Steubenville Conferences

Dr. James Pauley is professor of theology and catechetics at Franciscan University and editor of the Catechetical Review. He has also written two books focused on the renewal of catechesis, An Evangelizing Catechesis: Teaching from Your Encounter with Christ (Our Sunday Visitor, 2020) and Liturgical Catechesis in the 21st Century: A School of Discipleship (Liturgy Training Publications, 2022). Dr. Pauley began working as a parish catechetical leader in 1989 and has served professionally in parish, diocesan, and university catechetical formation for 33 years. He enjoys serving as a frequent speaker in dioceses and parishes nationwide on a variety of topics related to evangelization, catechesis, and the transformative sacramental encounter. He is married to Katrina, and they have three daughters.

Dr. Greg Popcak is the author of many books and the director of the Pastoral Solutions Institute, an organization providing Catholic-integrated tele-counseling services to the faithful worldwide. Together with his wife, Lisa, he is the host of More2Life Radio, airing weekdays at 10am Eastern across the EWTN Radio Network and on SiriusXM 130. In addition to his ministry work, Dr. Popcak is the director of the MA in Pastoral Studies program at Holy Apostles College.

Ken Ogorek is the archdiocesan catechetical director in Indianapolis; his duties also include evangelization and discipleship initiatives. After earning a master’s degree from the Pontifical Center for Catechetical Studies, Ken taught high school religion, then served as assistant diocesan catechetical director in Pittsburgh for 10 years before returning to his native Hoosier state in 2007. With his bride of 25-plus years and their children, Ken is a parishioner at St. Pius X in Indianapolis. His skills as a retreat leader have been highly sought after in recent years.

Mary Ann Wiesinger Puig worked at the diocesan level for 12 years, serving as director of religious education, RCIA leaders, evangelization leaders, and catechists. At the forefront of her efforts is her passion for raising leaders and disciples. Raised in El Paso, Texas, Mary Ann is bilingual and bicultural. Throughout her professional career, she has worked hard to provide the same degree of excellence in both English and Spanish formation programs and enjoys teaching in both languages.  Mary Ann currently works for Franciscan University’s Catechetical Institute, developing Spanish language programming.

William O’Leary has worked in pastoral ministry as director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry in a number of parishes for the past 20 years. He currently works as the director of Religious Formation for a large parish in Overland Park, Kansas. His passion is catechist formation and curriculum development. William holds a BA in theology and an MA in theology with a specialization in catechetics both from Franciscan University. He recently completed his doctoral work in catechetics from the University of Notre Dame in Sydney, Australia.

Gary Norris has led RCIA teams for the past 30 years in the Archdiocese of Denver, the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. He studied theology and catechetics at the Maryvale Institute and has certification in RCIA from the St. John Bosco Conference. Gary is currently the chairman of the Association of Catechumenal Ministry and serves ACM as a presenter for team training and catechist training. Gary works with his wife, Patty, together coordinating the St. John Bosco RCIA track. They have 6 children and 14 grandchildren.

Patty Norris is the director of Religious Education at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Milford, Ohio. Involved in adult formation for many years, she specializes in the RCIA process as a speaker and seminar director for the Association for Catechumenal Ministries (ACM). As a speaker, consultant, and writer for ACM, she has served many dioceses in the United States and abroad. As a director of Religious Education, she is responsible for all adult formation. With her husband, Gary, she coordinates the RCIA track at the St. John Bosco Conference. They have 6 children and 13 grandchildren.

Bishop Jeffrey M. Monforton is the fifth bishop of Steubenville, ordained and installed September 10, 2012. He is a member of the Board of Governors and the Development Committee of the Pontifical North American College, Rome. Bishop Monforton serves on the USCCB Subcommittee on Aid to the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. He also serves on the Board of Regents and Priestly Formation Board, St. Vincent Seminary, in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and as episcopal moderator of the Diocesan Information Systems Conference. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in sacred theology from Franciscan University, where he is an adjunct faculty member. In addition, he is a presenter on three Catholic radio stations and pens a monthly article, “Ask the Bishop,” in the diocesan newspaper, The Steubenville Register.

Father Louis Molinelli, SDB, made his first profession as a Salesian in 1981 and was ordained a priest in 1990. He graduated from Don Bosco College with a BA in philosophy and a teaching certificate in mathematics. He received an MA in Sacred Scripture and a master of divinity from the Pontifical College Josephinum. He later earned a master’s in education (school administration) from Boston College. He has been a teacher, assistant coordinator of youth ministry, academic dean, and principal. He served as the principal for six years at St. Petersburg Catholic High School, St. Petersburg, Florida, and he was the director and president of the Don Bosco Preparatory High School in Ramsey, New Jersey. Father Lou spent one year as parochial vicar at Corpus Christi Church in Port Chester, New York. Since 2011, Father Lou has been the director of Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, Louisiana.

Father Jay Mello  is a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, and was ordained in 2007. He completed his undergraduate studies at Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2003. He also attended the Pontifical North American College in Rome where he completed his STB and earned his STL in dogmatic theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Father Jay currently serves as pastor of St. Joseph’s and St. Michael’s parishes in Fall River. He previously served in a number of parishes as parochial vicar, as a high school chaplain, and in the diocesan vocation office.

Father Drake McCalister is the coordinator of the catechetical practicum for the Office of Catechetics at Franciscan University and parochial vicar at Holy Family Church in Steubenville. He has worked with RCIA, youth ministry, catechist formation, and has served as a writer and speaker. A Pentecostal pastor in the Foursquare Church for 13 years, he resigned his pastorate after five years of study, prayer, and reluctance and brought his wife, Crystal, and three daughters (now five) home to the Catholic Church on December 12, 2004, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Father Drake was ordained to the priesthood on December 19, 2019. To read how this was possible, visit thattheymaybeone.org.