Speakers 2023
Most Rev. Robert J. McClory
Bishop of Gary
Celebrant and Homilist for the opening Mass
Fr. Roger J. Landry
Keynote Speaker and Breakout #1
Father Roger J. Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, serves as Catholic Chaplain to Columbia University in New York City and to the Thomas Merton Institute for Catholic Life. His biggest claim to fame is that he is a seminary classmate of Bishop Robert McClory, but he is also Ecclesiastical Assistant to Aid to the Church in Need USA, a Papal Missionary of Mercy, a National Eucharistic Preacher for the USCCB’s National Eucharistic Revival, Chaplain to the New York Chapter of the Leonine Forum, and a Member of the Board of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Martyrs in Auriesville, New York. A graduate of Harvard College (1992) and the Pontifical North American College in Rome (1999), he served as Attaché to the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York (2015-2022), and has been a pastor, newspaper editor and high school chaplain in the Diocese of Fall River. He writes for many publications, appears regularly on television and radio, and is the author of Plan of Life: Habits to Help You Grow Closer to God (Pauline Books and Media 2018). His homilies, articles, retreats, conferences, educational videos and other offerings are available for free at catholicpreaching.com
KEYNOTE
Great Female Eucharistic Saints: Catholic Women as Catalysts for the Church’s Eucharistic Revival
The Church is female because women — epitomized by Mary and so many female saints — show everyone how to receive the spousal gift of Jesus the Bridegroom and respond with love. As persons, moms, catechists and friends, women teach the whole Church how to adore God with the love he deserves. In this talk, we will examine how different female saints reveal to us aspects of the Church’s Eucharistic faith as well as how to transmit that faith to others.
BREAKOUT #1
Transmitting Our Eucharistic Faith, Amazement, Love and Life to the Young
Toward every new generation, the Church must carry out the Great Commission and pass on, as of the first importance, what we ourselves have received. As various recent surveys have shown, an increasing number of young people in the United States are leaving the practice of the faith, not having found in what was communicated to them a satisfactory response to their question how to live. Many have not found God in prayer, the sacraments, the Catholic community and in the Christian life. In this talk, we will explore how to pass on the Church’s Eucharistic faith with wonder to the new generation, with heavy reliance on a great young Eucharistic apostle of his peers, Blessed Carlo Acutis (1991-2006)
BREAKOUT #2
Those Who Confess Best Will Far Surpass the Rest
We continually fine tune, improve, have the latest in every aspect of our lives except our spirituality. Confession is the church’s gift to help us fine tune, improve and be on top of our spiritual game. Those who went to confession most often and most sincerely were those we might think did not have to do so - Saints.
BREAKOUT #3
Eucharist Provides the Context for Understanding TRUE Womanhood
The Eucharist is not only about "receiving Jesus”. The Eucharist also provides the context for how to truly understand the mystical meaning of all things including womanhood. This is readily seen in the Sacramental-Liturgical life of the church and also in its art and architecture.
Fr. Thomas J. Loya
Breakout #2
Breakout #3
Fr. Thomas J Loya, is currently the pastor of Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Parish in Homer Glen, IL. He is also the host of the long running radio program, “Light of the East” which can be heard in more than 60 cities across the United States on several Catholic radio networks including EWTN Radio as well as a regular guest on the Dr. Gregory Popcak radio show.
Before entering the seminary Fr. Loya earned a degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art and pursued a career in commercial art and design. He later completed his studies for the priesthood in both Pennsylvania and Rome where he attended the North American College earning an STB from the Angelicum University. During his time in Rome, Fr. Loya first heard St. Pope John Paul II’s monumental teaching on the human person when he attended his weekly audiences about The Theology of the Body.
Fr. Loya was ordained in 1982 and later added to his Bachelor of Fine Arts by earning a Masters in Counseling and Human Services in 1993. He has directed many retreats and has been a guest speaker at several conventions including World Youth Day 2002. Using his background in art, counseling, and Eastern Catholic spirituality, Fr. Loya applies the principles of The Theology of the Body and Liturgy to the mystical understanding of the human experience.
