Compassion can change a heart, change a life, change a world. A four-day conference on “Boundless Compassion” is being presented at Mount St. Joseph, Pogue Run Road, Wheeling, from Sunday through Thursday, March 8-12.

The conference is being co-sponsored by the St. Joseph Retreat Center and the Father Robert C. Nash Fund.

Sister Joyce Rupp, O.S.M., will present the Boundless Compassion conference and explore the depths of the essential quality of compassion from many dimensions including science, medicine, theology, spirituality, sociology and psychology.

Participants will be invited to ponder their personal and professional experiences of compassion, to re-energize their ability to offer loving kindness and to go forth with a renewed commitment to be a compassionate presence for one’s self and for those who are in the midst of pain and struggle.

“The conference is open to persons of any religious affiliation or personal belief system,” said Sister Mary Clark, CSJ, director of St. Joseph Retreat Center. “We are thrilled to have Joyce Rupp in Wheeling. We encourage people to register as soon as possible, as we only have a few spots left for participants.”

Clark aded, “We also have housing options that are available on a first-come, first-serve basis; we will be happy to share that information with participants when they call to register.”

There is a cost for the conference. For more information or to register, call Anna Marie Troiani, 304-232-8160, ext. 112, or send an email message to saintjosephretreatcenter137@gmail.com.

In addition, Rupp will hold a meet and greet session in Mount St. Joseph’s lower-level meeting room at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12.

Rupp is well known for her work as a writer, a spiritual “midwife,” retreat and conference speaker. She has led retreats throughout North America and in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, a master’s degree in religious education and a master’s degree in transpersonal psychology. She is a member of the Servites (Servants of Mary) community and was a volunteer for hospice for 15 years.

Her most recent book, “Fly While You Still Have Wings: and Other Lessons My Resilient Mother Taught Me,” was released this month. Her books include “The Cup of Our Life: A Guide to Spiritual Growth,” “Praying Our Goodbyes,” “Fragments of Your Ancient Name” and “Open the Door: A Journey to the True Self.”