All posts by Michael DiCosola

Dr. Kristin Witte

NCCL Tuesday PM Speakers

1:30 – 3:00 pm | River Terrace 3

411: Laudato Si: Engaging Pope Francis’ Encyclical and Protecting Our Common Home

Dr. Kristin Witte has a love of Christ and passion for serving the poor and vulnerable. She has taught in a Catholic elementary school, worked as a college campus minister, parish youth minister, and for the Archdiocese of Baltimore as the coordinator of pastoral care and social justice. Having earned three master’s degrees, Kristin completed her Doctorate in Ministry with an emphasis in Pastoral Counseling from the Catholic University of America in 2012. Kristin currently serves as the coordinator of Catholic Educational Engagement at Catholic Relief Services. Kristin and her husband Andy have been married for 15 years and have a one year old daughter, Kyra Grace.

Miriam Hidalgo

NCCL Tuesday PM Speakers

1:30 – 3:00 pm | City Terrace 6

413: Ha Llegado la Hora: Implementando Laudato Si en su Hogar y Parroquia

Miriam G. Hidalgo M.Ed. es la Coordinadora de la Catequesis Hispana de la Arquidiócesis de Hartford. Nació en Providence, R.I. de padres Guatemaltecos. Tiene un Bachillerato en Ministerio Juvenil de Providence College y una Maestría en Educación Religiosa de Boston College. Tiene más de quince años de experiencia en la catequesis y en la pastoral juvenil a nivel diocesano y parroquial. Ella es miembro del equipo de liderazgo de FCH y la secretaria de la Conferencia de Directores Diocesanos de Nueva Inglaterra.

Miriam G. Hidalgo, M.Ed. is the Coordinator of Catechesis for Hispanics in the Archdiocese of Hartford. She was born in Providence, Rhode Island; her family is from Guatemala. Miriam has a BA in Youth Ministry from Providence College and an MEd in Religious Education from Boston College. She has over fifteen years of experience in catechesis and youth ministry at the parish and diocesan level. Currently she is a board member of FCH and secretary of the New England Conference of Diocesan Directors of Religious Education.

Fr. Frank DeSiano, CSP

NCCL Tuesday PM Speakers

1:30 – 3:00 pm | St. John

402: Evangelization and Social Teaching

Fr. Frank DeSaino, CSP, ordained a Paulist priest in 1972, is president of Paulist Evangelization Ministries. He has written numerous books on evangelization and discipleship, and travels widely to present to clergy, catechists, and parishes.

Anne Kertz Kernion

NCCL Tuesday AM Speakers

10:45 – 11:45 am | City Terrace 7

303: Lessons from Our Contemplative Tradition: “Pope Francis calls on us to be “Lights of Hope.”

Anne Kertz Kernion (BS, Environmental Engineering, Penn State; MA, Theology, Duquesne University) is the owner/artist of Cards by Anne, which are sold online (cardsbyanne.com) and in stores across the US and abroad.

For fourteen years, Anne was an adjunct professor of Theology at Carlow University, and for seven years taught at a local community college (CCAC). Her courses ranged from Chemistry, Environmental Science, and Nutrition, to Theology, World Religions and Ethics. Her new book, “A Year of Spiritual Companionship,” is published by SkyLight Paths. Anne continues to speak and lead retreats, and enjoys teaching a weekly yoga class at a local retreat center.

Adrián Herrera

NCCL Tuesday AM Speakers

10:45 – 11:45 am | City Terrace 4

313: Una Iglesia en Marcha: Misión y Misericordia

Adrián Alberto Herrera es actualmente Director Asociado para la Oficina de Evangelización y Catequesis en la Arquidiócesis de Galveston-Houston.  Se ha desempeñado como consultor para el Comité Consultivo Nacional de Educación Religiosa para Adultos, antes conocido como NACARE.  Es parte del profesorado del Instituto Pasionista de Holy Name Retreat Center donde ayuda en la formación de Acompañantes espirituales.

Ha escrito artículos para varias publicaciones como “Catechist Magazine” y materiales desarrollados por la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos bajo el Comité de Obispos para la Evangelización y la Catequesis para el Domingo Catequético 2010. Adrián fue uno de los seis animadores de la Conferencia Nacional de Liderazgo Catequético FCH “Foro sobre la catequesis para con los hispanos”. Fue uno de los miembros del comité de planificación para NCCL 2007, 2008 y 2012. Ha sido catequista, ministro de la juventud y Director de Educación Religiosa. Obtuvo su Maestría en Estudios Pastorales de la Escuela de Teología en el Seminario de Santa María en Houston. Ha sido presentador y Conferencista principal en distintas ciudades gracias a la colaboración estrecha con los jesuitas de la editorial Loyola Press.

