Presentors

Ken Petersen is co director of Sancta Sophia Meditation Community in Warburton. He has a background in human development on the national and international levels. Ken is a member of an international community of men and women called the Carmelites and is a priest of the Catholic Church. He is very interested in promoting peace through Inter Religious dialogue particularly through the practice of meditation.

With Kathleen Murphy he is co founder and director of the community at Warburton.

Kathleen Murphy is a Dominican Sister belonging to the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia and the Solomon Islands.Her interest is in Inter-Religious Dialogue. This has been with her a long time since studying for her Bachelor of Theology. In 1992 she lived for a time in a Christian ashram in the North of India and is a co-founder of Sancta Sophia Meditation Community in 1996.

Kathleen was involved in the founding of East/West Meditation Foundation in 1995. She is also a teacher of Reiki and The Enneagram.

Trish Rowe, OP. is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Eastern Australia a community which belong to the world wide Dominican Family now celebrating 800 years of foundation by Dominic Gausman a Spaniard. Trish has a background in teaching and holds a masters degree in scripture. She tutors in scripture at Yarra Theological Union in Melbourne and

has for many years studied the teaching of Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen master, poet and peace activist.
She has spent some time with Thich at Plum Village his community in France. She directs meditation groups based on the teaching of Thich Nhat Hanh.

Dr.John Dupuche is a Catholic priest holding a Doctorate in Sanskrit language and is interested specifically in a branch of Hindu spirituality called Kashmere Shivism.
John is Chair of the Catholic Interfaith Committee of the Melbourne Archdiocese and a Director of the School of Prayer of the Melbourne Archdiocese.

For many years John has promoted inter Religious Dialogue and the practice of meditation. He is presently living in a community with a Buddhist monk and a Hindu Sanyas. He is a frequent visitor to India and a prominent speaker on Inter Religious issues.

Brai Nivedita Chaitanya is a Hindu Nun from the Chinmaya Mission Australia. She teaches the Hindu Scriptures, meditation and gives instruction in Vedanta. Nevedita is a frequent contributor to Inter Religious Dialogue.

Christian Fox is a well known speaker on Inter Religious issues particularly in regard to the interface of Christianity and Buddhism. Christine is an experienced retreat giver and spiritual director. She is presently pursuing a Doctorate on the place of the spiritual teacher in Christianity and Eastern thought.

Dr. Stewart Sharlow is a member of the Melbourne Catholic Interfaith committee with a deep interest is Islamic Spirituality. He is a staff member of the St Patrick campus of the Australian Catholic University.

Sheikh Hazem Omran is from the Naqshbandi Sufi community.

Michael Misfud is a Catholic priest and is the co ordinator of the Oblates of the Cameldolese Benedictines in Australia. Michael has been in the forefront of Inter Religious Dialogue for many years and has a particular interest in Tibetan Buddhism. He is also on the committee for the promotion of the Centering Prayer movement. Michael is a well known retreat director and meditation teacher.

Chris Morris is the Co-ordinator of Centering Prayer in Australia and has studied under its founder Fr. Thomas Keating in USA.
He has been practicing meditation for 15 years. Chris holds a M.A (Spiritual Direction) and is a School teacher now working in the Catholic Education Office. Chris is also a Director of the School of Prayer in the Archbishop’s office for Evangelization and a qualified Yoga Teacher. He is an Oblate member of the Camaldolese Benedictine Community.