This page is dedicated to our Guest Speakers for the January Leadership Conference 2008-2009.
Amy Arnold
Amy M. Arnold received both the Bachelor of Philosophy and Licentiate in Canon Law degrees from The Catholic University of America. She has served as a Judge for the Diocese of Phoenix since 2004, as well as Promoter of Justice since 2005.
Jim Beckman
Jim Beckman has been involved with youth ministry and evangelization of teens for more than 20 years. He graduated from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1987 and has been in various roles of leadership of national youth ministry ever since. He is a dynamic and passionate speaker and has a great love for young people. Jim has served as a host of Franciscan University of Steubenville’s summer Youth Conferences for more than 20 years. He has built solid and thriving youth ministry programs in several parishes over the years. Jim is the Executive Director of ImpactCenter, a Youth Minister Mentoring and Consulting Ministry based in Colorado. He and his wife, Meg, live in Highlands Ranch, CO with their five children: Aaron, Claire, Daniel, Jonathan and Brian.
Maria Buhrman
Maria is currently the Coordinator of Christian Formation at St. Thomas More parish in Glendale. She has held this position for 5 years and has been a coordinator in the Phoenix Diocese for over 15 years. Maria has been involved with different aspects of elementary and adult catechetical ministry for over 40 years. In addition to her duties at the parish, she has been a presenter of catechist certification courses for the diocese for 12 years and is the current catechetical leaders’ deanery representative for the Northwest deanery. Catechist formation is high on her list of priorities and she enjoys presenting formation courses to catechists.
Fr. John Ehrich
Father John Ehrich, MA, MDiv, STL, was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Phoenix in the year 2000. After five years of parish ministry, he spent two years studying moral theology at the Academia Alfonsiana in Rome where he earned his Sacred Theology Licentiate in 2007. Fr. Ehrich is currently the pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Phoenix, AZ.
Larry Fraher
Larry Fraher has served in ministry in the Diocese of Phoenix for 20 years. He holds a BA in Theological Studies and an MA in Systematic Theology both from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN. He has served as a parish youth minister, high school theology teacher, coach and campus minister, and diocesan Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Currently, Larry is the Coordinator of English Programs and an Instructor for Kino Institute. He is married and has 3 daughters.
Ryan Hanning
Ryan Hanning is the current Coordinator of the Office of Adult Evangelization for the Diocese of Phoenix, and proud father of 4 (soon to be 5) children. Ryan has worked in Parish life as a Director of Youth Evangelization, a DRE and Director of RCIA in both English & Spanish. Ryan has a B.A. in Religious Studies from Arizona State University and a Masters of Education from Northern Arizona University. Currently, Ryan is finishing his M.A. in Theology from the University of Dallas and hopes to pursue his Doctorate in Biblical Studies in Israel. Ryan has also taught Theology and Biblical Studies at Grand Canyon University, as well as World Religions for the Maricopa Community College District.
Mark Hart
Affectionately known as the “Bible Geek®,” Mark passionately echoes the Gospel to all whom he meets. Mark is the author and presenter for the The Teen Timeline or T3. His fun-loving and comedic personality help him open teens up to scripture in a unique way, while bringing to light the depth of what it means to be a Catholic Christian. Mark is a youth minister, and now proudly serves as vice president of LIFE TEEN, overseeing evangelization & media. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and an author of three books, Mark’s creative work on videos and written resources are known internationally. Mark currently lives in Phoenix with his wife and three daughters.
Fr. Matt Lowry
Fr. Matt Lowry’s involvement with Youth Ministry began with his high school Life Teen group at St. Theresa Parish in Phoenix, Arizona. After high school, Fr. Matt spent five years as a core member before becoming the youth minister for two years. Fr. Matt discerned a vocation to the priesthood, and went to St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. Fr. Matt was ordained a priest June 7, 2008, and is now the Parochial Vicar at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Mesa, Arizona.
Bill Marcotte
Bill Marcotte is the Director of Youth and Young Adult Evangelization in the Diocese of Phoenix. He holds a Masters in Theology from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. in Communications & Public Relations from Arizona State University. He is founder of Youth Arise North America, a Catholic Institute of Evangelization and Mission, and currently serves as President of the Board of Directors for Youth Arise North America. He married his lovely wife, Beth, in 1987 and has five children--Teresa, Jonathan, Joseph, Justin and Abigail. Bill and his family reside in Tempe and attend Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish.
