Bethlehem Centre would like to introduce you to the following practitioners who are available to help guide you on your chosen path.
Roger Kimmerly
Roger has lead (so far) an eclectic life and approaches spiritual growth in just this way. He has studied world religion his whole adult life and teaches meditation inspired from varied traditions.
Roger has facilitated several different groups at the Bethlehem Centre. He has been a psychologist, lawyer, and acupuncturist; he is presently retired and volunteers with Hospice, Alzheimer’s association, ElderCollege, and the Bethlehem Centre.
Roger will meet with people both during individual retreats and as requested for those who would like to meet with a spiritual director outside of the Bethlehem Centre. You may reach Roger at roger_kimmerly@shaw.ca.
Pat Brady
OSB
Pat Brady is a Benedictine Sister of the House of Bread Monastery. She has a doctorate in Theology from Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has received training in Ignation spiritual direction and discernment from the Jesuits of Guelph, Ontario.
She worked as a pastoral assistant at the Victoria Roman Catholic Cathedral for 4 years and in Duncan for 12 years. She has done work with Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and assisted in marriage preparation. She has provided spiritual direction and done work with individuals and groups for over 25 years.
Pat leads a scripture group weekly at the Bethlehem Centre. You may reach her at pcbrady@shaw.ca.
Mary Ann Gisler
OSB
Mary Ann is a Benedictine Sister of the House of Bread Monastery. In 1992, she came from Queen of Angels Monastery in Oregon to join the Sisters in Nanaimo.
Mary Ann has a B.S. in Education and taught school for many years. Mary Ann has an M.A. in Theology that included coursework on sacred scripture, systematic and moral theology. Mary Ann also holds a Masters of Social Work and worked in private practice as a clinical social worker.
She served as the Director of the Centre from 2003-2014. She has taught many courses at Bethlehem Centre, with a special interest in the Enneagram as a transformative practice.
Currently, Mary Ann has been involved in spiritual direction for over 30 years. You may reach her at magisler@shaw.ca to arrange for a meeting to discuss your spiritual path.
Mia Tremblay
Mia has been practicing Vipassanā Meditation since 1994 in the Mahasi Theravada tradition.
She has practiced in Burma under the guidance of Sayadaw U Lakkhana at Kyaswa Monastery in the Sagaing Hills and, for an extended period, Sayadaw U Tejaniya at Shwe Oo Min Center. In recent years She has been assisting Steven Smith and Michele McDonald at intensive silent meditation retreats in Australia, Burma and New Mexico.
Mia is currently leading a weekly meditation group in Nanaimo on wednesday evenings from 7:00pm – 8:30pm. Please contact her if you are interested in joining our group.
She also offers meditation instruction and ongoing spiritual-friend guidance sessions.
Pandit Tejomaya
Tejomaya is a Hindu priest in the 5,000 year old lineage of Himalayan Yoga Masters from the cave monasteries of India, but this was not always so.
Born into a Roman Catholic family as Tim Bruns, he responded to a spiritual calling from the age of nine which led to time spent as Brother Timothy, in the Dominican Order of Preachers.
While the monastic life ended, the spiritual fire remained and was rekindled years later through the mystical experience of cancer.
In a quest to find a formal means to express the spirituality which was revealed through cancer, he came to the Vedic tradition of the Himalayan Masters.
Lynn Haley
Lynn Haley has a broad and lengthy background in the areas of spiritual direction, religious education, group facilitation and spirituality.
Lynn has worked with many individuals and groups, directing them in discernment and decision-making, personal and professional programs focusing on growth and development. She firmly believes that for personal growth to occur, the body, heart and soul must be fully engaged and has dedicated her life to helping others listen to who they are and who they can become.
As a director and facilitator she conducts courses and offers spiritual direction for all spiritual backgrounds. Her work involves counseling and motivational workshops for youth and adults.
She is a trained counselor and has been engaged in this work throughout Canada since 1984, her background in education enhances her ability to relate to people of all ages.