(HFF) Hispanic Faith Formation
9:00 am – 10:15 am

Cosmas & Damian: Room 300

Marlon De La Torre is the current department director of Evangelization and Catechesis for the Diocese of Fort Worth. For over 20 years, he has ministered as a professor of catechetics for Seminary and Deaconate Formation with Catholic Distance University, a parish/diocesan DRE, Catholic high school principal (Diocese of Memphis), and superintendent of Catholic schools (Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph). The author of Screwtape Teaches the Faith, he has been published with knowingisdoing.org, catholicmom.com, The Sower, New Advent.org, and EWTN Live. He holds an MA in theology and catechesis from Franciscan University and an MEd from the University of Saint Mary and is a PhD candidate at The University of Notre Dame-Australia. He and his wife, Amy, have four children, Miguel, Gabriella, Maria, and Gianna..

(DO) Diocesan Officials
9:00 am – 10:15 am

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.

(CM) Campus Ministry
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

St. Joseph Center: Totino Room

Michael Hall is the director of Ministry Training and Program Development for Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO), a university student movement dedicated to evangelization serving on campuses across Canada, and has been a missionary with CCO since 2003. Michael lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with his wife, Amy, and their four children.

(CT) Catechist Training
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

JCWC: Fireside Lounge

Ron Bolster is the former director of the Office of Catechetics at Franciscan University. He served the Diocese of Peoria before joining the catechetics faculty at Franciscan in 2004. He holds an MA in theology with catechetical certification from Franciscan and an undergraduate degree from Cornell University. He serves on the confirmation team for the parishes of the City of Steubenville and has experience in RCIA, the Neocatechumenal Way, and catechist training. He is co-author of Ascension Press’ Chosen: Your Journey to Confirmation program. Ron and his wife, Andrea, reside with their eight children in Steubenville.

(CT) Catechist Training
10:45 am – Noon

JCWC: Gentile Gallery

Dr. John Bergsma is a professor of theology at Franciscan University and served as a Protestant pastor for four years before entering the Catholic Church in 2001. Dr. Bergsma holds a PhD in theology from the University of Notre Dame, where he specialized in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls. He speaks regularly on Catholic radio and at conferences and parishes nationwide. He and his wife, Dawn, reside with their eight children in Steubenville. The author of several books, his latest is Stunned by Scripture: How the Bible Made Me Catholic from Our Sunday Visitor.

(CS) Catholic Schools (Non-Certification)
(OT) Open Track (non-certification)
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

JCWC: St. Leo Room

Sr. John Dominic Rasmussen, OP, was born in Berkeley, California, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 5. She converted to Catholicism during her sophomore year and entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in 1982. In 1997, she and three other sisters founded the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sister has been involved in Catholic education for over 30 years as both a teacher and administrator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, and a master’s degree in theology from Franciscan University. She is the co-author, with Carol Kennedy, of Remain in Me, a faith formation curriculum for catechetical instruction, and she has developed curriculum titled Disciple of Christ—Education in Virtue.

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

JCWC: International Lounge

Bill Keimig is the assistant director of the Catechetical Institute at Franciscan University. For 15 years, he served as DRE at St. Mary’s of Piscataway in Clinton, Maryland, and served for nine years as director of the Association for Catechumenal Ministry (ACM). He has served as a speaker in many settings in over 30 dioceses. Bill holds master’s degrees in public management from the University of Maryland and in theology from Franciscan University and is completing a doctorate at The Catholic University of America. He and his wife, Heather, have six children, Rose, William, Julianna, Theodore, Elizabeth, and Gregory.

(RCIA) Rite of Christian Initiation (Yr. 1 or Yr. 2)
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Fieldhouse: Baron Room

Scott Sollom is an assistant professor of theology at Franciscan University. He has conducted RCIA training workshops around the country and the world, including presentations with the Association for Catechumenal Ministry and Symbolon. He previously served as a DRE in Stillwater, Minnesota, and College Station, Texas, as well as a youth minister in Hudson, Wisconsin. Scott and his wife, Mary, have five children.

(YM) Youth Ministry (Yr. 1 or Yr. 2)
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

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)
2:00 pm – 3:15 pm

St. Joseph Center: Classroom B

Dr. Kristin Witte directs U.S. Catholic Educational and Catechetical Engagement for the USCCB’s official international humanitarian aid organization, Catholic Relief Services. Dr. Witte strives to encourage fellow disciples to embrace Christ’s healing mission. She has served as a campus minister, coordinator of Pastoral Care for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, parish youth minister, and Catholic school religion teacher. She has earned three master’s degrees and completed her doctorate in ministry with an emphasis in pastoral counseling from The Catholic University of America. Dr. Witte and her husband, Andy, reside in the Baltimore area with their daughter, Kyra Grace.