Richard F. Groves
Brief Biography
Richard Groves is the co-founder with his wife, Mary, and Executive Director of the Sacred Art of Living Center, a 501c3 not-for-profit educational organization in Bend, Oregon. Richard has earned four Masters’ degrees in theology, world religions, bio-ethics and law. Research for his doctoral thesis focused on diagnosing and addressing spiritual pain from a variety of cultural and psycho-spiritual perspectives. An ordained Catholic priest for 15 years, Richard also served as chaplain in the Oregon Correctional System and as assistant chaplain in the US Air Force.
He is a popular keynote speaker and workshop presenter whose work has been acclaimed for its clinical applicability that also speaks to the heart and soul of end-of-life issues. Richard is co-author of The American Book of Living & Dying: Lessons in Healing Spiritual Pain. He is also the creator of The Anamcara Project, the first international training program of its kind for health care professionals, faith community leaders and the general public in the Sacred Art of Living and Dying.
Speaker’s Introduction
Professor Richard Groves is an internationally respected teacher of the sacred art of living and dying. A chaplain for more than twenty five years, Richard speaks nine languages and has earned graduate degrees in theology, ethics, world religions and law. Richard and his wife, Mary, are the founders of the Sacred Art of Living Center in Bend, Oregon.
More than twenty thousand students around the world, including health care professionals, faith community leaders and the larger public, have graduated from the Groves’ spiritual education programs. Richard is co-author of The American Book of Living & Dying: Lessons in Healing Spiritual Pain. His latest creation is The Anamcara Project, a first-of-its-kind internship in the sacred art of living and dying.
Richard is the proud father of three sons and four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Educational & Professional Biography
Born in Detroit, Michigan (2.14.51)
Sacred Heart High School Seminary, Detroit, Michigan (1964-69)
Educational Background
Saddleback College, Orange County, California (1969-70)
University of Dallas, Texas (1970-71)
University of Innsbruck, Austria (1971-73)
Angelicum Pontifical University, Rome (1973-75)
Bachelor of Philosophy, summa cum laude
Mount Angel Graduate School, Oregon (1975-77)
Master of Arts in Medical Ethics and Master of Divinity Degrees
Clinical Pastoral Education Certification (1977-79)
Catholic University of America, Washington, DC (1979-81) J.C.L., Canon Law, Religious Studies, magna cum laude
San Francisco Theological Seminary, California (1992-95) Doctoral Candidate Thesis: Sacred Art of Living and Dying
Educator
Bio-ethics Consultant for numerous West Coast Health Care Systems (1985-present)
University/College Professor: History of Western Thought & Culture, Professional Ethics, Philosophy and Comparative World Religious: Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon (1992-97) and Oregon State University in Bend, Oregon
Director of Health Care Education, Cascades East Area Health Education Center, National AHEC Program (1991-93)
National Retreat, Keynote/Workshop Speaker (300+ engagements since1995)
Author, Sacred Art of Living & Dying National Certification Program
Created an interfaith school for the training of spiritual directors
Professional Ethics in Health Care Conferences
Aging and Spirituality Retreats
Enneagram Educator
Created and produced national award Circle of Life Conferences
Healing Health Care retreats for Health Care Management/Staff
Author and Producer/Published Works
The American Book of Living & Dying: Lessons in Healing Spiritual Pain, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California, 2005, co-authored with Henriette Anne Klauser
Over 50 contributions to a variety of periodicals on topics focusing on spirituality and health
Several CD series on Grief, Men’s Spirituality and The Art of Spiritual Discernment
Educational Film and Video Producer
Executive Producer, De Sales Adult Faith Development Series (distributed by Franciscan Communications, Los Angeles, CA) A 64 hour series curricula translated into 17 languages
Producer, Inner Action Video-Print Interactive Study Series. Integrating issues of psychology, health and spirituality for public broadcast
Co-founder, Morningstar Productions, Portland, Oregon
Executive Producer of National Hospice Organization PSA reels (1994-98)
Author and Executive Producer, Sacred Art of Living & Dying film series (in production)
Professional/Ministerial Experience
Hospital Chaplain, CPE Certification Program (1974-77)
Ordained Catholic Priest, Diocese of Baker/Eastern Oregon (1976-90)
Assistant Chaplain on U.S. Air Force and Navy bases (1979-83)
Pastoral Care Director, Franciscan Health Care Systems (1981-89)
Director of Pastoral Care Services, Hospice of Bend-LaPine (1991-1999)
Executive Director, Hospice of Bend-LaPine (1997-98)
Trustee, Board of Directors, St. Charles Medical Center, Bend, Oregon
Awards
Two-time recipient of NHPCO President’s Award for End-of-Life Education
Cardinal Bernadin Award for Interfaith Religious Dialogue, 2001
Award from Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals for the production of Inner Action series
North Star Award for lifetime contributions to the mission of healing health in Central Oregon, Cascade Community Care System
Other Topics offered by Richard Groves
A Spirituality of Aging: Growing Older Gracefully
A new vision for mature adulthood and the wisdom of spiritual eldering
Healing the Healers: Recognizing Spiritual Suffering in Ourselves and Others
How to recognize and respond to soul pain
Recovering the Vocation of Caregiving: Connecting Our ‘Soul and Role’ based on the work of Parker Palmer’s A Hidden Wholeness
An opportunity for professional caregivers to recover the heart of their work
Soulful Grieving:Healing Life’s Losses
How to deal constructively with issues of grief and loss
The Way a Man Grieves: Masculine Perspectives on Suffering and Loss
A presentation/workshop on the unique dimensions of how men deal with grief
Dark Nights of the Soul: A Spirituality of Healing
Lessons from classic traditions about the journey through pain into wholeness
Poets, Saints and Mystics: Trusting Your Experience of God
The perennial wisdom of the mystical traditions made relevant for today’s seeker
A Wellness Retreat: Body-Mind-Spirit Health
Finding the antidote to our cultural demons of business, speed and materialism
Science, Spirituality and Healing: Wisdom Meets Experience
Quantum perspectives that confirm the wisdom of our ancestors
Understanding the Psalms: Prayer Book of the Human Experience
A study of ancient poetry-in-prayer that still names our human condition
The Art of Spiritual Discernment:Asking Courageous Questions
A challenging program that invites life’s deepest questions and priorities
The Soulful Enneagram:A Sacred Psychology
An introduction to Sacred Art of Living Center’s Enneagram Studies
A Spirituality of Guided Visualization: Meditations That Heal
An opportunity to learn about one of the classical tools for inner healing
Lessons in Celtic Spirituality: Recovering the Tradition of Soul Friendship
Ways that the ancient Celtic spirit transcends cultures and faith traditions
The Healing Art of Ritual: Transforming the Ordinary into the Sacred
Learn about and experience the essential wisdom embodied in sacred ritual
Wounded Healers: A Retreat for Spiritual Caregivers
A profoundly healing experience for chaplains, clergy and faith communities
We Are the Medicine: A Retreat for Health Care Professionals
An opportunity to explore the spiritual dimensions of health care
Dream Tending: Spirituality of the Inner Life
Based on the themes and teachings of Carl Jung and religious mystical traditions
Taming the Ego-The Male Spiritual Journey based on the work of Richard Rohr, OFM
Themes of spiritual health for men in today’s world
Mystical Traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Lessons for Healing Today’s World
Inspirational teachings from the Medieval Iberian traditions