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Saturday,
August 16, 2003
St. Lawrence Parish Center Albion, PA (map) 8:00a.m. - 7:00p.m. roaminka@velocity.net |
Speakers
for 2003 Conference
Desmond Birch
Desmond Birch is an internationally known Catholic author, and lecturer both in the U.S. and abroad. His book, "Trial, Tribulation & Triumph" has been used in eschatology classes in Catholic seminaries. Mr. Birch did his theological studies at both Benedictine and Jesuit Universities.
He has just completed a new 13 part series with Colin Donovan for EWTN entitled, "The Four Last Things, in Time and in Eternity".
This new series deals with (1) the eschatological dimension of the Church - the Kingdom which is already "at hand" and (2) the Fullness of the Kingdom in Eternity.
The series specifically covers the eschatological dimension of the Sacraments and devotional 'life' of the Church, the teachings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and the 'Final End' of each of us - at our moment of death, at the Final Judgment and in Eternity.
In companion with that series, he has another new book coming out entitled, "The Four Last Things, in Time and in Eternity.
Mr. Birch and his wife Jean have six children of their own (33 to 16 years of age) as well as three foster daughters. They 'home schooled' three of their six children."
Father Larry Richards
Father Larry Richards is a charismatic teacher, preacher, and retreat master, as well as a gifted speaker. He has directed hundreds of youth retreats and many Parish Missions and Conferences, and he continues to accept invitations for speaking engagements all over the United States and in Canada.He has recorded many audio tapes on all aspects of the Catholic Faith for individual and small-group instruction, all of which are available on our web site and from his parish in Erie. In addition, he has produced two widely known tapes for the Mary Foundation. “Confession,” released early in 2000, has enjoyed distribution of over 200,000 tapes throughout the world. He recorded a second tape, “The Mass Explained,” for the same organization, with distribution begun on March 3, 2001. It has also attracted worldwide attention, with the number of tapes distributed exceeding 100,000 since the date of release.
Fr. Robert J. Levis
Fr. Robert Levis is the founding director (emeritus) of the Graduate Catechetical Institute, a pontifical institute at Gannon University in Erie, PA. He is a speaker on EWTN's "Web of Faith" and an EWTN Website contributor to "Ask the Experts" and "Q&A".
He has produced several resources to teach the Faith to young people including "Catalog of Faith" CD, "Restless Teens & Faith" CD and his book, "Jesus, the Catechism, & Me". All resources are available through Catholic Family Education.
Anthony Ferralli
Anthony Ferralli is a communications systems engineer who specializes in interactive technologies. He has produced many educational CDs including "Restless Teens", an interactive presentation on the "Catechism of the Catholic Church" with Fr. Robert Levis, (co-host of EWTN's "Web of Faith"), and he is currently working on an interactive CD on the Holy Eucharist. He teaches Scripture Studies to teens and also leads in-depth adult Scripture studies.Father Brian Cavanaugh, T.O.R.
Fr. Brian Cavanaugh, TOR is a motivational/inspirational public speaker, and an award-winning storyteller and author. He works in the offices of Community Relations and Information Technology at Franciscan University.He has presented motivational programs at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs; at Leadership America in Dallas, TX; at the Wellness 2002 National Conference, and at high schools and universities, as well as, for civic, business, and church groups.
Fr. Brian has compiled more than 48 handwritten journals of quotations, anecdotes and stories. These journals have inspired eight books published by Paulist Press. In addition, Fr. Brian’s books have received six "Storytelling World Awards."
Also, many of Fr. Brian’s stories are published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of inspirational books.
In addition, drawing upon these journals, he publishes Apple Seeds, a monthly quoteletter of motivation and inspiration. Apple Seeds, also, can be found on the Internet at www.appleseeds.org
Father Fischer
Reverend John Fischer served as Pastor and Parochial Vicar at several parishes in the Erie Diocese and throughout the state before pastoring St. Lawrence Church in Albion, PA. Ordained in 1963, he has earned 3 degrees from St. Mary's Seminary, a M.A. in education from Gannon University and a M.A. in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha. Father Fischer leads retreats for parishioners, "Cursillo", and for prisoners, "Metanoia". Father is dedicated to "Jesus Caritas", a prayer group for priests.Father Peterson
Reverend James Peterson is a priest of the Diocese of Erie. He was a freshman at Gannon University in 1941 and was assigned to teach at Gannon shortly after his ordination in 1947.During his twenty-eight years at Gannon, he taught English for seven years and theology for twenty-one years. He helped organize the theology department and the Department of Religious Activities.
For eighteen years during that period, he was chaplain at the Erie County Prison and developed a ministry to the poor, the broken, addicts, ex-convicts, and street people.
After leaving Gannon he became pastor at St. Theresa's in Union City for ten years. During that time he continued his ministry to the poor. Through Maria House Project, which he founded, he works with a number of houses to provide small group living for people who are in need of an environment in which to grow and to serve.
At present, Maria House Projects supervises six houses - with thirteen to thirteen to thirty-five resident at any one time. Each house has its own vision statement; in all "we are a healing community directed at life in the Spirit."
He continues to work in prisons and in aftercare.
He is the author of "Leisure of the Holy Spirit" and "More I Could Not Ask".
Kathleen Peterson
Mrs. Peterson is a stay-at-home-mom of 2 daughters (7 and 15) and a devoted wife to her husband, Jerry. She is the Facilitator for Religious Education at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Albion, PA, and has a small business Catholic business (Handmaid For The Lord- Catholic jewelry and gifts) that she operates from home with her teenage daughter, Julianna.She and her husband have homeschooled their children for 7 years. They are a 'classical' Catholic family and have used just about 'every curricula under the sun'. She describes her approach as eclectic, lovingly and naturally scheduled.
Kathleen co-founded and co-chairs the Catholic Parents Conference. Kathleen started a local group of Little Flowers and she promotes devotion to Saint Therese of Lisieux through seminars for CCD and youth ministries.
Mike Kennedy
Mr. Kennedy and his wife, Candy, have been married for 32 years and have 4 grown children ages 21-29. They homeschooled all 4 of their children through highschool. Mike says that he finds fathering daughters more challenging than boys, but very rewarding and enjoys it very much!Information on Speakers will be added as it becomes available.
