Joyce Rupp is an award-winning Catholic 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 Servites community, 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.
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 community known as the Servites 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 St. Thomas University 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.
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)
Walk in a Relaxed Manner, Out of the Ordinary: Prayers, Poems, and Reflections for Every Season, The Star in My Heart: Experiencing Sophia, Inner Wisdom Reviews by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Values and Visions Review Service
The Dance of Oneness A review of The Cosmic Dance by Loretta Peters, EarthLight, Summer 2002.
A Nurturing God A review by Sally Cunneen of Prayers to Sophia and The Star in My Heart. The American Catholic, March 2000, pp. 7, 19.
Prayers to Sophia: A Companion to A Star in My Heart Reviewed by Sharon Flesher
Walk in a Relaxed Manner Reviewed by Austin Repath
Go in peace, Rituals for the dying U.S. Catholic, June 2006
U.S. Catholic Award - Sept. 2004
Pregnant with possibilities — U.S. Catholic, Dec. 2004, Award acceptance speech
"Desperately Seeking Sophia" U.S. Catholic, October 2002
"Open Some Doors this Advent" U.S. Catholic, December 2000
"Five Spiritual Lessons of Loss" Family Perspectives Journal, Summer 2002
"Celtic Crossovers: May the Lent of the Irish Be With You" U.S. Catholic, March 2001
"The art of cultivating spiritual growth" The editors interview Joyce Rupp. U.S. Catholic, April 2000.
"Let the Land Teach Us About Healing and Creativity" Joyce Rupp. Catholic Rural Life, Spring 2000, pp. 12—16. Catholic Rural Life is a publication of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference. http://www.ncrlc.com
