Meet our Spiritual Care Providers

Jacquelyn Thornton is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and a certified Maine Law Enforcement Chaplain.  She has a Associates Degree in Dental Hygiene from the University of Maine; a BS in Liberal Arts with a focus on religious studies from Excelsior College; and a Masters of Divinity from Bangor Theological Seminary. Jackie started with SCS as a contract chaplain and now manages our day to day operations. She is especially interested in stress management for law enforcement personnel and is a certified in Critical Incident Stress Management. Jackie is also a supply minister with basic training in interim ministry. Jackie’s focus is being present for individuals and organizations when needed by listening, and caring, and helping people thrive.

 

Bea Broder-Oldach grew up in Aroostook County and appreciates the deep sense of community that is Maine. A board-certified chaplain with experience serving in health care and community settings, Bea seeks to meet people where they are as they are, offering a supportive, listening presence and spiritual care.

Rev. Linda Card is an ordained interfaith chaplain who came to the field after a 25 year career in technology sales. Currently a volunteer chaplain at Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, Linda is a certified End of Life Doula who enjoys working with others, both individually and in groups, where she practices non-judgemental, compassionate listening. She tries her best to meditate and laugh daily.

Jake Fahey (he/him) is an interfaith chaplain and antiracism organizer living on Abenaki land (now known as Portland, ME). He is interested in building local structures for a spiritual and cultural transformation that address systems of oppression, and seed systems of liberation. He graduated from the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (ChIME) in 2018 and has completed two units of Clinical Pastoral Training of Southern Maine. He is organizing with Community Change Inc. (CCI) and the Racial Equity Institute (REI).

Anne Gresinger is an arts-oriented, ordained Interfaith Chaplain. Anne holds an animistic perspective on life and has 35 years of experience with the way visual arts, writing, dance/movement, and dreamwork can enhance and facilitate recovery, the healing process, and awakening. She offers a kind ear, compassionate reflection, stress relief, and moral injury support. 

Rev. Thomas Kircher is a Board Certified Clinical Chaplain ordained in the Interfaith religious tradition. His chaplaincy experience includes working with homeless veterans, low-income seniors, nursing home residents, and individuals facing challenges with mental illness and addiction. Rev. Kircher offers the skills of listening and reflection to individuals in need along their personal life journeys and enjoys facilitating group discussions.

Mabel is an Ordination candidate in the United Church of Christ, and active in local and national ministries of the UCC. She served in the Navy and Navy Reserve for 12 years where she met her partner, who continues to serve as an active-duty servicemember. She is passionate about Mental Health Advocacy, Reduction of Stigma, and lifting up the underserved and marginalized members of our wide community.

Liz (she/her) is an ordained chaplain and meditation teacher. She has worked in a variety of contexts, including health care, end of life, education, and carceral settings.  She also co-leads a meditation community in Southern Maine dedicated to engaging with the connections between wisdom teachings and social justice. Liz currently serves as a mentor for students in Upaya Zen Center’s chaplaincy training program and is studying to be a lay teacher of Zen under the guidance of Roshi Joan Halifax.  

Reverend Melissa Marquis is the Minister of Christian Nurture at Acton Congregational Church in Maine. She graduated with a Master of Divinity in 2011 and was ordained in April 2013. Melissa served as a Chaplain in the Maine Air National Guard from 2013 to 2022. She specializes in hospice, mental health and military chaplaincy.

Alley Smith is an interfaith chaplain at Maine Veterans Homes in Scarborough. She is also a funeral chaplain/clergy at Hobbs Funeral Home. Having served in the US Marines and Navy Reserve, Alley specializes in assisting military, veterans & their families. She also specializes in end of life care and mortuary affairs.

Karen St. Peter is an Ordained Interfaith Minister through the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine (CHIME).
With compassion and respect she embraces the strengths of each person and values the worth and
dignity of each human being.

Sally Thomas is a listener. Trained as a spiritual companion and chaplain, Sally’s doctoral research focused on how families and friends might care for one another spiritually in a practice called Wondering Together. Sally began her career as a nurse practitioner with a specialty in oncology, palliative, and hospice care and is an accredited trainer in the art of Godly Play.

Brian is a vowed spiritual contemplative, writer, author, and interspiritual chaplain.  His experience includes counseling, spiritual direction, hospice and corrections chaplaincy, pastor, professor in religious studies, teacher of meditation and mindful living, and facilitator of faith-based jail ministry.  He sees himself as a companion presence alongside others regardless of their identity as religious, spiritual, or neither.

Peggy is an ordained interfaith chaplain and has worked in a variety of settings, including Cumberland County Jail, Windham Correctional Center, Hospice of Southern Maine and most recently Maine Medical Center. Previously, Peggy and her husband owned and operated a home based antiquarian bookselling business. Peggy focuses on listening and helping others discover their own sources of strength and truth. She enjoys facilitating groups where participants learn from each other and grow in their own spiritual understanding. Peggy enjoys spending time in nature and with family and friends.