Board Members

​Kay Adair

President Emeritus + Founder

Kay Adair dedicated her life to conservation, sustainable agriculture, and spiritual growth. In 1982, she and her late husband, Bishop John R.C. Adair, founded St. Francis of the Woods, drawing inspiration from the Russian tradition of poustinia - a sacred space for prayer, solitude, and reflection. Her vision established a welcoming sanctuary for all who seek spiritual renewal. Kay served as the President of the Board from 1982 until 2014, guiding the organization’s mission and growth. With her deep commitment to caring for creation and especially animals, Kay embodied the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi. Her passion for nature and hospitality shaped St. Francis of the Woods into the sanctuary it is today, offering peace, renewal, and a sense of belonging to all who visit. She also founded the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture, building a legacy of environmental stewardship. Kay peacefully entered eternal rest on Sunday, 20 October 2024 but her legacy will continue to shape the future of St. Francis of the Woods for generations. 

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Helen Taylor

Past President Emeritus

Helen was born and grew up in northwestern Oklahoma the daughter of a Methodist minister. She graduated from Oklahoma City University where she meet and married James C. Taylor. They lived in Evanston, Illinois, and New Haven, Connecticut, with seven months traveling Europe and spending one semester at Goettingen University in Germany for Jim to get a seminary degree and a doctorate.  They moved back to Oklahoma in 1965 where Jim taught at Oklahoma City University. They had two children, a daughter and a son.  In the mid seventies, the family moved to Dallas where Helen attended Perkins School of Theology, graduated and became a full-time minister.  It was some time in the late eighties that Kay Adair started taking Jim’s classes. She was so impressed that she brought husband Robert to class.  They invited the whole family to come out for lunch and to see their fairly new venture, a retreat center, St. Francis of the Woods.  At that time there was a nice house on the north property. The property on the highway had two small houses and a barn.  The barn was renovated to accommodate a Montessori preschool and office space with the upstairs becoming a chapel for worship on Sundays. Over the years more property with lodging was acquired. Chapel, Library, and Claire House were built. Helen continued to take regular personal retreats and bring church groups out for retreats. She was invited to become part of the Board of Trustees in the early nineties and has served since.  She was President of the Board from 2014-2021.

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Pat Hoerth

President

Pat Hoerth lives in and is engaged with the CommonWealth Urban Farms community in the heart of Oklahoma City. Her work there involves community support, producing the newsletter, gardening and fixing lunch weekly for the farmers and community, largely from the food they produce.  A trained spiritual director, she walks with people individually and in groups. A journalist, she is working on a biography of sculptor Evelyn Beatrice Longman. Pat has led retreats, workshops and seminary courses on Creation Spirituality and sustainability through Turtle Rock Farm, a retreat center which she and her sister ran on their family farm, and as an adjunct faculty member at Phillips Theological Seminary, Tulsa. At CommonWealth, she organized and co-led the Hands in the Soil program for clergy and laity, and managed the CSA. 1970-1981, she worked at The Washington Star where she was a feature writer. She co-authored The Life and Times of Henry Bellmon and wrote God’s Extravagant Garden. A Climate Study for Children. She graduated from Oklahoma State University with a BS major in journalism and Phillips Theological Seminary, with an MTS and MDiv. Being attentive in nature is essential to her well-being. Photographing nature, including people, brings her great pleasure, as does living life in community with friends and family, including her son Will Copeland, a photo editor in Long Beach, CA., and her husband Nathaniel Batchelder, director of the Peace House Oklahoma City.

