Year One
Diane Francisco teaches the Year 1 class. Her background as a registered nurse in health care and psychiatric settings as well as her many years of experience as a retreat facilitator have uniquely equipped her to tend to the interns holistically—mind, body, and spirit—with a special emphasis on interpersonal relationships and communication skills. Diane trained in the Audire program and has 20 years of experience in spiritual direction.
Year Two
Tim Arsenault is co-founder of the Audire program and currently serves as co-facilitator for Year 2, helping interns move from theory into practice. He received his training at Washington Theological Union and has served in pastoral ministry, education, ministry formation, and hospice care.
Kathy Lieffort, is a faculty member in Year 2 of Audire’s 3 year program and the Administrative Lead for the Audire organization. Kathy graduated from the Audire Spiritual Direction Formation program in 2007. Both a Spiritual Director and Supervisor of Directors, Kathy companions people with a wide variety of spiritual beliefs, in both private and small group settings, in person and in cyber spaces (like Zoom).
Mary Manrique co-teaches Year 2 of Audire, helping students build on the concepts learned in Year 1 by applying them directly to the ministry of spiritual direction. She completed her studies in spirituality at St. Thomas University in Miami, FL, and has been passionate about the practice of spiritual direction for more than 40 years. Her life’s work has been centered on hospice and palliative care, and she is deeply invested in her family, including her five amazing grandchildren.
Year Three
Carol Ludwig teaches in the third year of the Audire program. She coordinates Audire’s periodic supervision training programs, and helps participants learn peer supervision skills and ethical standards. She was trained at the Shalem Institute, Washington Theological Union, and Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA. Her particular interests are feminine spirituality and supporting caregivers. Carol is the Executive Director of the Center for Spiritual Care in Vero Beach, FL.
Ellen Kalenberg co-coordinates the Audire program and co-teaches Year 3, helping interns hone their skills at being present to others through a variety of means, including dream work, artwork and the consideration of life stage. Ellen was trained at the Claret Center in Chicago in 1981 and joined the Audire faculty in 1998.
Becca Bass deeply values the sacred experience of companioning those seeking to draw closer to God. Her own experience is rooted in both Catholic and Protestant traditions. Becca holds a Master’s degree in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University, a certificate in Spiritual Direction and Directed Retreats from the Wellstreams Ecumenical Training Program and 4 units of Clinical Pastoral Education. In addition to serving as a Spiritual Director and retreat leader, Becca has served as a Chaplain in hospice, hospital and retirement communities and currently serves as Bereavement Coordinator for BayCare Health System. Becca joined the Audire faculty in 2019, working with year 3 interns and serving as the Board’s spiritual director. Becca is a member of Spiritual Directors International and is endorsed by the Federation of Christian Ministries.
Staff
Ruth Mustonen is an Audire graduate who has participated in several supervisor training sessions over the years. She was a year 3 assistant for 5-6 years until 2020. Ruth is currently the Supervisor Coordinator for the supervisors who journey with the Audire Interns. She received her Clinical Laboratory degree at the University of Florida prior to traveling and living overseas for 18 years. Ruth is particularly drawn to creation spirituality and a contemplative stance in life. She enjoys journeying with others as a spiritual director as they discover greater meaning in their lives. She also enjoys camping, biking, quiet time in nature and being with her dog, Maggie, who is now a little old greying black lab!
