I'm Elizabeth-Anne Stewart (Vanek). You may remember me from the Sunday scripture reflections in Living Faith or perhaps you've heard me speak at your school, parish or corporation, or at a conference such as the Parliament of the World's Religions. Since 1985, I have offered presentations, workshops, seminars, keynote addresses and retreats across the country and internationally; I also see private clients for spiritual direction and for Image Guidance, a counseling technique I developed for integrating the self through spiritual, emotional and physical healing. I am available to train therapists, medical professionals and spiritual directors in this highly effective healing process. Comfortable in both secular settings and religious settings, my work focusses on spiritual growth, personal empowerment, transformation of consciousness, connecting body-mind-spirit, cultural diversity, sexism and gender issues.

Born in England and raised on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean, I have lived in Chicago for more than 30 years. I know married life and single life, professional life and domestic life. I have raised two children and have taught thousands of children belonging to others. I know what it is to be successful but am also familiar with heartache and struggle.

For 28 years, I taught English and Religious Studies at DePaul University, Chicago, where I also served as campus minister. While at DePaul, I led study abroad excursions with a spiritual focus to such destinations as Malta, Italy, Sicily, Turkey, Tunisia, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom; I also taught adult students in DePaul's School for New Learning.

Other highlights of my career include: founding Walking to Emmaus, an Archdiocesan formation program for spiritual directors in Chicago; teaching in the Graduate Religious Studies program at Mundelein College (1986-1991); serving on the International Commission  on English in the Liturgy's (ICEL'S) subcommittee on the liturgical psalter (1985-1991); founding The Writer's Desk, a sanctuary for writers in the Beverly community (1979-1986).

Presently, I teach classes in spirituality for the Liberal Education Department at Columbia College, Chicago,  and also serve as an adjunct faculty member at Roosevelt University where I teach College Writing. In addition to pursuing my own free-lance work as a writer, editor and spiritual guide, I also  dance Argentine Tango (www.TangoChicago.info ) and have my own professional photography business (www.artfulphotographer.com).

The author of more than 80 articles on spirituality, I penned the Sunday scripture reflections for Living Faith, a quarterly with a circulation of more than half a million readers world-wide, from 1986-2005. I now have my own online scripture service, Sunday BibleTalk. In addition, my articles and poetry have appeared in such publications as Emmanuel, Liturgy 80, Liturgy, Assembly, Modern Liturgy, Today's Parish, Religion Teacher's Journal, Currents in Theology and Mission, The Bible Today, Catechist, Midway Review and Salt. Two of my books present original research on the use of imagery in healing contexts; I have also written three collections of poetry, and several books on the inner life.  My books include: From Center to Circumference: God's Place in the Circle of Self  (Paulist Press 1996); Image Guidance and Healing (Paulist Press, 1994), Pilgrims at Heart  (Creative Communications for the Parish, 1993); Image Guidance: A Tool for Spiritual Direction  (Paulist Press, 1992); Woman Dreamer  (Wyndham Hall Press, 1989); Extraordinary Time (Life Enrichment Publishers, 1988); and Frost and Fire  (Life Enrichment Publishers, 1985). Sheed and Ward  published my Ph.D. dissertation, Jesus the Holy Fool,  in September, 1999. My most recent books are Dragut's Galley (PEG, LTD, Malta 2004), a children's book with the theme of interreligious harmony; and The Day the Fireworks Died, a parable about the real meaning of spirituality for children and adults (PEG, LTD, Malta 2005). 

My B.A. (University of Malta, 1973) and M.A. (DePaul University, Chicago, 1976) are in English. Trained as a spiritual director (Claret Center, Chicago, 1989), I also hold a D.Min. in Creative Ministry from the Graduate Theological Foundation, Indiana (1989) and a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Malta (1999). I am presently completing a TESOL course with Eurolink Online, just because it may be "useful" in the future ....