Community of St. Francis, Chicago
Franciscans of Reconciliation
Ecumenical Catholic Communion

ST. BONAVENTURE VIRTUAL HOUSE OF STUDIES

House of Studies Home Page Our Mission Contact Us Who We Are Bibliographies
Individualized Programs Congregational Programs Progressive Catholic Review
CSF Home Page

WHO WE ARE

Fr. Rafe (Fellow of the House of Studies) is the Guardian of the Community of St. Francis, Chicago, and the Suffragan Bishop of the Great Lakes Region of the Ecumencial Catholic Communion. A Franciscan his entire adult life, Rafe studied Philosophy at Quincy College and received a B.A. in Sociology (Loyola University, Chicago). He also received his M.S. from Rush Medical University, where he taught in the Occupational Therapy program for many years. As a practitioner he has both worked at and consulted with numerous agencies, including Hines Veterans' Hospital and Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.

he Rev. Dr. J. Fred Ball, ofr
Sacramental Theology and Liturgics

Fr. Fred (Fellow of the House of Studies) received his M.Div. and Ph.D. from Southern Seminary in Louisville. A member of the North American Academy of Religion, he is a specialist in sacramental theology and liturgics. While most of us in the Ecumenical Catholic Communion are bi-vocational, Fred is multi-vocational. He is the Pastor of San Damiano Parish in Little Rock, a Research Associate of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Arkansas (Little Rock), is Minister General of the Franciscans of Reconciliation, and is involved in a number of educational programs, including the St. Bonaventure House of Studies.

The Rev. Dr. Travis DuPriest, Assoc. CSM
Religion and Literature, Spirituality

Fr. Travis (Fellow of the House of Studies) earned his M.Div from Harvard University Divinity School, took additional work in theology at Durham University (UK), and earned his Ph.D. in literature from the University of Kentucky. For many years he was a bi-vocational Professor of Literature at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI, and Director of the DeKoven Center for Church Work (ECUSA) in Racine, WI. Travis is a popular retreat leader on topics of spirituality in every day life and is a poet. He also has edited and introduced several anthologies of collected verse.

The Rev. William Gabriel, ofr
Christianity and Public Policy

Fr. Will (Fellow of the House of Studies) received his B.S. (cum laude)in Sociology from the University of Louisville and his J.D. from Northern Kentucky University. He is involved in an ecumenical ministry to the homeless and poor of Louisville and has gained the respect and affection of a wide circle of ecumenical partners in ministry.

The Rev. Nioclás Kelly, ofr
Christianity and the Arts

Fr. Nioclás (Fellow of the House of Studies) is a specialist in Christianity and the Arts. Born in Belfast, (Northern) Ireland, Brother Nioclás came to Chicago to work at the Martin D'Arcy Museum At Loyola University as a Research Scholar/Professor (2002/2003) having completed his masters at the Courtauld Institute of Art (University of London) in medieval art & architecture. From 2002 until 2003, he also became a Research Scholar in the Department of Rare Books and Manuscripts at the Newberry Library of Chicago examining, translating and cataloguing Medieval liturgical manuscripts. Nioclás also holds a B.Phil. in Aesthetics from St. Patrick Pontifical University, a B.A. (Hons.) in Philosophy and Classical Studies from the National University of Ireland and a Dip. Theology from the Dominican Studium ratified by the Angelicum, Rome (Pontifical University of of St. Thomas).

Billy Maynard
Public Theology

Billy (Fellow of the House of Studies) is the Director of the Public History Project of the St. Bonaventure House of Studies. A Senior Partner of a major management consulting firm, Billy is a graduate of the College of William and Mary, Billy has completed several advanced study programs in management, marketing and organizational theory. He recently completed a post-doctoral level program of reserach in Public Theology at the House of Studies and was the first Junior Fellow. We are pleased to have him join us as a full Fellow.

Novice SR. Dr. Ellen (Nan) Plummer, ofr
Christianity and the Arts
Administration and Funding of Non-Profit Organizations

Sister Nan (Fellow of the House of Studies) received her Ph.D. in Art History from the University of Michigan. She also earned an MBA with a focus on the management of Non-Profit Organizations. She has taught in both fields and has extensive background in museum management and fund raising. Thus, Nan's expertise ranges from the intensely academic to the earth-bound pragmatic. A member of San Damiano Parish (Little Rock), she is an active participant in the Franciscans of Reconciliation and the Ecumenical Catholic Communion.

The Rev. Dr. Gregory Holmes Singleton, ofr
History of Christianity / Systematic Theology

Fr. Greg (Fellow of the House of Studies) is the current Dean of Academic Programs for the Virtual House of Studies and an editor of The Progressive Catholic Review. He is also Professor of History, Emeritus, at Northeastern Illinois University. While active on the faculties at Northwestern University and Northeastern Illinois University, he was also concurrently Adjunct Professor of Church History at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary (ECUSA). Greg's educational preparation includes: M. Div. from Union Theological Seminary, New York City; Ph.D. in History from UCLA; Two post-doctoral research prgrams at the University of Chicago, one Social Theory through the Committee on Social Thought and one in Theology throough the Divinity School's Institute for the Advanced Study of Religion.

The Rev. Jeannine Carol Singleton, ofr
Administrator

Mthr. Jeannine is the Administrative Director of the Virtual House of Studies and an editor of The Progressive Catholic Review. She has prior administrative experience in a variety of settings, from Misericordia Home for the Developmentally Disabled (Chicago) to the Librarian for Immanuel Lutheran Church, Evanston, IL. She has also served as Treasurer in two congregations. Jeannine holds a B.A. in Sociology (Magna Cum Laude) from Mundelein College, has done graduate work in Sociology at Loyola University of Chicago, and has had additional training and education through the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago (catechist training), the Valparaiso University Liturgical Institute, the Metropolitan Chicago Synod (ELCA) Diakonia Program, and Duke University Divinity School/ Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology.

The Rev. Dr. Janine C. Stock
Ministry Studies

The Rev. Dr. Janine, Pastor of All Saints Parish in Vista, CA, holds several advanced degrees: M.B.A. from National University, M.A. in Pastoral Theology from St. Mary of the Woods College, J.D. Western State University College of Law, and D.Min. Graduate Theological Foundation. She has also participated in the Oxford University Summer Theology Program. Together with her partner, the Rev. Trudy Seifke, Janine owns and operates Our Spirit Publishing Company and is the author of Made in God's Image: The Stations of the Cross for Inclusive and Affirming Communities.

Dr. Margaret (Meg) Welch
Philosophy

Dr. Meg earned her Ph.D. in Philosophy from Loyola University of Chicago and has taught at various colleges and universities in the Chicago area. She has many special interests, including ethics. She uses her considerable skills in critical thinking as an analyst for the Social Security Administration. Meg is a Third Order Franciscan and a "fellow traveler" with the Community of St. Francis, Chicago, where she and her remarkable daughter, Rose, contribute a great deal to the quality of our community life.