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A Team of Wounded Healers
Many of us in the helping professions are wounded healers, as are many saints. Others, such as Mother Teresa, acknowledged their struggles with the darkness of doubt. St. Thomas More struggled with fear and depression. Faustina was criticized and deemed psychotic for her visions of Christ and His Divine Mercy, and St. Padre Pio was often physically beaten up by the demonic.
We as the Refuge Veritas team strive to acknowledge our brokenness in light of Christ's mercy and healing love, bring those places of brokenness to wherever they might need to be healed (confession, spiritual direction, counseling, a doctor, etc.) and use the knowledge we've gained from these places of woundedness to grow closer to Christ's passion. We allow our brokenness to be transformed into grace, and witness to others on their own personal healing journeys.
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Refuge Veritas strives to be a joyful group of individuals of all ages and backgrounds with a common charism of actively discerning what God, in His Divine Providence, is asking of us as we invite others to experience His healing love.
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Scroll down to learn more about our members!
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Board Members
Whitney Stager, MS, LMFT, CCPS - President
Connor Schlaack - Vice President
Alexa Harbor - Secretary
Ken Stager - Treasurer
Bob Kroll - General Member
Whitney Stager, MS, LMFT, CCPS (Sanguine Choleric) is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with specialties in treating families, individuals and couples. She is a 20-plus year Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. She received her bachelor's degree in Child Development and Family Studies and her master’s degree in Child and Family Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy.
Whitney served on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (WAMFT) from 2011-2013. She served as the lead member of the conference committee and was a part of many other subcommittees.
Whitney has received training from APSATS, the Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists and is a Certified Clinical Partner Specialist (CCPS). She is also a Level One Certified Gottman Method Therapist. Her other couples therapy training includes Certification in the Pragmatic-Experiential Therapy for Couples developed by Brett Atkinson.
Whitney has received I AM Prayer Training through the John Paul II Healing Center under the direction of Dr. Bob Schuchts and is currently enrolled in Elijah House Ministries Prayer Training (201). She and her husband are Family of the Americas NFP instructors, and were trained by Mercedes Wilson.
Whitney enjoys singing, skiing (water & snow!), spending time with her family and on her boat. She has a great love for Christ's Divine Mercy and finds some of her most fruitful prayer time being when she is skiing!
Alexa Harbor (Choleric Melancholic) is the Executive Director of Refuge Veritas. After high school she felt a deep stirring to discern a vocation to religious life and became an Aspirant at Mater Redemptoris Content and House of Formation and her journey of healing, restoration, and love of God took full effect!
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After time in formation, Alexa joined SPIRITUS Ministries where she served for two years as a retreat leader to thousands of high school students, led high school faith nights, led music ministry, and in her second year, led her team as a Servant Leader. Alexa also served as the Coordinator for the Diocese of Green Bay's Totus Tuus teams. Throughout her time of ministry thus far, she has led over 250 retreats.
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Alexa's educational background consists of Special Education, Elementary Education, Business and Marketing. She was a ABA Tech as well as a Support Specialist for adults and children with cognitive disabilities. Alexa's family owned assisted living homes for elderly and disabled adults, so her passion and knowledge of care for those in need has been an intrinsic part of her human development.
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Alexa was the Mission Director of Elizabeth Ministry International and founding member and Director of Zechariah House of Healing. She directed the fundraising, remodeling, development, and branding of Zechariah House of Healing, its website and social media presence, created retreats, as well as developed of a team of dedicated individuals that served at the ministry.
Alexa is the CEO of Authentica Productions, LLC and Director of Project Management for Catholics for Hire. Alexa is a professional graphic designer, brand developer, web designer, video and audio editor and has spearheaded projects for Catholic Universities, travel companies, medical institutions, and more.
