All posts by Michael DiCosola

Hosffman Ospino, Ph.D.

1:30 – 3:00 pm | City Terrace 4

215: El Quinto Encuentro como modelo de catequesis evangelizadora

Hosffman Ospino, PhD is professor de teología y educación religiosa en Boston College, School of Theology and Ministry. Él es autor de varios libros sobre catequesis y sobre el ministerio hispano. Actualmente trabaja en dos libros sobre parroquias multiculturales. Sirvió como investigador principal delEstudio nacional de parroquias católicas con ministerio hispano

Hosffman Ospino, PhD is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston College, School of Theology and Ministry. He has authored and edited several works on religious education and Hispanic ministry and has two forthcoming books on Catholic congregations. He served as the Principal Investigator for the National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry (2011-2014) and the first National Survey of Catholics Schools Serving Hispanic Families. Dr. Ospino serves on the Core Team steering the Fifth Encuentro process.

Jamin Herold

10:45 – 11:45 am | Clearwater

103: Keeping Kerygma in the Curriculum

Jamin Herold is the Associate Director for the Secretariat of Catholic Education and New Evangelization with the key area of responsibility of New Evangelization for the Diocese of Kalamazoo in Michigan.

He is husband to Nicki for over fourteen years, father of six children, and has worked in a multitude of fields within the Catholic Church.  These have ranged from Parish Religious Education Director to Steward of Liturgy to Campus Ministry to Pastoral Associate.

Paul Canavese

10:45 – 11:45 am | River Terrace 2

101: Baptism, Reconciliation, and Eucharist Preparation: Your Biggest Opportunities to Engage Parents!

Paul Canavese is the director of the online pastoral centers found at PastoralCenter.com and GrowingUpCatholic.com. In this ministry he works with his wife, Ann, and they live with their two daughters and five chickens in Alameda, CA. Their family operates a mini backyard farm, loves to bike around town, and looks for creative ways to build community in their neighborhood.

Paul has his MTS from the Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley and a diverse background in parish ministries. He directs the Growing Up Catholic sacramental preparation family of products, Creation Care Kids curriculum, and other formation resources for both children and adults. Paul also started GospelLiving.org and Gospel.link to provide practical tools for topics about which he is passionate: stewardship, daily life discipleship, and evangelization. Paul is a frequent speaker on the topic of coaching and evangelizing parents and is often humbled by his own children.

Greg Kremer

1:30 – 3:00 pm | Daytona

206: Forming Missionary Disciples through Parish Small-Faith Sharing Groups

Gregory Kremer has been working for RENEW International since 1998, currently as the Director of Diocesan Sales and Services. In this role, he speaks frequently with diocesan and parish clergy and staff on topics related to evangelization and faith formation.

Before coming to RENEW International, he received an MDiv from Seattle University, WA. Mr. Kremer has worked full-time for the Catholic Church for almost three decades in a variety of ministries including ministry formation, parish renewal, small Christian communities, social outreach, juvenile detention, youth/young adults. Greg and his wife, Kate are the parents of three children.

Terry Poplava

10:45 – 11:45 am | City Terrace 10

110: Connecting Parishes to the Universal Church: Website/App

Terry Poplava is the Executive Director of Marketing and Sales for Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum, Publishing and Offertory Solutions. Terry joined Our Sunday Visitor in 2007 after 25 years of business experience including, consulting, marketing, sales and product management.

Terry has worked with dioceses and parishes across the United States to devise plans for parishioner engagement, evangelization and catechesis. The experience has been an inspiration and has fueled his passion for serving the Catholic church. His work includes presentations and workshops on best practices to build an engaged parish community, Celebrating Your Parish, and Engagement as a foundation for a journey to Discipleship. Terry is music minister, part time organist, member of the finance committee and lector at St. Mary’s Church in Hartsville, SC where he lives with his wife Sharman.

Sori Govin

10:45 – 11:45 am | City Terrace 5

114: Metodología – Estrategias eficaces de enseñanza

Sori Govin es una represéntate de ventas y asesora bilingüe para la editorial RCL Benziger. Ella trabajo en la arquidiócesis de Atlanta como subdirectora para la catequesis y ha sido directora de educación religiosa al nivel parroquial. Sori ha trabajado por más de 20 años en la catequesis y comunidades multiculturales. Ella es nacida en Cuba, vivió en Atlanta, Georgia por 30 años y actualmente vive en Miami, Florida.

Sori Govin is a Bilingual Sales Specialists for RCL Benziger Publishing. She worked at the Archdiocese of Atlanta as Associate Director for Catechetical Ministry in the Religious Education Office and has been a Director of Religious Education at a parish level. Sori is fully bilingual in English and Spanish and has served for over 20 years in catechetical ministries in a multi-cultural community. She was born in Cuba, lived and studied in Miami, Florida, lived in Atlanta, Georgia for over 30 years and now lives with in Miami, Florida.

Gerardo Salazar

10:45 – 11:45 am | City Terrace 6

115: Marketing y publicidad en la catequesis: ¡Que atractiva Evangelización!

