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Friday, September 11, 2009
MORNING
SESSION
Renewing
Our Lives in Christ Jesus
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas, DD, Vice-President of the United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB),
Diocese of Tucson, Arizona, USA
This keynote address will give a foundational understanding of
the radical idea of Vatican II's definition of what the Call to
Holiness is and how it has transcended from its development to
today. This talk will look at the roles of everyone and in particular
the laity while setting the tone of point of reference of the
Symposium.
 Bishop
Gerald F. Kicanas, D.D., is the Bishop in Tucson, Arizona and
the Vice-President of the United States Catholic Council of Bishops
(USCCB). Bishop Kicanas served in various capacities in the Archdiocese
of Chicago seminary system for more than 25 years. In 1984, he
was appointed Rector of Mundelein Seminary at the University of
St. Mary of the Lake, Mundelein, Illinois and was also a Lecturer
at Loyola University. In 1995, he was appointed Auxiliary Bishop
of Chicago, and in 2001 he was appointed coadjutor Bishop of Tucson.
In 2003, he became the sixth Bishop of Tucson. He currently is
also serving as the Vice President of the United States Catholic
Council of Bishops. His motto is "Justice begets peace."
Obstacles
to Holiness: Institutional and Non-Institutional
Fr. Leon Strieder, SLD, Associate Professor of Liturgical
and Sacramental Theology,
University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Theology, Houston,
Texas, USA
This is the response talk to the Keynote
address. It will challenge participants to look at the obstacles
that challenge them in responding to the Universal Call to Holiness
every day. The examination will candidly look at both Institutional
and Non-Institutional obstacles. It will also set the tone for
the afternoon workshops.
 Fr.
Leon Strieder, SLD, is a priest from the Diocese of Austin and
is an Associate Professor of Liturgical and Sacramental Theology
at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Theology in
Houston, Texas. He studied in at the Gregorian in Rome and did
his liturgical studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute
at San Anselmo in Rome. His areas of research include Ordination
Rites and Evangelization. His other interests include Inter-Faith
dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims in addition to his
interest in Classical and Modern Languages.
Saturday,
September 12, 2009
MORNING
SESSION
The Early Church and Today’s Calling As Seen Through the
Church of Lyon
Bishop Thierry Brac de la Perrière, Auxiliary Bishop,
Archdiocese of Lyon, France
This is a keynote address that will give
a foundational understanding of the Call to Holiness in the Early
Church and how that call is same today. It will draw reference
to the Early Christians response and how we can draw strength
and understanding in today's response. At the same draw reference
to the origins of our Archdiocese relative to the Early Church.
This talk will set the tone and point of reference for Saturday
Program.
Bishop Thierry Brac de la Perrière
is a native of Lyon. He was ordained as a priest in 1988 and appointed
and ordained as an Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon in 2003. His studies
were in literature prior to being ordained. He is a member on
the Council for the movements and association for the laity. There
have been many opportunities to minister to the people of Lyon
and has served as chaplain for the Faith and Light Communities.
Archbishop Romero: Who Was He?
Msgr. Ricardo Urioste
Archdiocese of San Salvador, El Salvador
This is a general conference on the life
of Archbishop of Oscar Romero who was martyred in San Salvador,
El Salvador. It is to witness the struggle of people and their
Shepherd and how the responding to the Call to Holiness manifests
itself in the courage of humanity.
 Monsignor
Ricardo Urioste was ordained at the Jesuit Comillas University
in Spain where he commenced his theological studies and finished
up at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in Canon Law.
As personal priest secretary to Archbishop Oscar Romero, the Archbishop
of San Salvador who was assassinated in 1980 by a right-wing group
for speaking out against injustices in El Salvador, he can witness
to the struggle and the life of Romero who has been called the
“prophet of hope.” In the midst of the ongoing violations
of human rights and Romero started a group, which spoke out on
behalf of the poor and victims of the country's civil war. Urioste
was a witness to the struggling faithful and Church and extraordinary
courage. He currently serves as an assistant to the Christian
family movement as Pastor at Cristo Redentor Parish in San Salvador,
El Savador.
