Community.

We are a Dominican community of four, two friars and two sisters for whom prayer and hospitality are priorities; a community giving itself to more intense spiritual practices, with particular emphasis on the practice of silence, while at the same time living a simple life style; with emphasis on the value of inter-religious practice and openness to anyone of any religious tradition.

Mary Lois Carey OP is a Dominican sister of the Sinsinawa, Wisconsin, congregation. She has lived in Berkeley/Oakland, California, for the past twenty-three years. While there, she studied at the School of Applied Theology and the Graduate Theological Union and received a Master’s Degree. Her ministries have included high school teaching as well as work at La Casa, an Institute for Spiritual Direction. She is particularly interested in Eastern and Western spirituality as well as dream work. She was drawn to the ashram because of her strong belief that contemplation is everyone’s calling.

Don Goergen OP is a Dominican friar of the Central Province. He is a preacher, lecturer, teacher and author. Don has written and taught primarily in the areas of christology and spirituality here in the States as well as in Africa and Asia. He has been a member of the ashram community from its beginning in 1999 and continues to teach and preach. His most recent writing is Fire of Love: Encountering the Holy Spirit. One can check his work further at http://www.op.org/don/.

Pat Horan OP is a Dominican sister of Blauvelt, New York, and a native New Yorker. Her journey has woven together significant threads of ministry: as teacher, in leadership and formation, as a cancer care technician, as an advocate in the Appalachian area of Virginia, and in creative ministries with and among senior citizens in Boston, Long Island and Midtown Manhattan. Enriched by the interconnection of relationships, nature, and grace have deepened her gift to be with people, listening deeply and responding in the silence of understanding, compassionate action, advocacy, and prayer.

Martin Iott OP is a Dominican friar of the Southern Province.  Most of his 37 years as a priest have been spent full time in the ministry of preaching - retreats and parish missions.  He has served in parish ministry and as a university and hospital chaplain.  He has been involved over many years in various aspects of initial formation for Dominican novices and students.  He has maintained a special interest in Eastern Christian theology, spirituality and liturgy, with a special emphasis on the spirituality of the icon.