• Engage with nationally recognized leaders on practical ministry issues
• Join with pastoral colleagues in prayer, learning and fellowship
• Explore human, print, and multimedia resources
• Find refreshment and renewal

Sustaining excellence in ministry involves the development of the whole person---maintaining a balanced life in the midst of demands that never end.

St. Francis Retreat Center is a quiet, worshipful setting for spiritual renewal with many opportunities to grow. There are study programs and Sabbath retreats. There is a resource center and a bookstore. There are times to relate to your peers for support and feedback. You can consult with trained professionals such as a spiritual director or pastoral counselor.

Established in 2004, the program is funded for its first five years through a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc., program revenues, and your support.

PROGRAM STAFF MEMBERS

   Rev. Lawrence P Delaney - Program Director

Rev. Lawrence P. Delaney is Director of St. Francis Retreat Center and also finds it to be a great privilege to serve as Director of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program. He was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Lansing on June 3, 1967. He has ministered as an associate pastor, pastor, campus minister at Eastern Michigan University, and has been leading retreats at St. Francis Retreat Center since 1989. He was Director of Priestly Life and Ministry for the Diocese of Lansing for 10 years as well as serving as Ecumenical Officer for several years. He loves preaching retreats at St. Francis and at parishes throughout the diocese. Fr. Larry is an avid animal lover and has several "fancy" chickens, peacocks, turkeys, and pheasants to prove it.

   Mary Tardif - Program Administrator

Mary Tardif serves as Program Administrator for the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program, retreat facilitator, spiritual director, as well as Program Developer for St. Francis Retreat Center.  Mary has been involved in Ministry Formation for over thirty years.  She received her Masters from Loyola University, New Orleans, and her certificate of completion from the Spiritual Direction Internship at St. Francis. Maryserves on the site review team for the USCCB/accreditation and certification for lay ecclesial ministry formation programs around the country and is a consultant and presenter for Silver Burdett Ginn-religion Division.  Mary considers it to be a blessing to work with the participants of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program.  It is an awesome experience to witness the transformation of ministers as they renew themselves in various ways to do the mission of Jesus in an even more effective manner.

   Terry Feuka - Media Specialist

Terry Feuka has been the Resource Specialist for the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program since 2003.  She completed her undergraduate work at the Catholic University of America, and her graduate study at Clarion University of Pennsylvania in Library Science.  She has five children, and started an Elizabeth ministry at her church—they make and give handmade quilts to newly baptized babies, and provide dinners for the families.  She is an avid reader, and moderator at a local book group.

   Cindy Pastula - Business Manager

Cindy Pastula is the Financial and Services Manager for St. Francis Retreat Center, and serves as Business Manager for the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program.  She supports the program through accounting, database management, developing and disseminating promotional materials.  She has a B. A. in accounting from Michigan State University and has been serving the Diocese since 1997.  

   Dcn. Richard Savage - Operations Manager

Deacon Richard Savage is the Operations Manager for St. Francis Retreat Center. He is responsible for the management of the staff and coordination of the center’s resources. He was ordained in 1990 and ministers in his home parish of St. Gerard in Lansing. He completed a two year internship in Spiritual Direction in 1998 just after beginning his current work. He sees the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program as being a great addition to living out the Retreat Center’s mission to provide a peaceful sanctuary to support the spiritual journeys of our pastoral leaders.

   Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Kenney - Advisor, Evaluator

Rev. Dr. Patricia A. Kenney serves as Advisor, Evaluator and Ecumenical Liaison for the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program, trains facilitators and supports the ongoing development of Pastoral Peer Leadership groups.  Her passion for Sustaining Pastoral Excellence is informed by her education at the University of Chicago and Northern Seminary,  her dissertation work at Michigan State University on “Pastoral Ministry as a Developmental Process: Sustaining Excellence Throughout the Clergy Career,”  and especially by over 16 years experience in pastoral ministry.  She believes that creativity in ministry flows from listening to and understanding oneself and one’s calling, and engaging in an ongoing process of integrating intellect and spirit.