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Alexa is open to her need for healing; both in the past and in the present. She sees it as an "undoing", and is unashamed to admit her downfalls. She has been trained in Elijah House Ministries and attended 5 years of classes (201 & 202), JP2 Ministries (Healing the Whole Person & I AM Training), and her Diocesan special training of Encounter Ministries. She is an advocate of EMDR Therapy after receiving great results from her personal experience with it. Alexa knows personally the struggles of autoimmune conditions and spiritual warfare and desires to be a witness of joy in the midst of suffering.
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In Alexa's free time, she enjoys singing, laughing, being in nature, and spending time with her Aussiedoodle. She is an introvert, but loves being with her friends and team members. Alexa takes inspiration from her "sisters" St. Therese, St. Faustina, and St. Hildegard as well as her "mother" St. Teresa of Avila. The witness of their lives have been intrinsic to Alexa perusing ministry. Her favorite way to pray is tucked away in nature, Jesus in the Eucharist, and praise and worship.
“Let us understand that God is a Divine Physician, and that suffering is a medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.” - St. Augustine
Kenneth (Ken) Stager (Phlegmatic Melancholic) attended Western Michigan University where he received a Bachelors of Science in Paper Engineering (Applied Chemical Engineering). He received advanced training at the Wharton School for Business. Since then, he has held various positions in the paper engineering field, in sales and management areas both domestically and internationally. He currently is the Vice President of KPR Paper and Board - ANDRITZ.
Ken has volunteered for many years doing Marriage Preparation in the Diocese of Green Bay and is a trained Natural Family Planning instructor. In addition, he has received I AM healing ministry training from the John Paul II Healing Center and is currently attending Elijah House Prayer Training, Level 201.
Bob Kroll (Choleric Sanguine) has a degree in Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and is currently a supervisor for an automation/robotics firm in Greenville, Wisconsin.
Bob is a nationally-known speaker and founder of With All Your Heart Institute, an apostolate that focuses on making others aware of how emotional wounds from the past affect our lives and our relationships, and methods for healing these wounds. He has received training through Elijah House Prayer Ministry (201 & 202), has attended healing events sponsored by the John Paul II Healing Center and has studied master’s level theology at Augustine Institute.
Bob enjoys reading , home building construction, coaching football and baseball, and early 80’s pop music. Bob and his wife, Christine, live in Neenah and have four boys.
Connor Schlaack (Sanguine Phlegmatic) has a degree in Philosophy and Catholic Studies from the University of St. Thomas and is a former seminarian for the Diocese of Green Bay, studying theology and pastoral care at St. Francis de Sales Seminary. He has received the "I AM" healing training through the John Paul II Healing Center and is currently enrolled in Elijah House prayer training. He is a fixture of the Diocese of Green Bay, dedicating his time and talent to leading St. Jude Men's House, as well as actively volunteering at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral and the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help.
Martina (Tina) Beyer (Phlegmatic Melancholic) graduated from the University of Mary in 2014 with a bachelor's degree in Pastoral Ministry. She has been leading retreat ministry for over seven years now, serving on SPIRITUS (Teams 7 & 9) and Totus Tuus of the Diocese of Green Bay.
She loves being able to help others find healing through growing in their relationship with the Lord. She has received special healing training through Elijah House Ministries (Levels 201 & 202) and Encounter Ministries. Her passion for hospitality comes from seeing Christ in each person she meets, and as well as working as a generalist at Pacem in Terris, a hermitage retreat center in St. Cloud, MN.
She has a laid back disposition, enjoys engaging in creative and deep thinking, a deep prayer life, and hanging out with friends.
Wesley (Wes) Beyer (Sanguine Phlegmatic) has a powerful conversion story of his journey to the Catholic Church. Prior to entering the Church in 2014, he joined Northern Michigan University's Catholic Campus Ministry and became a peer minister.
Wes graduated from NMU with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in theatre in 2016. He has led over 50 retreats in his time serving with SPIRITUS Ministries (Team 9) and loves using his writing and public speaking gifts to serve the Church. He enjoys teaching high school drama at St. Ignatius Classical School in Kaukauna, WI.