** Sr. Meg Funk
Mary Margaret Funk, OSB, is currently a nun seeking God through the monastic way of life under a Rule and a superior. She has been a member of Our Lady of Grace Monastery Beech Grove, Indiana since 1961. She taught elementary school at St. Barnabas 1965-69, and she was an administrator for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in catechetics from 1969-1983. She also was Director of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Louisville in 1984.
She was Prioress of Our Lady of Grace Monastery 1985-1993, and in 1994 became Executive Director of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue Board. In that capacity she coordinated the Gethsemani Encounter 1996, and in 2002, Benedict’s Dharma Conference, 2001, Benedict’s Dharma 2, 2003. She spoke at the World’s Parliament of Religions in 1993. She traveled to India and Tibet on the 6th Spiritual Exchange Program in 1995 and 1999, and has been in formal dialogue with Hindu, Zen Buddhist, Islam, Confucius, and Taoist traditions.
She was the Executive Director of MID Board. She collaborated with James Wiseman, editor, on the last 30 issues of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue Bulletin and Web Site: MonasticDialogue.org
She spoke at the Gethsemani Encounter 1996 and 2002. She has given many retreats to Monastics and lay ministers on Christian Practice. She served on Thomas Keating’s Contemplative Outreach Board of Trustees, Weston School of Theology in Cambridge and was a member of the Board of Overseers of St. Meinrad School of Theology.
She holds Graduate degrees from Catholic University (1973) and Indiana University (1979). She’s a graduate of Epiphany Certification Program of Formative Spirituality (2002).
** Jim Hillman
Jim Hillman resides in Greenwood, Indiana, with his wife and two boys. Always interested in Indiana and Indianapolis history, Jim has co-authored Arcadia Publishing's INDIANAPOLIS SOCIAL CLUBS and INDIANA'S CATHOLIC RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES with John Murphy. To be released soon by the same publisher and authors: GREENWOOD (INDIANA). Jim has also written several short stories, including the forthcoming BACK TO THE LIGHT in IN LAYMON'S TERMS from Cemetery Dance Publications.
When not writing, Jim can be found riding roller coasters and eating funnel cakes at America's amusement parks; he is a former Director and current Events Coordinator of the National Amusement Park Historical Association (NAPHA). NAPHA NEWS, the organizational magazine, has published several of Jim's amusement park-related articles. He is always interested in talking with others about Indianapolis' defunct amusement parks, especially Riverside!
Jim has studied Sociology, teaching at Ivy Tech, Vincennes University, Indiana State, Marian College, and Harrison College (formerly Indiana Business College). He has conducted workshops and authored numerous publications in the field of disability and community integration.
And above all . . . Jim loves the rock group QUEEN! (Amazon.com)