(CS) Catholic Schools (non-certification)
9:00 am – 10:15 am

JCWC: St. Leo Room

Ryan Hanning teaches theology, church history, and Catholic studies and writes and speaks internationally on modern objections to religious faith. He serves as the assistant vice president and director of Cultural Advancement at the University of Mary Tempe, where he is also a faculty member in the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education. He is a certified presenter for Havard Virtuous Leadership Institute, a faculty member for the Kino Catechetical Institute, and a fellow of the Institute for Catholic Theology. He holds degrees from Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University and a PhD from Maryvale Institute in England. Ryan currently resides in Mesa, Arizona, with his wife, Rebecca, and their nine home-schooled children.

(RCIA) Rite of Christian Initiation (Yr. 1 or Yr. 2)
9:00 am – 10:15 am

Fieldhouse: Baron Room

Dcn. Drake McCalister is the coordinator of the catechetical practicum for the Office of Catechetics at Franciscan University. In addition to his work at Franciscan, Dcn. Drake McCalister is the director of RCIA for Franciscan and oversees the EDGE youth group, along with writing and speaking. Previously, Dcn. Drake McCalister was a Pentecostal pastor in the Foursquare Church for 13 years (1991-2004), but after five years of study, prayer, and reluctance, he resigned his pastorate and brought his wife and three daughters home to the Catholic Church on December 12, 2004 (Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe). Dcn. Drake McCalister and his wife, Crystal, now have five daughters.

(YM) Youth Ministry (Yr. 1 or Yr. 2)
9:00 am – 10:15 am

St. Joseph Center: Classroom A

Jim Beckman serves as the executive director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1987, Jim has served in various roles of leadership for national, regional, and local ministry ever since. Jim also is the executive director of ImpactCenter, a nonprofit dedicated to leadership development in the Catholic Church and serves as an adjunct professor for the Augustine Institute, teaching on leadership and discipleship. He also serves as an ambassador for Franciscan University of Steubenville. He and his wife, Meg, live in Oklahoma City with their five children.

(YM) Youth Ministry (Yr. 1 or Yr. 2)
9:00 am – 10:15 am

St. Joseph Center: Classroom B

Dr. James Pauley is a professor of theology and catechetics at Franciscan University. He has just published his first book, Liturgical Catechesis in the 21st Century: A School of Discipleship (LTP Press). In 2014, Dr. Pauley was appointed founding editor of The Catechetical Review, Franciscan University’s journal dedicated to the new evangelization. Dr. Pauley began working as a parish catechetical leader in 1989 and has served professionally in parish, diocesan, and university catechetical formation for 28 years. He is a frequent speaker in dioceses and parishes nationwide. James is married to Katrina, and they are blessed with three daughters.

(OT) Open Track (non-certification)
9:00 am – 10:15 am

Fieldhouse: Aerobics Room, 2nd floor

Dr. Gerard O’Shea is professor of religious education at The University of Notre Dame Australia, Sydney campus. Dr. O’Shea was a member of the writing team for the Australian religious education text To Know, Worship, and Love. His own parent resource, As I Have Loved You, helps parents train their children in a Catholic vision of sexuality. His new book, A Handbook of Religious Education, has recently been published by Angelico Press. Dr. O’Shea and his wife, Anne, served a five-year term as president couple for the National Association of Catholic Families (2003-2007). They have five children and seven grandchildren.

(OT) Open Track (non-certification)
9:00 am – 10:15 am

Fieldhouse: Performance Room, 2nd floor

Rania Saade has been handing on the faith in Catholic high schools for over 10 years.  After earning her MA in theology and Christian ministry with a specialization in catechetics from Franciscan University of Steubenville, she went on to teach at St. Pius X High School, a co-ed archdiocesan school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. For the last six years, she has been teaching at Jesuit High School, an all-boys college preparatory school in Tampa, Florida. Rania has taught a variety of courses in theology and has taught students in every grade level of high school.

(PCL) Director of Religious Education (Yr. 1 or Yr. 2)
9:00 am – 10:15 am

JCWC: International Lounge

Martha Drennan is the director of Faith Formation at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, a 4,000-family parish in Springfield, Virginia. She directs ongoing parish faith formation and sacramental preparation for over 500 students. This includes an RCIC process for over 60 students. Additionally, she forms a team of over 75 catechists for the parish. She graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1998 with a master of arts degree in theology and Christian ministry, specializing in catechetics. She is currently a candidate in a doctor of ministry program at The Catholic University of America.

(PCL) Director of Religious Education (Yr. 1 or Yr. 2)
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Cosmas & Damian: Pugliese Auditorium

Lucas Pollice is the director of the MA in leadership for the new evangelization degree and associate professor of theology and catechetics for the Augustine Institute. He had previously served as the director of Catechesis for the Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas. Lucas has been involved in full-time parish and diocesan catechetical ministry since 1999. He is the author of Open Wide the Doors to Christ: Discovering Catholicism and has helped develop Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained, Beloved and other catechetical series produced by the Augustine Institute. Lucas and his wife, Mary, have six children and live in Colorado.

(HFF) Hispanic Faith Formation
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Cosmas & Damian: Room 300

Gloria (“Gigi”) Zapiain has worked in catechetics on the parish and diocesan levels for over 25 years. She has served as a parish DRE and catechetical consultant for the Archdiocese of Washington and as diocesan director of Faith Formation for the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, and Bridgeport, Connecticut.  She holds an MA in religious studies and a pontifical catechetical diploma from the Notre Dame Institute.  She is currently director of the secretariat for Catechesis and Faith Formation for the Archdiocese of San Antonio, a board member for the Association for Catechumenal Ministry, and a board advisor for My Catholic Faith Delivered, an online catechetical platform.

(DO) Diocesan Officials
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Cosmas & Damian: Room 206

Ken Ogorek is the archdiocesan catechetical director in Indianapolis and a consultant with the Evangelium Consulting Group (evangeliumconsulting.com). After earning a master’s degree from the Pontifical Center for Catechetical Studies, Ken taught high school religion, then served as assistant diocesan catechetical director in Pittsburgh for 10 years before returning to his native Hoosier state in 2007. With his bride of 25-plus years and their children, Ken is a parishioner at St. Pius X in Indianapolis. His efforts were recently acknowledged by his peers when they elected him to a term as president of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership.