PWA-VCC-Program Booklet PDF
PWA-VCC-Program Booklet PDF
APOLOGETICS VIRTUAL
CONFERENCE
October 23-25, 2020
HOSTED BY:
Passionately Catholic
Academically Excellent
Learn More
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction................................................................. page 2
We have nearly fifty amazing speakers who will help you to understand and better defend
the teachings of the Catholic Church. The word apologetics comes from a Greek word
(apologia) which means to make a defense. St. Peter himself instructs us in his first epistle
to “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the
hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15). In learning how to understand and defend the faith,
then, we are being obedient to Scripture.
Apologetics can be thought of positively, such as when we are making a case for the faith
(i.e. “God exists; God sent his son Jesus to save us from our sins; Jesus established a
Church to which he gave authority.”). Apologetics can also be thought of defensively,
such as when we are responding to objections people have to the faith, (i.e. “How can you
say God exists when there is so much suffering in the world?").
In this jam-packed conference, our amazing presenters will help you do both. As we get
started may I suggest we begin with the following prayer written by St. Thomas Aquinas:
Bio
Jimmy Akin is an internationally known author and speaker. As the senior apologist at Catholic Answers,
he has more than twenty-five years of experience defending and explaining the Faith.
Jimmy is a convert to the Faith and has an extensive background in the Bible, theology, the Church
Fathers, philosophy, canon law, and liturgy.
Jimmy is a weekly guest on the national radio program Catholic Answers Live, a regular contributor to
Catholic Answers Magazine, and a popular blogger and podcaster. His personal web site is
JimmyAkin.com.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Jackie Francois Angel is a full-time worship leader and speaker. Bobby Angel is a campus minister and
theology teacher at a Catholic high school. Married in 2013, they have four beautiful children. Jackie
and Bobby are presenters on YouTube with Ascension Presents.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Cameron is the founder of Capturing Christianity, a ministry aimed at exposing the intellectual side of
Christian belief. He is a writer, speaker, and uses his ministry to host discussions and interviews on
Christian Apologetics. Cameron is married to a beautiful wife and is the father of two adorable children.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Karlo Broussard, a native of Southern Louisiana, left a promising musical career to devote himself full-time
to the work of Catholic apologetics. With undergraduate and graduate degrees in Theology, as well as a
Masters in Philosophy, Karlo is a full time staff apologist for Catholic Answers and travels the country
giving talks on apologetics, the Bible, theology, and philosophy.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers is an internationally renowned speaker, author, and preacher. He holds a
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame,
and a Master of Theological Studies Degree from the University of Dallas. He has appeared as a guest on
numerous international Catholic radio programs, and is the host or co-host of several popular series on the
Eternal Word Television Network. Deacon Harold, a Benedictine Oblate, is the author of the best-selling
book, "Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality," and the acclaimed new book, "Father
Augustus Tolton: The Slave Who Became the First African American Priest". He is a member of the
Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy. Most importantly, Deacon
Harold is married to his lovely wife, Colleen, and they have four beautiful children.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Using reason alone, learn to prove that the human soul must be
immaterial and immortal, thus surviving the death of the body.
Bio
Jim Burnham is a cradle-Catholic evangelist and apologist. He is the co-author of the immensely popular
series, Beginning Apologetics. These short, easy-to-read handbooks equip Catholics to charitably answer
the most common questions and objections about their Catholic faith. Jim is also the co-author, along with
Steve Wood, of Christian Fatherhood, a manual for raising Catholic children in the modern world. These
resources are available at catholicapologetics.com and Catholic bookstores everywhere. Jim gives exciting
apologetics conferences all over the country. He lives in Pasadena, CA with his wife Lisa and their six
children.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
This workshop will give you concrete tools that you can use,
regardless of your walk of life or prior experience, to effectively
engage those around you with the compassion and abilities you need
to change minds, and save lives so that together, we can make
abortion unthinkable in our society.
Bio
Since graduating from the University of Victoria with a degree in Biology in 2013, Cam has served as the
Western Outreach Director for educational pro-life organization the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical
Reform (CCBR). In that time he has spoken with over 10,000 Canadians about the issue of abortion, and
has been blessed to witness thousands of them become completely pro-life.
