Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2024 Catholic Partnership Summit!
During our time together, we explore various aspects of Young Adult Leadership and what that means for the present and future of the Church. Thank you for your active participation, listening, and openness to the movement of the Holy Spirit, surely present in all of our discussions and panels!
We also want to offer our sincere thanks to those who sponsored this year's Summit. Your generosity made this event possible!
For leaders of the Church, young adults are top of mind in nearly every sector — it is a matter of deep concern for bishops and pastors, as well religious brothers and sisters, and leaders of Catholic organizations. Of all the issues facing the Church, young adult leadership is one of the few that is galvanizing, that unites Catholics across divides. As we consider the future of the Church, there is concern for the pipeline of leadership, for formation of emerging lay leaders to serve in critical roles. There is concern for recruitment and retention, specifically of young adults to leadership positions, and for developing a culture that has a diversity of thought, representation, and action. Young adults are not an addendum to the leadership of the Church — they must be afforded a central role.
Photo Gallery
Spotlight Videos
Our Cohosts
Cardinals and Archbishops
Cardinal Blase J. Cupich
Archdiocese of Chicago
Cardinal Wilton Gregory
Archdiocese of Washington
Cardinal Seán O'Malley, OFM Cap.
Archdiocese of Boston
Cardinal Christophe Pierre
Apostolic Nunciature
Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, CSsR
Archdiocese of Newark
Catholic Higher Education
Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA
President, Villanova University
Rev. Michael Garanzini, SJ
Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU)
Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, CM
Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU)
Rev. John Jenkins, CSC
President, University of Notre Dame
Rev. Juan Molina
Mexican American Catholic College
National Catholic Organizations
Sister Mary Bendyna, OP
Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious (CMSWR)
Sean Callahan
Catholic Relief Services (CRS)
Rev. Frank Donio, SAC
Conference of Major Superiors of Men (CMSM)
Regina Haney
Executive Director, National Association of Church Personnel Administrators (NAPCA)
Paul Jarzembowski
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)
Alexia Kelley
Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities (FADICA)
Christina Lamas
National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM)
Edgar Morales
Catholic Association for Latino Leadership (CALL)
Nicole Perone
National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults (NIMYA)
Kerry Robinson
Catholic Charities USA
Elisabeth Román
National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry (NCCHM)
Rosie C. Shawver
Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA)
Lincoln Snyder
National Catholic Education Association (NCEA)
Nicholas Stein
National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults (NIMYA)
Sr. Carol Zinn, SSJ
Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR)
Rome
Sr. Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ
Synod of Bishops, Vatican
Fr. David McCallum, SJ
Discerning Leadership Program
Young Adult Advisory Committee
Vicente Del Real
Founder, Iskali
Vicente is the founder of Iskali, and has a Master's in Pastoral Arts from Catholic Theological Union. He teaches part-time at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University in Chicago. Over the past 10 years, Vicente has been able to impact the lives of hundreds of young Latinos who have benefited from Iskali’s many programs including retreats, small-group communities, leadership development initiatives, scholarship program, and a mentorship program. Vicente believes in the potential of young people and is actively filling the gap in resources aimed at supporting first, second, and third generation immigrants. He is passionate about helping these young people pursue higher education and so recently launched a mentorship program and scholarship fund. Under his leadership, today Iskali is one of the leading organizations in young adult ministry with Latinos in the Nation.
Vicente Del Real
Founder, Iskali
Niru De Silva
Director of Retreats, FOCUS
Niru De Silva is the Director of Retreats at FOCUS. He is a second generation Sri Lankan-American and Catholic convert with a dual degree in Chemistry and Religious Studies from the University of Virginia. Upon graduation, he served as a FOCUS Missionary at Columbia University and served various roles spanning 7 years working with FOCUS. He also worked for the Diocese of Arlington as the Coordinator of Young Adult Ministry. During his time in Arlington, Niru helped create new initiatives such as T.B.G. (Truth, Beauty, Goodness), Seven Churches, Exalt, and Men's and Women's Retreats. He started and led bilingual gatherings of parish leaders through Summit/Conferencia and ASCEND. He lives in Colorado with his wife and daughter.
Niru De Silva
Director of Retreats, FOCUS
Anna Gordon
Program Director, Institute for Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University
Anna is the program director for the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. She has a master's degree in social work from The Catholic University of America and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from St. John’s University. Anna leads the Initiative's Salt and Light Gatherings—which helps young adult Catholics explore links between faith, Catholic social thought, and their lives and work—and supports the Initiative's programs, finances, and fundraising. She previously served as the associate editor of Education for Justice, a project of the Center of Concern.