AFTERNOON
SESSION
Betania, Light of the World, Maria Esperanza, Messenger
of Reconciliation
Mr. Geo Bianchini and Family, Husband and Family of Maria
Esperanza Bianchini,
Caracas, Venezuela
This is a general conference on the Life
of Maria Esperanza Bianchini and the message of Our Lady of the
Reconciler of Nations and Peoples. The emphasis will be in witnessing
to the extraordinary life of a laywoman raising a family rooted
in love and service of God and the message of reconciliation.
 A
native of Italy, he was raised in a family who was in the wood
trade business. Divine providence would have it that he would
meet and marry Ms. Maria Esperanza in 1955. They were blessed
with six daughters and a son and their lives were centered on
the education and spiritual guidance of their family. At present,
he is the President of the Civil Association Betania Foundation
located in Betania, Venezuela. Our Lady appeared on this farm,
under the title of Mary, Virgin and Mother Reconciler of all People
and Nations in 1976 and 1984. Mr. Geo and his family continue
the task his wife left him to spread the message of reconciliation
throughout all the nations of the world.
Karol
Wojtyla's Personal Response to the Call to Holiness in the Prospective
of Vaticanum II
Mons. Slawomir Oder, Postulator of the Process of Beatification
of the Servant of God, John Paul II
Rome, Italy
This is a general conference on the Life of late Pope John Paul
II, Servant of God and his great gift of understanding, love and
courage. In particular, we will get to hear of John Paul’s
understanding of the Call to Holiness and how it influenced his
life.
 Monsignor
Slawomir Oder is the Catholic Church official in charge of promoting
the cause to declare the late Pope John Paul II a saint of the
Church. He was introduced as the postulator of the cause when
the normal period of five years after the death of Pope John Paul
II was waived. Msg Oder is from the Diocese of Torun, Poland and
has served in the capacity of judicial vicar of the Court of Appeals
of the Diocese of Rome. The process of beatification officially
opened June 28, 2005.
The
Life of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, Mother to the Poor
Sr. M. Dorothy, MC, Founding Member of the Missionaries of
Charity with Mother Teresa,
Calcutta, India
This is a general conference on the Life
of Blessed Teresa and her interior call that led her to form the
Missionaries of Charity serving the poorest of the poor initially
in the India and now in other parts of the world. In particular,
we will hear witness to the poverty both physical and spiritual.
 The
Missionaries of Charity is an international religious family of
pontifical right composed of active and contemplative branches
with perpetual public vows of chastity, poverty, obedience, and
wholehearted and free service to the poorest of the poor, leading
each sister to the perfect love of God and neighbor and making
the Church fully present in the world of today.
The Society was founded by Mother M. Teresa, M.C. in Calcutta,
India, and now has houses on every continent and in most of the
countries of the world. Their particular mission is to labor for
the salvation and the sanctification of the poorest of the poor
all over the world. Each member of the Society goes where she
is sent and does not choose the place or kind of work.
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Friday,
September 11, 2009
AFTERNOON
WORKSHOP I
St.
Paul and the Fathers of the Church
Fr. Joseph T. Lienhard, SJ,
Fordham University, New York, USA
In this year of St. Paul, we look closely
at what Paul has to say about the Call to Holiness as he was on
mission from the unique perspective of Scripture seen through
the eyes of the Fathers of the Church. These are the people who
knew the apostles and were contemporary to them and we critical
in the growth and understanding for the Early Church.
 Fr.
Joseph T. Lienhard, SJ, was ordained a priest in 1971. He began
his studies at Bellarmine College in Plattsburg, N.Y. with subsequent
studies at Fordham University, Woodstock College and the University
of Freiburg where he received his doctorate of Theology. He is
an author of many papers and books that focused on the Early Church
Fathers. His area of research is in Patristics with his doctoral
dissertation on Paulinus of Nola and early western monasticism.
His advanced dissertation was on Marcellus of Ancyra and fourth-century
theology. His immediate future work will be in an English translation
of St. Augustine's Questions on the Heptateuch.