Cam has led workshops in Canada and the United States to equip pro-life ambassadors with the tools they
need to confidently engage in compelling and compassionate conversations about abortion. He is the co-
host of newly launched podcast, "The Pro-Life Guys", which is focused on providing concrete tools for
having more productive conversations about abortion.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Decisive changes are taking place in the field of philosophy, and the
outcome of these changes will reverberate throughout the university
and ultimately Western culture. In this lecture, Dr. Craig discusses
the role philosophy plays in re-evangelizing a culture shaped by
secularism.
Bio
William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology and Professor of
Philosophy at Houston Baptist University. He has authored or edited over thirty books as well as over a
hundred articles in professional journals of philosophy and theology. In 2016 Dr. Craig was named by
The Best Schools as one of the fifty most influential living philosophers.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Dr. Gerry Ken Crete is a marriage and family therapist and professional counselor specializing in the
treatment of trauma and addictions, as well as marriage counseling and treatment of clergy and religious.
Dr. Crete is the founder of Transfiguration Counseling and Consulting
(www.transfigurationcounseling.com) which integrates the Catholic faith with mental health counseling
and coaching. He is also the co-founder of Souls and Hearts (www.soulsandhearts.com) which is an online
platform providing mental health education to Catholics through courses, podcasts and blogs. You can
listen to Dr. Crete weekly on “Be with the Word” where he analyzes the Sunday readings from a
psychological perspective. Dr. Crete is Past-President and board member of the Catholic Psychotherapy
Association. Dr. Crete earned his doctorate from the University of Georgia and attends Epiphany of the
Lord Byzantine Catholic Church in Roswell, GA. Dr. Crete has been married for 28 years, and he has three
grown children.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Aptly called the Fifth Gospel, the Shroud records in vivid detail what
the Gospels relate with great discretion. But what exactly does this
imaged linen reveal about the physical sufferings of the man? Are
signs of Resurrection traced on the Shroud? How was this enigmatic
image, which acts as a photonegative and encodes three-dimensional
information, formed in the first place? Do these linen fibers contain
the blood that was shed for our salvation? When we look at the
Shroud, do we gaze upon the face of God?
In this talk, Fr Andrew Dalton employs a biblical and scientific
Bio approach to the most treasured relic in Christendom.
Having studied philosophy and theology at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, he is
currently pursuing a doctorate in theology at the same university, where he is now an Assistant Professor.
Since 2014, Fr Dalton has taught several courses related to Sacred Scripture: Biblical Hebrew, Biblical
Greek, Homiletics, and Prayer in the New Testament.
Fr Dalton obtained a Postgraduate Certificate in Shroud Studies in 2011, and became a board member of
Othonia, an international center of investigation on the Shroud, in 2017. In 2018, he worked with Shroud
experts all over the world to bring university-level studies to the English-speaking world.
He presently teaches the Biblical Theology of the Passion of the Christ for the Science and Faith Institute,
which works in collaboration with the International Centre of Shroud Studies in Turin and the Giulio Ricci
Diocesan Centre of Sindonology in Rome.
Fr Dalton has lectured on the Shroud of Turin and the sufferings of Christ all over the world, including
China, Singapore, and the Philippines and has appeared on television in America and Italy.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Robert A. Delfino is Associate Professor of Philosophy at St. John’s University in New York City. He
received his Ph.D. in 2001 from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where he specialized in
metaphysics, medieval philosophy, and Thomas Aquinas, studying under Jorge J. E. Gracia. His current
research interests include metaphysics, ethics, and the relationship between science, philosophy, and
religion. His book, Does God Exist?: A Socratic Dialogue on the Five Ways of Thomas Aquinas (co-
authored with Matt Fradd) was published in 2018, and he has edited three other books: Plato’s Cratylus:
Argument, Form, and Structure (2005), Understanding Moral Weakness (2006), and What are We to
Understand Gracia to Mean?: Realist Challenges to Metaphysical Neutralism (2006). He has also published
articles on Aristotle, Aquinas, Locke, Kant, Husserl, the nature of philosophy, philosophy of science,
personal identity, and human rights, in various countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom,
Canada, Germany, Italy, Russia, Poland, and India. He has presented papers at the University of Oxford, in
the United Kingdom, the Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid, Spain, and the John Paul II Catholic
University of Lublin, in Poland, where he delivered the Jacek Woroniecki Lectures in May of 2010. He is a
fellow of the Adler-Aquinas Institute, a member of the Board of Advisors for the International Etienne
Gilson Society, and was the editor of Studies in the History of Western Philosophy (SHWP), a special
series within the Value Inquiry Book Series (VIBS) from 2002-2015.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
John DeRosa is a math teacher with a passion for studying apologetics, philosophy, and theology. He hosts
the Classical Theism Podcast, a weekly show that helps others become more proficient in their defense of
the Catholic Christian worldview. He lives in New Jersey with his wife Christine.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Deacon Jeff Drzycimski is a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee. He is a
speaker at conferences, retreats and parishes, an author and the host of the nationally syndicated radio
talk show and podcast The Catholic Cafe, heard weekly on nearly 1000 stations worldwide - including
EWTN and Guadalupe Radio, as well as on Apple Podcasts. Visit the “Luxurious Corner Booth” of The
Catholic Cafe and listen online at www.thecatholiccafe.com. Deacon Jeff works as Director of
Catechetical & Sacramental Formation for the Diocese of Memphis. He and his wife of over 30 years
have 9 children, and are members of St. Louis Catholic Church in Memphis where he serves as Deacon.