Anna Gordon
Program Director, Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, Georgetown University
Diana Marin
Young Adult Mobilization Program Manager, Catholic Climate Covenant
Diana serves as the Program Manager, Young Adult Mobilization at Catholic Climate Covenant. She earned a Master of Divinity from Harvard Divinity School and a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages and Literature from Harvard. Prior, Diana served as a Project Manager for the Dominican Charism Initiative, where she developed award-winning faith formation materials for the online educational platform of www.opcharism.org rooted in the history and spirituality of the Dominican Order. Previously, she served as theologian-in-residence for the Nuns and Nones Land Justice Project, convening Catholic Sisters and millennial “nones” in conversations on land transitions rooted in ecological and racial healing.
Diana Marin
Young Adult Mobilization Program Manager, Catholic Climate Covenant
Colin Martinez Longmore
Communications and Social Media Coordinator
Colin serves as the Communications and Social Media Coordinator at NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice in Washington D.C. He works to empower justice-seekers of all backgrounds to become effective faith-based advocates through NETWORK’s resources, content, and action opportunities.
Colin has served as the Advocacy Chair for the Ignatian Family Teach-In for Justice and has taught classes at Georgetown University’s Capitol Applied Learning Lab. Previously, he worked for seven years as a youth minister in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange leading bilingual faith formation programs, hosting retreats, and speaking at various Diocesan youth events.
Colin was born and raised Southern California and graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a degree in Communication Studies and Religious Studies.
Colin Martinez Longmore
Communications and Social Media Coordinator, NETWORK
Ashley Morris
Director of Black Catholic Affairs, Archdiocese of Atlanta
Ashley currently serves as the Director of the Black Catholic Affairs of the Office of Intercultural Ministries of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media Arts, Concentrating in Radio, TV, and Film from Clark Atlanta University and his Masters of Pastoral Theology from the Institute of Black Catholic Studies of Xavier University of Louisiana (New Orleans). Prior to this appointment in February 2023, he served as the Associate Director of the Office of Intercultural Ministries of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and as an Assistant Campus Minister of Lyke House: The Catholic Center at Atlanta University Center (AUC).
Ashley Morris
Director of Black Catholic Affairs, Archdiocese of Atlanta
Nicole Perone
National Coordinator, ESTEEM
Nicole M. Perone is the National Coordinator of ESTEEM, the faith-based leadership formation program for Catholic students at colleges and universities. ESTEEM prepares young adults for the transition from campus ministry to parish life, and to engage their temporal gifts as leaders in their faith communities.
Nicole is also the chair of the Board of Members for the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults. In 2018, Nicole was a delegate to the Pre-Synod on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment, and served on the writing committee for the final document. Her work has been published by America Media, Catholic News Service, The Jesuit Post, National Catholic Reporter, and US Catholic.
She holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from Yale University; her Bachelor of Arts in Theology with double minors in Italian and Catholic Studies was bestowed by Loyola University Maryland, where she graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa.
Nicole lives in Milford, Connecticut with her husband, John Grosso (communications consultant, and digital media editor for the National Catholic Reporter); their daughter, Rosie; and their Golden Retriever, Ellie.
Nicole Perone
National Coordinator, ESTEEM
Kelli Reagan Hickey
Director of Formation, Franceso Collaborative
Kelli currently serves as the Director of Formation at the Francesco Collaborative. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in economics from Yale University and completed her graduate studies at the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business. Prior, Kelli spent several years at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Social Concerns, where she fell in love with Catholic Social Tradition and the way it inspires a faith that seeks justice.
Kelli Reagan Hickey
Director of Formation, Francesco Collaborative
Rob is responsible for strategic recruitment efforts at the Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC) as the Director of Recruitment. After graduating with a Bachelors’ of Arts in Philosophy from the Ateneo de Manila University, he went on to serve full-time with the Jesuit Volunteer Philippines as a Business Development Associate, developing an innovative, sustainable, and cooperative agribusiness model for rural farmers in Tacloban, Philippines. His experience with faith-based service, community building, and family ministries through Couples for Christ USA inspire him to continue building a fuller church, a most just community, and a hopeful world.
Rob Roa
Director of Recruitment, Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Rob Roa
Director of Recruitment, Jesuit Volunteer Corps
Nicholas Stein
International Director, Bon Secours Young Adults
Nicholas Stein is a founder and the International Director of Bon Secours Young Adults, a ministry of the Congregation of the Sisters of Bon Secours of Paris to people in their 20’s and 30’s. Since its founding in 2014 in Marriottsville, Maryland the ministry has reached hundreds of young adults across the United States, Ireland, England, France and Peru through retreats, programming, and relationship-building in order to deepen their Christian call to compassion, healing, and liberation.