Mary Mirrione
Mary Mirrione is the Director of St. Anne's Pueblo de Amor Atrium Center for children. She is in the process of obtaining a Masters of Arts Degree in Pastoral Ministry from Aquinas Institute in St Louis Mo. She is a nationally recognized Formation Leader for the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and has served on the National Board. She has been involved in full time children's ministry since 1991. She has published a number of articles for the Journals of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and the Center for Children and Theology in Mt Rainier, MD.
Craig Plenn
Craig Plenn has been involved in youth ministry since 1999, and has worked at St. Benedict's Catholic Community in Phoenix, since 2001. There, Craig serves the Middle School kids, High School teens and young adults. Craig has been married just over 5 years to Debbie, and together they have 2 beautiful daughters, Madeline and Molly. When not spending time with his family or serving at St. Benedict's, Craig enjoys working out and running.
Mike Phelan
Mike Phelan is currently Director of Marriage and Respect Life Issues for the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona. He holds a Masters degree in Theological Studies from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies at the Catholic University of America. An educator by trade, Mike has degrees in education and English from the University of Dallas and taught Jr. high and High school literature and history as well as coached basketball for eleven years. Mike and his wife, Sharon, have five children (four boys).
Bob Rice
Bob Rice received his MA Theology and Christian Ministry with a specialization in Catechetics from Franciscan University in 1997. Before coming to teach at Franciscan, he was a youth minister for 7 years at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Latham, NY, where he lead a LIFE TEEN program (one of the nation's hub parishes), confirmation preparation, teen catechumenal preparation, and other ministries within the parish. Bob is a highly sought after, internationally recognized speaker for youth and youth ministers, sharing the Good News to tens of thousands people every year. He is also an accomplished musician who leads worship at the Steubenville Summer Conference and has released many CDs (you can find out more at bobricemusic.com). Bob has authored a book through Servant Publications titled "Basic Spiritual Workout" and is currently working on other writing projects. He lives in Steubenville with his wife Jennifer and four young children. Bob lives in Steubenville with his wife Jennifer and four young children.
Leota Roesch
Leota Roesch currently serves as Coordinator of Catechist Formation and Children’s Catechesis for the Diocese of Phoenix. She came to Arizona after 20 years in the Archdiocese of San Antonio where she served as Director of Formation and Training for the Office of Youth Ministry. She has a M. Rel. Ed. from Fordham University as well as J. D. from the University of Minnesota School of Law. Her workshop specialties include content for comprehensive youth ministry, catechesis, peace and justice, prayer and worship (liturgy) and liability issues for lay ecclesial ministers; and Church History.
Mary Ann Ronan
Mary Ann Ronan has an M.A. in Religious Education from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an M.A. in Pastoral Studies with an emphasis on Counseling from Loyola University in Chicago and further theological studies from St. Mary's Seminary/University in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Mary Ann has been an Elementary School Teacher, Assitant Principal, Principal, Director of Religious Education in several parishes in Michigan, Pastoral Life Coordinator for 8 years in Michigan and Director of Faith Formation and Adult Formation for St. Paul's Parish in Phoenix for the last 18 years.
Mary Ann has been on several Committees for the Diocese of Phoenix including the Religious Education Board, Ecumenical Commission, and Committee for Revision of Sacraments for Reconciliation & Eucharist. Presently she is the President of the Board of Directors of the National Conference of Catechetical Leaders. She has given retreats, workshops, staff development days and board workshops. Mary Ann has a passion for Catechesis and Evangelization.
Dr. Barry Sargent
Dr. Barry Sargent is Director of Kino Institute, a school for Theological Studies and Pastoral Ministry Formation for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona. He serves on the Diocesan Commission on Ecumenism and Inter-religious Affairs, Diaconate Curriculum Committee, Advisory Board for the Office of Peace and Justice, Catholic Sun Advisory Committee and is Co-Chair of Theological Dialogue for the Arizona Ecumenical and Interfaith Council. He is a member of the national board for the USCCB’s Committee on Certification and Accreditation. He earned his Ph.D. in Theology at Marquette University in 1997. He holds an M.A. in Theology from the University of San Francisco and a B.A. in Religious Studies from San Jose State University. He has taught courses in Religious Studies and Theology at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Kevin Saunders
Graduate of the Ecole Biblique in Jerusalem a member of Logos Ministries and is a full time teacher with Logos and has presented a successful Bible program here at the Casa for 4 years.
