The Luisne Team

Miriam Lucas

Founder and Board Director • Facilitator: Meditation, Events, Workshops

Miriam obtained her B.A from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles and her Masters from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She taught and was a principal in California and returned to Ireland after 22 years. She completed a Masters in Pastoral Leadership (MAPL) at All Hallows College in Dublin specialising in spiritual accompaniment.

Miriam began Luisne in a very small way in the year 2003 – 2004. Her love of nature was cultivated in her family and deepened during a faith-expanding, paradigm-shifting, life-changing experience during a sabbatical year, spent partly at St Anselm’s in Kent and the Sophia Centre in Oakland (founded by Matthew Fox).

The modern Universe story as presented at the Centre and especially its implications for the spiritual/faith journey and its demand for a radically revised image of God were both fascinating and challenging. The writing of the required thesis at All Hallows provided the opportunity for the Luisne vision to take shape. This vision had to be grounded in an understanding of the Divine in the light of cosmology. The boxed-in, unchanging, distant, well-defined God of the catechism no longer made sense.

There was a need to share this broader concept of the Divine and of the deep and sacred interconnectedness of all life. And so, Luisne came to birth.

Barbora Svecova

Programme and Operations Director • Facilitator: Events, Workshops, Sound Bath, Voice Work

Barbora is an educator, experienced event organiser and facilitator of workshops for adults and children. Currently managing the vibrant event programme at Luisne, she also guides you on transformative sound baths and voice healing journeys.

As a certified Voice Healing practitioner and passionate sonic activist, Barbora’s deep understanding of sound’s impact on well-being stems from formal music training and studies with experts like Chloe Goodchild and John Stuart Reid, complemented by choral experience, including with the Goethe Institut Choir. Guided by an evidence-based philosophy that honours ancient wisdom, she is dedicated to creating inclusive and accessible pathways to the healing power of sound and voice.

Beyond her artistic pursuits, Barbora holds certifications in Business Management and Marketing Management. She is currently expanding her knowledge in digital media marketing and contributes to Luisne’s marketing efforts, ensuring the programme is effectively communicated.

Originally from Prague, Barbora’s journey led her to Ireland in 2001, where she quickly fell in love with the country’s rich culture and landscape. Now, she is dedicated to using her skills to help Luisne flourish as Co. Wicklow’s premier destination for spirituality and well-being.

Barbara Perry

Luisne advisor and Sacred Dance Teacher

From a very early age, Barbara studied classical music and ballet. While music has always been part of her life, she concluded her classical ballet training during her teen years. However, to Barbara’s delight, dance made a welcome return to her life during the Millenium, in the form of Dance Meditation-Sacred Dance.

Barbara has trained with several teachers but the most transformative and enduring influence has been her encounter with Friedel Kloke-Eibl founder of the Association of Dance Meditation – Sacred Dance in Germany, under whose direction she undertook an intensive training over several years.

Barbara joined Miriam at Luisne in November 2008 where she has been leading regular dancing circles. As well as giving dance workshops at Luisne Barbara conducts dance classes/workshops elsewhere in Ireland, in England and in the USA.

Qualifications: B.A, B Mus., Dip Psych., Dip. Dance Meditation – Sacred Dance

Marie-Andre Horsthemke

Luisne Advisor and Meditation Facilitator

Marie-Andre Horsthemke has been facilitating workshops and volunteering at Luisne almost since its beginning. She is a qualified Art Psychotherapist and has run workshops on Mandalas, short Art Therapy workshops, and offered one-to-one therapy. She has an impressive background in spirituality, her principal training was under the Benedictine monk Willigis Jaeger. She now specialises in spiritual guidance and meditation practice.

Bianca Cobian

Community Space Coordinator

Bianca is the Community Space Coordinator and our primary on-site host, essential for ensuring Luisne is a welcoming and smoothly functioning centre. She serves as the key in-person contact, providing orientation and hands-on support for all practitioners and visitors, and acting as the main liaison for practitioner resource needs.

With a background in holistic wellness modalities and practical experience, Bianca understands what our practitioners need. She manages the daily operations, handling the maintenance and readiness of the space. She coordinates our community gatherings, efficiently managing the hospitality, volunteer team and the physical setup. Bianca provides vital support to the smooth running of Luisne.

Volunteers

Maricica Bulai

Bookings Manager

Maricica manages the essential administrative flow of Luisne, ensuring smooth operations for practitioners and clients alike. As our Bookings Manager, she is the main point of contact for all practitioners regarding scheduling and the needs of their sessions.

Maricica expertly handles all core booking logistics. This includes meticulously maintaining the centre’s calendar, creating accurate invoices, and carrying out vital administrative tasks. Her consistent support is invaluable in ensuring practitioners can effectively manage their schedules. We thank Maricica for her professionalism and commitment to Luisne.

Cordelia Tuck

Website Manager

Cordelia joined the Luisne team in January 2022 as website manager. She has a background in computer networking, but after a career break she completed Computers for Business at Stillorgan College of Further Education, and an HDIP in Interaction Design at DCU. This return to education created a new passion for making websites that are both useful, and easy to use. She believes that every community needs and deserves quiet spaces for reflection, for people to take care of themselves, and to learn and grow from each other, and she hopes to use technology to make it easier for people to find and join each other, at Luisne.

Veronika Minasianc

Photographer - Visual Storyteller

Veronika has been collaborating with Luisne since the beginning of 2024, helping us beautifully document the heart of our community. With a focus on capturing authentic moments and the tranquillity of the space, her work brings the unique atmosphere of Luisne to life.

Drawing on her passion for visual storytelling, Veronika ensures that the spirit of our gatherings and the dedication of our practitioners are reflected across our website and promotional materials. Her photographs help share the warmth and connection that define the Luisne experience.

The Luisne Board of Directors

The governance of Luisne is overseen by our dedicated Board of Directors:

Chair and Board Director – Sr. Miriam Lucas

Secretary and Board Director – Dr. Andrew McGrath

Board Director – Barbora Svecova MA

Board Director – Dr. Padraic Hurley