BOARD MEMBERS

   Rev. Frederic D. Fritz

Pastor Frederick D. Fritz is lead/ campus pastor at University Lutheran Church, East Lansing, MI.  Ordained in 1979, Fred served a mission congregation in North Dakota, and campus ministries in Washington State and Minnesota.  While at Minnesota State University, Mankato, Fred was awarded the Teacher of the Year Award for his classroom instruction in Human Relations and Cultural Diversity.  He currently sits on the Board of Directors of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN and chairs the Religious Advisors Association at Michigan State University.  His ministry focuses upon vocational direction for young adults and work with international students.   He appreciates that SPE tends to the health and well being of persons in ministry.

   Rev. Jannel Glennie

Rev. Jannel Glennie has served professionally in the church for over 30 years.  She began her ministry as a Christian Educator, serving Episcopal and Presbyterian churches.  Ordained as priest in the Episcopal church in 1988, she served as a campus minister at Michigan State University for 7 years and currently serves as rector for St. Katherine’s church in Williamston.  She has provided spiritual direction, retreat leadership and continuing education for laity and clergy for 25 years, and is the author of the book, Confessions of an Ordinary Mystic.  Her interests include spirituality and the application of family emotional systems to church life, transitions and leadership.  Sustaining Pastoral Excellence fits well with her commitment to caring for one’s whole person—body, mind and spirit.  She believes it is vitally important for clergy or anyone in leadership to be attentive to their complete health in order to be a model for others and maintain their own wellness and passions. 

   Mary Ann Harkema

Mary Ann Harkema has a BA degree in education from Calvin College.  She began her teaching career in the Willow Run Public Schools. After a two year leadership study of the Bible, she was involved in beginning the first Hospice of Lansing and served as its director. From this experience Mary Ann began to see needs all around her and starting asking how churches could renew the Biblical call of “Blessed to be a blessing”.  Discovering the strategy of LOVE INC which unites churches in ministry by supplying capacity building leadership within each church with a clearinghouse to hear the needs, she, together with other church pastors and leaders have been involved for 25 years in training, teaching and preaching the building of Christian Services/LOVE INC in Lansing.  For 12 of those years she also worked as a consultant for World Vision to train other communities across the USA and abroad in the LOVE INC concept.  Today there are 130 LOVE INC networks in 31 states and four countries.  She believes Sustaining Pastoral Excellence is a key to building church leadership into everything God desires it to be.  Sustaining excellence in ministry is a great need in our churches and Mary Ann desires to do her part in bringing this model program to the greater Lansing churches.

   Rev. Dr. James D. Hegedus

Rev. Dr. James D. Hegedus serves as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson.  His witty sense of humor is evident in his self-identification as a pastor/homebrewer.  He quotes the words of Benjamin Franklin: “Beer is proof that God loves us.”  He considers sustaining excellence as a Christian minister to be a lifelong endeavor.  The Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program provides a framework for pastors to receive support, Sabbath rest, and a resource center that rivals any major seminary.  He thanks the Lord for SPE.

   Rev. Patricia Hernandez

Rev. Patricia Hernandez currently serves as the Consultant for Leadership Health for the American Baptist Churches of Michigan with a special area of focus in the area of adult spiritual formation.  Born in Geneva, Switzerland to parents who were serving as missionaries inYugloslavia, she has lived, studied, and worked in a variety of cultural settings.  Educated at the University of Chicago and Colgate Rochester Divinity School, Patricia also studied at the community Francis Schaffer founded, L'Abri, in Switzerland, the community Brother Roger founded, Taize, in France, and at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Maryland.  She has pastored churches in New York and Pennsylvania in addition to serving in a ministry to migrant farmworkers.  Her commitment to sustaining pastoral excellence is deeply rooted in ongoing spiritual formation. 

