Sisters In Christ – 2024

Heather Makowicz is a Certified Spiritual Director,  Trauma-Informed Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and seasoned Retreat Director.  Additionally, she is the Founder of Peak Encounter Ministries whose mission has been taking young adults into the beauty of creation and integrating scripture through experiences to encounter God. 

 With her background, she deeply desires to integrate natural human experiences in everyday life with God. 

 She and her husband are the proud parents of three young adults, the first of whom has multiple special needs.  She is no stranger to complex, challenging situations and has a heart for caregivers, balancing the joys, sorrows, and demands that this vocation brings.

Jeannine Peters is a certified Spiritual Director. She received her Certificate through Divine Mercy University. She is also certified in Theology of the Body through the Theology of the Body Institute and is trained in Unbound Healing Prayer through Heart of the Father Ministries. She holds an MA in Religion and Religious Education from Providence College and an MA in Theology from the Catholic University of America.

In addition to her spiritual direction practice, Jeannine is a Spiritual Director on courses at the Theology of the Body Institute as well as a Residency Facilitator for the Spiritual Direction Certificate Program at Divine Mercy University. She is a former Member of the Theology of the Body Institute’s Board of Directors from 2013-2018 and is currently the Acting Chair of the Theology of the Body Foundation’s Board of Directors.

She leads retreats for women, speaks on faith related topics, and is a contributing author to various books and websites on topics ranging from adoption, faith, prayer, and Theology of the Body.

Jeannine resides in Devon, PA with her husband, Michael, and their two teenage daughters. She and her family served as a Foster Family through Chester County Department of Children, Youth, and Families.

Jillian Buhl is a passionate convert to the Catholic faith. She is deeply committed to helping people encounter Christ as a spiritual director, through small group ministry and hosting retreats. Jillian is married to Keith Buhl who endlessly supports her in her creative ways to let people know they are loved and that there is so much more to life! If you want to know more, join Jillian for a cup of coffee and find out why she is Joyfully Jillian.

Nicky Verna is a Catholic wife of 30 years to her Deacon husband, Tom, and mother to their 4 young adult children. She entered into the fullness of the Catholic faith in 1992, holds a Masters degree in Theology from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary’s School of Theological Studies and is currently Director of the New Evangelization at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Drexel Hill. Nicky has served the Church as a substitute teacher for area Catholic schools, a prayer intercessor and leader for Unbound, a board member for AbbeyFest Ministries and has served on the planning committee for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Catholic Women’s Conference. Nicky is also a leader and regional ambassador for SoulCore, a Marian prayer apostolate which combines movement, core strengthening and functional exercises with the prayers of the Rosary. She is genuinely in love with Christ.