Virtual Regional Congress

Our Lady of the Angels and San Fernando regions, bring you a Bi-Regional Virtual Congress. The day will consist of a dynamic lineup of speakers to accompany you on your ministry journey!

The day will include Live Virtual Workshop Presentations:

• 9:00 am, a Motivational Keynote Speaker to Start the Day
• 3 Sessions of Morning Workshops:
  • 9:30 am
  • 10:30 am
  • 11:30 am
• 9 Individual Workshops to Choose From
• See Incredible Lineup of Speakers Below

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

$20 per login
Early-Bird Special: $15 per login, ends 9/6/23

Group Rate: $12.50 each for 12+ logins
Early-Bird Group Rate: $7.50 each for 12+ logins, ends 9/6/23

DOWNLOAD PDF EVENT FLYER HERE

9:00 am – Welcome & Keynote Speaker

Sr. Rosalia Meza, VDMF, is the Senior Director of the Office of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and a member of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity (VDMF). She serves as the U.S. provincial for her community. Sr. Rosalia was previously the Director of Religious Education at St. Anthony’s Parish in Long Beach. She holds a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.

 

9:30 am – Session 1 – Choose 1 of the Following 3 Options

Session 1 – 9:30 am
Paul Brogan – “The spiritual and psychological wisdom of the Prayer of St. Francis”

The wisdom contained in the Prayer of St. Francis lies in its teachings of peace, love, forgiveness, understanding, compassion, and surrender. It serves as a reminder of the values and attitudes that can bring harmony, healing, and a sense of purpose to our lives and the world around us. As we remember St. Francis in October, we will explore the spiritual and psychological wisdom in this prayer, as we try to live deeper and more meaningful lives of faith and service.

Paul Brogan is a Marriage and Family Therapist in Los Angeles. He works with individuals and couples virtually in California. He teaches in the Psychology Department at Mount St. Mary’s University and presents at parishes and schools. His teaching includes Loss and Grief, Trauma, Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Bullying and Truancy, Domestic Violence, Internet Addiction, and Child Development. Originally from Ireland, he has completed graduate studies in theology, psychology, and holistic development. His website is StrongerDayByDay.com.

Session 1 – 9:30 am
Everett Fritz – “The Art of Discipleship”

Discipleship is currently a hot buzz word in the Church. There are many Catholic leaders who look out into the masses and see people walking away from the faith, and they have identified “discipleship” as the necessary step that is the difference between success and failure in a person’s formation. What is discipleship and why is it so important? This workshop will focus on re-imagining ministry with an emphasis on helping leaders to stop spinning their wheels on ministry that doesn’t matter so that they can turn their attention to returning to the way that Jesus taught us to do ministry.

Everett Fritz is the founder and Executive Director of Andrew Ministries. He holds a MA in Theology with concentrations in catechesis and evangelization from the Augustine Institute as well as a BA in Theology with a minor in Pro-Life Studies from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He has authored 4 books, including The Art of Forming Young Disciples. Everett regularly speaks on the topics of discipleship, youth evangelization, and chastity. He and his wife Katrina reside in Denver, Colorado with their children.

Session 1 – 9:30 am
Dr. Stuart Squires – “God’s Presence to His People”

Catholics often assume that the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is the first time that God became present to His People.  This presentation demonstrates that God’s presence is found throughout the Old Testament and New Testament, particularly in the Tabernacle, the Temple, and the Bread of Presence.

Stuart Squires is the Director of the MAPM Program at St. John’s Seminary, the seminary for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He earned his Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America, his M.A. from the University of Chicago, and his B.A. from DePaul University. He has published in a variety of academic journals. In 2019, he published The Pelagian Controversy: An Introduction to the Enemies of Grace and the Conspiracy of Lost Souls. In the fall of 2023, his second book, You Will Be Changed Into Me: The Fruits of the Eucharist, will be published.

10:30 am – Session 2 – Choose 1 of the Following 3 Options

Session 2 – 10:30 am
Jose Pulido- “Sharing the Faith through the example of the Holy Family”

Now, more than ever, people are hungry for what satisfies, what lasts, and what brings life. It is important for us to bring the light of Christ to others. That said, sharing faith often comes with fear, rejection, and indifference. How can we share our faith in a manner that creates joy, mutual appreciation, and is even lifegiving for the one sharing the faith? The example of the Holy Family in Scripture will illustrate practical techniques that will invite others to seek a personal encounter with the Lord. We will seek Our Lady’s example in communicating the faith to build emotional connection and seek Saint Joseph’s example to act with grateful love. The techniques covered here are perfect for Catechists, Evangelists, or others who have a hunger to share the faith with others.