   Ronald Landfair

Ronald Landfair is the Diocese of Lansing’s Director of Black Catholic Ministry and Multicultural Projects. He has a master’s degree in pastoral studies.  He is interested in multicultural issues both sacred and secular, sports and spirituality, and coaching.  He is married with three adult children.  He believes that Sustaining Pastoral Excellence nurtures, ferments and grows a spirit and love for supporting and caring for the people of God. 

   Rev. Dr. James W. Lothamer

Rev. Dr. James W. Lothamer serves as pastor at St. Agnes parish in Fowlerville.  He brings rich experience as a seminary teacher, associate director of clergy renewal, conference and workshop presenter in sacraments, worship and liturgy.  He sees sustaining pastoral excellence as vital to effectiveness in ministry, to keeping faith, updated, energized and alive in the Spirit. 

   Ross T. Lucas, M. Div., Ph. D.

Ross T. Lucas, M. Div., Ph. D. is an ordained American Baptist pastor, serving as interim pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Bay City, and as a consultant in conflict resolution and leadership development.  He brings 20 experience in local church ministry as well as 15 years in pastoral counseling.  He believes that each time we positively effect our pastor, we multiply the effect a hundred fold or more. 

   Rev. Dr. Jeffrey S. O’Neill

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey S. O’Neill is an ordained pastor currently serving First Presbyterian Church in Lansing.  His master’s and doctorate degrees are from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago.   He has served pastorates in Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, and the seminary as Interim Dean of Doctoral Programs.  He serves on the board because the challenges of the ever-evolving demands of ministry require the refreshments of continuing inspiration, education, and collegiality inherent in the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program. 

   Sr. Joanne Podlucky, O.P.

Sr. Joanne Podlucky, O.P. is the Administrator of the Dominican Center for Religious Development in Detroit.  She is co-facilitator of the Internship in Spiritual Direction at St. Francis.  For over 40 years, she has preached as a communications director, free-lance video producer, and communications consultant.  For her, to sustain pastoral excellence a person must continue to seek spiritual direction, take time for prayer, reflection, retreats, workshops, readings and be aware of other formational activities and resources to deepen into the journey.   She sees the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program offering opportunities to reflect on and evaluate ministry, encourage changes where needed and invite creative responses to pastoral/ministerial situations. 

   Msgr. Steven J. Raica, J. C. D.

Msgr. Steven J. Raica, J. C. D. serves as Chancellor in the Diocese of Lansing, and as liaison between the Diocese and the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program.  Having lived in Italy (Rome) and in the United States, the horizon of ministry and life has been shaped by the people, priests and church leaders he has met.  His interests include a good Italian meal, classical music, Stratford Canada Shakespeare Festival, a good conversation, canon law, writings by Luigi Giussani, and overall enjoyment of life.  He asserts that pastoral excellence is critical for opening our lives to the infinite and sustaining presence of Christ. 

   Rev. Dr. Michael A. Williams

Rev. Dr. Michael A. Williams has served since 1995 as Executive Minister for the American Baptist Churches of Michigan.  He also serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for Wisconsin’s Green Lake Conference Center.  GLCC is also involved in Sustaining Pastoral Excellence through the development of a Center for Excellence in Congregational Leadership (CECL).  He received his Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC and Doctor of Ministry from Northern Theological Seminary in Lombard, IL. He is grateful to the Lilly Endowment, Inc. for their investment in sustaining pastoral excellence through a host of initiatives including GLCC and St. Francis.  

   Rev. Pat Zandstra

Rev. Pat Zandstra serves as Formation for Minsitry Specialist at Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids.  Pat brings rich and varied experience to her advisory work: she has served with Wycliffe Bible Translators as an Agricultural Missionary in Ecuador, with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship and as an Academic Adviser, Curriculum Specialist, Instructor, and Counselor at MSU.  Ordained in the Christian Reformed Church, she served for many years at River Terrace Church as the Director of Spiritual Growth and Development.  She has a master’s degree in counseling as well as being a certified Spiritual Director. She is concerned about the struggles facing pastors of smaller church, and is so pleased that the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program can serve this growing population of pastors through their pastoral peer leadership program and the fantastic Resource Center.