La
Santidad en las Cartas "Paulinas" (en Espanol)
Jose Juan Valdez, MAPS, CFES, Director of the Multicultural
Ministry,
St. Paul's Catholic Church, Houston, Texas, USA
In
the spirit of mission, the letters of Paul will be examined to
come to a deeper understanding of what is the Call to Holiness
through the written word of one of the greatest evangelizers who
brought the faith to many.
 Jose
Juan is currently the Director of Multicultural Ministry in the
parish of St. Paul the Apostle, in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston.
In addition, he works in the Archdiocese facilitating leadership
workshops for the Hispanic Ministry office, as a teacher of classes
in the Bible and theology for lay people in the Training for Christian
Ministry program, and in the Biblical Studies project of the Office
of Continuing Christian Education. Although young, José
Juan has considerable education and pastoral experience in his
specialist areas, namely: Philosophy, Theology, Leadership, Charismatic
Renewal and Family Education, and is also an excellent conference
presenter.
Grace
and Holiness
Dr. Jeremy Wilkins, Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology
University of St. Thomas School of Theology, Houston, Texas, USA
Grace-What is it? This workshop looks at
grace as an instrumental facet in our lives in responding to the
Call to Holiness.
 Dr.
Jeremy Wilkins is an Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology
at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Theology at
St. Mary's Seminary. He received his Ph.D. in Theology from Boston
College with a dissertation on the development of Thomas Aquinas's
Trinitarian theology. His courses include Trinity, Christology,
Patristics, and the theology of Thomas Aquinas. His current research
is on the relationship between the Holy Spirit, grace and the
virtues. He and his wife, Maureen, have two sons, Abraham, 8,
and Thomas, 6, who are home schooled.
Charisms
Mr. Greg Bacich and Fr. Michael Carvill, Communion and Liberation
New York, New York, USA
What
are charisms and why are they important when considering the Call
to Holiness? Do I have a charism? Do I need to be a religious?
This workshop takes a unique perspective of example from to groups
in our community for the fuller understanding.
God's
Love: Source and Dynamic Character of the Church's Mission
Msgr. James B. Anderson, STD, Assistant Professor of Systematic
Theology,
University of St. Thomas and Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston,
Houston, Texas USA
Msgr.
Anderson offers two workshops that complement each other. To fully
understand the Call to Holiness, these workshops examine the Mission
of the Universal Church and the role of its people and then how
motivation of Salvation lead to Holiness..
 After
being received into the Roman Catholic faith in 1965, he entered
the seminary in 1970 and was ordained into the priesthood in 1978.
He has faithfully served in many different facets. His graduate
studies took him to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
This was followed by his call to service in the English section
of the Secretariate of State of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
Upon returning to the US, he became the instructor in systematic
theology at the University of St. Thomas School of Theology at
St. Mary’s Seminary and currently serves in this capacity
as assistant professor. He has also served at multiple parishes
in the course of time.
Windows
to Heaven: The Theology and Spirituality of Icons
Fr. Elias Rafaj,
Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, Houston, Texas, USA
How do Icons work? What are they? How can
they lead us down the path of holiness. This workshop explores
all these questions and incorporates the basic principles of icon
creation. Interactive workshop.
 Father
Elias Rafaj was ordained to the priesthood in 1999 for the Byzantine
Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, studied in Europe where he
completed his Philosophical and Theological studies, completing
the Licentiate in Eastern Christian Studies with a specialization
in Eastern Christian Liturgy at the Pontifical Oriental Institute
in Rome. Father also studied in Greece and Lebanon, specializing
in languages and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,
where his first artistic training took place. Father is also Assistant
Director of Religious Education of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh,
as well as a member of the Intereparchial Liturgical Commission,
the Intereparchial Catechetical Commission, National Conference
of Catechetical Leaders and the Eastern Catholic Diocesan Directors
of Religious Education. He is currently involved in teaching Holy
Iconography (both practical and theoretical) as well as teaching
catechist formation, adult education, and faith formation classes
throughout the United States. Father Elias is currently serving
as pastor of St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church in
Houston and he is the Protopresbyter (Dean) of the Southern States
of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
Ministry
Through the Lens of Evangelization (Friday Clergy Luncheon)
Fr. John E. Hurley, CSP, D.Min, Executive Director
National Pastoral Life Center, New York, New York, USA
 Father
A Paulist Missionary and Former Executive Director of the National
Pastoral Life Center andthe USCCB Secretariat for Evangelization
As
part of this dynamic program, the clergy luncheon is geared for
all clergy. Fr. Hurley will speak on what ministry at the parish
level looks like through the perspective of evangelization. This
conference over lunch will highlight the parish ministry dynamics
through effective evangelization.
