Sr. Linda Gregg

Sister Linda’s roots are in the West Coast of Canada where a deep love of God’s creation was nurtured in her. She brings to her ministry a market gardening and farming background from Saanich, a rural area of Victoria near the Butchart Gardens. These gardens begun in an old gravel pit have been an inspiration to her and, wherever she is missioned, Sr. Linda can be found creating a garden.

Through her years with the Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph  in Canada she has served in parish ministry, university and hospital chaplaincy and as Co-Administrator of the Catholic parish, of the M’Chigeeng First Nation on Manitoulin Island. When missioned to Villa St. Joseph it was a temporary assignment while studying in Toronto. But she found there were gardens to create and spiritual ministries in which she was needed. Today she coordinates an 80 plot Organic Community Garden on site and extensive Sister’s organic gardens. She ministers as an experienced Retreat Director, Spiritual Director, and as an Organic Master Gardener.

Sister Linda has a B.A. in Indigenous Studies from Trent University, and both a Masters of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry in Eco-Theology from Toronto School of Theology at the University of Toronto, where she is now a part-time faculty member

Sr. Mary Rowell

Sister Mary is originally from Cambridge in England. Sister Mary is engaged in retreat facilitation, spiritual accompaniment and she is deeply engaged in the ecology ministry at the Centre. She teaches theology at Regis and St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto. Sister Mary is also the Vocation and first formation Director for the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada, and she is also the President of the National Association of Vocation and Formation Directors (NAVFD)

Before entering the  Congregation of Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada Sister Mary worked as a nurse and nurse educator in England and later in ophthalmological and blindness prevention programmes in South-East Asia, China and the Indian sub-continent. She is also a clinical bioethicist. Sister Mary has a bachelors degree in philosophy, a Masters in Medical Law and Ethics and a doctorate in Theology.

Sr. Donna Smith

Pushkin

What would a ecology centre be without an animal friend. Pushkin had been hanging around the Villa for awhile before formally adopting us as his official family and home.  His duties include official greeter and special companioning presence.
His passions include: head rubs, back scratches, treats, and long naps.
You can find him roaming and protecting the grounds. Make sure you say hello and give him a  few back scratches before you go home!