Deacon Jeff graduated from the University of Memphis in 1985 with a BA in Communications. For
more about The Catholic Cafe or to find out how to invite Deacon Jeff to speak at your event, send him
an email at [email protected].
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Jason Evert has traveled to six continents to bring the message of purity to more than one million people
over the past 20 years, including World Youth Days in Australia, Spain, Poland, and Panama. He has also
lectured at dozens of universities, including Harvard, Princeton, and the United States Air Force and Naval
Academies. Jason earned a master’s degree in Theology, and undergraduate degrees in Counseling and
Theology, with a minor in Philosophy at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
He is a best-selling author of 15 books, including Saint John Paul the Great, How to Find Your Soulmate
without Losing Your Soul, and the curriculum YOU: Life, Love, and the Theology of the Body. He and his
wife Crystalina are frequent guests on radio programs throughout the country, and their television
appearances include MSNBC, Fox News, the BBC, and EWTN. Together, they run Chastity Project and its
website, chastity.com, and lead an international alliance of young people who promote purity in more than
40 countries.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Edward Feser is Professor of Philosophy at Pasadena City College and the author of Five Proofs of the
Existence of God and many other books and articles.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Matt Fradd is a Catholic Australian author, podcaster, and university professor. He has written and
contributed to numerous books including Does God Exist? A Socratic Dialogue on the Five Ways of
Thomas Aquinas, Marian Consecration with Aquinas, and The Porn Myth. Matt earned his undergraduate
and graduate degrees in philosophy from Holy Apostles College & Seminary where he now teaches. He
lives with his wife, Cameron, and their four children in Georgia.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Fr. Mark Goring grew up in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. He joined the Companions of the Cross, order of
priests when he was 18 years old. He studied philosophy at the Dominican College and Theology at St.
Paul's University in Ottawa. He was ordained a priest in 2002.
Fr. Mark served as Associate Pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Ottawa, Director of Admissions for the
Companions of the Cross, Chaplain to the Catholic Students at York University in Toronto, Director of the
Catholic Charismatic Center in Houston, Texas and now serves as Pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Ottawa.
Fr. Mark contributes to Food for Life TV ministry and has a Youtube ministry.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
An evangelist who loves the Catholic Church and wants all to be Christ's disciples.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Stephanie Connors (formerly Gray) is a seasoned and international speaker who began presenting at the
age of 18. She has given almost 1,000 pro-life presentations across North America as well as in Scotland,
England, Ireland, Austria, Latvia, Guatemala, Mexico, and Costa Rica. She has spoken at many post-
secondary institutions such as Yale University, George Washington University, and the University of
California, Berkeley. In 2017, Stephanie was a presenter for the series "Talks at Google," speaking on
abortion at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California.
