Jon R. Allen, M.B.A., received his training in spiritual direction from the UpperNew York United Methodist Conference.  He is Principal with Performance Matters, Inc., in Clifton Park.  He is a professional coach, management consultant and advisor with over 25 years of experience.  In addition to his ministry as a spiritual director, he is also an instructor in the Albany Diocese’s “Holy Ground: A Program for Forming Spiritual Directors” and is a member of the Spiritual Direction Ministry Team for the Upper New York Methodist Conference

Deacon Nicholas Ascioti is active as a spiritual director, retreat leader, and facilitator of the Ignatian Exercises (19th annotation). He completed a Master of Divinity from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry and is currently working on a Doctor of Ministry degree from Catholic University of America. He currently serves Director of Faith Development at St. Matthew’s Church and is an Assistant Campus Minister at Siena College.

Annette Brooks, M.A., is a spiritual director, a retreat leader, a member of the Formation Team for the Diaconate, and a presenter for the Kateri Institute for Lay Ministry Formation.  She has directed week-long retreats, led days and evenings of reflection, and presented on such topics as Women in Scripture and Ignatian Spirituality.  Formerly, she was the Program Director at the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center.  Prior to that, she served as the Program Coordinator for Living Healthy Community Workshops, a program of the Center for Excellence in Aging and Community Wellness.  Her extensive ministry experience includes Parish Life Director for St. Gabriel’s Church in Rotterdam, Pastoral Manager at St. Ambrose Parish in Latham, and directing the 19th Annotation of the Spiritual Exercises since the 1980’s.  She has a Bachelor’s degree from Fordham University and a Master’s degree in pastoral Studies from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry.

Diane Cameron is a spiritual director and retreat leader. She offers spiritual direction to individuals from all faith traditions and those who identify as Agnostic or Atheist.  She works with people in Twelve-step recovery, and with those who want to learn spiritual practices to support discernment and creativity. Diane received her training at St Mary’s Institute in Baltimore, Maryland and at Holy Ground under the auspices of The Consultation Center in Albany, NY. Diane is also a writer. She writes about spirituality, recovery and popular culture. She is available to meet in person or using remote technology.

Brynna Carpenter-Nardone holds a two-year certificate from Holy Ground, a program for forming spiritual directors, and an MA in pastoral studies from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, both in Albany, NY. She is a visual artist with over 30 years teaching experience. Brynna’s experience with the creative process and a sense of call while healing from illness led her to study spiritual direction. She works at the Episcopal Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY, where she writes a blog and develops programming in art and contemplation, and is an associate of the contemplative Order of Julian of Norwich.

Sister Eleanor Guerin, RSM, M.A.,  is a Pastoral Associate at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Albany, doing outreach to the sick, elderly, bereaved and senior members of the parish.  Additionally, she is involved in a freelance spiritual and personal development ministry.  She does spiritual direction, directs retreats, the 19th Annotation Retreat, and offers days of prayer.  She holds an M.A. in Education from SUNY Albany and an M.A. in Theology from St. Michael’s College, Winooski, VT.  She received her training in spiritual direction  at Mercy Center, Madison, CT.

Deacon Charles Hall, M.A.,  is a deacon with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany and currently serves as chaplain at the Capital District Psychiatric Center.   He has a Certificate in Jungian Psychoanalysis from the C.G. Jung Institute of New York, and an M.A. in Theology from Saint Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry.  He received his training in spiritual direction at Wellsprings Retreat Center and has been companioning individuals since 1998.  He welcomes all religious traditions as well as those with no religious tradition.

Sister Katherine Hanley, CSJ, Ph.D., is coordinator of Holy Ground, a spiritual direction training program at the Consultation Center.  She is the former Director of St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry, Albany.  She has a Certificate in Theological Study from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California.  She has been engaged in spiritual direction since the early 1980’s

Cynthia Herman, D.Min., graduated in 2015 from Fordham University after studying with well-known author, speaker, and spiritual director Janet Ruffing.  Formerly a Parish Director of Faith Formation and Youth Minister, Cynthia is currently a theology teacher at the Academy of the Holy Names, Albany.  She focuses on the integration of theology, psychology,  and spirituality.  She is knowledgeable and experienced in working with Ignatian Spirituality, Contemplative Prayer, Healing Life’s Hurts Course, and Healing the Eight Stages of Life Course created by Dennis and Matt Linn.

Deacon Bernard McConaghy has been a certified Spiritual Director since 2023 completing both Holy Ground and Holy Ground 2 programs. He enjoys accompanying people who are seeking meaning or the presence of the Divine in their lives and assisting in their spiritual journey.
He is married to Rebecca and lives in East Greenbush NY.  Deacon Bernard possess a Masters of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry as well as a MS Ch.E degree from West Virginia University.  He serves as an ordained Deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany NY and is currently assigned to the Parish of Mater Christi.

Harley M. McDevitt, M.S., L.M.H.C., CASAC, is the Diocesan Coordinator of Pastoral Care.  She received her Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spirituality, Clearwater, FL.  She holds an M.S. Degree in Community and School Counseling from SUNY Plattsburgh.  She is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor and New York State Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor.

Marge Milanese, M.Ed., free-lances from her Wellness Connection/Retreat Center in Waterford.  A spiritual director, facilitator of days or evenings of recollection and guest retreat director in the Diocese of Albany and the Archdiocese of Boston, she is also a chaplain at Samaritan Hospital, Troy, an on-call chaplain, and a seasoned guest lecturer in Adult Faith Formation.  She received her M.Ed. from Boston College and is a graduate of the Center for Religious Development in Cambridge, MA.

Pat Mousaw, MA, is a spiritual director and retreat leader. She previously served as a member of the Formation team for the Diaconate.  Pat has a degree in Theology from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry and certificates in Spiritual Guidance and Contemplative Group Leadership from the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, DC. 

Kristine Rooney has a BA in Psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh, an MA in Pastoral Studies from St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Albany's Diocesan Holy Ground program. She serves at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish in Schenectady as a pastoral associate in adult faith formation, pastoral care and spiritual direction. Although she is Roman Catholic, she grew up Methodist and is comfortable with folks from any faith (or not!) tradition. She tends to have a gentle, listening approach, sorting and sifting where God is in the stuff of life.

Elizabeth Simcoe, M.A., has served for 35 years as a lay ecclesial minister in a variety of capacities and is currently Parish Life Director for the Church of St. Vincent DePaul in Albany.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Systemic Theology from St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry and a Master’s Degree in Liturgical Studies from the University of Notre Dame.  She holds a Certificate in Spiritual Direction through Sacred Heart University and has been guiding individuals in the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises since 2004.

Sister Susan L. Wieczynski, RSM, M.A., was awarded a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Mercy Center by the Sea, Madison, CT, and has completed the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises.  She teaches theology at Saratoga Central Catholic High School and is a healing practitioner and master with Rays of Peace Healing energy therapy.  She holds an M.A. in Theology from St. Bernard’s Institute in Rochester and an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from St. Joseph College in West Hartford, CT.