2007 Speakers
Fr. Kevin Joyce was born and raised in Alameda, California. He graduated from St. Joseph’s College Seminary in Los Altos with a B.A. in Psychology in 1971. During college he spent his junior year at the University of the Americas in Mexico City in order to gain fluency in Spanish.
Fr. Kevin left the seminary for five years during which time he studied eastern spiritual traditions and meditation, and then pursued a career in music. He rediscovered his priestly vocation while on a long retreat in Switzerland and returned to St. Patrick’s Seminary, Menlo Park in 1977. He was ordained a priest in 1980 and has exercised his priestly ministry at St. Catherine’s Parish in Morgan Hill, St. Joseph’s College Seminary, and as pastor of St. Maria Goretti Parish in San José where he served until 2004.
In 1991 Fr. Kevin received a Ph.D. in Spirituality from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where his special interests were the East-West interreligious dialogue and the great Christian spiritual masters. In 2004 he began full-time ministry with SpiritSite, the Catholic spirituality center of the Diocese of San Jose,. For more information go to www.SpiritSite.org.
John David Pleins: Professor of religious studies at Santa Clara University and is the author of "When
the Great Abyss Opened: Classic and Contemporary Readings of Noah's
Flood" (Oxford University Press). He teaches undergraduate courses on the
"Bible and Mythology" as well as graduate courses in pastoral
ministries. He has done archaeological work in Jordan.
Deacon Steven Herrera: Social Justice Immersion Director for the Diocese of San Jose,
Deacon Herrera is also a teacher at Archbishop Mitty High School. He regularly leads justice immersion
programs and will do so again this summer to Fort Apache.
Sr. Rebecca Shinas, OP: Director of Adult Spiritual Faith Formation at St. Simon's Parish, Los Altos.
She has a master's from Santa Clara in Pastoral Ministry. She also has recorded 4 CD's of original
compositions of contemplative music.
Sr. Patsy Harney, RSM: Runs the Young Adult program at the Friday Taize Prayer Service at Mercy Center, Burlingame,
She has worked hard to bridge the digital divide in the Mission section of San Francisco, She has also overseen housing programs for the needy at over 90 facilities in the Bay Area.