Author: Andrea Johnson

Megan Mastroianni has spoken to people all over the country and beyond about the mercy and love of God. She is very passionate about her relationship with Christ and has a sincere desire to inspire people to deeper intimacy with him. Megan currently lives in Philadelphia with her husband and baby girl and is currently doing the full-time mommy thing.

Father Leo Patalinghug is a priest member of a community of consecrated life called Voluntas Dei. He founded FatherLeoFeeds.com, an international apostolate connecting food and faith. He’s an internationally renowned speaker, best selling author, TV and radio host, and a theological and cultural contributor to the media. His unique background as a martial arts instructor and former breakdancer helps him connect with people of all backgrounds. In addition, he has appeared on The Food Network, where he won Throwdown with Bobby Flay.  Father Leo uses food, faith, and fun to bring people closer to the Lord’s Table.

WAL is a contemporary Catholic-Christian band from Los Angeles, California, comprised of music artists, songwriters, and worship leaders who serve their local parishes as coordinators of youth ministry. For over 15 years, WAL has been serving the Church both nationally and internationally through God’s gift of song and carries with them an energetic sound that rejoices in the goodness of our Lord. WAL strives to have their music draw each of your hearts to a knowledge and deep acceptance that we are all infinitely, passionately, and unconditionally loved by God.

Dr. William Christopher Hoag  has ministered in diocesan, school, and parish settings for 25 years in the areas of catechesis and liturgy. He currently serves as the catechetical director for St. Bernadette Parish in Westlake, Ohio. He is also a member of the online faculty for Franciscan University’s MACE and MA theology programs. Dr. Hoag previously served as associate director of Catechesis for the Cleveland Diocese for seven years. His areas of theological interest include catechesis, liturgy, and ecclesiology. He was certified as a lay ecclesial minister for the Diocese of Cleveland in 2009 and has been a participant of the Bosco Conference since 2004, completing the Diocesan Officials track in 2019.

Rania Garnem has been handing on the faith in Catholic high schools since 2006. After earning her MA in theology and Christian Ministry with a specialization in catechetics from Franciscan University, she went on to teach for six years at St. Pius X High School, a co-ed archdiocesan school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Since that time, she has been teaching at Jesuit High School, an all-boys college preparatory school in Tampa, Florida. Rania has taught a variety of courses in theology and has taught students in every grade level of high school.

Maureen and Jim Otremba have been married since 1995. Both hold master’s degrees in Catholic theology and have appeared on EWTN. They have co-authored a Catholic, catechetical pre-marriage inventory called Fully Engaged (www.getfullyengaged.com), which is used throughout the U.S. Maureen has held numerous Catholic ministry positions, including teaching, catechetical work, and pastoral care. Jim also holds a master’s in applied psychology, is a licensed therapist, and works as a Catholic coach. He is a regular guest on Relevant Radio and is finishing his doctorate in psychology. Together, they bring their personal and professional teachings to thousands of Catholics each year throughout the country through workshops, Catholic workbooks, and retreats. Learn more about the Otrembas at catholicfamilyresources.com.

Luke Crawford  has been at the forefront of Catholic educational leadership for the last 15 years. Most recently, Luke served as president of North Catholic High School in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. After graduating from Franciscan University, Luke taught high school theology for eight years and filled a variety of leadership roles, including director of Mission Integration and Campus Ministry, religion department chair, dean of students, and principal. During the six years that Luke served as principal and then president of NCHS, the school grew from 270 to 630 students. Luke has an intense passion for Catholic education and evangelization. His greatest joy is family life, which he shares with his beautiful wife, Katy, and their five sons and two daughters.

Dr. Larann Wilson’s personal and professional mission is based on Matthew 28:18-20: to share the good news of Jesus Christ and to lead people into a deeper relationship with our Lord through daily conversion, knowledge, prayer, and the sacramental life. She holds her master of arts from Franciscan University with a specialization in catechesis and her doctorate of ministry from The Catholic University of America. Dr. Wilson serves as director of Parish Leadership Engagement in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City where she supports pastors, principals, and ministry leaders in their roles in evangelization and catechesis. Originally from Connecticut, Dr. Wilson now calls Oklahoma home.

Eric Gallagher is a husband and father living in South Dakota. He has been in full-time ministry since 2003 and is currently serving the Diocese of Sioux Falls as the director of Youth Discipleship and Evangelization. Eric holds a master of arts in theology from the Augustine Institute. Eric is also the founder of ComeFollow.Me, a platform that assists those desiring to grow as disciples of Christ through online resources and community.