Father
John Hurley is a Paulist and was ordained in 1977. He graduated
from Catholic University with a BA in Religious Education, a Master
of Divinity degree from the Washington Theological Union and a
Doctor of Ministry degree from the Jesuit School of Theology in
Berkeley.
He
served as founding director of the Paulist Center for Catholic
Evangelization in Portland, Oregon from 1978-1984, Director of
Development for the Paulists from 1984 until 1991 when he was
appointed Pastor of historic Old St. Mary’s Cathedral in
San Francisco. In 1997, he was appointed to the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, DC where he served
as Executive Director of the Secretariat for Evangelization. In
this capacity, he oversaw ongoing implementation of Go and Make
Disciples, A National Plan and Strategy for Catholic Evangelization
in the United States. During this time, he also served as a consultant
to the bishops’ committees on the Jubilee Year 2000 and
Encuentro 2000.
Since
April of 2005, after eight years at the USCCB, he coordinated
the strategic planning for the Paulist Fathers, a community whose
primary mission is evangelization, founded the Paulist North American
Office for Reconciliation and served as the Executive Director
of the National Pastoral Life Center in his hometown of New York
City. Since leaving the Center in July 2009, he continues to speak
before parish, diocesan and national Church leadership. Currently
he is a member of the Paulist General Council and serves as a
consultant to the USCCB Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis.
AFTERNOON
WORKSHOP II
Paths
to Holiness in the Psalms
Right Rev. Abbot Gregory Polan, OSB
Conception Abbey, Missouri, USA
The Psalms are instrumental in our understanding
the heart of God and man's response and growth in Holiness. This
workshop will explore the use of the psalms in man's prayer and
the new psalter translation for the US Catholic Church.
 Right
Rev. Gregory J. Polan, OSB, professed vows as a monk of Conception
Abbey in 1971; he was ordained priest in 1977 and elected abbot
in 1996. His doctoral studies at the Université St. Paul,
Ottawa, Canada, culminated in 1984 with an STL and STD. in Biblical
Theology. In addition to his duties as abbot, he teaches courses
in Scripture, Biblical Languages, and Monastic Spirituality at
Conception Seminary College. He is an associate editor and contributor
to The Bible Today, and continues to publish in the fields of
Scriptural and monastic theology and spirituality. For over 10
years he contributed a column on the Sunday Lectionary readings
to The Catholic Key, the diocesan paper of the Diocese of Kansas
City-Saint Joseph. He recently served as editor and completed
a revision of the1963 Grail Psalter, to be published as The
Revised Grail Psalms later this year.
Infused
Virtues
Fr. Brendan Cahill, Rector of St. Mary's Seminary,
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
What are the infused virtues and why are
they important to responding the Call to Holiness? Is one more
important than the others? This workshop will explore them all
with focus on the virtue of Hope.
 Fr.
Brendan Cahill is a priest and Rector of St. Mary's Seminary in
the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He has served in multiple
roles but his current role is as Rector of St. Mary's Seminary.
¿Cómo
Vivir la Vida de Jesús en el Siglo XXI? (en Espanol)
Fr. Paul F. English, CSB, General Councilor, Congregation
of St. Basil
Sugar Land, Texas, USA
How does one live their life in Jesus in
the 21st Century? What tools, gifts and insight does God give
us? This session will examine this in the context of a deeper
understanding of charisms.
 Fr.
Paul F. English is a member of the Congregation of St. Basil (Basilian
Fathers) since 2006 and works out of Sugar Land, Texas. He has
served as a high school Spanish teacher and has served in parishes
in Detroit and Houston - both of which have large and active Spanish-speaking
populations. Served as a University chaplain (Campus Minister)
for 12 years in Rochester, NY at Nazareth and St. John Fisher
Colleges. From 2001 to 2007, served as Director of Hispanic Ministry
at the St. Anne Catholic Community in Houston.