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Kathy Leithner  

Secretary

Kathy has lived in 22 different towns and cities across two countries so far, served as a United Methodist minister for thirty-seven years, and volunteered with the Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation for three decades. She enjoys hiking, cooking, making music, reading, and traveling. She appreciates St. Francis of the Woods' focus on hospitality, retreat, creativity, the natural world, and the spiritual journey.​​​

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Alonzo Peterson

Dr. Alonzo Peterson is the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Langston University, where he leads initiatives aimed at advancing the university’s academic mission. He serves on the board of St. Francis of the Woods, offering his perspectives and guidance in support of the community's mission. A native of Louisiana, Alonzo is known for his culinary expertise, particularly his skill in preparing Cajun food. His love for cooking is an expression of his creativity and a way of sharing with others. Alonzo is also deeply committed to his faith, regularly attending church in Langston. His service at St. Francis of the Woods is an extension of his dedication to education, community, and his personal spiritual journey.

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Nancy Titus-Piersma

check back for Nancy's bio soon. 

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Susan Fitzgerald

check back for Susan's bio soon. 

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Chelsey Simpson
An Oklahoman by birth, Chelsey has worked as editor of Oklahoma Living, written for other Edible Communities’ titles around the nation, and held leadership roles in the National Young Farmers Coalition, National Farm to School Network, and Oklahoma Food COOP. Since 2017, Chelsey has been the Director of Outreach and Opportunities at Urban Agrarian, one of OKC’s finest markets for local farmers and ranchers to sell their products. She is a contributing editor and sometimes writer for EdibleOKC.

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Haridas Heitz

Haridas Heitz is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Oklahoma State University and primarily teaches Eastern Philosophy, with emphasis on the nature of the self. He did his graduate work at the University of Hawai’i, focusing on a comparative study of Martin Heidegger and Chuang Tzu, while also studying Traditional Chinese Medicine. He currently leads a dialogic group entitled, “Being Peace: Taking the Path of Inner Peace,” designed to help participants find the peace that lies beneath the conflicts and confusions of the mind. Dr. Heitz is author of Heart of Wonder, a guide to Self-realization through ecstatic experiences of wonder. While a practitioner and teacher of T’ai Chi, a Zen student of the late Maurine Stuart Roshi and devoted disciple of Neem Karoli Baba, he is seriously committed to the notion that no commitment or belief should be taken all that seriously. He resides in Stillwater, OK, on a wooded acre of land with his darling cat, Sita.

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Kathy McCallie

Kathy McCallie joined the Board of St. Francis of the Woods in 2026. She is Associate Professor of Ministerial Leadership and Ethics and Director of Formation for UCC Students at Phillips Seminary in Tulsa. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, she served 26 years in pastoral ministry and has also worked as a denominational officer, social activist, and community organizer in justice-centered movements. Her research focuses on ethics, social and transnational justice movements, and the intersections of church and governance. She especially enjoys leading travel immersion courses to Nicaragua, Israel/Palestine, and the U.S.–Mexico border. Kathy completed HeartPaths spiritual direction training a program in 2025.

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Staff & Residents

+Aidan Bradley Wilson

Aidan has served as Executive Director of St. Francis of the Woods since 2014 and Director of HeartPaths Spirituality Centre since 2022. A lifelong Oklahoman, he earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma in 2009 and practiced law before pursuing ministry. That same year, he joined the Oakerhater Community, a religious community within the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma. His spiritual journey began in 2000, when the ancient worship of Orthodoxy first called to his soul, sparking a lifelong exploration of church history, theology, and mysticism. In 2012, he visited Egypt and Turkey, where experiences at desert monasteries and sacred sites deepened his faith and led him to St. Francis of the Woods, where he became director in 2014 and was ordained a priest in 2015. In 2019, he was consecrated bishop and took the name Aidan in honor of St. Aidan of Lindisfarne.

Bishop Aidan has practiced hesychasm—the mystical prayer of Eastern Christianity—for nearly 20 years and draws theological inspiration from the Church Fathers, Celtic and Franciscan traditions, and Sufi poets like Hafiz and Rumi. His pilgrimages to sacred places including Iona, Assisi, Lindisfarne, Rome, Constantinople, Glendalough, Kildare, Skellig Michael, Scattery Island, Canterbury, St. Albans, and others have been transformative, deepening his connection to Christ and the boundless love of God.