Dr. Douglas Beaumont earned a PhD in theology from North-West University and an MA in apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, where he taught for several years before coming into full communion with the Catholic Church. He has since appeared on The Journey Home and Catholic Answers Live and has been interviewed for The National Catholic Register, EWTN, Relevant Radio, and The Patrick Coffin Show. Douglas is the author of Evangelical Exodus and The Message Behind the Movie, has contributed to Mind, Heart, and Soul: Intellectuals and the Path to Rome, Bumper Sticker Catholicism, The Best Catholic Writing, and The Apologetics Study Bible for Students, and has written for Catholic Answers Magazine, Strange Notions, National Catholic Register, and Catholic World Report.

Chris Vaughan is the director of Marriage and Family Life for the Diocese of Fort Worth. He graduated from Franciscan University with a BA in theology with a concentration in religious education in 2000 and completed his MA from Franciscan in 2017. Chris’ experience in catechesis has included parish religious education, RCIA, Hispanic ministry, and youth and young adult ministry. He and his wife, Angie, have been married for 20 years and have six children.

Antoniette Pace responded to a unique calling that eventually led her from the classroom to parish ministry. Bringing her gift of teaching to her position in the active Salesian parish of St. Benedict in the Toronto Archdiocese in Canada, Antoniette’s ministry is further enriched by clinical pastoral education (CPE) training and theological studies from the Toronto School of Theology. For nearly 25 years, she has served in various areas of parish life including sacramental preparation, RCIA, and refugee resettlement. Two decades ago, Antoinette helped bring the Toronto chapter of Magnificat, an international ministry of Catholic women, to the archdiocese and continues to serve in the ministry.

Dr. Therese Recinella has worked in education for over 30 years. She earned a bachelor of science and secondary education degree from Central Michigan University and a master of arts in theology and Christian Ministry with a specialization in catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She earned her doctorate in ministry from The Catholic University of America. A teacher at the elementary, secondary, and graduate levels. Dr. Recinella served 13 years as a parish director of Religious Education in the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. Currently, Dr. Recinella is director of Catechesis for the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas.

Dr. Kristin Witte directs U.S. Catholic Educational and Catechetical Engagement for the USCCB’s official international humanitarian aid organization, Catholic Relief Services. Dr. Witte strives to encourage fellow disciples to embrace Christ’s healing mission. She has served as a campus minister, coordinator of Pastoral Care for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, parish youth minister, and Catholic school religion teacher. She has earned three master’s degrees and completed her doctorate in ministry with an emphasis in pastoral counseling from The Catholic University of America. Dr. Witte and her husband, Andy, reside in the Baltimore area with their daughter, Kyra Grace.

Paola A. Quintero-Araujo is the director of St. Junipero Serra Institute in the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas. With more than 10 years of ministry experience at the parish and diocesan level, she has served in catechetics with adults, children, families, and young adults, RCIA, and sacramental preparation, as well as in catechist formation, Hispanic ministry, and Pastoral Juvenil Hispana. She also received an MA in theology with a concentration in catechesis from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where she was part of Church Life Institute’s Echo graduate service program. She is fully bilingual and bicultural and enjoys teaching in both languages and mentoring catechetical/pastoral ministers.

Joann Roa iis the Director of Adult Faith Formation for the Diocese of Brooklyn. She has her M.A. in Theology & Christian Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville. She has served as a Director of Hispanic Ministry, a Coordinator for RCIA and continues to have a love and a passion for sharing the faith with others. Joann has presented on various aspects of evangelization at conferences, parishes and prayer groups throughout the country and internationally.

André Regnier and his wife, Angele, are co-founders of Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO), a university student movement engaged in the new evangelization. In 2015, they received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice Medal for distinguished service to the Church, the highest medal awarded to the laity by the pope. André has written three books: Catholic Missionary Identity, Five Tenets to Renew the World, and Clear and Simple. André hopes CCO can expand internationally to build up Catholic leaders to renew the world. He desires to draw people to a deep conversion to Jesus Christ and to be a catalyst for them to embrace the Church’s evangelical mission.

Lucas Pollice, M.T.S., is the director of the MA in leadership for the new evangelization degree and associate professor of theology and catechetics for the Augustine Institute. He had previously served as the director of Catechesis for the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas. Lucas has been involved in full-time parish and diocesan catechetical ministry since 1999. He is the author of Open Wide the Doors to Christ: Discovering Catholicism and has helped develop Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained, Beloved and other catechetical series produced by the Augustine Institute. Lucas and his wife, Mary, have six children and live in Colorado.

Dr. Gerard O’Shea is director of Mission and Religious Education for the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes. He is also professor of Religious Education at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney campus. Dr. O’Shea’s recent book, Educating in Christ, has been well received in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. His own parent resource, As I Have Loved You, helps parents train their children in a Catholic vision of sexuality. Dr. O’Shea and his wife, Anne, served a five-year term as president couple for the National Association of Catholic Families (2003-2007). They have 5 children and 10 grandchildren.