tradition beginning with the desert mothers and fathers, extended well beyond it. He engaged in active dialogue with those pursuing spiritual growth across America from many different traditions, with a special emphasis on Native American experience. He believed that contemporary spiritual direction must resonate with scientific discovery, highlighting all the human sciences and contemporary physics.

While still in the monastery, Brian had the opportunity to interact with Dom Bede Griffiths, Fr. BasilPennington and others who visited the abbey during his time there. He left the abbey after almost 5 years and has since lived in Chicago where he has continued spiritual direction alongside work inside the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago as a parish priest. For the past almost 40 years, Brian has continued to develop a deeper sense of his vocation in the world of spirituality, both within the church (as retreat leader and consultant) and in the private practice of spiritual direction. During those years, he has read widely in the field; attended a variety of educational programs on the intersection of psychology and spirituality (mostly through the New England Institute); and maintained regular personal retreats (mostly at St. John’s Abbey in Collegeville MN—which includes on its grounds an Episcopalian House of Prayer). He has also been fully engaged in the community, serving on several boards and working with varied organizations, including the AIDS Pastoral Care Network, DeMico Youth Services in Cabrini Green, the DeKoven Retreat and Conference Center and Care For Friends (a multi service agency for those experiencing homelessness in Chicago).

Today, Brian is largely retired from church and community commitments and emphasizes his spiritual direction practice and life with husband Roger and their dog, Dobby.