SPIRTUAL PRESENTS: DIRECTOR BIOS
Some directors listed below are also available for retreats: Please email directors to enquire about their availability well in advance. Retreat directors for guests at the Associated Churches lake house are complimentary.
A support fund is available if needed. Compensation for our spiritual director's time is encouraged. At the end of the first session you can agree on compensation for your director's time. However, never let money be an obstacle to your spiritual care. There is a fund to compensate directors for their time, if needed. Please discuss with Rev. Dan if you need to make use of this fund.

Peri Boyle
Availability: Regular & Retreat Sessions
Peri Boyle enjoys companionship with others on their spiritual journeys as they learn to notice and trust their own inner experience. Companions listen together for the movements of the Spirit. Peri emphasizes prayerful discernment of the Spirit's invitations and possible responses.
Background: Peri has been trained in the art of spiritual direction under the supervision of Sr. Nancy Brousseau of the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, Michigan. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International and meets monthly with her own spiritual director. She is in a peer support group of contemplative directors. Peri has completed a 2 year Education for Ministry Program through the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese and participated for two years in RCIA as a sponsor. She served several years as a Eucharistic Minister. Peri also attended multiple retreats and workshops while working at Victory Noll Center in Huntington. She has worked with Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) as both an attendee & team member, as well as both a participant and leader in various small faith sharing groups.
Focus: Peri is open to companioning as a spiritual director. She is especially gifted as a certified ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner which blends the Enneagram and Ignatian Spirituality. Peri also has extensive experience with 12 step programs and works within the professional guidelines and ethics of spiritual direction.
Interests: Peri enjoys walking out in nature and spending time with family. One of Peri's guiding scripture verses is Mark 12:30-31; learning to love yourself, God, and others with your whole heart, soul, mind and strength in balance, harmony and flow.
Contact: The initial spiritual direction session is free and a time for both parties to determine if this will be a good fit. To make an appointment to meet in person or by phone, Zoom or FB Messenger, contact Peri at periboyle@gmail.com.

Katie Cochran
Availability: Regular & Retreat Sessions
Katie Cochran enjoys looking for God at work in the lives of others, her own life, and in God’s world.
Background: Katie completed training in offering Christian spiritual direction at Fall Creek Abbey in 2020. She is an Affiliate of Fall Creek Abbey as well as a member of ESDA
(Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association). Katie also earned a Masters of Theological Studies from Regent College in Vancouver, BC in 2004. She is a local church member, meets monthly with her own spiritual director, and is part of a peer supervision group that meets regularly.
Focus: Katie is available to meet with those who are seeking to grow deeper in their relationships with God in the various stages of their faith journeys. She looks to create a hospitable place where others can explore God’s presence and activity in their daily lives as well as attend to their own questions, doubts, experiences, and responses to God.
Interests: Katie enjoys her family, reading and writing, good conversation, playing outdoors, and laughing with friends. She loves John 15 where Jesus invites us to live all of life abiding in Him.
Contact: The first spiritual direction session is free and a time for both parties to determine if meeting together will be a good fit. Katie is available to meet in person, by phone, or online.
Please reach out to Katie at kathrynmcochran@gmail.com to set up a meeting.

Mary Blomeke
Availability: Regular & Retreat Sessions
Mary Blomeke states, "I have always had a passion for helping others. In this ministry I use my gifts of empathy, listening and caring for others in a confidential, trustworthy setting, as well as caring for myself. This ministry provides the discovery that lies deep within us to answer the difficult questions of life and the deepening of our relationship with our God, each other and nature. It is finding that inner space of the heart where we can experience true peace away from the chaotic world we live."
Background: Caring for self and others led Mary to the Spiritual Director Ministry, in which she received a certificate of completion for a Spiritual Director formation program through the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids. Mary received a 3-year diploma degree as a Registered Nurse and worked 15 years primarily in Intensive Care Units. She then went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Accounting. Mary worked in the accounting field for the next 26+ years, retiring as a Senior Financial Analyst from a major defense company.
Focus: If you are seeking answers that lie within, to questions of relationship with your God, making a difficult decision in your life, or just searching for meaning in your life, or whatever is affecting your life now, Mary would be humbled to accompany you on your journey. All are welcome regardless of your beliefs.
Interests: Mary enjoys being in nature whether it is on the golf course, in her flower and vegetable gardens or just sitting on her porch seeing the beauty of nature and how it speaks to her life. Mary says, "I use my creative talents in quilting, creating beauty beyond my own belief sometimes. I enjoy the smiles it brings to others as I give them a gift."
Contact: If you would like to talk more about spiritual direction or set up an appointment, Mary can be reached by e-mail mjblomeke@frontier.com. Mary meets in person, on Zoom or WhatsApp.