Stephanie has debated abortion advocates such as physicians who do abortions, which includes debating
late-term abortionist Dr. Fraser Fellows in front of medical students at the University of Western Ontario’s
Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry. She has also debated Ron Fitzsimmons, executive director of the
National Coalition of Abortion Providers, Dr. Jan Narveson, Philosophy professor and recipient of the
Order of Canada, Elizabeth Cavendish, legal director for NARAL Pro-Choice America, and Dr. Malcolm
Potts, the first medical director for International Planned Parenthood Federation. In 2019, Stephanie
participated in an historic eight-woman debate on abortion at La Ciudad de las Ideas (CDI), an event similar
to TED Talks which was held in Puebla, Mexico.
Stephanie’s audiences are vast, including medical students, law students, churches of various
denominations, seminaries, high schools, and pro-life organizations. She has spoken at events for YWAM
(Youth With A Mission), Alliance Defending Freedom, and Colson Center for Christian Worldview, to name
a few. Besides speaking on abortion, she also presents on assisted suicide and can tailor messages for
specific audiences, whether sectarian or non-sectarian.
Stephanie has done hundreds of media interviews, which include being a guest on CTV News, CBC News,
CBC’s The Current, Global News, EWTN, Back to the Bible, Catholic Answers Radio, 100 Huntley Street’s
Listen Up, and the Miracle Channel’s Insight. She has been interviewed by ABC-, NBC-, FOX-, and CBS-
affiliated television news programs throughout the Midwest of the United States.
Stephanie is author of Love Unleashes Life: Abortion & the Art of Communicating Truth. She holds a
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from UBC in Vancouver, and a Certification, with Distinction, in Health
Care Ethics, from the NCBC in Philadelphia.
Bio
Dr. Scott Hahn is the Fr. Michael Scanlan Professor of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at the
Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is the Founder and President of the St. Paul Center, an
apostolate dedicated to teaching Catholics to read Scripture from the heart of the Church.
Dr. Hahn has been married to Kimberly for forty years. They have six kids and nineteen grandkids and two
of their sons are currently in priestly formation with the Diocese of Steubenville.
The author and editor of over forty popular and academic books, Dr. Hahn’s works include best-selling
titles Rome Sweet Home, The Lamb’s Supper, and Hail Holy Queen. His most recent release is titled Hope
to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body. Welcome Dr. Hahn.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Author of "Pope Peter: Defending the Church's Most Distinctive Doctrine in a Time of Crisis," and "Who
Am I, Lord?: Finding Your Identity in Christ," Blogger at Shameless Popery, & Instructor at Holy Family
School of Faith.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
After his conversion to the Catholic faith, Trent Horn earned master’s degrees in the fields of theology,
philosophy, and bioethics. He serves as a staff apologist for Catholic Answers, where he specializes in
teaching Catholics to graciously and persuasively engage those who disagree with them.
Trent models that approach each week on the radio program Catholic Answers Live and on his own
podcast, The Counsel of Trent. He has also been invited to debate at UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, and
Stanford University.
Trent is an adjunct professor of apologetics at Holy Apostles College, has written for The National Catholic
Bioethics Quarterly, and is the author of nine books, including Answering Atheism, The Case for
Catholicism, and Why We’re Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Dr. Christopher Kaczor (rhymes with razor) is Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University. He
graduated from the Honors Program of Boston College and earned a Ph.D. four years later from the
University of Notre Dame. A Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Kaczor did post-doctoral work as a Federal Chancellor
Fellow at the University of Cologne and as William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in the James Madison Program
at Princeton University. He was appointed a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life of
Vatican City, a fellow of the Word on Fire Institute, and winner of a Templeton Grant. He has written
more than 100 scholarly articles and book chapters. An award winning author, his fifteen books include
Disputes in Bioethics, Thomas Aquinas on the Cardinal Virtues, Abortion Rights: For and Against, 365
Days to Deeper Faith, The Gospel of Happiness, The Seven Big Myths about Marriage, A Defense of
Dignity, The Seven Big Myths about the Catholic Church, The Ethics of Abortion, O Rare Ralph McInerny:
Stories and Reflections on a Legendary Notre Dame Professor, Life Issues-Medical Choices; Thomas
Aquinas on Faith, Hope, and Love; The Edge of Life, and Proportionalism and the Natural Law Tradition.
Dr. Kaczor’s views have been in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The
Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, National Review, NPR, BBC, EWTN, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, MSNBC,
TEDx, and The Today Show.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., is a professor of philosophy at Boston College. He loves his five grandchildren, four
children, one wife, one cat, and one God. Dr Kreeft has written over 95 books that include:
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
The evidence that Jesus rose from the dead is quite strong.
