Franciscan Retreats: Our Staff

Preaching Staff

		Brother Bob Roddy, OFM Conv., is the Director of Franciscan Retreats. Bro. Bob joined our staff in January 2007. A native of Nebraska, he has served at our Franciscan Retreat Centers at Mount Saint Francis, Indiana and Mesilla Park, New Mexico. Brother Bob brings over 17 years of experience in preached retreat ministry. He has also served as an editor for a major Catholic Publishing Company and as Administrator of St. Bonaventure Friary in Washington, DC. Brother Bob has pursued graduate studies in English and Christian Spirituality. His interests include food [he loves to cook], film, and travel.
		Father Howard Hansen, OFM Conv., returned to Franciscan Retreats in October 2001 after serving in pastoral ministry in Iowa. Fr. Howard, a native of Ohio, preaches with passion and deep sincerity. Fr. Howard is a recovering alcoholic and is expert in the history and traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous. He often hears fifth steps. Father Howard is deeply interested in Native American History. He often plays the accordion for our retreatants. Fr. Howard contributes a daily homily to the www.FranciscanRetreats.net website.
		Father Steve McMichael, OFM Conv., is the Guardian of St. Joseph Cupertino Friary. Fr. Steve is no stranger to Franciscan Retreats; he began his journey with the Franciscans here in the mid-1970s. A native of Minnetonka, and a son of St. Therese Parish, Fr. Steve is an Associate Professor at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul, MN. He also leads pilgrimage groups with the Franciscan Pilgrimage program. Fr. Steve has a strong interest in interfaith dialogue, especially among Christians, Jews and Muslims. He is an avid Hockey fan, and makes a mean corndog.
		Father Jim Van Dorn, OFM Conv., returned to Franciscan Retreats to serve on the preaching staff in early 2009. He also served here during the 1970's and 1980's. Fr. Jim has served in a variety of ministries in the province: parish ministry, preached retreat ministry, initial formation ministry, vocation outreach, and parish mission ministry. Fr. Jim brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to Franciscan Retreats and we are thrilled to have him join our community and preaching staff.
		Kris Joseph is married, and has two adult children and two grandchildren. She is a spiritual director and licensed psychologist with a private practice out of Carondolet Spirituality Center. She has served on staff at Franciscan Retreats since 1998. Kris is interested in the deep connection which we each have with God. She helps others to find comfort and assistance in the midst of the movement of their lives through this connection. Kris has a passion for gardening and an interest in nature. Both of these help to inform and form her ability to listen and wait, to see subtle changes, to trust “the slow work of God”, and to search for the growth often released after pruning.
	Corrine Kindschy is a trained spiritual director, having completed her studies in spirituality in the Master of Theology program at the College of St. Catherine. Upon retirement and the death of her husband, Corrine served as a certified counselor with Catholic Charities in St. Paul, MN. Currently, she works as a companion guide in Spiritual direction and other areas of spirituality. Corrine resides in White Bear Lake, MN.
		Terry Mifek is a Certified Spiritual Director and is excited to be returning to Franciscan Retreats where she was a member of the retreat team in 1999 and 2000. She enjoys sharing her experiences through writing and is a regular contributor to Living Faith Daily Catholic Devotions as well as The Catholic Spirit. In her spare time Terri likes long walks in nature, gardening, ice skating, good books and traveling. Her three young grandchildren help her remember what is important in life and her three grown daughters as well as her husband of 37 years keep her laughing and growing.
	Nancy Murzyn has a Master of Arts degree in Theology with a concentration in spirituality from St. Catherine University and a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota. Nancy worked at the US Postal Service for 27 years as a Human Resources Specialist, a teacher in Employee Training and Development, a Dispute Resolution Specialist, an Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor/Investigator, a Customer Service Supervisor and a Letter Carrier. In her free time Nancy enjoys reading, writing, taking classes and volunteering. Nancy has a passion for Italy, baseball, books and movies. She also works on the www.FranciscanRetreats.net website.

Culinary Staff
	Judy Miller is our kitchen manager and chef. Her creativity and extraordinary care in creating our meals is well known to staff and retreatants alike. Judy is a native of Prior Lake, MN. She graduated from Mankato State and has since pursued her vocation in cooking at the Holiday Inn in Bloomington (where she was Director of Food Services), at the Renaissance Festival (as La Feast Chef) and at Keystone Senior Community in Prior Lake. She is a member of the International Cake Exploration Society, which practices the art of cake decorating. Judy is a wife and mother of two children with five grandchildren.
Music Ministry

		Chris Martin graduated from the University of Portland (Oregon) with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education. She later earned a Master's Degree in Music Education from Lewis and Clark College in Oregon. Chris taught music in the public school system for nine years and served as choir director at two parishes in Portland for many years. In 1998, Chris and her husband, Mike, moved back to Minnesota. She joined the staff at Franciscan Retreats in 2000. When Chris and her husband visit Oregon, she plays and sings in a group called "Maggie's Parlour." The four women in the group play a variety of instruments and perform several styles of music. Irish music is one of their specialities. Their CD is available in the bookstore downstairs.


Office Staff
		Kelley Chromy is our bookkeeper and bookstore manager. Kelley has worked at Franciscan Retreats for over ten years, and many retreatants know her well. Her near-encyclopedic knowledge of retreatants and their needs is a constant source of amazement to the Director. Let’s put it this way, Kelley is to Franciscan Retreats what Google is to the Internet, only much more helpful and charming. Kelley and her husband, Dave, are the parents of four adult children, and they are the owners of The Village Market in Prior Lake.

		Jean Myers joined our staff in December, 2006. Jean handles all of the retreat registrations, contracting for outside groups, maintains our mailing list, and creates brochures for retreats, in addition to answering the phone, and all those e-mails! Jean, and her husband, Rich, have three children, and have lived in Savage for the past 15 years. Jean has worked at Firstar Bank, Super-Valu and the Knights of Columbus. She and Rich are members of St. John the Baptist parish in Savage.