Category: Uncategorized

Drake McCalister is the coordinator of the catechetical practicum for the Office of Catechetics at Franciscan University. In addition to his work at Franciscan, Drake is the director of RCIA for Franciscan and oversees the EDGE youth group, along with writing and speaking. Previously, Drake was a Pentecostal pastor in the Foursquare Church for 13 years (1991-2004), but after five years of study, prayer, and reluctance, he resigned his pastorate and brought his wife and three daughters home to the Catholic Church on December 12, 2004 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe). Drake and his wife, Crystal, now have five daughters.

Dr. Kevin Watson is a professor at University of Notre Dame Australia where he has reviewed religious education, examined the link between archdiocese NAPLAN results and class size, evaluated the Family Educator Project, and worked with Macquarie University on a $2.3 million grant regarding authentic mathematics and science education in Australia. He served on the Premier’s Advisory Committee for Science Education and consulted for the Republic of Maldives’ Ministry of Education and UNICEF. He has also worked with AusAid and the World Bank, NSW DEC, and the Australian Academy of Science. In addition, Dr. Watson was president of the NSW Institute for Educational Research (IeR)and has had research funded by the Australian Research Council.

Mary Mosher has over 35 years experience in Catholic education. She has served as the director of Christian Formation for two parishes and authored, implemented, and taught programs of family-based catechesis in three parishes. Most notably, Mary is the author of the Family Program, which she wrote based on the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. For 23 years she taught the faith to parents and provided materials and support for them to be their own children’s catechists. Mary holds a master’s degree from Franciscan University in theology and Christian ministry.

Dr. Mark Miravalle earned his sacred theological doctorate at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He holds the St. John Paul II Chair of Mariology at Franciscan University, where he has been teaching since 1986. Dr. Miravalle is the founder and senior editor of Ecce Mater Tua, an international journal of Mariology research. He is also president of the International Marian Association, comprised of more than 130 theologians, bishops, clergy, and laity worldwide who seek to promote Marian devotion and doctrine. Well known throughout the world for his lectures on Mariology, Dr. Miravalle has addressed several episcopal conferences. He has also assisted bishops with preliminary investigations into reported apparitions.

Lindsay Fuhrman-Luck is an experienced Catholic educator with experience as assistant principal and principal in both primary and secondary schools in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Australia. He is now deputy director of Catholic Education Northern Territory, leading finance, ICT, projects and agreements, human resources, workplace health and safety, and infrastructure teams in supporting Catholic schools in urban, regional, and remote contexts. Lindsay holds master’s degrees in education (leadership and administration) and human resources and organizational development. He is currently completing doctoral studies at the University of Notre Dame Australia.

Kat Finney is a New Orleans native transplanted to Pittsburgh, where she works in the Campus Ministry Department at North Catholic High School in Cranberry, Pennsylvania. She has been working with high schoolers in the classroom and in campus ministry since graduating from Franciscan University with her master’s degree in theology in 2013. Kat is inspired by the example of St. John Bosco, particularly in his education of young people; her training at Franciscan, coupled with her work as an educator in a Salesian school, has given her many tools to utilize for evangelization in the classroom.

Scott Elmer serves the Archdiocese of Denver as the executive director of Evangelization and Family Life Ministries. He holds a master’s degree in theology from the Augustine Institute and is pursuing a doctorate at The Catholic University of America. Scott is passionate about the initial proclamation of the Gospel and helping God’s people embrace the ministry calling upon their lives. He resides in Littleton, Colorado, with his wife of six years, Susie, and their three children, Athanasius, Jubilee, and Judah.

Dr. Anthony Cleary is the director of Religious Education and Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Sydney. In this role, Anthony is responsible for strengthening the identity and mission of Catholic schools. While Anthony’s work is multifaceted, it centers on engaging in the broader life of the Church with a focus on strengthening school/parish relationships; the faith formation of all staff, youth ministry, religious education, and family evangelization. Anthony holds a teaching diploma, a bachelor’s degree in education, master’s degrees in religious education, theological studies, and educational leadership, and a doctorate in philosophy.

Chris Chapman has worked for the Diocese of Pittsburgh for 11 years and currently serves as the director of Catholic Identity and Education. He previously taught high school theology for 11 years.  His primary theological interests are in questions pertaining to grace and nature, Christian maturation, and culture. Chris is married and has one son.

Dr. Ansel Augustine is from the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He is the former director of the Office of Black Catholic Ministries and the former associate director of the CYO/Youth & Young Adult Ministry Office. He has served in campus ministry at Loyola University of New Orleans, Xavier University of Louisiana, and St. John’s University in Queens, New York. He is also on the faculty of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University of Louisana. Dr. Augustine has served on the boards of the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association and the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. He has presented workshops and keynotes around the country and has written various pieces related to ministry.

Dr. Andrew Minto has been married to Pamela for 39 years, and they have four children. In the early ’80s, he left a lucrative position as an account executive with Merrill Lynch to pursue graduate theological training. He obtained a PhD in biblical studies specializing in New Testament, particularly Pauline literature, from The Catholic University of America. Dr. Minto has taught a wide array of courses in Old and New Testament literature since 1987. He is the author of numerous articles, most recently a 14-article series for The Liguorian Magazine on the works of mercy.

Father Derek Anderson, SOLT, was ordained a priest for the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity in 2003 and served as a parochial vicar in the Diocese of Rome for the first five years of his priesthood. Upon completion of his STL in dogmatic theology at the Angelicum, where he is also a doctoral candidate, Father Anderson was appointed academic dean of the SOLT Theological House of Studies in Rome. He has been director of the Office of Catechesis for the Diocese of Paterson and currently serves as pastor of Saint Mary’s Parish in Dover, New Jersey.

Andrew Laubacher, aka ALOB, was raised in Ventura, California, where he attended Mass, played many sports, hung at the beach and was always into music. He attended Catholic school before switching to a public school because he was “tired of the Catholic rules.” In high school, he partied hard. After a serious wake-up call, he decided to attend a Steubenville Youth Conference where he found God. That changed ALOB’s life. ALOB received degrees in theology and philosophy from Franciscan University. Today, his mission is to introduce the freedom and love of Christ through worship music and preaching to modern culture.

Ryan Hanning teaches theology, church history, and Catholic studies and writes and speaks internationally on modern objections to religious faith. He serves as the assistant vice president and director of Cultural Advancement at the University of Mary Tempe, where he is also a faculty member in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education. He is a certified presenter for Havard Virtuous Leadership Institute, a faculty member for the Kino Catechetical Institute, and a fellow of the Institute for Catholic Theology. He holds degrees from Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University and a PhD from Maryvale Institute in England. Ryan currently resides in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife, Rebecca, and their nine home-schooled children.