The Story of Prairie Jubilee

Through the efforts of the Pacific, Ontario and Atlantic Jubilee programs, the dream of forming an integrative spiritual formation and spiritual directors training program, modeled on the Shelem Institute program for spiritual direction at Washington Theological Union, took form. The Prairie Jubilee Program began in 1999 through the concentrated efforts of Susan Butler-Jones, a graduate of the Shelem Institute at Washington Theological Union; Paul Campbell, then Dean of the Faculty of Theology, University of Winnipeg; and Sr. Mary Coswin of St. Benedict’s Monastery.

In 2002 the first intake of students began studies under the guidance of Susan and Linda Gervais, who is trained in Ignatian Spiritual Direction, certified by the Shekinah Spiritual Direction Program at St. Benedict’s Monastery. Rick McCorrister, who is certified by the Pacific Jubilee Program in Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Direction, joined the Core Staff in 2003. Prairie Jubilee is a natural branch in the network of the Pacific and Ontario Jubilee programs.

As the dedicated work and traditions of the Jubilee program expanded, Carol Ann Gotch joined the program as Core Staff in 2007, integrating the ancient teachings of the enneagram into the Prairie Jubilee program. She now has assumed the role of advisor and mentor to the organization.

Currently, Dale Bially and Cheryl Kinney Matheson have taken the reigns as Core Staff, Adminstrator and Registrar respectfully. Those who are interested to walking the path so many prairie people have walked, can apply for Cycle 10 that beings in January 2021.