Living
Out Our Baptism
Ms. Anita Klueg, Former Maryknoll Lay Missionary in Kenya
and St. Patrick Catholic Church Youth Ministry Coordinator,
Chicago, Illinois, USA
God calls us to be disciples as Mary was
called to be the mother of Christ. How are we called to serve?
How are we called to witness by sharing of our experiences, stories
and journey? Answering the challenge, we will explore the journey
to “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
 Anita
Klueg is first and foremost a wife and mother. With her husband,
Curt, they are blessed with two daughters born will on mission
in Kenya as a Maryknoll Lay Missioner. While on mission she served
as social worker at a Marianist run vocational school for youth
in the poverty-stricken area of Mombasa. She received her Masters
of Theological Studies from University of St. Thomas. She believes
in Gandhi's view that “We must be the change we wish to see in
the world.” Currently, she lives in Chicago, Illinois working
as a Coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Patrick Catholic Church.
"La
Misión y la Iglesia Universal" (en Espanol)
Anna Huth, M. Div, Catholic Relief Services,
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Our
Catholic heritage is rich because of the difference that Love
makes in our world. We will recall the Biblical foundations of
the social teachings of the Church and the calls for solidarity
of recent popes and U.S. bishops. We will explore ways to grow
in the virtue of solidarity and ways to develop it in our faith
communities, including by use of the resources of Catholic Relief
Services.
 Anna
C. Huth, Adult Education and Formation
Program Coordinator, holds a M. Div. degree from Oblate School
of Theology and a B.A. degree from St. Mary’s University.
Ms. Huth joined CRS Southwest in May 2006 after serving for more
than three decades in pastoral ministry, pastoral administration
and community development, with particular emphases on retreat
and workshop leadership and the Church’s call to solidarity.
She is responsible for CRS Southwest’s outreach to people
in ministry and other adults regarding Catholic Social Teaching,
global solidarity and the mission and work of CRS. Ms. Huth also
coordinates CRS Southwest efforts for Operation Rice Bowl, speaker
tours and office volunteer opportunities.
What
Happens in Christian Prayer?
Fr. Damon Geiger, OSST, Spiritual Directory of St. Mary's
Seminary,
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
Prayer how does this aid and help us in
responding to the Call to Holiness. This workshop looks at Christian
prayer and its different forms lead us down the path to Holiness.
Different traditions will be explored.
 As
a convert from the Lutheran Church, he is a professed member of
the Order of the Most Holy Trinity and has been a priest for over
35 years. Educated at the Pontifical Universities in Salamanca
(Spain), Rome (Gregorian) and Bangalore, India (Dharmaram), he
has spent most of his ministry in forming candidates for the priesthood
and religious life, serving for a period as Rector of the Melkite
Seminary in Boston. He has worked also in parish renewal project,
retreats among priests, religious and laity, teaching and liturgical
translations for the Byzantine Churches. He served as an Eastern
Christian advisor to the Buddhist-Christian Interreligious Monastic
Dialogue. His parish ministry has been in the Melkite Greek Catholic
Church. Currently, he works as a Spiritual Director at St. Mary’s
Seminary, Houston.
Spiritual
Direction and the Call to Holiness: How Necessary?
Sr. Adeline O'Donoghue, CCVI, Director of the Ruah Center
at the Villa de Matel,
Sister of Charity of the Incarnate Word, Houston, Texas, USA
How are spiritual direction and the Call
to Holiness interwoven? Is it essential in understanding, responding
and accepting one's Call to Holiness? Sr. Adeline gives us an
insight to an exercise that can enrich us and lead us on our way
to God as we seek him.
 Sr.
Adeline O'Donoghue, CCVI, is a native of Ireland and a Sister
of Charity of the Incarnate Word who lives at the Villa de Matel
in Houston where she ministers. Presently, she serves as Director
of the Ruah Center, her Congregation's spirituality ministry.
