2023 Program

2023 EMCEE AND FRIDAY NIGHT SPEAKER: “The Necessity of Intimacy”

Kris Frank

Kris Frank serves as the Senior Director of Strategy and Outreach for the National Eucharistic Congress. Prior, he served as a parish youth ministry director and more recently as vice president of Vagabond Missions. He has also been privileged to travel around the country, sharing the Gospel with teens and adults at retreats, camps, conferences and parish missions. He has also contributed to various evangelical and catechetical projects and publications, and in 2020, he published Hope Always: An Anchor for Life’s Storms. He is a graduate of Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, where he also assists as an adjunct professor of catechetics. He and his wife Grace live in Steubenville with their five children.

SATURDAY CLOSING MASS HOMILIST

Bishop Peter J. Jugis

A native of Charlotte, the Most Rev. Peter J. Jugis is the fourth Bishop of Charlotte. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1983 by Pope (now St.) John Paul II in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Before being ordained bishop in 2003, he served as the diocese’s Judicial Vicar and pastored parishes across the diocese, including Belmont, Charlotte, Denver, Huntersville, Monroe, Reidsville, Salisbury and Winston-Salem. In addition to his sacramental and official duties as shepherd of the Diocese of Charlotte, Bishop Jugis established the Diocese of Charlotte Eucharistic Congress in 2005. This annual event draws more than 10,000 people to the see city of Charlotte in celebration of our faith in the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of Catholic life.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON TALK (12:30-1:30 P.M.): “Mass Conversion: How I Discovered the Eucharist & the Catholic Church”

Dr. John Bergsma

Dr. John Bergsma is a professor of theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. A former Protestant pastor, he entered the Catholic Church in 2001 while pursuing his Ph.D. in Bible from the University of Notre Dame. A close collaborator of Dr. Scott Hahn, Bergsma speaks regularly on Catholic radio and at conferences and parishes nationally and internationally. He has written more than a dozen books on Scripture and the Catholic faith, including Bible Basics for Catholics (Ave Maria Press), Stunned by Scripture: How the Bible Made Me Catholic (Our Sunday Visitor), and A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament (with Brant Pitre; Ignatius Press). His talks and studies are available on CD and mp3 from catholicproductions.com. He and his wife Dawn live with their eight children in Steubenville.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON TALK (1:30-2:30 P.M.): “Sr. Lucia – A Eucharistic Woman”

Sister Angela de Fatima Coelho, MD, ASM

Sister Angela de Fatima Coleho is a world renowned expert and speaker on the Messages of Our Lady of Fatima.

Born in Oporto, Portugal, in 1971, she was only 6 when she decided she wanted to become a medical doctor and a religious sister. In 1995, she achieved her aim: graduating from the University of Oporto with a degree in medicine, and one week later entering the convent of the Alianca de Santa Maria. In 2008, Sr. Angela received her advanced degree in religious science from the Pontifical University in Madrid, Spain.

In 2009, she was named Vice Postulator for the Cause of Jacinta and Francisco Marto, two of the Fatima visionaries. In 2012, she became Postulator of their cause, and two years later, she was also appointed Vice Postulator for the Cause of Servant of God Sr. Lucia, the third and last surviving Fatima seer.

Sr. Angela met on numerous occasions with Sr. Lucia. As Postulator she also met and interacted with St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and most recently was with Pope Francis on May 13, 2017, as he presided at the canonization of Sts. Jacinta and Francisco Marto, the youngest non-martyred saints in Church history.

She has appeared numerous times on EWTN and spoken to audiences worldwide. Her dynamic, joyful and enthusiastic personality immediately connects with her audiences, which have ranged from a few to over 20,000.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON TALK (2:30-3:30 P.M.): “Always With Us: Christ’s Presence in the Poor”

Rev. Mr. Omar Gutierrez

Deacon Omar F.A. Gutierrez is president and co-founder of the Evangelium Institute, a non-profit dedicated to providing dynamic catechetical and spiritual formation to adults and Catholic organizations.

His background in theology has touched on many topics, but he has become a nationally recognized expert in Catholic Social Teaching, appearing on panels for the USCCB and writing for several Catholic print and online periodicals on the subject. He is a regular guest on Spirit Catholic Radio and he has a radio program titled “Regnum Novum: The New Evangelization through Catholic Social Teaching” on DiscerningHearts.com.