However, presenting it can get quite complex. In this lecture, Dr.
Mike Licona demonstrates how you can present a simple historical
case for Jesus' resurrection on a napkin in a restaurant!
Bio
Mike Licona is associate professor of theology at Houston Baptist University and president of Risen Jesus,
Inc. He has a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from the University of Pretoria, which he earned with
distinction. Mike is the author of numerous books and was interviewed by Lee Strobel in his book The
Case for the Real Jesus. In 2017, Mike was elected to full membership in the prestigious Society for New
Testament Studies. He has spoken on more than 100 university campuses and has appeared on dozens of
radio and television programs.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Derya Little has a PhD in politics from Durham University, England and an MA in history from Bilkent
University, Turkey. She is the author of several books, including From Islam to Christ: One Woman's Path
through the Riddles of God (Ignatius Press, 2017) and A Beginner's Guide to the Latin Mass (Angelico Press,
2019). She can be visited online at DeryaLittle.com.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Catholic Priest, Author, Blogger and Podcaster
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Gary is a popular speaker on Catholic apologetics for over 20 years. He is the host of "Hands On
Apologetics" on Virgin Most Powerful Radio. The author of several books including Why Catholic Bibles Are
Bigger, Hostile Witnesses, The Case for the Deuterocanon, and Making Sense of Mary. Gary is also an
instructor of apologetics for Homeschool Connections and a frequent guest on Catholic radio and television.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Scripture, the Catechism, and Canon Law are clear about the
immorality of divorce, and in this talk we will revisit the clear
teachings of the Church in order to get our bearings on a subject that
was once well understood -- and must be again.
Bio
Leila Miller is a Catholic author, blogger, and speaker. She has taught the Faith for 25 years and has been
featured on a wide variety of Catholic media, including EWTN, Catholic Answers, National Catholic
Register, and many Catholic radio shows and podcasts. Her first blog, the popular Little Catholic Bubble,
ran for eight years, and her current blog can be found at LeilaMiller.net.
Leila’s books include Made This Way: How to Prepare Kids to Face Today’s Tough Moral Issues (co-
authored with Trent Horn of Catholic Answers); Primal Loss: The Now-Adult Children of Divorce Speak;
Impossible Marriages Redeemed: They Didn’t End the Story in the Middle; and Raising Chaste Catholic
Men: Practical Advice, Mom to Mom.
Leila and her husband have been married for 30 years and have eight children, ages 29 to ten, and ten
grandchildren. They live in Phoenix, Arizona.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Ferris Murdock
In this presentation, we'll look at some helpful tips on how to
respond to Protestant arguments.
Bio
Ferris Murdock is the host of "How to be Christian", a YouTube program that uses facts and logic to explain
Christianity. Here are some facts about Ferris:
- Ferris once shocked himself multiple times before realizing that he shouldn't touch an open electrical
socket with wet hands.
- Ferris once burnt his hand on a stove, playing a single person game, which he invented, called "Is it hot?"
(...it was).
Ferris is NOT the sharpest tool in the shed, so Ferris tries to explain Christianity in a way that allows anyone
to understand it, even him.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Matt Nelson is the Assistant Director of Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire Institute. He holds a Doctor of
Chiropractic (D.C.) from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto, a Bachelor of Education
degree from the University of Regina, and is currently pursuing a M.A. in philosophy from Holy Apostles
College and Seminary.
He is the author of Just Whatever: How to Help the Spiritually Indifferent Find Beliefs That Really Matter
(Catholic Answers Press, 2018), and is a contributor to the Catholic Answers Online Magazine, The
Imaginative Conservative, Strange Notions, and the Evangelization and Culture journal. He has appeared on
Salt and Light Television, and has been interviewed on Catholic Answers Live, EWTN Radio, Relevant Radio,
Redeemer Radio, Ave Maria Radio, Breadbox Media, and a number of podcasts.