In that capacity she offers spiritual direction, retreats and
days of prayer for groups and individuals. She appreciates the
variety of persons who come to Ruah, and anyone seeking God, or
seeking to grow in awareness of the gift of life, is welcomed
here. “ I consider it a blessing when a God seeker crosses my
path,” she says.
AFTERNOON
WORKSHOP III
 Insights
to John and Holiness
Fr. WIlliam Kelly,
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
The Gospel of John shows us another dimension
of Christ–high Christology. This workshop explores what
John speaks to in regards to the Call to Holiness.
Gifts
and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
Fr. Donald S. Nesti, CSSp, Director of Center of Faith &
Culture,
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
This workshop explores the different gifts
and fruits of the Holy Spirit that are given to us as means to
respond and grow in the Call to Holiness. Fr. Nesti will look
at the beauty of the gift and how man works with the Holy Spirit
in responding.
Fr. Donald, Nesti, CSSp, a native of Pennsylvania, was ordained
to the priesthood in 1963 in the Congregation of the Holy Ghost
and serving in many capacities. He earned a licentiate and a doctorate
in theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Currently,
he teaches at the University of St. Thomas, Graduate School of
Theology, and is the Director of the Center of Faith and Culture,
University of St. Thomas. The center was founded in 1994 in response
to Pope John Paul II’s 1983 creation of the Pontifical Council
for Culture. In addition, Fr. Nesti has lectured extensively,
authored books, published articles, conducted workshops and served
as retreat master for clergy, laity and religious groups.
The
Universal Salvific Will of God and Personal Holiness
Msgr. James B. Anderson, STD, Assistant Professor of Systematic
Theology,
University of St. Thomas and Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston,
Houston, Texas USA
Msgr. Anderson offers two workshops that
complement each other. To fully understand the Call to Holiness,
these workshops examine the Mission of the Universal Church and
the role of its people and then how motivation of Salvation lead
to Holiness.
After
being received into the Roman Catholic faith in 1965, he entered
the seminary in 1970 and was ordained into the priesthood in 1978.
He has faithfully served in many different facets. His graduate
studies took him to the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.
This was followed by his call to service in the English section
of the Secretariate of State of His Holiness Pope John Paul II.
Upon returning to the US, he became the instructor in systematic
theology at the University of St. Thomas School of Theology at
St. Mary’s Seminary and currently serves in this capacity
as assistant professor. He has also served at multiple parishes
in the course of time.
Eucharist
and Adoration
Msgr. Paul McPartlan, Professor of Systematic Theology and
Ecumenism,
The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC, USA
The Eucharist is the summit and foundation
of the Catholic faith. This workshop explores the relationship
of Eucharist (Mass) and Adoration in particular how one flow from
the other and the role of Eucharist in responding and/or nurturing
the our response to the Call to Holiness. Also, it will look at
what are some of the challenges of worship and devotion.
 Msgr.
Paul McPartlan is a priest of the Archdiocese of Westminster (UK)
Carl J. Peter, Professor of Systematic Theology and Ecumenism
at the Catholic University of America. Having studied Philosophy
and Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, he
was ordained priest by Cardinal Basil Hume in 1984. He gained
his doctorate from Oxford, and served for four years in a London
parish. He taught systematic theology at Heythrop College for
ten years prior to moving to CUA in 2005. He serves as member
on the International Commissions for Theological Dialogue between
the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church and the World
Methodist Council. He is an author of many articles on ecclesiology
and ecumenism.
Suffering
and the Cross
Fr. Leon Strieder, SLD, Associate Professor of Liturgical
and Sacramental Theology,
University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Theology, Houston,
Texas, USA
Throughout one’s life we experience
or witness suffering. The scale of suffering can be small or huge.
This workshop will explore the value of suffering and the cross
in man’s lives in growing in our response to the Call to
Holiness.
Fr.
Leon Strieder, SLD, is a priest of the Diocese of Austin and is
an Associate Professor of Liturgical and Sacramental Theology
at the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Theology in
Houston, Texas. He studied in at the Gregorian in Rome and did
his liturgical studies at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute
at San Anselmo in Rome. His areas of research include Ordination
Rites and Evangelization. His other interests include Inter-Faith
dialogue between Christians, Jews and Muslims in addition to his
interest in Classical and Modern Languages.