He is the author of The Urging of Christ’s Love: The Saints and the Social Teaching of the Catholic Church, as well as a new series on the Church’s social teaching documents, the first being on Rerum Novarum.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON TALK (12:30-1:30 P.M.): “La Eucaristía, Alimento Nutritivo para la Familia”

Father D. Roberto De La Mora

El Padre D. Roberto De La Mora es Sacerdote de la Arquidiócesis de Guadalajara, México. Obtuvo la Licenciatura en Filosofía y Teología en el Seminario Diocesano de Guadalajara y la Licenciatura en Derecho Canónico con especialidad en Jurisprudencia en la Universidad Gregoriana de Roma, Italia. Se desempeñó como asesor del Encuentro Matrimonial Munidial durante 30 años, como profesor de Derecho Canónico y formador del Seminario durante 13 años; y como pastor durante 13 años. Actualmente, es párroco del Expiatorio Eucarístico de Guadalajara y Director Espiritual de Adoración Nocturna de la Arquidiócesis de Guadalajara desde hace dos años.

Father D. Roberto De La Mora is a Priest of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara, Mexico. He earned a Licentiate in Philosophy and Theology at the Diocesan Seminary of Guadalajara and a License in Canon Law with a specialty in Jurisprudence at the Gregorian University of Rome, Italy. He served as advisor to the Encuentro Matrimonial Munidial for 30 years, as professor of Canon Law and formator of the Seminary for 13 years; and as a pastor for 13 years. Currently, he is pastor of the Eucharistic Expiatory of Guadalajara and Spiritual Director of Nocturnal Adoration of the Archdiocese of Guadalajara for the past two years.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON TALK (1:30-2:30 P.M.): “Somos bilingües”: nuestro primer Idioma es el Amor”

Father Miguel A. Bernal

El Padre Miguel A. Bernal nació en Sevilla, España, y fue ordenado sacerdote por la Arquidiócesis de Sevilla en septiembre de 2001. Es enfermero radiológico de profesión, pero dejó su trabajo para unirse al Seminario Diocesano de la Sede de San Isidoro en Sevilla. , donde recibió la Licenciatura en Teología de la Facultad de Teología de la Compañía de Jesús en Granada. Sirvió en el ministerio en Sevilla como capellán de hospital, párroco y profesor de teología en el Instituto de la Santísima Virgen María (Hermanas de Loreto) durante 14 años. Tras su ordenación sacerdotal, obtuvo el título de Máster en Filosofía Moderna y Cultura Contemporánea por la Universidad de Sevilla. Posteriormente obtuvo una Licenciatura en Filosofía Práctica (Antropología Filosófica) de la Pontificia Universidad Gregoriana de Roma, Italia. Actualmente, ministra en la Diócesis de Bridgeport, Connecticut, donde es coordinador del ministerio de habla hispana en el Decanato de Greenwich, Connecticut.

Father Miguel A. Bernal was born in Seville, Spain, and ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Seville in 2001. He is a radiological nurse by profession, but left his job to join the Diocesan Seminary of the See of San Isidoro in Seville, where he received a License in Theology from the Faculty of Theology of the Society of Jesus in Granada. He served in ministry in Seville as hospital chaplain, pastor and professor of theology at the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sisters of Loreto) for 14 years. After ordination, he earned a master’s degree in Modern Philosophy and Contemporary Culture from the University of Seville and obtained a Licentiate in Practical Philosophy (Philosophical Anthropology) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Currently, he ministers in the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON TALK (2:30-3:30 P.M.): “Testimonio de Fe en la Tribulación”

Father Ramiro Tijerino and Father Oscar Benavides

Father Ramiro Tijerino and Father Oscar Benavides, from Matagalpa in northern Nicaragua, have stood strong in their faith despite adversity. They were among hundreds of Nicaraguans who have been arrested and jailed on false charges, then exiled by Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega, for criticizing the government. The Catholic Church, an independent institution trusted by a large portion of the Nicaraguan people, is among a growing chorus of national and international voices condemning the government’s human rights abuses – and as a consequence, the Church has been the target of nearly 200 attacks and desecrations.

Father Ramiro and Father Oscar have seen the injustice first-hand, and they can testify to the power of prayer and remaining courageous in faith.

Father Ramiro has served as a pastor and as rector of John Paul II University in Managua. Father Oscar has served as a pastor and as advisor to the Matagalpa diocese’s Youth Ministry program. They are both critics of injustice and advocates for Nicaragua’s rural communities, the poor and the marginalized.