México-americano, originario de Los Ángeles California y San Luis Potosí México. Casado por 12
años con Nancy y padre de 5 hijos (Camille de 4 años, Paola de 3 años, Chiara de 2 años, Matías tendría
1 y Gianna viene en camino). Hijo de padres campesinos migrantes y de familia muy numerosa con 13
hermanos. Su madre lo consagró desde muy temprana edad a San Gerardo cuyo nombre significa
“Espada de Dios” y a la Virgen del Carmen. Tiene una Licenciatura en Periodismo y Comunicaciones, una
Maestría en Teología y Ministerio y actualmente está cursando su Doctorado en Ministerio Hispano. Es
catequista y músico. Su pasión es la evangelización y formación en los medios de comunicación. Es el
Director Asociado para la formación de catequistas y líderes catequéticos hispanos en la Arquidiócesis
de Galveston-Houston en Texas. Su proceso de conversión comenzó en mayo del 2007 a los pies del
Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora de las Nieves en Belleville Illinois.

Mexican-American from Los Angeles California and San Luis Potosí. Married for 12 years with
Nancy Vasquez and father of 5 children (Camille 3 years, Paola 2 years, Chiara 1 year, Matias would be
one year and Gianna is coming soon). Proudly son of migrant parents with a large family with 13
brothers and sisters. His mother consecrated him to Saint Gerardo whose name means “Sword of God”
and the Virgen del Carmen. He has a Bachelor in Journalism and Communications, a Master of Arts in
Theology and Ministry and currently candidate for a Doctorate in Hispanic Ministry. He is a catechist and
musician. His passion is the evangelization and formation in the media. Currently he is the Associate
Director Hispanic catechists and catechetical leaders in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston in Texas.
His conversion process began in May 2007 at the foot of the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows in
Belleville Illinois.

Peter Ductram

1:30 – 3:00 pm | City Terrace 8

214: Hechos a Imagen de Dios: Catequesis para Niños con Necesidades Especiales

Peter J. Ductram es el Director Arquidiocesano para la Catequesis en la Arquidiócesis de Miami. Nacido en Lima, Perú; sirvió en Perú, Chile, Brasil y los Estados Unidos. Es casado y tiene tres hermosos niños. El más pequeño de sus hijos fue diagnosticado con autismo, la cual solidificó su pasión para la Catequesis para niños con necesidades especiales. El obtuvo una Maestría en Artes de la Teología (2005) y una Maestría en Divinidad, con especialización en Biblia (2015) en la Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. El Señor Ductram está finalizando un Doctorado en la Universidad de Barry. El sirvió en la Arquidiócesis de Chicago por aproximadamente 12 años como Coordinador del Ministerio Hispano, Director de Educación Religiosa y Coordinador de Evangelización. En este momento sirve como miembro de la mesa directiva de la Federación para la Catequesis con Hispanos en NCCL; co-chair del comité nacional ENAHVE de la Conferencia de los Obispos de Estados Unidos; y miembro del equipo de redacción de la Iniciativa Nacional para la Catequesis para Adolescentes.

Peter J. Ductram is the Archdiocesan Director for Catechesis in the Archdiocese of Miami. Born in Lima, Peru; he served in Peru, Chile, Brazil and the United States. He is married and has three beautiful children. The smallest of his children was diagnosed with Autism, which solidified his passion for Catechesis for children with special needs. He earned a Master of Arts in Theology (2005) and a Master of Divinity degree, majoring in Bible (2015) at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. Mr. Ductram is completing a PhD at Barry University. He served in the Archdiocese of Chicago for 12 years as the coordinator of Hispanic Ministry, Director of Religious Education and Coordinator of Evangelization. Currently serving on the board of the Federation for Catechesis with Hispanics in NCCL; co-chair of the national committee ENAHVE of the Conference of Bishops of the United States; and member of the editorial team of the National Initiative for Adolescent Catechesis.

Nancy Bird

1:30 – 3:00 pm | Conference Center B

201: The Care and Feeding of Catechists: Seven Simple Strategies to Honor, Inspire and Motivate Your Catechists!

Nancy Bird has been involved in religious education for over 30 years as a catechist, parish catechetical leader and youth minister. She combines practical experience, creativity and motivational enthusiasm to energize those called to embrace and live their Baptism joyfully. Nancy has been a featured speaker, workshop presenter and retreat facilitator across the US and Canada. Presently she serves as Director of Training and Development for RCL Benziger Religion Publishing Company and resides in Tallmadge Ohio.

Sr. Patricia McCormack, IHM

10:45 – 11:45 am | St. Johns

108: “BACK DOOR” EVANGELIZING for “PARKING LOT PARENTS”

Patricia M. McCormack, IHM, Ed.D., Director of the IHM Office of Formative Support for Parents and Teachers, Philadelphia, PA, speaks internationally to parents and educators on adult practices that foster the formation-education of children.

Most recently she presented at the 2015 World Meeting of Families (“The Sacred Balancing Act: Busy Lives and Family Spirituality”).