WHO WE ARE
Learn about the many ways Sacred Art of Living is a leader in the essential work of healing and transforming suffering throughout all stages of living and dying.
A resource for the education and self-care of professional and lay caregivers
Producers of the internationally-acclaimed Art of Living & Dying workshop-retreat series
Creators of Becoming Anamcara, an internship in “the art, science and practice of sacred relationship”
A community of contemplative caregivers for the helping professions and the general population
A virtual laboratory dedicated to bridging the gap between science and spirituality
Specially committed to end-of-life spiritual care and issues of aging, loss & bereavement
Dedicated to “deep ecumenism” — working for common ground among diverse cultures and spiritual traditions
Producers of award-winning video, audio and podcast resources with the great mentors of our time
Our Mission
Sacred Art of Living is inspiring a new vision of caring for self and others where hospitals, hospices, faith communities and eldercare are transformed through best practices that address the inter-related needs of body, mind and spirit. We are committed to the universal wisdom found in the art of living and dying.
We create communities of trust and support so that individual caregivers may positively influence our helping professions… and where faith communities of all traditions offer emotional-spiritual support for the sick, aging, bereaved and at the end-of-life.
Our Vision
To transform the culture of our families and institutions through a more human and soulful way of dealing with suffering.
Our Values
Healing the healers through the training and support of all persons in the helping and healing professions
Reconnecting the soul and role of caregivers by learning what it means to live a more undivided life
Transforming suffering by discovering the wisdom of leaning into pain since “the best way out is always through…”
Bridging science and spirituality through a non-dual and integrated approach to life’s greatest mysteries and priorities
Finding common ground with persons from all cultural and spiritual paths regardless of age, gender, or belief
Our Founders
In 1996 Richard and Mary Groves created the Sacred Art of Living as a community of support for persons in the helping and healing professions. Their vision brought together a remarkable lifetime of professional development and experience in multi-media communication, health care education, inter-spiritual formation and end-of-life spirituality.
Sacred Art of Living Center Team
The Sacred Art of Living Team is a special group of professionals dedicated to the mission and vision of the center’s work for individuals, families and organizations world-wide. We consider every student and participant– past or present– a real member of our extended international family. Each member of our team is dedicated to providing hospitality, compassion, and excellence in service ‘beyond the call of duty.” We consider our work much more than a job– but a contribution to the spiritual transformation of ourselves and everyone we serve.
Richard Groves
Founding Director
Richard and his late wife Mary co-developed and founded the Sacred Art of Living Community in 1996. Richard is an internationally popular teacher and author who continues to present educational and spiritual development programs for health care institutions, faith communities of all traditions all over the world.
Richard worked for more than 30 years as a chaplain in health care and hospice. He was also an executive director for hospice organizations and an ethics consultant for national health care organizations. A professor of world religions, Richard was ordained a Catholic priest in 1977 and earned graduate degrees in theology, ethics, pastoral counseling and law. His doctoral research focuses on cultural and inter-faith perspectives of the Sacred Art of Living and Dying.
Richard is the co-author of The American Book of Living and Dying: Lessons in Healing Spiritual Pain which is now in its tenth printing and has also been translated into several languages. Most of all Richard is proud of his family that includes three sons, four grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.
Joe Richter
Production Manager
Joe has spent the last 25 years working for Sacred Art of Living. Over the years Joe has directed many essential roles including IT manager, director of SALC’s Tree of Life Resource Store. Joe’s technical skills are matched with his artistic talents creating video content for Sacred Art programs; he is also the creative and editorial director of the Soul & Science online education series. More recently, Joe has developed the new SALC Podcast Series: Asking Soulful Questions. He also travels with Richard to assist with the technical aspects of virtual and live workshops.
Joe’s background includes a BA in Liberal Arts from Mt. Angel Seminary with an emphasis in behavioral sciences. Joe is a dedicated and fun-loving husband and father, and is now a proud father-in-law to his son Zach’s new wife Genna. Joe and Kristi love to travel and see new places. They are both native Oregonians for 60 years.