Nick is also the founding chair of the board of directors of the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults. He has served on several national and international initiatives in the field of ministry with young adults and has been a sought-after speaker and consultant in the field. Nick served as a Consultant to the USCCB Working Group on Youth and Young Adults. He was the founding chairperson of the former USCCB National Advisory Team on Young Adult Ministry and in that role helped to lead the efforts of the National Dialogue on Catholic Pastoral Ministry with Youth and Young Adults (www.nationaldialogue.info).
He lives in Catonsville, Maryland with his wife and 3 children. His family is active in the pastorate of Resurrection/St. Paul in Ellicott City, Maryland. He holds an MA in Theology from Boston College and a BA in Print Journalism/Political Science from the University of Southern California.
Nicholas Stein
International Director, Bon Secours Young Adults
Featured Topics
Session 1 — Keynote
Young Adults in a Synodal Church
Connecting the Synod on Young People in 2018 to the 2021-2024 Synod on Synodality currently underway, as an unprecedented moment in the Church to accompany, mentor, and form young adults for leadership, while creating a synodal Church where everyone can belong.
Session 2
Today’s Catholic Young Adults: Engaged. Diverse. Questioning. Caring. Passionate.
A look at where young adults are in relation to the Church and its leadership, how they live their spiritual lives, and the importance of speaking openly about mental health.
Session 3
The Church We Want to Be: An Authentic Place for All to Belong
Taking a deeper dive into belonging, trust, and how the Church can ensure the leadership tables of its parishes, communities, and ministries are spaces where all young adults truly belong.
Session 4
An Expanded Tent: Church Beyond the Parish Walls
Exploring the Church of today and lived faith of young adults, including the role of digital media and technology in forming and sustaining faith communities, and how parishes can adapt to meet young adults where they are.
Facilitators
Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI
Senior Director for Theology and Sponsorship, Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA)
Sister Teresa Maya, CCVI is a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio and has been since 1994. Her education ministry has spanned several decades during which time she has served as teacher, history professor, administrator, and speaker. Sr. Tere is passionate about pastoral formation, particularly of Hispanic/Latino leaders in the Church in the United States. She has a commitment to life-long learning and a strong conviction in the future of consecrated life. Sister Teresa got her B.A. at Yale University, her M.A. at the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley and the Ph.D. in El Colegio de Mexico in Mexico City.
She served in the leadership of her religious institute and on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) presidency from 2016-2019. She currently serves as Senior Director for Theology and Sponsorship at Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA).
Sr. Teresa Maya, CCVI
Senior Director for Theology and Sponsorship, Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA)
Caitlin Morneau
Director of Restorative Justice, Catholic Mobilizing Network
Caitlin Morneau serves as Director of Restorative Justice at Catholic Mobilizing Network (CMN), where she oversees program development that advances healing approaches to crime and injustice. Prior to this role, she spent over a decade at local and national nonprofits such as Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Catholic Volunteer Network, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, Youth Service Opportunities Project, and Bethlehem Farm. As an educator, writer, speaker, and community organizer, Caitlin’s work is undergirded by core values of integral human dignity, belonging, and mutual accountability.
Caitlin co-authored the preface of Redemption and Restoration: A Catholic Perspective on Restorative Justice (Liturgical Press, 2017) with Howard Zehr and adapted this work into the faith formation guide Harm, Healing and Human Dignity: A Catholic Encounter with Restorative Justice(Liturgical Press, 2019). Caitlin holds an MA in Conflict Transformation from the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University and is a current Bernardin Scholar at Catholic Theological Union. Caitlin lives in Alexandria, VA with her husband, two sons, and black lab.
Caitlin Morneau
Director of Restorative Justice, Catholic Mobilizing Network
Maria Fernanda Benavides
Student, Tulane University
Maria Fernanda Benavides is a senior at Tulane University in New Orleans, poised to graduate with a BA in International Relations and a BSM in Legal Studies in Business. She has approached her academic journey with a deep commitment to addressing pressing societal issues.
Passionate about creating a more just world, Maria Fernanda is dedicated to advancing gender equity, promoting racial justice, and contributing to legal transformation. Her advocacy extends beyond theoretical frameworks as she actively engages in work that brings about tangible change.
In previous roles, Maria Fernanda has been at the forefront of initiatives aimed at creating institutional change to uplift survivors of gender-based violence. Her efforts have not only focused on raising awareness but also on implementing concrete measures to support those affected.
Additionally, Maria Fernanda has channeled her passion for social justice into uplifting the voices of refugee and migrant children through art. Recognizing the transformative power of creative expression, she has worked to provide a platform for these young individuals to share their experiences and perspectives.