Rev. Dan Layden
Availability: Regular & Retreat Sessions
Rev. Dan Layden is passionate about seeking God and journeying with others.
Background: Dan was ordained a minister in 2002, and has led multiple church congregations as the senior priest/ pastor. He became a trained spiritual companion/ director in 2015. Dan is a member of Spiritual Directors International. He values his own spiritual life regularly connecting with a peer group and a spiritual director. Dan also has extensive experience working as a professional hospice chaplain.
Focus: Dan is open to guide Spiritual companionship sessions or retreats with anyone. He is especially gifted to journey with fellow clergy, medical care professionals, and those living with grief.
Interests: Dan enjoys writing. He also loves sports and experiencing God in nature. As a father, he is most thankful for his two amazing daughters. One of his favorite scripture lessons is John 3:8. "The wind blows where it chooses and you hear the sound of it, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everybody born of the spirit."
Contact: Dan is willing to meet in-person, zoom, FaceTime, or via phone. Make your initial contact through his email dan@associatedchurches.org

Laura Harmon
Availability: Regular & Retreat Sessions
Laura Harmon considers it, "a privilege to walk with others on their spiritual journey exploring their relationship with and experience of God."
Background: Laura has been trained in the art of spiritual direction through Fall Creek Abbey and is listed as an Affiliate of this school of spiritual direction adhering to the ethical ideals and practices for Fall Creek Abbey. She holds a certificate in spiritual formation through Transforming Center. Laura was a licensed minister, working in church ministry for 13 years where she provided pastoral counseling. Prior to working in ministry, she was a Social Worker.
Focus: Laura is available to journey with others facing spiritual uncertainty. She is gifted in listening and truly hearing the spiritual questions, doubts, confusion, and, especially the church wounds, of those seeking understanding.
Interests: Laura enjoys deep conversations, experiencing God in nature, reading and laughing. She cherishes becoming more aware of God in the ordinary. One of her favorite scripture passages is Romans 12:1-2. Laura encourages, "So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him."
Contact: The initial spiritual direction session is free and a time for both parties to determine if this will be a good fit. To make an appointment to meet in person, by phone, or FaceTime, contact Laura at harmonlj@yahoo.com

Brad Foster
Availability: Regular & Retreat Sessions
Brad Foster looks forward to walking with you in your spiritual journey. Each journey is different, so a guide may help you in your discernment. The answers to one’s spiritual growth lie within each of us and needs a nudging sometimes to open the pathway for the Spirit to work more effectively.
Background: Brad completed his 2-year Spiritual Direction training in 2009 at the Shalem Spiritual Guidance Center in Baltimore, MD. He is a local church member and is an Elder with the Indiana-Michigan chapter of Illuman, which is an international men’s spiritual organization. He has companioned with dozens of men and women in their spiritual journeys. In addition, he has volunteered for several years as a hospital chaplain (including the Veterans Hospital) as well as a Hospice volunteer. He has also been a grief counselor at his church for many years.
Focus: Brad looks forward to meeting with those who are seeking a deeper spiritual relationship with God. This will be a gentle process without judgment on where you are on
your spiritual journey. Those who seek will find their inner spiritual needs met. Together we will journey into the path that leads to inner freedom which leads to an abundant life – John 10:10. The rewards can be significant.
Interests: Brad enjoys nature in all its forms primarily through hiking and scuba diving. He loves to read and especially enjoys enlightenment from spiritual books and poetry. In addition, he is devoted to his family which includes a wonderful wife, 3 children and 6 grandchildren (and a dog named Charlie).
Contact: The initial spiritual direction session is free and a time for both parties to determine if this will be a good fit. To make an appointment to meet, contact Brad at bfoster51@frontier.com.