Mary McKeon is a member of Bellarmine's ministry staff, a spiritual director, and coordinator of women's ministry.  Mary is a graduate of Marquette University.  She taught school in Milwaukee's inner city before moving to Washington, DC to work for the United States Senate.  She and her late husband have a daughter, son-in-law, granddaughter, and three grandsons who are the joy of her life.  Mary received her training as a spiritual/retreat director at the Jesuits' Manresa Retreat House in Bloomfield Hills, MI, where she served on the ministry team and became their first Director of Women's Ministry.  In 2014, Mary was the second person to be honored with Manresa's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ is a retreat leader, poet, story teller and spiritual director at the Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House in Barrington, IL. He holds an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and a Doctor of Ministry from St Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. He is the founder of Charis, a national Jesuit retreat ministry for young adults in their 20s and 30s. For 10 years he trained spiritual directors at Loyola University-Chicago. 

A prolific writer and speaker, Fr. Michael has published books, poems, CDs, and DVDs on prayer, discernment, and the sacraments with America Media, Franciscan Media, Paulist Press, Liturgical Training Publications and Audible. His latest co-authored book, published by Loyola Press, is What’s Your Decision? An Ignatian Approach to Decision Making. 

Fr Michael is also the President of Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry. His weekly video homilies can be seen online at www.HtoH.US. He has just completed writing and directing a 12-part video series entitled: Discern & Decide: Navigating Life’s Choice, An Ignatian Video Guide.

Listen to a talk by Fr. Michael.

Fr. James Gschwend, SJ, PhD is a member of Bellarmine’s resident staff. His background includes administrative positions in Jesuit high schools, working at Community Mental Health in San Francisco, and serving as Director of Spirituality in the sabbatical program at the School of Applied Theology in Oakland and Berkeley. In Berkeley he also served as Assistant Rector for the Jesuit School of Theology. Following a fellowship year on the clinical staff at the Southdown Institute in Canada, Fr. Gschwend served the Chicago Jesuit Provincial as assistant for personnel, assisting men with healthcare needs and transitions in ministry.

Fr. Richard McGurn, SJ, M.A. Psych., M.Div, was ordained in 1975.  He directed the internship for spiritual directors at the Jesuit retreat house in Cincinnati.  He has served the major superior of the Chicago Jesuits as his executive assistant and as director of formation for young Jesuits preparing for ordination and ministry.  Just prior to coming to Bellarmine, he was superior of the Jesuit community at Loyola Academy in Wilmette, IL.

Fr. Karl Voelker, SJ is a member of Bellarmine’s resident staff. He is an experienced retreat master and spiritual director, including years of service as retreat director and chaplain at the retreat house of the Cenacle Sisters in Wayzata, Minnesota. More recently, Fr. Karl was pastor of the Gesu, the university church of Marquette University, followed by an assignment caring for the needs of retired Jesuits residing at the St. Camillus healthcare facility in Milwaukee.

Fr. Joseph Simmons, SJ, a native of Milwaukee, is passionate about Catholic education and renewing the Christian imagination in light of God’s vision for humanity.  Fr. Joe has taught languages, theology, and philosophy at Jesuit schools around the Midwest, and has directed over 30 Ignatian retreats around the US and UK.  He is wrapping up his doctorate at Campion Hall in Oxford, England on atheist writers who remain “bothered by God.”  Fr. Joe looks forward to finishing studies and helping college students wrestle with the big questions in life.  He loves the priesthood, dry humor and Oxford commas.

Nancy Hulsebosch is a spiritual director trained in the principles of Ignatian spirituality through Bellarmine’s spiritual director internship program. In her capacity as spiritual director, Nancy meets with individuals for spiritual direction, trains new spiritual directors as a member of Bellarmine’s internship team, and leads day and evening retreat programs both at local churches and at the retreat house. She also serves on the board and as a member of the women’s ministry team at Bellarmine. Nancy has been married to her husband Tom for 36 years and they have four adult children.