The Writers
Father Robert McCreary is a Capuchin Franciscan and has a doctorate in Christian Spirituality from the Gregorian University in Rome. He has also done post-doctoral studies at Notre Dame University and Oxford University, England. He is adjunct Professor at St. Mary's Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio.

Marietta Della Penna was born in the Bronx in New York. She has a BA in Communication Arts from Fordham University, a Masters from Hofstra University in Long Island, and another Masters in Theology from the Immaculate Conception Seminary. Marietta worked in a local parish giving classes, retreats, and is also a spiritual director.

Louise Heiss is a member of Faith Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Lexington, KY. She is a widow and enjoys her time with her daughter and granddaughter. She finds God's beauty in nature.

Father James Behrens O.C.S.O. is a trappist monk at Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, GA. Father James was a diocesan priest for years before coming to the Monastery. He is the author of several books and finds God's beauty in photography, silence and nature.

Joanne Bennardo is a non-traditional college student focusing on spiritual writing. For the past 35 years, she has shared her happiness with her husband, Ed. She is thankful for the beauty of their three grown sons, two daughters-in-law, and granddaughter, Katie.

The Artists
Tegan Classen is a college student at John Carroll University and has shown an artistic gift since she was a little girl. Tegan studied for one semester abroad in Italy, where she was inspired by the beauty of Rome. She discovers and reflects God's beauty in her compassion, her creativity and the depth of her faith.

Patrick Anderson is a young man who sees beauty everywhere and often captures it with his camera. Patrick is a native of Ohio and has been a teacher, done ministry work in El Salvador and Guatemala, and worked with autistic children. He was a novice in the Dominican Order and is currently studying for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio.

Debra Classen studied art for only one semester at the Institute of Art in San Francisco in 1978 and had a 20 year hiatus from art, after the death of her mother. She developed a life long appreciation of the aesthetic from her Grandmother and mother. She finds God's beauty 'everywhere', especially in color, silence, nature, friendships and family.