Jose Pulido draws from 15+ years of experience evangelizing in various secular settings to inspire and equip others to share Christ. This includes universities, Fortune 500 companies, and various non-profits (in the US, Latin America, and Asia). He’s worked with Georgetown University on Young Adult Latino Ministry (Catholic Latino Leadership Initiative) and is part of the leadership team for That Man Is You (TMIY) in Saint Mary Magdalene Parish. He has a master’s from Yale University and a bachelor’s from George Washington University. He speaks Spanish, Japanese, and is hilarious in Korean.

Session 2 – 10:30 am
Timothy O’Malley – “Why the Church Needs a Conversion to Childhood”

In catechetical ministries, there’s a lot of attention to children. We want our kids to have faith. But maybe our children have something more to offer! Children should be a source of conversion to the entire Church since each of us remain children of the living God. In this presentation, participants will encounter a theology of childhood. They will then think about catechetical strategies related to the young child, the older child, and the adolescent. From these catechetical strategies, we will come to see how all catechesis might be transformed by spending time with the child. 

Tim O’Malley, Ph.D. is the Director of Education, at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. He teaches and researches at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame in the areas of liturgical-sacramental theology, marriage and family, catechesis, and spirituality. He is the author of nine books on topics related to the liturgy, RCIA, the Eucharist, sacramental theology, marriage and family, and liturgical formation.

Session 2 – 10:30 am
Dr. Stuart Squires – “Real Presence in the Tradition of the Church”

After the Age of the Apostles came to an end, the Catholic Tradition continued to proclaim that God is present to His people in the Eucharist.  In this presentation, we will explore the writings of multiple theologians throughout the entire history of the Church who, in different ways, have articulated the real presence of Jesus under the guise of bread and wine.

Stuart Squires is the Director of the MAPM Program at St. John’s Seminary, the seminary for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He earned his Ph.D. from the Catholic University of America, his M.A. from the University of Chicago, and his B.A. from DePaul University. He has published in a variety of academic journals. In 2019, he published The Pelagian Controversy: An Introduction to the Enemies of Grace and the Conspiracy of Lost Souls. In the fall of 2023, his second book, You Will Be Changed Into Me: The Fruits of the Eucharist, will be published.

11:30 am – Session 3 – Choose 1 of the Following 3 Options

Session 3 – 11:30 am
Fr. Parker Sandoval – “Mary: Model Missionary Disciple”

Missionary discipleship is not a buzzword or abstract concept but a reality to be lived concretely, and the Blessed Virgin Mary shows us the way. The Church, of course, revers Mary because she is the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, who call us to be his disciples and sends us forth to be his missionaries in the world. At the same time, Mary is worthy of veneration and imitation because she is the first and perfect missionary disciple of Jesus.  Come learn from Mary how to walk more closely with her Son.

Fr. Parker Sandoval was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 2015.  He served as associate pastor of Resurrection Church in Boyle Heights and then as Coordinator of Adult Faith Formation for the Archdiocese, training parish catechetical leaders.  He currently serves as Vice Chancellor and Senior Director of Ministerial Services of the Archdiocese and his passion remains the ministry of the word: preaching the Gospel and teaching the Catholic faith.

Session 3 – 11:30 am
Deacon Art Miller– “Hope is the distant light in a dark night”

Dr. Brett Hoover will report on what the latest research tells us about why young people opt out of religion and how that unfolds in a distinct way across racial and cultural lines, and even in different socioeconomic groups.

Deacon Art Miller is an author, radio and former television host, Viet Nam era veteran and veteran civil rights worker. He recently retired as the director of of the Office for Black Catholic Ministries. Besides his assigned parish, he is also Chaplin. Deacon Miller is a certified trainer in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolence philosophy as well as a Certified Spiritual Director and is a board member for the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence.

Session 3 – 11:30 am
Sr. Hosea Rupprecht, FSP – “Loving Well and Living Well with Technology”

In our technology-saturated world, it’s important to not only understand what technology can do for the Church and her mission but also to be able to bring our faith and values to the content technology provides. This workshop explores technology from a media mindfulness and faith perspective, providing tips for finding greater balance in our use of technology in order to live well and love well as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Sr. Hosea Rupprecht, FSP, is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul, a religious community dedicated to evangelization with media.  She holds a Masters of Theological Studies from the University of St. Michael’s College, and an MA in Media Literacy from Webster University. Sr. Hosea is former Regional Director of the Pauline Center for Media Studies in New York, but is now based at the national office in Culver City. She is author of “How to Watch Movies With Kids: A Values-Based Strategy,” film critic, and former co-host of the Catholic TV movie review show, Searchlight. For the past 20 years, she has facilitated various film dialogues for both children and adults, as well as given presentations on integrating culture, faith and media on the parish, diocesan, and national levels.

For more information please contact:

Our Lady of the Angels Pastoral Region
David Lara, Regional Coordinator
Araceli Ramirez, Administrative Secretary

San Fernando Pastoral Region
Dana Couso, Regional Coordinator