Kevin comes to Logos Ministries with a wealth of academic and ministry experience. Kevin holds a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies from the University of Arizona and a Master’s Degree in Theology and New Testament Studies from the University of Notre Dame. He was also admitted as a doctoral candidate in New Testament Studies at the Catholic University of America.
In addition to these formal degrees, Kevin has studied the Bible in the Holy Land at the Ecole Biblique (a world renowned biblical school operated by the French Dominicans) and the Institute of Holy Land Studies. Kevin followed this course of study while he and his family lived in the Old City of Jerusalem in the 1980s. During this time in Jerusalem Kevin also worked as the Chaplain for Christian students at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. It was during this time that
Kevin became familiar with the cultural world of Jesus and learned to apply those cultural insights into his Bible teaching. These exciting cultural clues enrich Kevin’s teaching as the Bible “between the lines” comes alive in his classes.
Maggie Seliga
Maggie Seliga is Director of Faith Formation Programs. She is responsible for Adult and Elementary Initiation Sacraments and infant Baptism at St. Patrick Catholic Community.
She has been instrumental in initiating a Parish Magazine, “Cry the Gospel”, drawing writers from the parish community. Maggie added a new dimension to religious education through “Stepping-Stones”, for Grades 4 & 5 by augmenting their studies monthly with interesting themes for their young minds to reflect on, pray on, and act upon in the larger community. During the Summer, Maggie, draws in the energies of excited elementary grade kids, to our yearly adventures in two different Vacation Bible School themes.
Fr. Paul Sullivan
Fr. Paul is the Assistant Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Phoenix. He was ordained in 2007 and has served as Parochial Vicar of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Glendale. Fr. Paul also serves as chaplain for St. Mary's High School in Phoenix.
Eric Westby
Eric J. Westby, MA is the Director of Family Catechesis for the Diocese of Phoenix, Arizona. He holds a Masters of Arts degree in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University in Steubenville, from where he was the first student to complete the graduate specialization in catechetics. He holds a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies from the Center for Ministry Development, and has been involved in full-time parish youth ministry since 1988. He directs the Advanced Youth Ministry Training Conference for Franciscan University of Steubenville/LIFE TEEN/Diocese of Phoenix. He is a regular presenter at the summer St. John Bosco Catechetical Conference at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He has published youth ministry materials through YOU! Press and is the founder of ymcentral.com. More importantly, he is a husband and father of three beautiful girls - all who are destined for the convent...right?
Dr. Marek Wosinski
Dr. Marek Wosinski (Dr. Marek) is a faculty member at the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. He has teaching experience at universities in Poland, Sweden, Germany and The Netherlands. As a guest lecturer and motivational speaker he has been presenting throughout Europe, North/South America and Australia. In the years 1993 - 2003 Dr. Marek was in charge of the counseling center at St. Timothy Catholic Community in Mesa, AZ, where he created and facilitated various support programs. During that time he was involved in Life Teen Program and facilitated numerous workshops for core members, as well as conducted sessions at the Leadership Conferences organized by the University of Steubenville. Dr. Marek is teaching Community Psychology and other psychology courses at the Arizona State University and over almost 20 years about 15 000 students went through his classes. Since September 2006 he has been facilitating development of the University-Community Partnership for Social Action Research Network (UCP-SARnet), an international online community sponsored by the Centre for International Innovations in Canada, and promoting culturally sensitive community leadership. Dr. Marek is a Honorary Member of Polish Psychological Association and a recipient of the 2008 Outstanding Educator Award granted by the Society for Community Research and Action.
Katrina Zeno
Katrina J. Zeno is the coordinator of the John Paul II Resource Center for Theology of the Body and Culture for the Diocese of Phoenix, AZ. She is also the co-foundress of Women of the Third Millennium, co-host of a 13-part EWTN series on Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body and is the author of Every Woman's Journey: Answering 'Who Am I?' For the Feminine Heart and The Body Reveals God: A Guided Study of John Paul II's Theology of the Body. Katrina is an international speaker, and her articles have appeared in national publications. Born and raised in San Diego, California, Katrina earned her BA in theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio where she lived for 23 years until moving to Phoenix September 2005. Katrina is also a swing dance instructor, an Argentine tango enthusiast, and the blest mother of a young adult son Michael.