Dr. Kristin Witte

NCCL Tuesday AM Speakers

10:45 – 11:45 am | River Terrace 4

312: Tools to Help Form Disciples who have a Global View and a Merciful Heart

Dr. Kristin Witte has a love of Christ and passion for serving the poor and vulnerable. She has taught in a Catholic elementary school, worked as a college campus minister, parish youth minister, and for the Archdiocese of Baltimore as the coordinator of pastoral care and social justice. Having earned three master’s degrees, Kristin completed her Doctorate in Ministry with an emphasis in Pastoral Counseling from the Catholic University of America in 2012. Kristin currently serves as the coordinator of Catholic Educational Engagement at Catholic Relief Services. Kristin and her husband Andy have been married for 15 years and have a one year old daughter, Kyra Grace.

Hosffman Ospino, Ph.D.

NCCL Tuesday PM Speakers

1:30 – 3:00 pm | Clearwater

405: The Fifth National Encuentro as a Model of Evangelizing Catechesis

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.

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 (2011-2014) y la Primera encuesta nacional de escuelas católicas sirviendo a familias hispanas. El Dr. Ospino sirve en el Equipo Central del proceso de Quinto Encuentro.

Dr. Jo Ann Paradise

NCCL Tuesday AM Speakers

10:45 – 11:45 am | Clearwater

308: Changing Paradigms

Dr. Jo Ann Paradise is a National Consultant for Our Sunday Visitor Curriculum Division and works with the product development team in creating resources for children and their families. Jo Ann has served as catechetical leader in the Diocese of Pittsburgh for over 32 years. She has been an adjunct faculty member of several universities in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Through her stories, Jo Ann motivates educators and catechists to prepare their children to meet the risen Lord and then learn how to respond to his invitation through a life of discipleship. She is a popular retreat director and provides spiritual direction.

Wayne Hipley

NCCL Tuesday PM Speakers

1:30 – 3:00 pm | City Terrace 11

409: Year of Mercy: Teaching A Consistent Ethic of Life

Wayne Hipley is Director of Youth Ministry at the Catholic Mobilizing Network and has been the Coordinator of Youth and Young Adult Ministry at St. William of York Church since July 2002. His ministry focuses on areas of spirituality, conflict resolution, ecumenism, social justice, and crisis intervention.

He serves on the Archdiocesan Response Team, acts as the youth ministry liaison on the Beyond the Boundaries Steering Committee, and directs the Archdiocese of Baltimore Justice Action Week program. Wayne has also worked closely with pastoral leaders of many faith traditions individually and through an ecumenical clergy collegium. In May 2007, he received the diocesan Medal of Honor for Youth and Young Adult Ministry.

David Dziena

NCCL Tuesday AM Speakers

10:45 – 11:45 am | City Terrace 6

310: What’s Up? Using Current Events to Emphasize Catholic Social Teaching

David Dziena is replacing Cullen Schippe.

David Dziena is the Editorial Director for Pflaum Publishing Group, a division of Bayard, Inc. He has also served as Executive Editor and Parish Projects Manager with Our Sunday Visitor. Prior to OSV, he was Editorial Manager for nine years at Silver Burdett Ginn Religion, followed by RCL Benziger. He also worked for St. Joseph’s Parish in Croton Falls, NY for a total of ten years-first as Director of Religious Education and then Coordinator of Youth Ministries. Since 1993, he has led Confirmation workshops and retreats, and catechist formation classes. David is the co-author of the Catholic Prayer Book for the Separated and Divorced (OSV); Our Catholic Family: Activities, Conversations, and Prayer for Sharing Faith at Home (Pflaum); and the general editor for Singing Our Faith, Second Edition: Leader’s and Catechist’s Manual (GIA).

David graduated from Iona College in New Rochelle, NY with a Bachelor or Arts degree in Philosophy with a minor in Fine Arts and Religious Studies. He also received a Masters in Pastoral Theology from St. Joseph’s College in Standish, ME. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Gloria.