Bishop John Elya, B.S.O. S.T.L., Pontifical Gregorian University; M.A. in Sociology, Boston College. Assignments have included Dean and Professor of moral theology at the Seminary of Saint Savior, Lebanon; rector of Saint Basil’s Seminary, Methuen, Massachusetts; parish priest in Jordan; pastor of several parishes in the United States and Canada. Ordained bishop in 1986; installed as Eparch of the Melkite diocese for the entire United States in 1994; retired in 2004. Has been the editor of, and published numerous articles in, a variety of Catholic magazines. Has given many priests’ retreats, including two for priests from the Diocese of Pittsburgh in the late 1980’s.

Father John Dreher of the Diocese of Providence. MA in Political Theory, Brown University; MA in Theology, St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, MA. Convert to the Lord Jesus Christ from secularism and to the Catholic Church from Anglicanism . Several articles on a variety of topics. Assignments have included seminary teacher in social sciences, Diocesan director of pastoral planning, pastor. Co-founder of the Fraternity of Priests, an international association of priests and pastors. Has given many conferences and retreats. Presently in “retirement,” working on a book entitled, “The Kingdom of God is at Hand,” which addresses the heresy of secularism spiritually and pastorally.

Father Martin Hyatt, B.S.O. S.T.L., Pontifical Institute of Oriental Studies. Assignments have included current Local Superior, Saint Basil’s Seminary in Methuen, MA.; Formation Director for the Basilian Salvatorian Order. Has preached retreats to deacons and their wives for the Dioceses of Manchester and Newton, and to deacon candidates and their wives for the Archdiocese of Boston. Has given, and continues to give, many retreats and seminars in the United States and South America for the Missionaries of Charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. For many years, has been General Spiritual Director of the Cursillo movement at St. Basil’s and Spiritual Director of a Prison Cursillo outreach, having served on more than 50 prison retreats.

Deacon Paul Dow of the Archdiocese of Boston; married father of two and grandfather of four. Retired after 43 years with the General Electric Co. Assignments have included Saint Mary’s Parish in Georgetown/Rowley, MA. Has spoken at many pre-Cana programs and been Spiritual Director of Rector on many Cursillos, including Cursillos given in prisons.

Deacon John MacMillan of the Melkite Diocese of Newton; married father of seven. Director of Treatment Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, MA. Assignments have included an inner city parish, prison chaplain, Director of Communications St. Basil’s Seminary, Methuen, MA, secretary to the bishop of the Melkite Diocese. Has preached many parish missions, been Spiritual Director on m any Cursillos, and Spiritual Director for a Teen Encounter Christ outreach. Married father of 7.

Deacon R. Dennis Walters of the Diocese of Lansing. Ph.D. in Literature, Michigan State University; M.A. in Pastoral Studies, Sacred Heart Major Seminary; attended the Claretian seminary majoring in philosophy. Retired former college and high school literature teacher; former technical writer and instructional designer. RCIA Director at Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor, MI, for twenty-five years; active in prison ministry over twenty years. Co-author of two books for Catholic Answers.

Jack Cahalan, Ph.D. Ph.D. in Philosophy, University of Notre Dame. Retired. Former philosophy professor in Catholic colleges; former consultant in the computer industry. Has published one book and several articles in a variety of Catholic journals, scholarly and non-scholarly. Has spoken at numerous retreats, and brought the Antioch Weekend and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal to New England in 1967.

{Father John Randall of the Diocese of Providence, deceased. The Joyful Shepherd Retreat is honored to acknowledge “Fr. Jake” as one of our co-founders.}