Sheila O’Handley

Let me share a little about myself with you the reader.

I was born in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1941. I am the first born of ten children to the late Malcolm and Agnes O’Handley

In 1958, I entered the Sisters of Saint Martha, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Having experienced a persistent call to the solitary life I came to Saint Mary’s Place of Solitude and Prayer, Doyles, Newfoundland, Canada, in 1993.

I ‘m an extrovert. I love people and a good time. I am more a contradiction to people when they see me living this way of life. They say, “Look, you’re a great educator, you’ve got all kinds of life, you work well with people and you want to go hide yourself in the woods.”

Well, they make for a good argument. However, I believe that the solitary life is my life’s calling. And that the solitary life is a vocation in itself having an apostolic dimension, a public ministry to say to the world that there is something greater, namely the Mystery, and there needs to be some individuals who say it with their life.

I am also a self taught weaver. I work with a variety of materials: cotton, silk, chenille, wool and linen; creating jackets, scarves, shawls , table and altar clothes, runners etc.

It would indeed be an oversight if I failed to mention my two year old  independent chocolate lab retriever,  Quantum.

Academic Background:

• Masters Christian Community Development
• Masters of Divinity
• Bachelor of Sacred Theology
• Bachelor of Education
• Bachelor of Arts
• Certificate: Adult Facilitation Skills
• Trained Spiritual Director
• Jungian Psychoanalysis Theory and Practice