Fiona Williams
Chief Financial Officer
Fiona has worked with Sacred Art of Living since 2013 and is currently its Chief Financial Officer. Her responsibilities at SALC include budgeting, financial reporting, program financial analysis, cash flow management, human resources, employee benefits and payroll. She has over 20 years of experience as a Human Resources Director, Payroll and Accounting Manager. Fiona brings her remarkable coordinating and communications skills to her role as Travel Manager for international Sacred Art of Living pilgrimages.
Fiona has also spent some time handling complex contracts and technical reviews for corporate accounts as a Renewable Energy Administrator, as well as prior non-profit experience as a Program Manager. Fiona relocated to Bend in 2013 with her husband and two children and was drawn to the center for its mission and values. They now reside in Vancouver, WA.
Maryhelen Zabas
Anamcara Coordinator
Maryhelen has come out of retirement to resume responsibilities as Lead Coordinator for the Becoming Anamcara Apprenticeship, a key program for the Sacred Art of Living Community. A former high school English teacher, she also brings to the Center over twenty years of Nursing Home Ministry with experience in Fund Development, Public Relations, Program Development and Pastoral Care, particularly work with the dying and their families.
Her passion for the work of SALC and for spiritual transformation are a gift in her supervision of the Anamcara Apprentices and in animator training for Circle of Trust study groups. She is a trained facilitator for the Art of Living and Dying Modules and serves on the Leadership Team for the Anamcara Apprenticeship. She is also a mentor for the Art of Spiritual Eldering Track of the Apprenticeship. Maryhelen lives on the campus of the Jennings Center in Cleveland, Ohio, with her super dog, Bella.
Tammie Veal
Administrative Assistant
Tammie recently moved to Bend and joined the SALC team. She has two sons and two grandchildren. As a business owner, she has spent 35 years working with people in the telecommunications field. She has worked as an Instructor, Project Manager, and Software Designer on commercial telephone systems.
For the last 5 years, Tammie served as an Office Administrator for a Car Audio business. Tammie is looking forward to learning more about SALC and all their Caregiver Programs. Looking forward to the journey and a new beginning! Tammie says it would have been amazing to have discovered Sacred Art of Living long ago. It would have been so helpful to have the knowledge and support SALC provides when caring for parents and other family members who were ill and have since passed.
Board of Directors
Dan Martin
Board Chair
Dan Martin has over 30 years’ experience as a trainer, consultant and presenter for different organizations including The Sacred Art of Living Center and various faith communities. Dan has completed many years of post-graduate education and training through The Center for Spiritual Development at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon and The Sacred Art of Living Center’s Sacred Art of Living and Dying series, the Anamcara Apprenticeship program and intensive facilitator training for the Center.
He was a founder and President of a consulting business in Eugene, Oregon for 25 years. In addition to his service on The Sacred Art of Living Center’s board, Dan has served on the Board of Trustees of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. He has also served on the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Oregon and numerous other commissions of the church.
Dean Sharpe
Board Member
Dean Sharpe is the current Board Chair and has been associated with the Sacred Art of Living Center since the mid-nineties when he attended an Enneagram workshop. Since retiring from surgery and hospital administration in 2006, he has trained to facilitate the Sacred Art of Living and Dying seminars and become a board member. He brings experience as an organizational development teacher, physician, hospital administrator and not for profit board service in other organizations.
Susan Muck
Board Member
As a coach and facilitator, Susan is broadly recognized for her focus and intuition. Through addressing the beliefs, attitudes and behaviors that get in the way of creating positive change, Susan supports her clients in living more meaningful and balanced lives.
Susan has more than 20 years of experience in personal and executive coaching as well as the design and facilitation of leadership, organizational and personal effectiveness training programs. She is a Certified Integral Coach with extensive knowledge and training in body-based coaching. She has also completed The Sacred Art of Living and Dying series and the Anamcara Apprenticeship program from the Sacred Art of Living Center.
Patricia McCourt
Board Member
As a coach and facilitator, one of Patty’s greatest assets is her deep belief in people and in their resourcefulness. She partners with clients to help them develop the capabilities necessary to build strong relationships, negotiate difficult decisions and contribute at higher levels.