Father Ramiro was arrested when police raided the offices of his bishop, Matagalpa Bishop Rolando Álvarez, a fierce critic of the regime who has been sentenced to 26 years in prison after refusing exile. Father Oscar was arrested after celebrating Mass. They were put through quick sham trials, then sentenced to 10 years in a notorious prison and torture center in Managua. On Feb. 9, the two were stripped of their Nicaraguan citizenship and exiled to the United States. Now, they have come to Charlotte.

El padre Ramiro Tijerino y el padre Oscar Benavidez, de Matagalpa, en el norte de Nicaragua, se han mantenido firmes en su fe a pesar de la adversidad. Estaban entre los cientos de nicaragüenses que fueron arrestados y encarcelados por cargos falsos y luego exiliados por el presidente de Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, por criticar al gobierno.

Ortega perteneció a la junta sandinista que tomó el poder en Nicaragua en 1979 luego de una brutal guerra civil. Se desempeñó como presidente a fines de la década de 1980 y luego recuperó la presidencia en 2007. En los últimos años, ha reforzado su control del poder encarcelando a críticos y opositores políticos (incluso a sus antiguos amigos y camaradas sandinistas), cerrando medios de comunicación independientes, reprimiendo brutalmente las manifestaciones antigubernamentales y celebrando elecciones amañadas.

La Iglesia Católica, una institución independiente en la que confía una gran parte del pueblo nicaragüense, se encuentra entre un creciente coro de voces nacionales e internacionales que condenan los abusos de los derechos humanos por parte del gobierno, por lo que Ortega ha comenzado a tomar medidas enérgicas contra la Iglesia. La Iglesia ha sido objeto de casi 200 ataques y profanaciones. Obispos y sacerdotes han sido hostigados, intimidados y encarcelados. Las procesiones religiosas públicas han sido prohibidas. Las estaciones de radio católicas han sido cerradas. El embajador del Papa Francisco y las propias monjas Misioneras de la Caridad de la Madre Teresa han sido expulsadas.

El padre Ramiro y el padre Oscar han visto la injusticia de primera mano y pueden dar testimonio del poder de la oración y de permanecer valientes en la fe.

El padre Ramiro se ha desempeñado como párroco y rector de la Universidad Juan Pablo II en Managua, la capital de Nicaragua (una de las dos universidades católicas que el gobierno acaba de cerrar). El padre Oscar se ha desempeñado como párroco y como asesor del programa de Ministerio Juvenil de la diócesis de Matagalpa. Ambos son críticos de la injusticia y defensores de las comunidades rurales de Nicaragua, los pobres y los marginados.

El padre Ramiro fue detenido en agosto pasado cuando la policía federal allanó las oficinas de su obispo, el obispo de Matagalpa Rolando Álvarez, un feroz crítico del régimen que recientemente fue condenado a 26 años de prisión tras negarse al exilio. El padre Oscar también fue detenido en agosto pasado, justo después de celebrar la Misa y hablar sobre la persecución de los Apóstoles. Fueron sometidos a rápidos juicios falsos y luego sentenciados a 10 años en una notoria prisión y centro de tortura en Managua.

El 9 de febrero, los dos fueron despojados de su ciudadanía nicaragüense y exiliados a Estados Unidos. Ahora, han venido a Charlotte.

FRIDAY NIGHT TALK (9-11 P.M.) – Upper Level: Richardson Ballroom B

Sister Angela de Fatima Coelho, MD, ASM – “Fatima: Light of the World”

Sister Angela de Fatima Coleho is a world renowned expert and speaker on the Messages of Our Lady of Fatima.

Born in Oporto, Portugal, in 1971, she was only 6 when she decided she wanted to become a medical doctor and a religious sister. In 1995, she achieved her aim: graduating from the University of Oporto with a degree in medicine, and one week later entering the convent of the Alianca de Santa Maria. In 2008, Sr. Angela received her advanced degree in religious science from the Pontifical University in Madrid, Spain.

In 2009, she was named the Vice Postulator for the Cause of Jacinta and Francisco Marto, two of the Fatima visionaries. In 2012, she became the Postulator of their cause, and two years later, she was also appointed Vice Postulator for the Cause of Servant of God Sr. Lucia, the third and last surviving Fatima seer.

Sr. Angela met on numerous occasions with Sr. Lucia. As Postulator she also met and interacted with St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI and most recently was with Pope Francis on May 13, 2017, as he presided at the canonization of Sts. Jacinta and Francisco Marto, the youngest non-martyred saints in Church history.

She has appeared numerous times on EWTN and spoken to audiences worldwide. Her dynamic, joyful and enthusiastic personality immediately connects with her audiences, which have ranged from a few to over 20,000.