Abbey Foard
Breakout #1
Breakout #2
Abbey Foard (M.A., LPC) has worked in healing ministry for almost 15 years. Having discovered the power of Christ-in-Community to heal and bring orthodox formation in her own life, she is committed to offering the same for others. Abbey is currently an Associate Director of Desert Stream Ministries (www.desertstream.org) in Kansas City, MO, equipping the Church to offer healing to persons with sexual and relational brokenness. Also being licensed as a Professional Counselor (LPC), Abbey has seen firsthand the value of good therapeutic care for persons seeking insight and a healing path. In all her efforts, she is passionate about seeing people made fully alive in areas of their sexuality and relationships—specifically through encountering the God who has woven His divine nature in all aspects related to gender, sex, love, and intimacy.
BREAKOUT #1
Healing Wounds Between Men and Women
Prior to being elected Pope, Archbishop Karol Wojtyla helped pen Gaudium et Spes, which says that “Man is the only creature on earth which God willed for itself, [and he] cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” (Gaudium et Spes 24)
Central to our becoming what we are made to be is our ability to “give our gift,” namely in complementarity—man for woman, woman for man. Whether single or married, we are responsible to make peace with the “other,” through generous self-donation.
But what of the fractures and wounds men and women experience, specifically through misogyny and misandry? These patterns and beliefs destroy the capacity to give and receive. They mar the Imago Dei and disrupt relational communion.
In this session we will expose the wounds of misogyny and misandry, and ways that man and woman can co-labor in bringing God’s Kingdom through generously offering themselves.
BREAKOUT #2
Divine Mercy for Sexual Integration
Jesus releases Divine Mercy to our places of deep disintegration.. Expressions of sexual and relational brokenness (sexual abuse, same sex attraction, pornography addiction, rejection wounds, gender dysphoria) are not deeper than Jesus’ mercy. His mission is to help us “rediscover our lost fullness.”
Deeper than identifying by our disintegration, our Creator gives a clarion call to see ourselves the way He sees us! St. John Paul II teaches us of our original innocence and the ways it dignifies us, the broken body of Christ.
In this session we will look at practical ways Jesus is cutting through the haze of sexual and gender ideologies and inviting His Church “deeper still.”
BREAKOUT #1
Conversion Story:
"A fire nearly took my life. Another fire saved it."
After losing her sister in a house fire as a child, Joelle experienced spiritual amnesia, losing her identity in the aftermath of the tragedy that shook her family to the core. She went on to find worldly success in modeling and being the former Host of ABC’s “Trend TV.” Joelle also developed a luxury line of anti-aging makeup that was featured on NBC and in Vanity Fair. Despite all of this, she realized her life was spiritually empty and joyless.
MIRACULOUS ENCOUNTER
Then, after a dream come true trip to Hollywood, Joelle had a miraculous encounter with Jesus that changed everything. She saw her life and the weight of her sins flash before her eyes. She saw that we are judged on love and that her good column, the column to love and use the gifts that God gave her to help others, was almost shockingly empty.
The agony of this awareness and her encounter with God’s mercy led Joelle to turn her life around. The fire of God illuminated her true identity and enabled her to walk in the newfound power of knowing that she had a deeper purpose. Joelle now shares her message of healing around the world, empowering others to walk with God to rediscover joy and purpose in their lives.
BREAKOUT #3
DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS - DISCERNING GOD'S WILL
St. Ignatius of Loyola has left a great blessing to the church. Through his 14 rules of discernment and discerning the movements in the mind and heart one can begin to understand God's will and purpose for their life. The rules also teach us to recognize spiritual warfare and learn to reject the attacks of the enemy. Then we can live in the truth of God's love even in times when we feel desolate and He feels distant.
Joelle Maryn
Breakout #1
Breakout #3
Joelle Maryn is an award-winning Actress, Speaker, and TV Host who has been featured on various TV shows including "Life On The Rock" on EWTN.
Joelle recently starred in the film "Fully Known" and is playing the role of "Mary" in the upcoming film "The New Manna."
She has also been blessed to interview many celebrities and public figures and is the host of the TV show "Beyond the Vision."
In her past, Joelle modeled for well-known brands such as Jergens, was on a billboard in Times Square, and co-hosted ABC’s “Trend TV." Additionally, she was the founder/CEO of an anti-aging line of makeup featured on NBC and in Vanity Fair.
In 2012, Joelle realized her life was spiritually empty and joyless. She had a miraculous encounter with Jesus and now shares her message of God's healing love around the world through speaking, films, and TV shows.