Maria Fernanda Benavides
Student, Tulane University
Featured Speakers
Sr. Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ
Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops
Nathalie Becquart is a 51-year-old French Catholic religious sister and member of the Congregation La Xavière. From 2008 to 2018 she led the National Service for the Evangelization of Youth and for Vocations (SNEJV) within the Bishops’ Conference of France. In May 2019, she was appointed Consultor for the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops. Nathalie Becquart was born in 1969 in Fontainebleau (France). She joined the Xavieres sisters in 1995 after a year of volunteer work in Lebanon and two years of professional experience as a Marketing-Communication consultant. She took her first vows in “La Xavière” in 1998 and her final vows in 2005.
Sr. Becquart graduated from HEC School of Management, Paris in 1992, with a master in Entrepreneurship, and she obtained a double canonical baccalaureate degree in philosophy and theology in 2006 from the “Centre Sèvres-Facultés Jésuites de Paris”, supplemented by training in sociology at the EHESS (2004-2006). She is just completing a canonical Licentiate in Theology at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry (specialization in ecclesiology with a research on synodality).
She spent nearly 30 years in youth ministry and is a specialist in youth issues, youth evangelization and vocation ministry. She held various responsibilities in the service of youth and young adults. In 2012, she was the first woman to be appointed as the Director of the National Service for the Evangelization of Youth and for Vocations within the French Bishops’ Conference after being the Deputy Director of this service from 2008 to 2012 in charge of university pastoral care.
From 2015 to 2018, called by Bishop Michel Aupetit, she was a member of the Episcopal Council of the Diocese of Nanterre.
Her ten-year mission at the French Bishops’ Conference have led her to become involved at the European level - through the meetings of the CCEE (Council of European Bishops’ Conferences) and the European Vocations Service, of which she was vice-president from 2016 to 2018 - and at the international level (organization of WYD, participation in international meetings and congresses in Rome, etc.). She was particularly involved in the preparation of the Synod of Bishops on “Youth, Faith and Vocational Discernment” in France and at the Vatican as General Coordinator of the March 2018 Youth Pre-Synod and as an auditor at the October 2018 Youth Synod.
Sr. Nathalie Becquart, XMCJ
Undersecretary, Synod of Bishops
John Grosso
Digital Editor, National Catholic Reporter
John Grosso serves as the Digital Editor of the National Catholic Reporter, where he is responsible for developing and helping to implement social media and multimedia strategies for the National Catholic Reporter and EarthBeat. He is also a digital media consultant for religious institutions, non-profits, and small businesses. John is a Catholic speaker and author with a passion for digital media discernment and discipleship. He recently contributed a chapter to the book Building Your Digital Sanctuary: An Introductory Guide to Effective Digital Ministry.
Previously, John served as Associate Director of Communications for Fundraisers and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities, Inc (FADICA), and the Director of Digital Media for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport.
In 2021, John was involved in the Vatican Dicastery for Communication’s Faith Communication in the Digital World program and the Vatican’s Synod Office. He continues to work with the Dicastery for Communication on various digital media projects, including planning the next phase of the Faith Communication in the Digital World program.
John completed his bachelor’s degree at Boston College, and his master’s degree at Sacred Heart University. He resides in Connecticut with his wife Nicole, daughter Rose, and golden retriever, Ellie.
John Grosso
Digital Editor, National Catholic Reporter
Josh Packard
Vice President of Strategy, National Catholic Education Association (NCEA)
Josh Packard is the Executive Vice President for Strategy and Operations at the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) where he specializes in helping association members understand emerging generations. Dr. Packard is a former professor, accomplished researcher, and speaker on young people in America, specializing in their spirituality and their relationship with religious groups and faith leaders. He was the founding Executive Director of Springtide Research Institute and is the author of numerous books, including Meaning Making: 8 Values That Drive America's Newest Generations and Church Refugees: Sociologists Reveal Why People are DONE with Church but not Their Faith. His newest book, Faithful Futures: Sacred Tools for Engaging Emerging Generations, will be out soon.
Josh Packard
Vice President of Strategy, National Catholic Education Association (NCEA)
Jill Fisk
Director of Mission Services, Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA)
Jill Fisk, MATM, is the Director of Mission Services for the Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA). In her role based at CHA’s St. Louis office, Ms. Fisk provides resources and facilitation to the Mission Services department, specifically in mission integration, spiritual care, and well-being. Together with CHA's Senior Director of Mission Innovation and Integration, she collaborates with CHA members to address key ministry priorities by convening and creating content to support ministry leaders in the areas of spiritual care, well-being, and workplace spirituality, integrating their work and mission.
Prior to joining CHA, Ms. Fisk served at Mercy Health Ministry in St. Louis as a Mission and Formation Specialist. She holds a master’s degree in Theology and Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminar, a certificate of Spiritual Direction from Aquinas Institute of Theology and a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Illinois Wesleyan University. She is committed to offering whole-person care through spiritual direction, Christ-centered yoga classes, and contemplative retreats.
