Anthony Lilles, S.T.D. 

Professor of Spiritual Theology/Director of the M.A. Program 

Anthony Lilles, S.T.D., has served the Church and assisted in the formation of clergy and seminarians since 1994. Before coming to St. Patrick’s, he served at seminaries and houses of formation in the Archdiocese of Denver and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The son of a California farmer, married with young adult children, holds a B.A. in theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville with both the ecclesiastical licentiate and doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome (the Angelicum). An expert in the writings of St. Elisabeth of the Trinity and the Carmelite Doctors of the Church, he co-founded the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation and the High Calling Program for priestly vocations. He also founded the John Paul II Center for Contemplative Culture, which hosts symposiums, retreats, and conferences. In addition to his publications, he blogs at www.beginningtopray.com, www.spirtualdirection.com, and podcasts at www.discerninghearts.com.   

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Mitali Perkins 

Mitali Perkins (mitaliperkins.com) has written many books for young readers, including You Bring the Distant Near (nominated for a National Book Award) and Rickshaw Girl (adapted into a film by Sleeperwave Productions), all of which explore crossing different kinds of borders. Her goal is to make readers laugh or cry, preferably both, as long as their hearts are widening. She lives and writes in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

 

 

 

 

 

Chaplains 

 

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Fr Bruce Wren LC  

Fr Bruce was born on January 8, 1962, in Cottonwood, Idaho. After finishing high school as salutatorian of his class in 1980, he attended St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree of Liberal Arts in 1984.   

At the age of 23 a good friend, who was also a Jesuit priest, suggested he look into joining the Legionaries of Christ. He later began novitiate with the Legion in the fall of 1985 and in the years that followed received degrees in classical humanities, philosophy, and theology. He was ordained to the priesthood on January 3, 1996, and began his priestly ministry as Instructor of Novices at the Legionaries of Christ’s former Novitiate in Cornwall, Canada. From 1999-2014 he served in France as Rector of “École Apostolique de l’Immaculée Conception,” and superior of his community. In 2014 he returned to the states and served in Chicago as the local superior for the Legion’s community there and as chaplain for several groups.  Then, in August of 2022, Father Bruce was assigned to be superior of a Legionary community in Atlanta, Georgia, and chaplain of Regnum Christi. Later, on March 21, 2023, he was appointed as a North American territorial councilor for a three-year term beginning on July 1, 2023.  

 

Fr Thomas Vendetti LC 

Fr Thomas Vendetti is originally from Rockville, MD. He joined the novitiate of the Legion of Christ in Connecticut in 1995. He studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome and obtained a licentiate in philosophy and bachelors in theology. He recently completed his MA in Christian Spirituality at Fordham University in NY, focusing on the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Since his ordination to the priesthood in 2009 he has served in the New York Tristate area for four years as vice rector and director of development for the Legionaries’ center of philosophy in Thornwood, NY, as well as chaplain for Regnum Christi in Manhattan. From 2013 to 2016 he was local director and chaplain for Regnum Christi in Chicago. He is currently serving in the Bay Area as director for Our Lady of Santa Clara Retreat Center and chaplain for Regnum Christi.