Dr. Josh Packard, Springtide Research InstituteMeaningful Mentorship: Building Trusting Relationships with Students | KEYNOTE
Drawing on over 15,000 surveys and nearly 200 interviews with 13-25 year-olds, Dr. Packard reveals why Relational Authority is the only kind of authority that matters in the lives of young people, how our current approach needs to change to have a true impact, and what kind of mentorship can help young people thrive. You’ll see why belonging precedes believing, how talking about “generations” has become the last acceptable place to express bias, and learn about the ways to create effective, long-lasting, durable faith lives for young people. Josh's Bio: Dr. Josh Packard, Executive Director of Springtide Research Institute, is an accomplished researcher with an expertise in the sociology of religion and new forms of religious expression. A talented speaker and writer, with over 10 years of teaching experience, Josh has been a guest on numerous radio shows and podcasts, and has been an invited speaker at many conferences, events, and workshops. He has been published widely in both academic and popular outlets, including Christianity Today, The Aspen Institute, The Huffington Post, Desert News, and Christian Science Monitor, among others. Josh earned his Ph.D. in sociology from Vanderbilt University and did his undergraduate work in English at Texas Lutheran University. |
Emily SullivanCan We Talk?: Pursuing the Truth with Charity and Clarity | KEYNOTE
In his encyclical Fides et Ratio St. John Paul II begins by making a bold claim " God has placed in the human heart a desire to know the truth—in a word, to know himself—so that, by knowing and loving God, men and women may also come to the fullness of truth about themselves." But if our hearts and the hearts of the students we serve were made for the truth, then why does it seem like pursuing the truth together is often so difficult? In this informative talk, Emily Sullivan will situate the Church's 2,000 years of wisdom and understanding of apologetic in our present moment so that we'll be better able to accompany our students into the rich truths which God desires us to live in. This two part talk will also include practical advice for real life situations that missionaries often face like: How do you tackle hot button issues without losing your cool? What should you do when you feel in over your head in a conversation? Should we soften the truth, or leave some issue aside for the sake of bringing someone into the Church? Emily's Bio: Since encountering the richness of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition in high school, Emily Sullivan has been drawn to the study of Theology and Philosophy, and the joy which comes from inviting others into an encounter with the truth. After high school she spent a year and a half discerning with the Nashville Dominicans, where she discovered a deep love for Thomas Aquinas. After leaving Nashville Emily was thrilled to serve on one of the first teams with NET Ireland, and then spent four years studying the Great Books at Thomas Aquinas College, CA. From there she was blessed to teach Theology and Philosophy at a classical high school outside of New York City. Since becoming a mother, Emily has worked part time in the New Evangelization for educational apostolates like ENDOW (Educating on the Nature and Dignity of Women) and the Thomistic Institute, while also lecturing on the thought of Sts. Thomas, Edith Stein and John Paul II at universities like Notre Dame and Princeton. She and her husband reside outside of Washington D.C. with their three daughters. |
Dr. Lisa Reiter, Loyola University Campus MinistryPlanting Seeds to Bear Fruit: Strategizing for Effective Ministry | ROUND TABLE
In this presentation, Dr. Lisa Reiter will guide participants through thinking critically and reflectively on planning for their ministry with students. Participants are encouraged to think about one program or service that their ministry offers. Using the Parable of the Sower sowing Seeds, participants will be invited to imagine planting seeds for their ministry, watching those seeds emerge from the soil, envisioning tending and watering those seeds, and finally, harvesting the fruit of their ministry. Lisa's Bio: As director of campus ministry at Loyola University Chicago, Dr. Lisa Reiter oversees the work of staff and students who provide the faith based programs, retreats, service, prayer services and worship experiences at Loyola. One of the most rewarding parts of being director is hearing from students how much their lives have been touched by God through their experiences with campus ministry. Lisa's undergraduate degree is in mathematics and secondary education from Loras College, her master's is in Adult Christian Community Development from Regis University, and her doctorate is in higher education leadership and administration from Saint Louis University. Her dissertation topic is The Role of the Chief Student Affairs Officer in Promoting Jesuit Mission. Lisa began her vocation as a lay minister by serving as a parish youth minister and then did a stint as a youth retreat director. She worked at Saint Louis University in campus ministry for almost twenty years before joining Loyola on March 19, 2012, the Feast of St. Joseph, patron of workers. Her favorite retreat center is Sacred Heart Jesuit retreat center in Sedalia, Colorado where she made the 30 day Spiritual Exercises. |
Eric Chow, ProclaimPost-Campus Catholics: Preparing Students for Life After Campus | ROUND TABLE
Campus ministry involvement and student life one day come to an end. But missionary discipleship is a lifelong calling. This session will look at preparing students for missionary discipleship in a post-campus context - focusing on the parish community and personal apostolate. Eric Chow currently serves as Director for Proclaim and Associate Director for Ministries and Outreach in the Archdiocese of Vancouver. He has been in mission and leadership for over 15 years. As a lay missionary with Catholic Christian Outreach, and through involvement in his local parish, school, and men's ministry, Eric finds life in roles of leadership, strategy, and mentorship. He loves working through others, seeing them succeed, and mentoring/coaching people in their gifts and talents. Eric loves being a husband to Vanessa, and father to Eva, Isabel, Sophie, Samuel, and Francis. You can usually find Eric climbing a mountain, fishing, or roasting coffee. |
Bishop Christian Riesbeck, CC, Diocese of Saint JohnBishop Riesbeck was born in Montreal on February 7, 1970. He attended the University of Ottawa from which he obtained a Bachelor of Social Sciences (B. Soc. Sc.) In Political Science, followed by a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (S.T.B) from St. Paul University of Ottawa and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) From St. Augustine’s Seminary in Scarborough. He was Ordained to the Priesthood in Ottawa for the Companions of the Cross on October 12, 1996.
After serving in pastoral ministry in the Archdioceses of Kingston, Ottawa and Galveston-Houston, Texas (nine years as pastor) from 1996 to 2008, he completed additional studies in Canon Law (J.C.L. – Saint Paul University) in December 2010. In January 2011, he was appointed Chancellor and later Episcopal Vicar for Canonical Concerns for the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and a judge of the Ottawa Regional Marriage Tribunal. He also served as the Assistant General Superior of the Companions of the Cross from 2012 to 2014. Following the announcement made by Pope Francis on January 7, 2014, Bishop Riesbeck was ordained to the episcopate on March 19 as Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa. He held the offices of Vicar General, Vicar for the National Language Parishes, Communities and Faithful, Moderator of the Curia, and Coordinator of English Pastoral Services. Bishop Riesbeck was named Bishop of the Diocese of Saint John on October 15, 2019 and installed on December 9, 2019. He is the thirteenth bishop of the Diocese. |