Jill Fisk
Director of Mission Services, Catholic Health Association of the United States (CHA)
Claudia Avila Cosnahan
Mission & Partnerships Director, Commonweal; Contributing Author, Faith and Spiritual Life of Young Adult Catholics in a Rising Hispanic Church (Liturgical Press)
Claudia Avila Cosnahan is Commonweal Magazine’s Director of Mission and Partnerships and serves as a pastoral consultant and instructor in adult formation. She attended UCLA and Loyola Marymount University where she received a master’s degree in Pastoral Theology focusing on U.S. Latinx theology, contextual theology, and spirituality. She has almost 14 years of ministry and leadership experience in Southern California serving in youth and young adult ministry, adult formation, spiritual formation, liturgical planning, pastoral planning, and pastoral councils. She has published articles and reflections in Liturgical Training Publications and Commonweal Magazine. More recently, Claudia has served on the coordinating and research committee for the National Conversation on Shared Parish Life and was a contributing writer in Faith and Spiritual Life of Young Adult Catholics in a Rising Hispanic Church (Liturgical Press). Daughter of Mexican immigrants and originally from Fontana, CA, she lives in Los Angeles with her husband.
Claudia Avila Cosnahan
Mission & Partnerships Director, Commonweal; Contributing Author, Faith and Spiritual Life of Young Adult Catholics in a Rising Hispanic Church (Liturgical Press)
Paul Jarzembowski
Associate Director for the Laity, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Paul Jarzembowski is the Associate Director for the Laity within the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), where he has served since 2013. Paul manages the bishops’ efforts around laity and lay leadership in the Church, as well as youth and young adults. Prior to his time at the USCCB, Paul was the Diocesan Director of Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Joliet in Illinois and Executive Director for the National Catholic Young Adult Ministry Association (NCYAMA), precursor to the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults (NIMYA), for which he now serves on the board of directors. Paul is the author of two books: Hope from the Ashes: Insights and Resources for Welcoming Lenten Visitors (2022) and Hope for the Holidays: Finding Light at the Darkest Time of the Year (2023), both from Paulist Press, and has written and spoken extensively on the evangelization and pastoral care of youth and young adults and Pope Francis’ Christus Vivit. He has presented to and consulted with parishes, dioceses, religious communities, ministry conferences, and organizations around the world, including the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, particularly on young people and World Youth Day. Originally from the Diocese of Gary, Indiana, Paul has degrees in Theology and Marketing from Valparaiso University in Indiana and an advanced degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago. He and his wife Sarah live in the Maryland suburbs of Washington, D.C.
Paul Jarzembowski
Associate Director for the Laity, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Cecilia Flores
Executive Director, Catholic Volunteer Network
Cecilia, daughter of Leo and Marie, mother of Kiara and Jacob.
Cecilia is the daughter of Filipino immigrants who grew up in the San Francisco bay area. She has spent over 15 years working with communities of faith to address poverty and injustice in the US and in Central America through the formation and development of youth, young adults, and women. She holds an MA in Global Development & Social Justice from St. John’s University, while grounding herself in the cultural traditions and wisdom received from her elders and ancestors. She is passionate about the power of storytelling, building relationship, community organizing, facilitating opportunities for encounter, and helping others discover and develop their gifts in order to change the world. She currently works as the Executive Director of the Catholic Volunteer Network and is based in Sacramento, CA.
Cecilia Flores
Executive Director, Catholic Volunteer Network
Dr. Craig Ford
Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, Saint Norbert College
Craig A. Ford, Jr., is Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Saint Norbert College, where he teaches courses in Christian Ethics, in Ecclesiology, and in topics in Race, Gender and Sexuality while also serving as Co-Director for the Peace and Justice Interdisciplinary Minor. He is also on the faculty at the Institute for Black Catholic Studies—hosted at Xavier University of Louisiana, the nation’s only Catholic HBCU— where he teaches courses on Black Theology as well as on Topics in Moral Theology from a Black Perspective. A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Yale Divinity School, and Boston College, Dr. Ford writes on topics at the intersection of queer theory, Black studies, and the Catholic moral tradition.
Considering himself a scholar-activist, Dr. Ford’s work bridges the academy and a wider popular audience, with publications in professional outlets like the Journal of Moral Theology and Horizons as well as in popular outlets like Commonweal Magazine and the National Catholic Reporter. Dr. Ford is also sought out as a workshop leader on issues of racial, sexual, and gender justice, working not only with Catholic parishes but with other colleges, universities, and professional bodies, including most notably with the Association of Catholic College and Universities (ACCU) as its 2022 inaugural speaker for its Consortium for Senior Diversity Officers in Catholic Higher Education.
