Dennis Patrick O’Hara, DC, ND, PhD, Director of the Institute
Dennis Patrick O’Hara graduated from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1979 and the Ontario College of Naturopathic Medicine in 1986, subsequently teaching at both of these colleges while practising as a chiropractor and naturopathic doctor. He attained a Master of Divinity degree in 1992, awarded conjointly by the University of Toronto and the University of St. Michael's College. In 1998, he completed a PhD in systematic theology (ethics) from the University of St. Michael ’s College. He also holds a specialization in theology and ecology awarded conjointly by the Elliott Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology and the University of St. Michael ’s College. The title of his doctoral thesis was: “The Implications of Thomas Berry’s Cosmology for an Understanding of the Spiritual Dimension of Human Health.”
Since 2002, he has been an assistant professor of ethics in the Faculty of Theology and Director of the Elliott Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology at the University of St. Michael's College. He is also a sessional lecturer for the Centre for Environment at the University of Toronto. Dr. O’Hara has spoken widely to professional and academic gatherings on ecotheology, health care ethics, and the spiritual dimension of human health. He has been actively involved with the work of the Natural Health Products Directorate in Health Canada.
He is a co-investigator of the CIHR funded Canadian Interdisciplinary Network for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine Research. Dr. O’Hara has also contributed to on-going efforts to integrate courses on complementary and alternative medicine into undergraduate medical education through the Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Undergraduate Medical Education Group. (http://www.fp.ucalgary.ca/CAMinUME/documents.html). He recently completed a report on naturopathic medical education for the World Health Organization.
Stephen Dunn, cp, Mth, STL, STD (Alphonsianum), Founder of the Institute
Stephen Dunn is the founder and former director of the Elliott Allen Institute for Theology & Ecology and continues directing the Centre for Ecology and Spirituality. Before starting the Institute, he was a director at the Passionists' Holy Cross Retreat Centre in Port Burwell, Ontario, Canada. In the late 1970s, the retreat centre focused on the work of Thomas Berry and the emerging voices in eco-theology, eco-feminism, eco-justice and the new cosmology as it brought religion and ecology into dialogue. This collaborative and cross-disciplinary work was gradually introduced into the curriculum at the faculty of theology at the University of St. Michael's College, resulting in the formation of the Elliott Allen Institute for Theology and Ecology.
Although Dr. Dunn recently retired from his full-time professor position at St. Michael's College in spring of 2002, he continues to assist doctoral students with their thesis work and welcomes the participation of the EAITE in the work of the Passionist Centre for Ecology and Spirituality. He and the new director of the EAITE, Dr. Dennis O’Hara, continue to collaborate on the monthly Eco-Sabbath gatherings and the annual Advent Solstice retreat and the annual Triduum Retreat held at St. Gabriel’s Parish in Toronto.
John Jai-Don Lee, BA, MDiv, ThD
John Jai-Don Lee Jai-Don Lee was born in 1957 in Seoul , Korea . After majoring in International Relations at Sogang University , a Jesuit school in Seoul , he studied theology at the Catholic University of Korea. He was ordained a Catholic priest of the Seoul Archdiocese in 1985. After ordination, he worked in several different parishes – city as well rural – as an assistant priest and later as a pastor. His major concern during that period was centered on spirituality and ecological issues, for example, the role of the Church in an era of ecological crisis. By organizing several different committees and public education programs in relation to ecology, Jai-Don laid the foundation for a Church-wide ecological movement in Korea. He was also actively involved in ecological movements with other religious and social groups. During this time, he directed several eight-day spiritual guidance retreats in convents of nuns and gave public lectures on eco-spirituality with a view of developing eco-spiritual awareness.
From 1997- 2004 Jai-Don studied Theology at St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto focusing on Thomas Berry’s ecological thought from an Asian perspective. He attained a doctorate degree in 2004. His thesis, “Towards an Asian Ecotheology in the Context of Thomas Berry’s Cosmology: A Critical Inquiry” is considered the first dissertation which develops a systematic approach to ecotheology from an Asian perspective. Jai-Don continues to focus his theological study on the area of interreligious dialogue and collaboration between Christianity and Asian religions so as to bring about ecological healing.
Jai-Don has presented two audio-taped sets: “Two Passovers” (90 min x 24), which explores the life and religious paths which human beings have to experience and “Cosmotheanthropic Growth” (60 min x 8), which explores the three-dimensional growth of human beings – divine, cultural and cosmic. These audio-taped sets will soon be published. Besides these tapes he has written many articles on the subject of ecology and spirituality. Jai-Don has taught courses of Christianity and Ecology at Catholic University of Korea. Since 2005, he is teaching courses on “Ecotheology and Eastern Spirituality,” “An Introduction to Asian Theologies,” and “Christianity and World Religions” at St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto, Canada.