Kardia Directors
Dr Marlene Marburg
Director
DipAppSci(MedRad) BTheol MTheol GradDipEd(Sec) PhD
In 1980, while working as a Medical Imaging Technologist, Marlene began formal theological studies and became a Religious Studies teacher at Catholic Ladies College in Eltham, Victoria. In 2001, she joined the parish team of St Columba’s Elwood, and worked in pastoral visitation as an accredited Pastoral Associate. She continued her theological studies.
Marlene was formed as a spiritual director in the Arrupe Program, Melbourne, Australia, and has twelve years experience engaging with the Spiritual Exercises, spiritual direction and the formation of spiritual directors at Campion Centre of Ignatian Spirituality, and as a Senior Lecturer and Director of Student Formation at Sentir Graduate College of Spiritual Formation, and now at Kardia Formation.
In her doctoral thesis, ‘Poetry and Grace: an Autoethnography Exploring Poetry as Prayer in the Context of Ignatian Spirituality’, she explored the capacity of poetry to access levels of deep personal and communal awareness. This thesis shows that the use of poetry is a way of making the Spiritual Exercises. Marlene has a series of poetry collections entitled Grace Undone.
Dr Bernadette Miles
Director
BTheol, MAppSci (Organisational Dynamics), PhD
Bernadette trained in spiritual direction and theology after twenty years of computer consulting and business management and has a special interest in formation of apostolic leadership and applying the concepts of Ignatian Spirituality to organisational development. She has completed both the Arrupe Program for spiritual directors in the Ignatian tradition, Siloam programs in Melbourne and has 22 years experience in forming spiritual directors, supervision, spiritual direction, facilitation and retreat giving as Director of Campion Centre of Ignatian Spirituality and Coursework Coordinator for Sentir Graduate College of Spiritual Formation.
Bernadette recently completed PhD research which explores the contribution spiritual direction in the Ignatian tradition can make to leadership and organisational development. Her book Strengthening Spirit – Releasing Potential: Spiritual Direction for Leadership and Organisational Development was published in 2021 and is available for purchase. Book-Order-Form