This deep and illuminating session features Kathleen Deignan, Sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame, theologian, author, and prolific songwriter of contemporary liturgical music, sharing her journey from a deeply rooted Catholic upbringing to becoming a contemplative voice in modern spirituality. She discusses the guiding influences of Thomas Merton, Teilhard de Chardin, and “geologian” Father Thomas Berry, and the ways they have shaped her worldview and grounded her within her faith tradition.

Kathleen reflects on the role of music as a transformative force in worship, her creation of “Eldering in Grace”—a circle that invites wisdom in aging—and how the theme of presence has become a guiding force in her life. She invites listeners to explore her inspiring notion of “Living in the presence of the Presence,” offering profound insights on how to cultivate awareness and engage with life not just for survival, but for a deeply rich, meaningful existence.

Speaker bio: Kathleen Noone Deignan, CND, PhD is a sister of the Congregation of Notre Dame and Professor Emerita of Religious Studies at Iona University where she taught from 1980 – 2021, and now serves as founding director of the Deignan Institute for Earth and Spirit, a multi-faceted project in support of the cultivation of global citizens for the emergence of a global ecological civilization.