Ventanas
al Cielo: Teología y Espiritualidad de Iconos
(en Espanol)
Fr. Elias Rafaj, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Houston, Texas, USA
God calls us
to be disciples as Mary was called to be the mother of Christ.
How are we called to serve? How are we called to witness by sharing
of our experiences, stories and journey? Answering the challenge,
we will explore the journey to “Be the change you wish to see
in the world.”
Father
Elias Rafaj was ordained to the priesthood in 1999 for the Byzantine
Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh, studied in Europe where he
completed his Philosophical and Theological studies, completing
the Licentiate in Eastern Christian Studies with a specialization
in Eastern Christian Liturgy at the Pontifical Oriental Institute
in Rome. Father also studied in Greece and Lebanon, specializing
in languages and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago,
where his first artistic training took place. Father is also Assistant
Director of Religious Education of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh,
as well as a member of the Intereparchial Liturgical Commission,
the Intereparchial Catechetical Commission, National Conference
of Catechetical Leaders and the Eastern Catholic Diocesan Directors
of Religious Education. He is currently involved in teaching Holy
Iconography (both practical and theoretical) as well as teaching
catechist formation, adult education, and faith formation classes
throughout the United States. Father Elias is currently serving
as pastor of St. John Chrysostom Byzantine Catholic Church in
Houston and he is the Protopresbyter (Dean) of the Southern States
of the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
Mission
Theological Reflection A and B (After Workshop IV-Missions)
Ms. Jennifer McConnell, St. Thomas High School, Houston, Texas,
USA
Fr. Patrick Garrett, Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Houston,
Texas, USA
As we experience and explore “Faith in Action” we
will come to fully understand the dynamics and call to service
in mission. The theological reflections will look at common threads
between missions in understanding what faith teaches us. These
threads will be challenging and at the same time will weave our
experiences in sharing opportunities.
 Fr.
Patrick Garrett is one of the newest ordained priests in the Archdiocese
of Galveston-Houston. Prior to going to the seminary, Deacon Patrick
worked for a major oil company in Houston for 20 years. Deacon,
now Farther Patrick holds a Bachelor of Science in Computing Science
from Texas A&M University, a Masters of Business Administration
from University of Houston, and will receive a Masters of Divinity
from University of St. Thomas.
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Fr.
Stan Fortuna, CFR. New York, United States of America. He is one
of the eight original members of the Community of Franciscan Friars
of the Renewal, a Franciscan Order established by John Cardinal
O'Connor in 1987. Fr. Stan was ordained a priest in the Bronx
in 1990. He travels the world giving missions and concerts in
preaching the Word. He is noted for his evangelical musical contributions
of various genres such as jazz and hip-hop. Before becoming a
priest, he studied with the legendary jazz musician, Lennie Tristano,
and was an accomplished, professional bass guitar player. 
Augie
Leal – Born and raised in Houston TX, Augie has been playing
music for over 30 years. Having learned the guitar as a Lenten
promise at the age of 12 so he could play at mass, has played
for countless Liturgies, Diocesan & National Conferences,
Retreats, Concerts, Youth Rallies, Work Camps and just about everything
else all across the country. With his unique style of music, he
has been able to connect with both Teens and Adults. His Debut
CD “In Jesus Name I Play” was recorded in Nashville
and produced by Joe Hand. Augie has shared the stage with numerous
artists including Tony Melendez, Tom Booth, Matt Maher, Jesse
Manibusan, Fr. Stan Fortuna, John Michael Talbot, Israel Houghton,
Steve Angrisano, Who Do You Say I Am and Joe Hand just to name
a few. Augie has been in Youth Ministry for over 20 years in the
Arch-Diocese and has served as a Youth Minister at St. Christopher’s,
St. Joseph, Mary Queen, St. James and St. Rose of Lima. Augie
is also the co-founder of the SHINE Catholic Work Camp, a week
long summer service camp for catholic teens. When Augie is not
on the road sharing his music or helping run SHINE, you can find
him being dad to his kids, and playing on Sunday nights leading
the LIFE TEEN band at St. Anne’s in Tomball. For more info
on Augie go to: 