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Eugene White

Eugene has been an integral part of St. Francis of the Woods since 1981, dedicating over 43 years to transforming it into a welcoming sanctuary of hospitality. His hands-on contributions have been vital to the development and upkeep of this beautiful community. Notably, Eugene played a key role in the construction of the St. Francis Chapel and has been involved in building or restoring many of the structures that define St. Francis of the Woods today.

Beyond his work on the buildings, Eugene takes pride in maintaining the grounds, ensuring they remain a picturesque environment for all who visit. He manages the hoop house, nurturing a variety of plants, and contributes to the flourishing Hildegarden, which serves as a testament to his passion for gardening and sustainability.

When he’s not at St. Francis, Eugene enjoys spending quality time with his children and grandchildren, sharing his love for nature and community with them. He is also an active member of his church in Guthrie, where he finds joy and fellowship. Eugene’s unwavering commitment and deep-rooted connection to St. Francis of the Woods have made him a cornerstone of its vibrant community, helping to shape it into the beloved haven it is today.

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Gary Doolin

Gary has been a dedicated part of the St. Francis of the Woods community since 1990, giving over 30 years of service. He started by mowing the lawns, keeping the grounds neat and welcoming for everyone. Over time, his role expanded as his skills grew, and now he’s responsible for keeping all the equipment running smoothly.

Whether he’s cutting and baling hay, maintaining tractors, or fixing broken machinery, Gary’s work is essential to the farm’s daily operations. He ensures that everything, from small tools to big machines, is always in good working order, helping St. Francis continue its mission of hospitality and sustainability without any interruptions.

Gary also works closely with Eugene to keep the buildings and grounds in top shape. Together, they make sure the property is not only functional but also a peaceful and well-maintained place for visitors. Gary’s hands-on approach and problem-solving skills have become a vital part of the community’s success.

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Mary Richelle Lau

Mary Richelle Lau is a visual artist from Stillwater, Oklahoma. She has designed album covers, t-shirts, and posters for local bands and events, but her latest passion is freeform emotive acrylic painting on large canvases and both interior and exterior mural work. Being self-taught, Mary’s path into the art world is non-traditional, but her passion and personal development has been a life-long immersive education. Through an introspective lens, she explores feeling and presence, and allows the canvas to evolve naturally as she dances and paints without regards to the outcome… her paintings grow with her as she adds layers through the seasonal, growth-inducing changes of life.

Spirituality and self-development have been paramount in Mary’s life, leading her to express her inner, ever-shifting landscape through art, word, song, and dance. She completed her residency at St. Francis of the Woods in August 2025 and continues to serve the community as a Prairiewood Forest School facilitator and retreat leader.

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Lori Ann Wilde

Lori Ann is our resident Education Director and facilitates our Prairiewood Forest School classes. Her background in education ranges from graduating college with a Secondary Education teaching license; to studies with Wilderness Awareness School, Project WILD, and The Human Path Herbal Medics Academy; to a combined 13 years as an outdoor camp counselor and nature play educator, exploring the forests of Arkansas and Oklahoma with youth (and always learning at least as much as they do!)

Lori Ann connects with the sacred permeating all of nature through curious attunement with her senses. Her teachers include wild plants, poetry, traditional storytelling, vitalist herbalism, and her daughter and son. The spiritual practices most nourishing to her include stargazing, messy journaling, mending, listening to children, meditative embroidery, wildcrafting and gardening, laughter, silence, active movement, authentic singing, deeply connected conversation, dreamwork, and grounding time in the woods.

