Dr. Wiliam A. Thomas

Dr. William A. Thomas is a Roman Catholic Theologian, Professor of Mariology at Newman College Ireland, and Director of the Pope St. John Paul II Institute of Marian Studies. Dr. Thomas studied metaphysics and philosophy in the United States before receiving his Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.) from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. He served as English Secretary to Bishop Van Lierde, OSA, the Vicar General of His Holiness Pope Saint John Paul II, in the Apostolic Palace. He is a custodian of the Sacred Relics of St. John Paul II, which accompany him.

Leslie Knopf

Leslie Knopf is the business director of Catholic CAST Media, an organization that seeks to evangelize through learning, beauty and witness on digital platforms. Leslie tells us about her spiritual journey, her experiences at the University of Kentucky and Santa Croce in Rome, and about evangelizing the digital world of social media.

Damon West

Damon West, motivational speaker and life coach, speaks out about the horrors of addiction and shares how he recovered by living in Christ and humbly serving others. A former college QB, recovering addict and ex-con, Damon inspires youth, college athletes, professional organizations and businesses to achieve their full potential.

Fr. Sean Kilcawley

Fr. Sean Kilcawley is a nationally recognized speaker on Theology of the Body, Human Love and  pornography addiction.  He was ordained a priest in 2005 for the Diocese of Lincoln.  He served as assistant pastor at St. Joseph and North American Martyrs and taught Theology of the body at Pius X High School from 2005-2009.  In 2013 Fr. Kilcawley  completed a License in Sacred Theology at the John Paul II institute for marriage and family studies in Rome and returned to the Diocese of Lincoln as director of Religious Education.  Fr. Kilcawley currently serves as the Director of the Office of Family Life and theological advisor for Integrity Restored.com--a non-profit organization that seeks to restore the integrity of families affected by pornography by providing education and resources to individuals, spouses, parents and clergy; to both heal and prevent wounds inflicted by the sexualized culture.

Father Augustine Wetta, O.S.B.

Father Augustine Wetta, O.S.B. is a monk of Saint Louis Abbey and a teacher at the Saint Louis Priory School, where he also coaches rugby and serves as chaplain. He runs “Monk Camp” during the summers for the youth and recently wrote a book, "Humility Rules."

Sister Jane Dominic Laurel, O.P.

Sr. Jane Dominic Laurel is a member of the St. Cecilia Congregation of Dominican Sisters.  She received her S.T.B., S.T.L. and S.T.D. from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. She has been active in her religious community's teaching apostolate for over fifteen years and has assisted with the theological formation of the newest members of her religious congregation.  In addition to contributing articles to a number of journals and magazines, including L'Osservatore Romano, Sister Jane Dominic has served as Spiritual Promoter for the Third Order Dominicans, and presented on topics related to theology, religious life, and marriage and family. Her main interest is systematic theology. She is working on an series titled “Praying as a Family.”

Denise Bossert

Denise Bossert has written a book on the mystery of the Visitation entitled Gifts of the Visitation. She speaks to Fr. Mark about how Mary is a model of evangelization in her visit to her cousin Elizabeth. After conceiving the Eternal Word, Mary is the Church in her very beginnings, where we see the essence of the Church and her first works.

Sr. Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, O.P.

Fr. Mark interviews Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, O.P. of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. Sister Joseph Andrew is the Co-foundress and Vocations director for the community and speaks about the book "And Mary's 'Yes' Continues", a beautiful new book written by the Sisters themselves providing a much-needed inside view to vocation discernment.

Natalia Fassano & Brittany Koepke

Natalia Fassano and Brittany Koepke’s mission, “Hearts Home,” promotes a culture of compassion around the world through a wide range of charitable efforts.

Rhonda Gruenwald

Rhonda Gruenewald is a full-time wife and mother of two teenagers and a convert to the faith. She is the president and founder of Vocation Ministry in the Archdiocese of Galveston–Houston and the author of Hundredfold: A Guide to Parish Vocation Ministry. Creating opportunities for the Holy Spirit to reach the hearts of the discerners is integral to this process and one of the overarching purposes of a Vocation Ministry. The ministry helps families understand the value and importance of vocations, ensuring a future generation of priests, nuns, sisters, brothers, and others who dedicate their lives to Christ.

Meg McDonnell

Meg T. McDonnell is the director of I Believe in Love, a movement of young adults working to rewrite the story of lasting love and marriage in America, and is an associate with Catholic Voices USA.

Obianuju Ekeocha

Fr. Mark speaks with Obianuju Ekeocha (Uju for short), an internationally acclaimed pro-life speaker and strategist. She is the founder and president of Culture of Life Africa, an initiative dedicated to the promotion and defense of the African values of the sanctity of life, beauty of marriage, blessings of motherhood and the dignity of family life.

Lisa Cotter

Fr. Mark interviews Lisa Cotter, a nationally sought after speaker on the topics of relationships, femininity, and living life with excellence. She is a graduate of Benedictine College and since 2007 she and her husband, Kevin have served FOCUS (the Fellowship of Catholic University Students) as a family. Lisa and Kevin are the co-authors of Dating Detox and she is the founder of Made to Magnify, a ministry that’s mission is to help people fight to be saints, because it’s worth it.

Walk for Life: West Coast 2017