Sr. Carol Ann is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica. She earned her master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She served as principal of schools in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri before ministering for eleven years as associate superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Kansas City – St. Joseph. She was the founding director of Keeler Women’s Center and served there from 2003-2016. She has served as director of Sophia Spirituality Center since the spring of 2016.
Mary Kay has worked in pastoral ministry in the Catholic Church for more than 45 years. She received a Master’s degree in Religious Education in 1982, and her Doctor of Ministry in 2017 from Seattle University. After she graduated from the Souljourners Spiritual Direction Formation Program in 2005, she joined the Souljourners staff. Currently, Mary Kay is a part of the Souljourners leadership team and the Sophia Center staff.
Mark is the Hospitality Coordinator at Sophia Center, ready to greet you with a smile when you arrive, or a kind voice when you call. He also offers spiritual direction as a graduate of the Souljourners program and enjoys leading retreats as a trained Boundless Compassion facilitator. Mark is an oblate of Mount St. Scholastica, where he is formed by the Benedictine tradition of hospitality and community life. He looks forward to meeting you and sharing the gift of hospitality during your next visit to Sophia Center.
Sr. Joanne is a member of the Benedictine Community of Mount St. Scholastica. She has been Administrative Assistant at Sophia Center since 2011. Joanne earned her master’s degree in Education from Fitchburg State College, Fitchburg, Massachusetts and a Masters in Spirituality from St. Michael’s College, Winooski, Vermont.
Donna grew up near Weston, Missouri, and earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Benedictine College, where she also studied Sociology and Philosophy. She later received certification in Graphic Design from the Kansas City Art Institute and has spent extended time working and volunteering in Belize, Japan, and Madagascar. Donna enjoys time outdoors, creating art, and putting her creative skills to work for Sophia. You’ll most often see her online, supporting our Zoom presenters and participants. She lives in her childhood home with her husband, Jesse.
Sr. Patricia ministered as a teacher for many years in Missouri and Kansas and also worked at Keeler Women’s Center, another ministry of Mount St. Scholastica. She is a graduate of the Souljourners formation program for spiritual directors and currently serves as part of the leadership team. Sr. Patricia also currently serves as Community Formation Director and offers spiritual direction. She enjoys art, being outdoors, arranging flowers for the chapels, working with the bees, and making rosaries for the Monastery Goods shop.
Sr. Marcia Ziska has been a member of the Benedictine Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica since 1974. She received a masters in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University and a professional certificate in spiritual gerontology from the Johnson Institute. A retired certified hospital chaplain, she has served her community in pastoral care, vocation and formation work, and as associate director of the Sophia Center. She was privileged to coordinate the Rome Renewal Program for English-speaking Benedictine women worldwide from 2003-2010. She served four years on the National Religious Vocation Conference Board and eight years with the American Benedictine Formation Conference Core team. Currently she is the vocation director for the monastery, a spiritual director, and a member of the leadership team for Souljourners, a formation program for spiritual directors. Sr. Marcia enjoys making jelly to give as gifts and to sell in the monastery gift shop. You can also find her making lemon meringue pie and lemon curd from the fresh Arizona lemons sent by her sister, Barb.
Sister Micaela served in a variety of ministries over the years, teaching in elementary schools, then worked in the Kansas City Archdiocesan Office in religious education. Her other ministries included RCIA and pastoral assistant in several parishes, director of initial formation for the Mount St. Scholastica community, director of the Sophia Spirituality Center, and Souljourners staff. She continues to serve on staff at Sophia Center.
She enjoys playing the piano, tap dancing (on rare occasions) and embroidery.
Sr. Elizabeth has a Master of Arts in Religion and the Environment from the University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee. She is a board and staff member of the Center for Deep Green Faith which provides offerings that blend eco-theology with eco-spirituality grounded in the Christian tradition. She is an alumna of the Center’s Contemplation and Care for Creation Certificate Program and provides workshops and retreats at Sophia Center and elsewhere.
Sr. Linda is a member of Mount St. Scholastica Monastery in Atchison, Kansas. For 32 years, she worked in education as a teacher, administrator, and executive officer for a consolidated Catholic school system. In 1996, she received her certification as a spiritual director and retreat director from the Creighton Spirituality Program. She completed massage therapy training at the Universal College of Healing Arts in Omaha, Nebraska, passing her national boards in 1999. Sr. Linda guides retreats and offers therapeutic massage and contemplative healing touch, promoting a holistic approach to health and well-being of body, mind, and spirit.