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Rainna Okapal

Rainna moved to Oklahoma from her birth state of Ohio when she was 12 years old and has lived in several different cities in Oklahoma since that time. She graduated from Broken Arrow Senior high in 2005, then quickly got her Art Associates Degree from the Tulsa Community college. She then moved to OKC and joined a production company that performs at local renaissance festivals while attending UCO’s graphic design program. Due to the competitive nature of the field, she shortly dropped out of UCO and took an unconventional path to find her authentic self. Rainna found a love of teaching others leadership and started back at school in 2021 to complete a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership and Development. Through much trial and error in life, she has created a path based on self-reflection, learning, and understanding love.

She started visiting St. Francis of the Woods as a weekend getaway many years ago to bring peace and self-reflection to her busy life. Her love of people and community drove her to connect with the St. Francis residents during that time. She had never really connected to religion before – she did not attend chapel until several years after she started visiting St. Francis. Once she did, she was mesmerized by the nature of the congregation, which was radically inclusive while still having a connection to ancient rituals and traditions. She quickly sought more information, attended inquirer classes, received baptism at St. Francis, and is now working towards being a reader in the church. She started living at St. Francis in August of 2022 and has since continued to broaden her worldview and found herself opening to a new perspective on life and love. ​​​

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Kathryn Kiester

​Kathryn began at St. Francis of the Woods in January 2023 as the Donor and Development Coordinator and was ordained a Deacon in 2024. She grew up in the Episcopal Church in rural Oklahoma, where her spiritual foundation was laid in the inclusive and loving community of All Saints in Duncan. This environment instilled in her the values of radical inclusivity and a commitment to confronting challenges head-on, deeply influencing her spirituality today. Her faith is grounded in ancient church practices, a love for nature, and the importance of living in community and celebrating interconnectedness. Kathryn led the youth ministry at St John’s Episcopal Church in Norman, Ok where she was also the bookkeeper and property manager.  While there, Kathryn also helped host programs for First Nations communities with the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma.  Kathryn is a member of the Oakerhater Community, a community in absence focused on reconciliation founded in the 1990’s at St. Francis of the Woods. Kathryn and Aidan led two classes of young people on pilgrimage to Iona in 2011 and Assisi in 2015. Kathryn currently engages in various spiritual disciplines, including yoga, meditation, writing, and finding quietude in nature. Kathryn has been married for over 20 years and has two beautiful, adult children.  She believes that the divine can be experienced in everyday life—whether preparing a cabin for someone seeking poustinia or exploring the intricacies of life on a cellular level. With a profound understanding of her spiritual roots, Kathryn embraces the journey of growth and connection as she continues to cultivate her faith

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Colleen Jensen

Colleen Jensen joined St. Francis of the Woods as Hospitality Manager in 2025. She found St. Francis of the Woods in 2022 and came for retreats, events, liturgical services and began the Heart Paths Program offered here. When the Hospitality Manager position became available,  her love of nature, gardening, history, human cultures & cosmologies, social justice, religions, spirituality, and psychology made her a natural fit for the community. She has a BA in Management and Human Relations from MidAmerica Nazarene University.  She worked in Human Resources Management, Recruiting and Communications for corporate and medical organizations for many years. She also obtained training as a yoga instructor and yoga therapist and enjoyed working in the Health and Wellness arena.  

Colleen recently did graduate studies at the University of Central Oklahoma in the history of Indigenous (Native American) art, ecology, agriculture and seed development; world-wide & US food systems history and the effects of colonialism, and capitalism on plant biodiversity.  She loves using the herbs, flowers, vegetables and fruits from the land and HildeGarden for community meals. She has gardened in Minnesota, Kansas and Florida and has found Oklahoma to be the most challenging of all and finds the advice from Oklahoma farmers and gardeners most welcome.

Colleen feels honored to use her experience and knowledge to maintain welcoming spaces and assist with events for guests, seekers, worshipers, students, clergy, retreatants and families that come to St. Francis of the Woods, Prairiewood Forest School and HeartPaths. She is grateful for the visionaries that created St. Francis of the Woods and those that have maintained and supported the mission “to empower people to renew their spirits and transform the world through community, creativity, and care for creation.”