Matt currently resides in Texas with his wife Amanda and their three children.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Damon Owens, international speaker and evangelist, is executive director of Joyful Ever After
(joyfuleverafter.org). The first executive director of the Theology of the Body Institute and chairman of the
2016 International Theology of the Body Congress, Damon founded Joyful Ever After as a non-profit
ministry dedicated to encouraging and educating couples to understand and live marriage and family life
together with joy through St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
Host of the 2020 Catholic Marriage Summit, presenter at the 2019 Catholic Family Life Symposium, 2017
USCCB Convocation of Catholic Leaders, and 2015 World Meeting of Families, Damon keeps a full
international speaking schedule at conferences, seminars, universities, high schools, seminaries, and
parishes on the good news of marriage, sexuality, Theology of the Body, Theology of the Family, adoption,
and NFP. In 2018, Pope Francis honored Damon with his Benemerenti Papal Medal in recognition for his
work in support of marriage and family. Damon lives outside Philadelphia with his wife Melanie and their
eight children.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Assistant Professor of Social Research and Economic Thought, The Catholic University of America.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Deacon Peter Pellicaan was a protestant pastor before being received into full communion with the
Catholic Church. He brings a fresh enthusiasm for the beauty, goodness and truth found in the Holy
Catholic Church. He is passionate about revivifying Catholics to rediscover the wonder of their faith in
order that they might re-engage in it, live it to the full, and share it with others. Peter is married with five
children and is currently the Executive Director of Evangelisation Brisbane, an Agency of the Archdiocese
of Brisbane. Peter has a Bachelor of Ministries, a Graduate Diploma in Education, a Masters in Educational
Leadership, and is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Notre Dame Australia, researching a theology of
confirmation from the canon of scripture.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
I am a Roman Catholic Priest of the Diocese of London, Ontario, Canada. I was ordained in 2012. With
the charism of teaching I hope to impart on others an integration of spiritual formation and intellectual
formation. Marrying the teachings of St. Thomas Aquinas with his deep Spiritual Wisdom is a
preoccupation of mine.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P. is a graduate student at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland). He served previous
as Assistant Director of Campus Outreach for the Thomistic Institute and as adjunct professor at Bellarmine
University. He attended Franciscan University of Steubenville, entered the Order of Preachers in 2010, and
was ordained a priest in 2016. He is the co-author of Marian Consecration with Aquinas and has published
articles in Nova et Vetera, The Thomist, and Angelicum. He is also a regular contributor to the podcasts Pints
with Aquinas and Godsplaining.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
I specialize in analytic metaphysics, with an emphasis on minds and the foundations of existence. I am author
of over 30 journal articles and six books, including How Reason Can Lead to God, Necessary Existence, and
Defending the Correspondence Theory of Truth. I am founder of Worldview Design, a YouTube channel
devoted to helping people build a sound worldview. My life purpose is to help people increase their
understanding of the most fundamental things.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
EARLY YEARS
Stephen K. Ray was born in 1954 to parents who had just become Christians through a Billy Graham
Crusade.
He was raised in a Fundamentalist Baptist family and was dedicated to Jesus in the local Baptist Church. At
four years old he “asked Jesus into his heart” and was “born again” according to Baptist tradition.
In 1976, Stephen married Janet who came from a long line of Protestants. Her ancestors were pilgrims who
came to America on the Mayflower and Moravian Hussite Protestants who joined the Protestant
Reformation in the 1600s.
PROFESSIONAL
In 1975, Stephen started his own business with a $5 investment and homemade business cards. His building
services company, Distinctive Maintenance, grew to over 600 employees at its height. Steve and Janet Ray
in Jerusalem—they have been to the Holy Land over 170 times Steve’s first book—his conversion story
CONVERSION
Prior to 1994, neither Steve or Janet had ever set foot in a Catholic Church. After studying many books to
convince their best friend and recent convert, Al Kresta, that the early church was evangelical, Steve and
Janet backed their way right into the Catholic Church.
On Pentecost Sunday, 1994, they entered the Church at Christ the King Parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Steve began writing a letter to his father explaining why they became Catholic. This letter soon became the
book Crossing the Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historic Church, published by Ignatius Press.
CURRENT
Since then, Steve’s passion for the depth of truth found within the Catholic tradition has led him to walk
away from his business and pursue what he really loves—writing, speaking, producing Catholic films, and
leading pilgrimages to biblical lands.
Steve and Janet have been to the Holy Land over 170 times exploring, filming, and leading thousands of
pilgrims.