Craig Ford
Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Studies, Saint Norbert College
Most Reverend Arturo Cepeda
Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
Bishop Arturo Cepeda, STL, STD, is originally from San Luis Potosí, S.L.P., Mexico. He received his elementary and High School education in Catholic schools of San Luis Potosí under the direction of the Sisters and Brothers Josefinos. Later, he completed a year of spiritual formation, followed by studies in philosophy at the Archdiocesan Seminary Guadalupano Josefino. After moving with his family to San Antonio, Texas, Bishop Cepeda continued his seminary studies at Our Lady of the Lake University, and obtained a degree in Religious Studies with a specialty in Psychology from the College Seminary of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Returning to San Antonio’s Assumption Seminary he received the degree of Master in Divinity from Oblate School of Theology and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Patricio Flores on June 1, 1996. In 2001 after obtaining the degree of Master in Biblical Theology from the University of St. Mary’s and while he was assigned as parochial vicar in the San Fernando Cathedral, Bishop Cepeda travels to Rome to study at the Pontifical University "St. Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum,” where he successfully obtained a licentiate and doctorate degrees in Sacred Theology (STL, STD).
Returning to San Antonio in 2005, he fulfilled teaching and formation duties at Assumption Seminary and Oblate School of Theology. He served as Vocation Director and Faculty member of the Transitional Ministry Formation Program for newly ordained priests. He also served as formation faculty for the Center of Spiritual Direction “St. Peter upon the Water” in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. Bishop Cepeda was named Vice Rector of Assumption Seminary in 2009.
In 2010 he was installed as rector of the Seminary, where he served until his appointment as Titular Bishop of Tagase and Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit on May 5, 2011. He serves as vicar of Hispanic Ministry and Immigration for the Archdiocese of Detroit. In December 2012, Bishop Cepeda was appointed director of the Department of Evangelization, Catechesis and Schools for the Archdiocese of Detroit by Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, a position he held until June 2017.
Bishop Cepeda currently serves as Chair of the Committee on Cultural Diversity in the Church and member of the Ad Hoc Committee Against Racism, and Member of the Committee of Religious Liberty. He has served in the Committee on Catholic Education, Committee on Clergy, Consecrated Life and Vocations, Subcommittee on Certification for Ecclesial Ministry and Service, and the Subcommittee on Hispanic Affairs. He also serves as Episcopal Liaison for the Instituto Fe y Vida and the Federación de Institutos Pastorales (FIP).
On August 29, 2013, in the city of Las Vegas, NV, Bishop Arturo Cepeda summoned the leadership of all national Hispanic pastoral organizations to a preliminary conversation on the initiative of a V Encuentro. Bishop Cepeda said the meetings have been the backbone in the development of Hispanic / Latino ministry and have given us the opportunity to interpret and project our own identity, presence and contributions to the Church and society in the United States into the future. Bishops Arturo Cepeda, Gerald Barnes, and Archbishops Nelson Pérez and Gustavo García-Siller were elected by the Subcommittee on Hispanic
Affairs to more directly accompany the Encuentro process. Bishop Cepeda was the national vice-president of the V Encuentro held on 2018. In 2013 Bishop Cepeda was honored with the “American Bible Society Christian Leadership Award” which is presented to a Christian Church leader that exemplifies great leadership skills.
Most Reverend Arturo Cepeda
Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit
Tracey Lamont
Director, Loyola Institute for Ministry and Associate Professor, Religious Education and Young Adult Ministry, Loyola University New Orleans
Tracey Lamont is Director and Associate Professor of Religious Education and Young Adult Ministry at Loyola Institute for Ministry. She earned her doctorate in Religion and Religious Education from Fordham University. From 2017-2019, Tracey served as a committee member for the National Dialogue on Young People, the Faith, and Vocational Discernment, where she worked to develop a facilitation guide to help ministry leaders engage with and listen to young people. From 2017-2021, Tracey served as the Vice Chair of resources for the USCCB National Advisory Team on Young Adult Ministry. She is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Ministry with Young Adults and serves on the Board for the National Community of Catechetical Leaders. Tracey is also project director for the FIELD Project, a Lilly Endowment funded initiative to help parishes become more synodal so to better minister with young adults.
Tracey Lamont
Director, Loyola Institute for Ministry and Associate Professor, Religious Education and Young Adult Ministry, Loyola University New Orleans
Anna Johnson
North America Senior Programs Manager, Laudato Si Movement
Anna Johnson is the North America Senior Programs Manager for the Laudato Si Movement, a Spirit-led movement that builds, inspires, and mobilizes a global community of Catholics to care for our common home and achieve climate and ecological justice, in collaboration with all people of good will. Prior to joining LSM, she worked for over a decade in Catholic Teaching curriculum design and leadership training, particularly with youth and young adults, including the collaborative development of the young adult designed Wholemakers curriculum. Witnessing and experiencing how the climate crisis exacerbates all injustice, both globally and locally, as well as a deep love for God's creation, drove her focus toward ecological justice. Anna has a BA in Peace Studies and Political Science from the University of Notre Dame, and an Executive Masters in Sustainability Leadership from Arizona State University. She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband, daughter, and dog, where they find time to go hiking in the mountains whenever they can.
