Dr. Brenda Shoshanna
#001 – Sacred Psychology Workshop Intensive
The Dr. Brenda Shoshanna is a practitioner of both Zen and Judaism. Her work focuses upon integrating the practices and principles of East and West and actualizing them in our everyday lives. She presently offers two weekly podcasts, Zen Wisdom For Your Everyday Life and Your Best Self, along with weekly audio books. She is an award winning author and has offered over five hundred talks and workshops on all aspects of personal and spiritual development and living an authentic, meaningful life. Her most recent book is Zen Play (Instructions On Becoming Fully Alive).
www.brendashoshanna.com, www.zenwisdomtoday.com, bestselfbooks.com
The Rev. Br. Mark Gregory D’Alessio
#002 – All Faiths Wisdom in the Midst of Chaos
The Rev. Br. Mark Gregory D’Alessio is a Franciscan friar in the religious society of the Companions of Francis and Clare. He’s also a Christian bishop and priest, spiritual director, chaplain, retreat leader, author, interspiritual pilgrim, and past President and Executive Director of the Psychotherapy & Spirituality Institute, which draws together the inspiration of the church with the wisdom of psychological care.
A graduate of the Guild for Spiritual Guidance, founded by Henri Nouwen and Madeline L’Engle, he is now a community leader and faculty member. He’s also a faculty member at All Faiths Seminary International for the training of interfaith ministers. A long-time seeker and practitioner of spiritual wisdom, he’s initiated into multiple spiritual lineages, both East (Buddhist) and West (Christian); does his best to affirm the Christian Wisdom tradition within a wider inter-spiritual framework; and, looks to God’s science and spiritual heroes (such as Thích Nhat Hanh and Francis and Clare of Assisi) as sources of inspiration and hope.
Currently, Bishop Mark lives on Long Island and serves as a crisis counselor and program coordinator at a shelter for men and women who are homeless and as a chaplain at a residential treatment center and school for children with learning and emotional disabilities. Moving to Long Island, he founded the Franciscan Circle, a progressive, interfaith gathering of clergy and lay people who seek to journey in mind and heart with the witness and wisdom of the Saints of Assisi, Francis and Clare. The Circle is dedicated to developing leaders for thoughtful social action and spiritual care.
As a Franciscan, he’s committed to serving those who are sidelined and at risk. The Long Island Coalition for the Homeless awarded Br. Mark with their “Unsung Hero” Award last year.
Rabbi Frank Tamburello
#003 – Byzantine Eastern Christian Iconography
#008 – Judaism and New Thought Workshop Intensive
Rabbi Frank Tamburello, formally an Eastern Rite Orthodox priest, converted to Judaism, and was ordained by Rabbi Joseph Gelberman as a Rabbi in 2004. He holds a masters degree in Eastern Christian Studies from the John XIII Center at Fordham University, as well as certificates in Judaic Studies. Rabbi Frank presently serves the Society of Jewish Science in Manhattan as well as the Westchester Community for Humanistic
Judaism in White Plains.
Rev. Susanna Stefanachi Macomb
#004 – Wedding Workshop Intensive
#005 – Baby Blessings Workshop Intensive
#009 – Healing Circle
Rev. Susanna Stefanachi Macomb was ordained by The New Seminary founded by Rabbi Joseph Gelberman in February 1996 and received her Masters of Divinity with All Faiths Seminary International in 2002. She is the author of two pioneering books: Joining Hands and Hearts, Interfaith, Intercultural Wedding Celebrations and Bless This Child, A Comprehensive Guide to Creating Baby Blessing Ceremonies. Rev. Susanna is considered an expert in interfaith ceremonies by news outlets around the USA. She is also a Board Member of World AWAKE, an international inter-collaborative organization of interfaith clergy, spiritual care professionals and interfaith organizations working towards world peace, serving as their Executive Director of Global Outreach and InterWorship. A Sufi initiate for more than two decades, Susanna is also an ordained Sufi cheraga in the Order of Universal Worship founded by the Hazrat Inayat Khan. As an artist, her paintings of the four angels of the kabbalah were part of her ordination ceremony at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine at Rabbi Gelberman’s request. Her paintings have also been exhibited at spiritual and cultural centers including James Chapel at Union Theological Seminary and New York Open Center.
Rev. John Frederick
#006 – Introduction to Prosperity Now! Workshop Intensive
Rev. John Frederick, with more than thirty years of experience, shares his true “rags-to-riches” story, through the miracle of 12-Step recovery and the use of metaphysical spiritual principles—spiritual laws that work in a practical way to heal past trauma, dissolve old ideas, and inspire new ideas and beliefs that are true and that work. A 2015 graduate of AFSI, Rev. John is a successful author, now healthy after several life-threatening illnesses, and living his dream in Paris, France. Rev. John can help you find your way to wholeness, prosperity, and success. Through the principles laid out in Prosperity Now! you can discover where your life has been, notice where it’s headed, discern where your goals and dreams lie, and make a roadmap to find your way to a new, better, more abundant and prosperous life! In keeping with his motto, Vivez Joyeaux (Live Joyously) John’s insights and techniques will give new direction to anyone who wants to live in Prosperity Now!
Cantor Irene Failenbogen and Rev. Bill McBride
#007 – The Light and Joy of Rabbi Gelberman’s Teachings Workshop Intensive
Cantor Irene Failenbogen and Rev. Bill McBride have over 30 years each of ministry in faith communities. Irene began leading Jewish congregations as a Cantor over 30 years ago Bill received a Masters of Divinity from St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and practiced pastoral ministry as a Catholic priest for 16 years. They were ordained as interfaith ministers in 2001 through the All Faiths Seminary International. Today they direct the Religious Education Program for the Interfaith Community of Long Island. In addition, Irene is the Cantor for the New Synagogue of Long Island. Both of them were students and colleagues of Rabbi Gelberman. brookvillemultifaithcampus.org
Rev. Elena Verigo
#010 – Mental Health Awareness for Interfaith Ministers
Rev. Elena Verigo, an alumna of All Faiths Seminary, holds a Master degree in Education (Mentoring & Coaching) and is interested in how psycho-education can help ministers, as well as those they serve, to successfully target common mental health problems. As a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner, Elena offers low intensity psychological therapies for people with anxiety and depression in England, UK. Her main area of interest is how psychology and spirituality can work together to help every human being lead an abundant life. Elena loves visiting different places of worship for silent retreats. She is a puppy sponsor for Guide Dogs, a charity that trains furry companions for blind people.