Who We Are

Norman King, B.A., S.T.B., M.A., Ph.D.

Dr. Norman King is Professor Emeritus of Religion and Culture of the University of Windsor and Principal and Director of Education of Iona College, an affiliated college of the University of Windsor. He is the former Stephen Jarislowsky Chair in Religion and Conflict, Assumption University (2011-2017), that involved an annual symposium and public lecture. Norman is a board member of the Windsor Homes Coalition, Unicom, and formerly the Windsor Essex Children’s Aid Society. He continues to serve as Treasurer for the Windsor University Retirees Association.

Norman teaches, writes, and lectures over a wide range of themes and topics. He was educated at Toronto and Laval Universities in literature and philosophy, and holds a Ph.D. in theology from the University of St. Michael’s College, Toronto. He also pursued further studies in contemporary religious thought and spirituality, with particular emphasis on the work of Karl Rahner and Thomas Merton. He has focused especially on the human quest for meaning.

Norman has authored two books and numerous articles in contemporary spiritual thought, ethics and business, and music and spirituality. He continues to teach and write in these areas.

For many years, he has served as coordinator of the Interfaith Group of Windsor and Essex County, which features an annual symposium with presenters from seven major religious traditions.

Jane Ripley, Honours B.Mus., CHM, RMT

Jane Ripley is a registered private piano, voice, and theory instructor, a choral director, and workshop clinician. She is also a professor of spirituality and music, Iona College, Windsor, ON. Jane has piano credentials from the Royal Conservatory of Music and an Honours Bachelor of Music degree in vocal music from the University of Windsor. She also holds a diploma in Church Music from the same institution, where she remained on the Dean’s Honour roll each year and was awarded the Board of Governors’ medal for music excellence upon graduation.

Jane maintains a private music studio in LaSalle, Ontario, and is a Past President of the Chatham-Kent branch of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers’ Association. She is also a qualified elementary school teacher. Several of her students have chosen careers in music education and performance.

Jane has directed many youth vocal ensembles and community and church choirs, and is currently the director of the Gallery Choir at Corpus Christi Church in Windsor, Ontario. Under her leadership, this choir released a CD of choral music, entitled Rain Down, featuring one of Jane’s original pieces.

Jane previously released an instrumental CD of hymn selections entitled Come to My Heart, which sold over 1500 copies. She has composed several hymns that are currently sung in several church communities.

Collaboration

In addition to their individual professional careers, Norman and Jane collaborate on academic papers and articles, offer lectures, workshops, and retreats on spirituality, story, and music.

They have co-authored a book of reflective verse, entitled Touching the Spirit: Reflections from the Heart.

They also have published several articles on spirituality and music. For them, story, music, and reflective thought are pathways to the human spirit and give voice to universal joys, sorrows, and longings.

Our Vision

Our Vision:

To build harmony within ourselves and with others by reflecting on and giving voice to life experiences that are at once deeply personal and widely universal.

What We Do:

We provide resources that shed light on our life experiences, thoughts, and feelings, to create deeper understanding of ourselves and others.

What We Offer:

Workshops, retreats, seminars, and courses that encourage self exploration, dialogue, and social interaction.

In today’s world, it is increasingly necessary to extend our interconnectedness to others and to all life, our earth, and our universe.

For more information, visit our Offerings page.