Sister Mary McGehee, O.S.B.
Program Director
Sister Mary has been a Benedictine Sister at Sacred Heart Monastery since 1960. She has extensive experience as a retreat leader in a variety of settings with a particular focus on contemplative spiritual practices, monastic spirituality, and women mystics such as St. Hildegard of Bingen. A sought-after Spiritual Director, Sister Mary has served in this ministry for many years at the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center. As a Spiritual Director, she has journeyed with many women ministers of a variety of Christian traditions and listened deeply as they have shared with her their stories. Within the monastic community, Sister Mary serves as Scholastic Director and as a member of the Initial Formation Team.
Sister Mary holds an M.A. in Theology from St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN, and has done extended further study in various areas of spirituality. Her past ministries include Catholic elementary education, refugee resettlement, Director of the Peace and Justice Office of the Diocese of Birmingham, and Coordinator of Contemplative Outreach Birmingham.
Sister Elisabeth Meadows, O.S.B.
Program Coordinator
Sister Elisabeth has been a Benedictine Sister at Sacred Heart Monastery since 2005 and has served as an administrator of the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center since 2007. She currently serves as Director. Sister Elisabeth has extensive experience working with retreat groups, retreat group leaders, individual retreatants, and organizing Retreat Center-sponsored events both large and small. She also leads retreats and gives presentations on topics related to spirituality. Within the community of Sacred Heart, Sister Elisabeth serves on several committees and is active in the community’s liturgical and music ministry.
Sister Elisabeth holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from Spring Hill College in Mobile, AL, and an M.A. in Theology (concentration: Monastic Studies) from St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN.
Women at the Wellsprings Advisory Committee
Working closely with Sister Mary and Sister Elisabeth in developing the Women at the Wellsprings program has been an ecumenical group of women ministers. They have brought to the planning not only their experience as women ministers and their denominational perspectives but also an on-going acquaintance with the Benedictine Sisters of Sacred Heart Monastery and the Benedictine Sisters Retreat Center. This dual perspective of knowing both the needs of women ministers and the gifts that the Benedictine Sisters can offer to help meet these needs has allowed them to make valuable contributions to the development of Women at the Wellsprings.
Advisory Committee members are:
Rev. Alison Carmody, M. Div., Episcopal Church clergy
Rev. Pam Durso, M.Div., Ph.D., Executive Director, Baptist Women in Ministry
Rev. Denise Mullaney, M.Div., LiSCW; Pastoral Counselor and United Methodist clergy
Rev. Lucy Turner, M.Div., Presbyterian Church (USA) clergy