Patty has more than 25 years of experience in leading teams and working with senior management to create employee engagement and alignment. She is a certified Integral Coach and graduate of the Authentic Happiness Coaching program. She has also completed The Sacred Art of Living and Dying series and the Anamcara Apprenticeship program from the Sacred Art of Living Center.
Richard Groves
Board Member
Richard Groves, founding Director of Sacred Art of Living Center, is an ex officio member of the Board of Directors. His role is to assist in ensuring the historical vision and mission of the organization.
Richard and his wife, Mary, founded Sacred Art of Living in 1996 with a commitment to transforming end of life care through a more holistic approach to emotional and spiritual suffering. As a board member, Richard champions SALCs commitment to both professional and caregiver education.
Patty Christopher
Board Member
Patty Christopher moved to Bend, Oregon in 2012. She spent most of her professional career an an educator in Southern California. After relocating in Bend, she began part-time employment as a university supervisor in the Elementary Education Program with OSU Cascades. She is married and has two grown sons and one grandchild.
Patty has always had a passion working for the underserved and marginalized members of society. When she retired in 2011, she began volunteering at Interfaith Community Services in Escondido, California. Since moving to Bend, Patty has worked with the Humane Society and Central Oregon Veteran’s Outreach organizations in a volunteer capacity. For the past eight years, she has volunteered with the local St. Vincent de Paul Society of Bend and has served as their Board President for the past 5 years.
In terms of spiritual development, Patty serves as lead facilitator for Jesuit Volunteer EnCorps in Bend. She gathers spiritual strength from her involvement in the Anamcara Program with the Sacred Art of Living Center and as a former student of The Living School through the Center for Action and Contemplation.
Andrew Elliott
Board Member
Andrew Elliott practiced as a licensed naturopathic family physician for 39 years, appointed by two governors to serve on the Oregon Board of Naturopathic Examiners. He helped raise six wonderful children and now has four grandchildren.
He began his involvement with SALC in 2013 and has gone on three amazing SALC pilgrimages, graduated from his Anamcara Apprenticeship in 2018 and has taught facilitators for Circles of Trust. He currently volunteers in a neonatal intensive care unit, a community emergency response team (CERT) member, and has recently completed his first novel, Anamcara Bridge.
Kevin Dieter M.D FAAHPM
Board Member
Kevin Dieter M.D. is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He was in private practice for 10 years before becoming a full-time faculty member at the Aultman Family Medicine Residency program in 1998. Kevin became involved in hospice care as a fledgling hospice medical director in1991, and was been active in hospice and palliative care locally, regionally and nationally.
For the past 5 years, he has been providing hospice and palliative care full time at Hospice of the Western Reserve. Prior to that, he worked with Summa Health System. Kevin’s belief that hospice patients can be wonderful teachers to young doctors allowed him to create a hospice experience for medical students that was one of the first of its kind in the country, and is a keystone for the Palliative Care curriculum at NEOMED.
Kevin brings a very strong belief in the absolute necessity of spirituality in the teaching and practice of medicine. The Sacred Art of Living Center has become an essential part of his professional life in that regard, and has deeply impacted his own spiritual growth and sustenance. It is with great pleasure that he is able to participate in educating others through the Art of Living & Dying programs.
Jenni Carver-Ross, MSN, RN
Board Member
Jenni is a Central Oregon native, married mother of 5, and serves as Clinical Operations Director for Partners In Care, overseeing a team of nearly 170 clinicians, from hospice and home health nurses to social workers, chaplains, CNAs, therapists, and more. She started work in the healthcare field in 2003, became a nurse in 2012, and has her master’s degree in nursing leadership and management.
Most recently, she managed Hospice House, the only inpatient hospice unit east of the Cascades, and oversaw the entire remodel and construction of the new facility. Jenni works closely with many other healthcare organizations in Central Oregon; she has been involved with the Sacred Art of Living Center for several years and is an Anamcara Apprenticeship graduate.
She is passionate about bringing this education and spiritual development to the teams she works closely with and many in the community to carry the light of the sacred art of living and dying.