Anna Johnson
North America Senior Program Manager, Laudato Si' Movement
Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal; Founder, Corazón Puro
Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR, is a priest with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and the founder of Corazón Puro. He is the author of Aprendiendo a amar (Learning to Love with John Paul II), and Prepare Your Heart, and serves as a retreat guide, spiritual director, and an international youth and young adult speaker. He has been selected to serve as a Eucharistic Preacher and loves to speak about the Eucharistic Amazement of St. Francis of Assisi and how this can help us to “Rebuild the Church” as he did.
Torres hosts the EWTN TV shows ICONS and Clic con Corazon Puro (in both English and Spanish), and host of the National Eucharistic Revival podcast Revive.
Facebook: The Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal
Instagram: @oralecp
YouTube: Corazonpuronyc
Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR
Franciscan Friars of the Renewal; Founder, Corazón Puro
José Manuel De Urquidi
Founder and CEO, Juan Diego & Co.
José is the founder of Juan Diego & Co., which focuses on connecting Catholic organizations with Latinos. He began his career as a financial lawyer in Mexico, leading the investments of a Boston family. His entrepreneurial journey includes founding a craft brewery that sold its beers in major supermarkets and several brewpubs, bars and restaurants in his home country.
JD&Co partners with Catholic dioceses, universities, non-profits and companies that want to connect with Latinos and attract them to Christ through strategic intercultural communication and marketing plans and their execution, content creation, digital marketing, influencer campaigns, PR, video and audio production.
José also founded Juan Diego Network (JDN) to help others produce high-quality and attractive audio productions for Catholic Latinos. JDN won the 1st OSV Innovation Challenge, was part of The University of Notre Dame’s accelerator (Idea Center) and won a $100k award. His team has produced over 90 podcast shows in Spanish, English, and Spanglish.
José was nominated by the Latin-American bishop conference and then appointed by the Holy Father to be a non-bishop voting delegate at the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in the sessions of October 2023 and October 2024 at the Vatican.
José Manuel De Urquidi
Founder and CEO, Juan Diego & Co.
Stephanie Peddicord
President, Center for FaithJustice
Since 2015, Stephanie J. Peddicord has served as the President of the Center for FaithJustice (CFJ). Prior to CFJ, she worked as an executive in the non-profit sector in various aspects of organizational and philanthropic management.
Founded in 2008, CFJ’s mission is to cultivate a vibrant community of faith in action through transformative experiences of missionary discipleship rooted in Catholic social tradition. In 2018, CFJ published its first-ever quantitative research study, “What WorX: Assessing the Impact of Faith-Based Service and Justice Programs on Catholic Youth.” Its second study, “Accompanying Youth: Mapping the Path Toward Deeper Discipleship” is forthcoming in early 2024. In 2018, CFJ was the only Catholic organization in the country to receive a $1 million grant as part of Lilly Endowment’s Strengthening Congregational Ministries with Youth initiative. In 2023, it launched a second Lilly-funded initiative aimed at empowering Catholic parents.
She was the 2022 recipient of the Richard J. Hughes Humanitarian Award from Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton.
Stephanie resides in Pennington, NJ, with her husband, two children, and golden retriever. They are active members of the Church of Saint Ann in Lawrenceville, NJ. She graduated with Honors from Hamilton College in Clinton, NY and summa cum laude from DePaul University in Chicago, IL with a Master of Science in Public Service Management. Fluent in Spanish, Stephanie is well-traveled throughout the United States and abroad, including numerous service experiences in Appalachia, Kenya, Peru, and the U.S.-Mexico border.
Stephanie Peddicord
President, Center for FaithJustice
Schedule of Events
DAY 1 - FEBRUARY 28
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 3:00 PM | Registration |
| 4:00 PM | Young Adult Reception |
| 5:00 PM | Welcome Reception |
| 7:00 PM | Live Podcast Recording |
DAY 2 - FEBRUARY 29
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 7:00 AM | Registration Opens |
| 8:30 AM | Mass |
| 9:15 AM | Continental Breakfast |
| 9:45 AM | Welcome and Opening Roundtable |
| 10:45 AM | Session 1: Keynote |
| 2:00 PM | Session 2 |
| 6:00 PM | Cocktail Reception |
| 7:00 PM | Monan Medal Ceremony and Dinner |
DAY 3 - MARCH 1
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 7:30 AM | Catholic Schools Breakfast |
| 8:00 AM | Continental Breakfast |
| 8:45 AM | Opening Prayer and Introduction |
| 9:35 AM | Session 3 |
| 1:15 PM | Session 4 |
| 4:30 PM | Summit Concludes |
Hotel and Travel Information
HOTEL
All Summit events will take place at our host venue, the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, located at 1700 Richmond Hwy, Arlington, VA 22202.
