Fr. Tom Speier, O.F.M.

Fr. Tom Speier is a member of the OFM Province of Franciscans based in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2004 he returned from Ethiopia where he had conducted the 35^th Session of his Franciscan Internship Program in Spiritual Direction and Directed Retreats. He founded the Franciscan Spiritual Direction Program in 1981 with the encouragement of the Franciscan Provincials (ESC). Besides yearly programs in the USA, he has also conducted three-month sessions in Europe, Africa and Asia every year. The program continues now in Canada, England, and in Central and South America. Fr. Tom also co-founded the Franciscan Gathering which brings the Franciscan family together in Tampa, Florida every February to explore facets of their spirituality.

At present he ministers on the parish team which serves the students attending the University of Cincinnati. He spent the first half of his priestly life as professor and Director of Formation in his Order’s college seminaries. He also served on the Midwest Inter-provincial novitiate team. In addition to his teaching ministry, Fr. Tom spent two years conducting retreats at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Cincinnati. He has organized renewal workshops for the Franciscan friars in his own province as well as for other Franciscan families. During the last thirty years he has shared numerous retreats and missions with sisters, priests, and laity.

Fr. Tom holds two graduate degrees from St. Bonaventure University and the Franciscan Institute. In addition, he has done graduate theological studies at the University of San Francisco and has completed the Internship Program in Spiritual Direction at the Jesuit Renewal Center in Milford, Ohio. He spent a sabbatical year completing the certificate program at the Jesuit Institute for Spirituality and Worship in Berkeley, California.