Diane experienced a call to priesthood when she was very young.  She pursued a BA in religious studies, and served as a Jesuit Volunteer. She married, received her MSW, and did social work for a few years before becoming a mother to two beautiful daughters. In 1984, Diane began companioning individuals and groups in spiritual direction and retreat work. She helped develop and staff a program for the formation and ongoing supervision of spiritual directors as well as initiating a group spiritual direction program.  Besides receiving an MA in ministry and a D Min. in spiritual direction, she was active in her local parish, serving as a lector, cantor, teacher/facilitator, and retreat leader. Diane was ordained to the priesthood in 2010. One of her greatest joys is serving Holy Wisdom as a priest. She also enjoys singing, cooking, taking walks, and spending time with her family and friends. Watch her TED Talk here.

Vieda, a native Californian raised Catholic, began her parish work at Holy Name of Jesus Church in L.A. at the age of 13. For over 25 years she served the parish as a Liturgy committee member, Gospel Choir singer, CCD Educator and Sanctuary Designer. Her college career began at Immaculate Heart College School of Music in 1970 after graduating from Immaculate Heart High School. She retired early from Law Enforcement as a Communications Manager in 2005, moved to Oregon to be with her family and returned to Portland State to finish her College Education at the age of 60. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seaton Parish, where she began a  Scripture Study for women. As a Eucharistic Minister, while in Seminary, she began interning as Chaplain at the Portland VA and the Family Promise Shelter. She completed her BA at Portland State University in 2012 , her MDiv from Marylhurst University in 2016 where she first learned of RCWP and shared her call with Rev. Penny Donovan. Vieda’s Ministry Thesis is Hospitality: Working with caretakers of the elderly. The vibrance and energy of the Holy Spirit Wisdom Sophia enables her to see God in every person.

Donna felt a call to serve the Church in grade school. She entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia at the age of 19, where she received both her undergraduate and masters degrees in psychology. She taught grade school for three years, and the rest of the time served in the mental health arena. She left her community in 1985, when she could no longer support the Church’s stances regarding women, divorce, and homosexuality. Donna continued her work in mental Health and got her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. She worked in private practice, spending two days a week with the Quinault and Squaxin Tribes. She retired from her practice in 2017. Two years later, she met her wife, Janis. They have been happily married since 2020. Donna was introduced to Diane Whalen and the Holy Wisdom Community in 2017. With them, she found a new community of faith and love, that fed heart and soul. In July, 2022, she was ordained as a priest with RCWP. She happily serves the community of Holy Wisdom, with Diane Whalen and Vieda Baker. She deeply loves the wonderful community of people that she has found here.

Pamela Baer, born and raised in the PNW, was brought up in a traditional catholic environment. She attended grade school at St Mary Catholic School in Aberdeen and volunteered as an assistant at Sunday school. She was a member of Christ the King Catholic Church in Seattle, and for a brief period prior to moving to the Olympia area, was a member of St Patrick Catholic Church in Seattle. Pam comes from a very diverse extended family and was drawn to the Holy Wisdom ICC because of their community statement, particularly the last sentence – All are welcome, all are included, all are beloved in our Holy Wisdom Community. Pam spends her free time reading, walking, riding the tandem with her husband, baking, entertaining, live theater, live music, and last but not least, spending time with her family.

Mary is a Delaware native, who has lived in Olympia since 1980 and has been part of the Holy Wisdom community since 2014. Her time in Olympia has been primarily spent raising five children who are now responsible and kind adults and enjoying a fulfilling career as a school counselor. Retirement has been a gift of time that has allowed her to be more deeply involved in this community and to be inspired by its theology and its people. Serving on the Visioning and Discernment Committee has been an opportunity to get to know and understand the workings of the community as well as help with decision-making and the more mundane day to day tasks that are so important. It is a joy to serve with this dedicated group.

Louise first became acquainted with Holy Wisdom in late 2019 when she was visiting her older daughter, Catherine, in Seattle and made the train trip to Olympia to meet Diane and Kathleen. What a delight that was! In early 2020, during COVID, she was excited to discover that she could Zoom into Mass and other gatherings from Aotearoa New Zealand. She is married to John and they have 2 other children – their oldest, Michael, and their youngest, Mary. They all live in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Louise has a background in leadership training and life coaching. She’s a ‘cradle Catholic’ and all her children were educated at Catholic schools. As well as Holy Wisdom, she is actively involved with a number of ‘progressive’ Catholic organisations in Aotearoa New Zealand. Being part of Holy Wisdom has been like a ‘home-coming’ to her. She has met so many wonderful, like-minded people and feels extremely blessed to be a member of the community.