Summit attendee block rooms are now full at the Crystal Gateway Marriott. However, regularly-priced rooms not in our block may still be available.
Parking is available on-site for an additional fee.
For hotel questions, contact Susan Hernandez at 908-451-0725 or susanbeevents@gmail.com.
There are several hotels that are nearby and within walking distance to the Crystal Gateway Marriott if you are in need of alternate accommodations. We recommend the following:
AIR AND METRO TRAVEL
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Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) is the recommended airport for traveling to the Catholic Partnership Summit.
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Complimentary Hotel Shuttle to/from Airport and Crystal Gateway Marriott: 703-417-8000. Shuttle Service runs 5am to midnight every 30 min. Last hotel departure at 11:30pm.
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It is about a 10 minute drive via taxi or rideshare from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel.
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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is also connected directly to Metro's Yellow and Blue Lines. Follow the signs to the covered walkways and into the station. To reach the Crystal Gateway Hotel, take the Yellow Line towards Mt. Vernon Square or the Blue line towards Largo and get off at the Crystal City station. It is about a half-mile walk from the Station to the Hotel.
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Visit the WMATA Website to view Metro schedules and maps and to obtain a Metro card. You can also view Metro’s New Rider guide.
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Dulles International Airport (IAD) is about a 30 minute drive to the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel via taxi or rideshare. MetroBus and MetroRail are also available.
Our 2024 Sponsors
Our mission at Leadership Roundtable is to promote best practices and accountability in the management, finances, communications, and human resources development of the Catholic Church in the U.S., including greater incorporation of the expertise of the laity. Our generous sponsors enable us to fulfill our mission and serve as ministry of hope to the Catholic Church.
Thank you to those individuals and organizations that make our Catholic Partnership Summit possible!
PRESENTING SPONSORS
Geoffrey T. Boisi
Kenneth C. Griffin, Citadel, and Citadel Securities
Elizabeth McCaul and Frank Ingrassia
Peggy and Gene McQuade
Joseph Regan
BENEFACTOR SPONSORS
Dan and Kathleen Denihan
PATRON SPONSORS
B J Cassin Family
Dee and Kevin Conway
Kevin Fee
Tom and Meg Healey
Edward D. Herlihy
The Lynch Foundation
Partnership Schools
Jim and Molly Perry
Catholic Leader Sponsors
The Carney Family Charitable Foundation
Gabriela Smith and the Crimsonbridge Foundation
Richard Czaja
The Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States
The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities
Dr. Peter and Peggy Steinfels
partner sponsors
Changing Our World
Eric and Keri Carlstrom Family Foundation
Kevin K. Carton
The Dagher Family
Dominican Sisters of Peace
Fairfield University
Mario J. Gabelli
ParishSOFT By Ministry Brands
Robert W. Postma
Pushpay
Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology
Brian and Patricia Shea
Individual Sponsors
Archdiocese of Louisville
America Media
Association of U.S. Catholic Priests
Rev. John P. Beal, III
Big Shoulders Fund
Burnett Risk Control International, LLC
Catholic Climate Covenant
The Hank Center for Catholic Intellectual Heritage
Susan and Mike King
Kinsale Consulting
Kevin McLaughlin
Villanova University
J. Donald Monan, SJ Distinguished Catholic Philanthropy Medal
2024 Honorees
The Beeson Family
of the Greater Chicago Area
The Kaneb Family
of the Greater Boston Area
The Quick Family
of the Greater New York City Area
The J. Donald Monan, SJ Distinguished Catholic Philanthropy Medal seeks to thank and inspire philanthropists of the Catholic Faith who emulate and personify the vision, character, creativity, and commitment to excellence of the late Rev. J. Donald Monan of the Society of Jesus.
The Monan Medal is conferred to Catholic philanthropists who have invested generously and faithfully in the Catholic Church’s work to lead through exemplary temporal affairs, and whose giving reflects Fr. Monan’s deeply held belief in collaborative excellence and partnership.
Previous Honorees
2022
Honorees
The Rooney Family
Elaine and Ken Langone
2021
Honorees
Kathleen McCarthy Kostlan
John M. Connors Jr. Family
Lewis S. Ranieri
2020
Honorees
Karen and Mark Rauenhorst
The Raskob Foundation for Catholic Activities, Inc.
Sandra and Paul Montrone
2019
Honorees
Peter and Carolyn (posthumously) Lynch
Jim and Molly Perry
John and Dorothy Shea
Stay Informed
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© 2023 Leadership Roundtable.