Franciscan of the New Mexico province and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation. Fr. Richard’s gift is articulating to our minds what we already know in our hearts. He considers the proclamation of the Gospel to be his primary call and uses many different platforms to communicate that message. His most recent recording is Politics and Spirituality: Seeking a Public Integrity.

Presenters

Brenda Truelson Fox

When Brenda Truelson Fox received her M.Div. from Chicago Theological Seminary, she had no idea that her path in Public Ministry would lead her to complete a documentary film. In the past, Brenda has worked with the Peace Corps, United Church of Christ in the Philippines, as a Hospital Chaplain in Africa and the U.S., doing outreach and advocacy with Survivors of Torture, and offering Pastoral Care at an Immigration Detention Facility in Colorado.

Fr. Eddie Fronske, OFM

Fr. Eddie Fronske is a Franciscan and priest on the White Mountain Apache Reservation. He has lived and ministered with them for nearly 23 years. He is a poet, songwriter, storyteller and fisherman. He has given many retreats including to youth and women. Reconciliation and Identificational Repentance have flowed out of his ministering with the Apaches in seeking reconciliation with the Navajo, Pima, and other Apache tribes.

M. Lynnessa Gallagher, MA, LPCC

Lynnessa Gallagher is a mother, grandmother, community volunteer, therapist, counselor, educator, advocate and lay associate of the Sister of Charity of Cincinnati. She has just retired from her position as Chief Operating Officer of St. Joseph Community Health here in Albuquerque, NM.

Ruben Garcia

In 1978, Ruben Garcia, along with 4 other young adults, founded Annunciation House, and has served as its director since its inception. Operating several houses of hospitality on the border between El Paso, Texas in the United States, and Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, he helps to oversee a work of hospitality to refugees, immigrants and the undocumented. As an outflow of the hospitality offered to tens of thousands of immigrants over the years, Annunciation House is also heavily involved with border education, advocacy, and justice work on behalf of immigrants. In this capacity, he is active giving talks and presentations on immigrant issues and the reality facing immigrants along the border. Ruben is a native of the border, born and raised in El Paso, Texas.

Sr. Donna Kustusch, OP

Sr. Donna Kustusch is an Adrian Dominican Sister. For the past fourteen years, she has lived on the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas. In 1996, Sr. Donna co-founded Centro Santa Catalina: The Women of Hope and Faith, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Centro Santa Catalina is a faith-based comunity for the spiritual, educational and economic empowerment of women who are economically poor.

Chuck O'Herron Alex

Chuck O’Herron-Alex has worked for the Center for Action and Contemplation since the fall of 1997 in many different capacities. Originally trained as a United Methodist minister, Chuck has followed his heart and found that his most fulfilling area of ministry is focused on gardening and growing food in particular. In 2003 he started the Homegrown Nutrition Program (HGNP), a program sponsored by CAC, that helps residents of a poverty-stricken barrio of Juarez, Mexico grow some of their own organic vegetables. To date, there are over 30 families who live on top of the former Juarez dump that are now able to grow food year-round.

Liturgical Performers and Musicians

Tom Berkes

Tom Berkes, liturgical music composer, plays guitar, piano and harmonica. He has been the liturgy and music director at St. Joseph’s Church in Cerrillos, New Mexico since 1990. Tom plays and prays at his adobe home near Santa Fe, NM.

Sharon Halsey-Hoover

Sharon Halsey-Hoover is a storyteller, actor, retreat presenter, spiritual director, life purpose coach, adjunct staff at the Center for Spiritual Development in Orange, CA, and Assistant Director of Bethany, a transitional living program for homeless women who are striving to return to self sufficiency.

Madi Sato

Madi Sato is a singer, songwriter, and actor with two released CDs to her credit. With recent trips to Japan she has tapped into her rich, ancient Japanese heritage, studying and singing traditional Shigin music. For more information about Madi, please visit madisato.com.

Al Staggs

Al Staggs holds a B. A. from Hardin-Simmons University, an M.R.E. degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from Harvard Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  He was honored as a Charles E. Merrill Fellow at Harvard in the spring of 1983 with major emphasis in Applied Theology under the direction of Harvey Cox.  Al served as a Baptist minister for twenty-four years prior to becoming a full-time performance artist.

Danny Wilding

Danny Wilding has been a world-renowned alto flautist for the past 30 years. Originally from the U.K., Danny now resides in New Mexico.

And all the actors and dancers...

Durrall Carroll, Hannah Keane, Stephen Picha, Dianne Martinez–Hursh, Giovanna Brennan, Annette O'Conner, Ed Dzienis, Sr. Marianne Barrett, Ron Estrada, Meme Hernandez, Almircar Rivas Funes, Janay Jones, Brida Garrity, John Garrity, and Kristin Traeger.

Staff

Stephen Picha: Director

Elizabeth Coyle: Conference Coordinator

Anita Amstutz: Emcee

Mary Irene Urvanejo: Liaison to Fr. Richard Rohr

Joni Thompson: Liaison to Sr. Joan Chittister

Vanessa Guerin: Volunteer Coordinator

Lou–Anne Dillard: Mustard Seed Bookstore Manager

John Cline: Multimedia Technician

Mary Jo Picha: Registration

Paula Montoya: Registration

Mike Bennett: Set-up/Tear-down

and the rest of the staff of the CAC:

Wendy Bennett, Jill Britton, Cliff Dyer, Kathy Gish-Perci, Bert Goodson, Mike Griffin, Sara Griffin, Rich Meixner, Cynthia Ranke, and Doug Spence

Volunteers

Denise Aranda, Diana Baker, Marianne Barlow, Richard Barlow, Sheila Barnes, Brian Bernardis, Vivian Bowman, Giovanna Brennan, Martin Brennan, Dick Brostrom, Doreen Brostrom, Durrell Carroll, Sr. Linda Chavez, Tom Clough, Bill D'Ellis, Elsa D'Ellis, David Dennedy–Frank, Hugh DeWig, Marge DeWig, Ed Dzienis, Carol Ann Dzienis, Ron Estrada, Jack Gallagher, Claire Gallagher, Suzanne Graham, Meme Hernandes, Hannah Keanne, Camille Kiegel, Gale McCray, Tim McLaughlin, Diana Nelson, Jean Ockuly, Annette O'Conner, Joe Phelan, Suzanne Phelan, Sara Prime, Rus Raskob, Anna Reno, Ken Reno, Almircar Rivas Funes, Bobbie Romero, Estella Sanchez, Marta Santiago, Paul Shave, Monique Thiereault, Linda Towle, Judy Traeger, Sam Yates, and Tamara Yates