Steve is a regular guest on Catholic radio and TV including Catholic Answers, Ave Maria Radio, Relevant
Radio, and EWTN. He also writes Bible studies for Catholic Scripture Study International.
Bio
Chris Stefanick is an internationally acclaimed author, speaker, and television host who has
devoted his life to inspiring people to live a bold, contagious faith.
Recipient of the Papal Benemerenti Medal, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput calls Chris “one of the
most engaging defenders of the Christian faith on the scene today.” Chris’s live seminars reach
more than 85,000 people per year. His reality TV show, videos, and radio spots reach millions of
people, and his educational initiatives are turning the tide in the Church. He authored the Chosen
Confirmation program which has already formed more than 600,000 teens.
A graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville, Chris is also the founder and president of
Real Life Catholic, a non-profit which operates as the headquarters for Chris’s various
initiatives.
Above all, Chris is proud to be the husband to his wife Natalie and father to their six children.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Andrew Swafford is Associate Professor of Theology at Benedictine College. He is general editor and
contributor to The Great Adventure Catholic Bible published by Ascension Press and host of the DVD series
(and author of the companion book) Hebrews: The New and Eternal Covenant, as well as author and host of
Romans: The Gospel of Salvation, both published by Ascension. Andrew is author of Nature and Grace; John
Paul II to Aristotle and Back Again; and Spiritual Survival in the Modern World. He holds a doctorate in
Sacred Theology from the University of St. Mary of the Lake and a master’s degree in Old Testament &
Semitic Languages from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is member of the Society of Biblical
Literature, Academy of Catholic Theology, and a senior fellow at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He
lives with his wife Sarah and their five children in Atchison, KS.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Christopher West is a devoted husband and father of five. As President of the Theology of the Body
Institute, he leads an international apostolate spreading St. John Paul II’s life-transforming teaching
through graduate level courses, on-site events and programs, clergy enrichment training, and an online
global community dedicated to ongoing formation. Beyond serving as Professor of Theological
Anthropology in the Institute’s jointly sponsored M.A. program with Pontifex University, Dr. West has
served on the faculties of St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver; the Institute for Priestly
Formation in Omaha; the St. Therese Institute of Faith and Mission in Canada; and as a visiting professor
of the John Paul II Institute in Australia. West is the author of more than a dozen best-selling books and
numerous video and audio programs. He cohosts the popular podcast Ask Christopher West with his wife
Wendy, and his work has been featured in The New York Times, on ABC News, Fox News, MSNBC, and in
countless Catholic and evangelical media outlets.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Bio
Erick Ybarra (Latin-Rite Catholic) – Erick Ybarra is a Roman Catholic speaker and blogger. Having
graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.S. in Criminal Justice alongside receiving college-
level training in Engineering Technology, he currently works as a Field Technician for a global
manufacturer of scientific and precision instruments. Having spent years as a Reformed Baptist and then
moving towards high-Church Anglicanism, he prayerfully studied the Bible and History leading to a
reversion to the Catholic Church. He is a co-host for popular YouTube channel Reason and Theology, and
has made plenty of public appearances on Catholic social networks. His writings specialize in Catholicism
and Eastern Orthodoxy, and can be found www.ErickYbarra.org. He is a Husband and Father of 6 children,
living in the upper mid-West of the United States.
My takeaways/questions:
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
This book and any portion or excerpt may not be given away, sold, or shared electronically
without express prior written consent. Please respect the intellectual property and hard work of
the the Virtual Catholic Conference Team.
The Virtual Catholic Conference Guidebook is intellectual property protected by copyright law.
The information contained in this book is for informational purposes only. By reading this book
and implementing any general suggestions or using the recommended products, you agree that
you are responsible for your results relating to any information presented within.
The information provided in this book is not intended to diagnose or treat any psychological
condition. I cannot guarantee the outcome of following the advice provided and the statements
of the hosts and the speakers about the potential outcomes are expressions of opinion only.
Following the advice provided is at your own risk.
The material in this guide may include information or products by third parties. Third party
materials comprise the products and opinions expressed by their owners. As such, I do not
assume responsibility or liability for any third party materials or opinions.
The publication of such third party materials does not constitute my guarantee of any
information, instruction, opinion, products or service contained within the third party materials.
Publication of such third party materials is simply a recommendation and an expression of my
own opinion on that material.