Joyce Rupp

Joyce Rupp
Born June 8, 1943
Occupation Writer, Spiritual "Midwife," Retreat and Conference Speaker
Nationality American
Genre Spirituality, Poetry, Memoir
Subject Prayer, Spiritual and Psychological Growth, Grief
Website
joycerupp.com

Sister Joyce Rupp, O.S.M., is an award-winning author who is well known for her work as a spiritual "midwife" and retreat and conference speaker. She has led retreats throughout North America, as well as in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. She is also the co-director of The Institute of Compassionate Presence, a member of the Servite Order, and a volunteer for Hospice. Joyce has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, a Master of Arts degree in Transpersonal Psychology, and a Master of Religious Education degree. She currently resides in Des Moines, Iowa.

Education

Biography

Joyce Rupp was born on June 8, 1943, and grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa. Out of these rural beginnings, nature became the foundation of her inspiration and she values it as both a teacher and healer.

In 1962 she joined a religious Order known as the Servites or Servants of Mary and is now a facilitator of the community’s ongoing spiritual growth program.

As part of her work as vocation director for the Archdiocese of Omaha, she began leading retreats for high school and college-age students in 1973. Several years later she started to lead retreats for adults. Since then, she has traveled extensively, and her international retreats and conferences have taken her to Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Africa, Australia, and Asia.

In 1965 she received a BA in Elementary Education from Duchesne College in Omaha, Nebraska, and in 1975 she received her MRE from University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. After completing studies in spirituality at Creighton University and the University of Notre Dame, she earned a MTP from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, Palo Alto, California. 1993. She also studied Jungian psychology at Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, from 1992 to 1994.

Rupp has since become the award-winning author of numerous popular books that have been translated into seven languages. Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons on the Camino (Orbis, 2005) and The Circle of Life (Sorin Books, 2005) received first and second place awards, respectively, from The Catholic Press Association in 2006. The Circle of Life also received an award for "One of the Best Spiritual Books of 2005" from Spirituality & Practice. One of Rupp’s most recent books, Open the Door (Sorin Books), was published in September 2008 and received the Best 2008 Spiritual Books award from Spirituality & Practice. Her best-selling book, Praying Our Goodbyes (Sorin Books, 1988), was reissued in 2009.

In 2004, Rupp received the U.S. Catholic Award for Furthering the Cause of Women in the Church for her significant role as a “midwife” for women’s spirituality. She has also been a volunteer for hospice for 15 years. [1]

In 2008, along with Margaret Stratman, Rupp became a co-director of a new program called The Institute of Compassionate Presence. This innovative venture seeks to coach participants to bring to life their own innate compassion.

Books

• Little Pieces of Light: Darkness and Personal Growth (Paulist Press, 1994)

• Dear Heart, Come Home (Crossroad Classic, 1996)

• The Cup of Our Life: A Guide for Spiritual Growth (Ave Maria Press, 1997)

• May I Walk You Home? Courage and Comfort for Caregivers of the Very Ill (Sorin Books, 1999)

• Your Sorrow Is My Sorrow: Hope and Strength in Times of Suffering (Crossroad Classics, 1999)

• Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections for Every Season (Ave Maria Press, 2000)

• Inviting God In: Scriptural Reflections and Prayers Throughout the Year (Ave Maria Press, 2001)

• The Cosmic Dance: An Invitation to Experience Our Oneness (Orbis, 2002)

• Rest Your Dreams on a Little Twig (Sorin Books, 2002)

• Prayers to Sophia (Sorin Books, 2004)

• The Star in My Heart: Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom (Sorin Books, 2004)

• The Circle of Life: The Heart's Journey Through the Seasons (Sorin Books, 2005)

• Walk in a Relaxed Manner: Life Lessons from the Camino (Orbis, 2005)

• Fresh Bread: And Other Gifts of Spiritual Nourishment (Ave Maria Press, 2006)

• May I Have This Dance? An Invitation to Faithful Prayer Throughout the Year (Ave Maria Press, 2007 - rev. ed.)

• Prayer (Orbis, 2007)

• Open Door: A Journey to the True Self (Sorin Books, 2008)

• God’s Enduring Presence: Strength for the Spiritual Journey (Twenty Third Publications 2008)

• Praying Our Goodbyes (Ave Maria Press, 2009 - rev. ed)

Recordings

Out of the Ordinary: Chants (Ave Maria Press, 2000)

I Open to You: Chants (Ave Maria Press, 2004)

All of Life Is a Holy Festival (Ave Maria Press, 2006)

Befriend the Darkness, Welcome the Light (Ave Maria Press, 2006) Walking with Those Who Hurt: Caring for Ourselves and Coping with Change (Ave Maria Press, 2006)

May I Have This Dance?: Guided Meditations (Ave Maria Press, 2008)

Reviews and Articles of Interest

References

[1] http://www.ncea.org/news/pressrelease/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=128&

External links