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| Keynote Speakers |
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, Founder and Director of Aurem Cordis™ (a Christian evangelization and apologetics organization), is active in giving lectures, retreats, and seminars in numerous parishes, on college campuses, and at workshops and conferences nationally and internationally. Deacon Burke-Sivers holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas. He is a Benedictine Oblate of Mt. Angel Abbey, an associate member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, a member of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, and a consultation team member for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops National Directory for Catechesis. Currently serving as the Director of Public Safety at the University of Portland, Deacon Harold is a nationally recognized expert in school safety, security, and violence prevention, and is listed in the International Who’s Who of Professional Management. He and his wife Colleen have four children. |
Father Romanus Cessario, priest of the Eastern Province of the Dominicans, currently serves as professor of systematic theology at St. John’s Seminary, Brighton, Massachusetts. His thesis, Christian Satisfaction in Aquinas, was directed by the late Colman O’Neill, O.P., and published in 1982; a revised version, The Godly Image (St. Bede's Press/Fordham University Press), appeared in 1990. Father Cessario has published many articles on dogmatic and moral theology as well as on the history of Thomism. Among his books can be listed The Moral Virtues and Theological Ethics (University of Notre Dame Press, 1991), Perpetual Angelus: As the Saints Pray the Rosary (Alba House, 1995), Christian Faith and the Theological Life (1996) and, in collaboration with Kevin White, a translation of the fifteenth-century Dominican theologian John Capreolus’s Treatise on the Virtues (2001) (both published by Catholic University of America Press). His Introduction to Moral Theology (2001) has inaugurated the multi-volume Catholic Moral Thought series at CUA Press. His most recent book is A Short History of Thomism (Catholic University of America Press, 2004; French edition, Paris, 1999). Father Cessario serves on the editorial boards of several journals and is senior editor of the monthly worship aid Magnificat. For the last two decades he has lectured extensively in both the United States and Europe. |
| Conference Speakers |
On behalf of “The Alexander House,” Greg and Julie Alexander present workshops to individuals and couples throughout the nation. At St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, Greg earned his bachelor’s degree in photo-communication and Julie studied business. While in Austin, Greg and Julie served as Coordinators of the diocesan Family Life Office. Greg is currently pursuing a Master’s in Theology from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio. With twenty-two combined years in sales and marketing, their greatest learning has come through their relationship with one another and their children. Trained in coaching and in numerous marriage and parenting education courses, Greg and Julie have coupled church teaching with their own marriage and family experience to present numerous workshops, seminars, and talks that help individuals and couples to be the best they can be. |
Father Mark Clarke is currently the Chaplain of Antonian College Preparatory High School, serving as Chair of the Theology Department. As the “pastor” of the school, he is responsible for the spiritual formation of the students, faculty, staff and parents. A Claretian Missionary priest since January 2003, Father Mark has a Master of Arts in Theology and a Master of Divinity from the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. He has been involved in youth ministry, marriage preparation, elementary and high school outreach programs, and respect life programs. In addition, he has given various talks on liturgy, abortion, euthanasia, capital punishment, Catholic social teaching, human sexuality, scripture, and the sacraments. He continues to assist with marriage preparation for the archdiocese as a presenter for the Gift of Being…Myself and for the Other, and also works with the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. |
Associate Director of the Archdiocesan Office of Social Concerns and Pro Life Director, Rick has taught numerous classes on life, justice and peace issues at parishes, for RCIA groups and conferences. He holds a BS in Business Administration and is a retired U.S. Air Force Major. Prior to his current job he was a Staff Writer at Today’s Catholic newspaper. Rick spends significant time evangelizing Catholic Social Justice all over the Archdiocese and establishing new social justice committees in the parishes. As Pro-Life director, he is re-establishing a comprehensive pro-life program in the archdiocese, establishing pro-life committees in the parishes, expanding the Gabriel Project parish-based pregnancy care program, and integrating the Project Rachel post-abortion ministry. |
An international bilingual speaker, trainer, and ministry consultant, Martha’s 20 plus years of experience in the U.S. and overseas includes youth and young adult ministry; planning and speaking at conferences, retreats, prayer workshops, and parish missions; forming evangelization teams; developing training and outreach programs (including the Hispanic Festival of Faith); co-hosting a radio program; and assisting organizations wanting to reach Spanish-speakers. As Director of the Office for Evangelization for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, Martha helps parishes become evangelized and evangelizing communities of faith by providing inspiring talks, practical training workshops and in-services in both Spanish and in English. She authors two columns in Today’s Catholic and appears regularly on CTSA. Martha holds a Master of Arts in Theology and Christian Ministry with honors, and a Licentiate in Clinical Psychology Magna Cum Laude. A native of New York, Martha grew up between Miami and Dominican Republic. |
Ordained in 1988 for the Diocese of Victoria, Father Janak holds a master’s degree in divinity from Oblate School of Theology, a licentiate in canonical jurisprudence from The Catholic University of America, and a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Houston-Victoria. Licensed by the State of Texas, as a professional counselor, he currently serves as pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in El Campo, Texas. |
Ramie was raised on a farm in Kansas and is the oldest of nine children. Her background is in education and as a teacher she has taught both young and old. With his parents and eleven siblings, Jake emigrated twenty-nine years ago from his birthplace, El Salvador. His background in engineering precedes a personal call to ministry. Jake and Ramie met and studied at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family Life in Washington DC, where they graduated with Masters Degrees in Theology in May of 2005. They married in June of that same year and moved to Puebla, Mexico where they taught English and Religion at a Catholic High School. Almost two years ago, Jake and Ramie moved to San Antonio, TX where Jake is director for the Office of Marriage and Family Life of the Archdiocese. They welcomed their first child, Carlos Raymond, on November 17, 2007. |
