About Our Keynote Speaker

Msgr. Lucio Adrián Ruiz is an Argentinian priest (1965). He completed his studies at the Major Seminary of Santa Fe, Argentina. He obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at the Polytechnic University of Madrid and a License in Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome, with a thesis on the Theology of Communication. He obtained his PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros de Telecomunicación at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. With the creation of the new Dicastery in the Roman Curia, he was appointed Secretary of the Dicastery for Communication, Holy See, where he oversees projects such as "The Church is listening to you" and "Digital Synod".

Communication Track Leader

Sarah Yaklic is a national leader in digital discipleship and evangelization. Sarah brings deep experience from her work with the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Vatican, and is passionate about bringing the light of Christ into the digital world. 

If you oversee communication for your parish or school, please consider joining Sarah for a special track that will run through all three workshop sessions. Sarah will focus on tools of the trade and successful methods of communication via social media, website, and more. Learn how to hone your skills with a proven expert in the field.

Guest Speakers

Linda Kracht is a wife, mother of seven, and grandmother of 28. Linda is the founder of Fortifying Families of Faith, and some of her books include: Journaling with Sunday Scripture: A Book for All Seasons; Daughters & Sons Forever; The Art of Breastfeeding, published by the Couple to Couple League; Mothers Forever, Fathers Forever; Surviving College; & Black and White.

Fortifying Families of Faith publishes, promotes and produces books and supporting materials that take faith, marriage, family life and parenting seriously!

Sean Fitzgerald is the Director of Ministry Consulting at the Augustine Institute. He is dedicated to partnering with parishes, schools, and ministries to help them fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord (Matthew 28).

Sean holds a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies and a Master’s Degree in Theology, both from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY.  He also earned a Post-Graduate Certificate in Shroud of Turin Studies from the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome.

Sean lives in Highland, New York, with his wife, Dawn. They have been married for 34 years and are the proud parents of five children.

Rev. Fr. Matthew Loman is the Administrator of St. Gregory the Great Parish in Danbury, Connecticut, as of February 15, 2026. He was ordained to the Priesthood on May 20, 2023. He has served as a transitional deacon and parochial vicar at St. Gregory the Great Parish in Danbury. He completed my theological studies at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie (Yonkers, New York). As part of his studies, he wrote a master's thesis on the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding social media communications. 

Patrick Manning, PhD. is Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology and the Director of the Center for Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University. He is a veteran teacher and catechist and works at the intersection of religious education, spirituality, and culture. He is the author of two books Converting the Imagination: Teaching to Recover Jesus' Vision for Fullness of Life (Pickwick, 2020) and Be Still and Know: Contemplative Practices for Christian Schools and Educators (Eerdmans, 2025).

Juan Rodriguez is the Founder of the Youth & Young Adult Apostolate - Defenders of the Holy Trinity. He is a Youth Minister Consultant, using the document of Renewing the Vision, and creating an interpretation for a Parish Level development of Youth Ministry called Renew Your Vision. 

Juan also served as the Pastoral Associate, Director of Faith Formation, and Youth Minister at Queen of Angels Church in Sunnyside, NY and the former Director of Faith Formation of St. Patrick in Bay Ridge, NY. Married to his beloved Bertha M. Peralta Rodriguez, and the father of Liliana Maria Rodriguez. Juan is a lover of fantasy stories, Dungeons & Dragons, culinary arts, cigars, handball, and mixed martial arts. 

Bertha Peralta-Rodriguez is a project consultant and coordinator of the Certificate in the Practice of Catechesis program in Spanish for the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL). Bertha has a M.Ed. from Fordham University and is currently working on her MPS at Loyola University – New Orleans. She has been married for 19 years and is a mom to a HS senior. She is passionate about thinking of creative ways of reaching and evangelizing the young and their families!

Deacon Tim Bolton serves the Diocese of Bridgeport as Director of Accompaniment and a member of the Bishop’s Integration Team. A permanent deacon, board-certified chaplain, and certified spiritual director, he brings years of experience in pastoral care and healthcare ministry. His work is rooted in accompaniment, spiritual friendship, and bringing Christ’s compassionate presence to those who are vulnerable and searching for hope.

Priscilla Wanderly is originally from Brazil and served as a missionary for fifteen years with the Community Sweet Mother of God. Her ministry took her across five continents, working with youth and young adults. She holds a degree in Education with a concentration in Multiple Intelligences and studied Theology. Priscilla works for the Institute for Catholic Formation in the Diocese of Bridgeport.

Carol Incarnacao-Schirm currently serves as the Associate Director for Grants & Communications at Foundations in Faith, a grant-making organization supporting pastoral ministries in the Diocese of Bridgeport. In her home parish, St. Mary’s in Ridgefield, she is a catechist, a Bible Study facilitator, a member of Disciples 4 Life, an adult retreat ministry, and serves as a Reader at Mass. In addition, she is a member of the Guild of the Most Blessed Sacrament and serves on the Board of Advisors to the Office of the Guilds. Prior to working in ministry, Carol worked as a lawyer, a corporate business development manager, and as a political fundraiser. In pursuing the call to “do good,” Carol experienced a deep conversion in her mid-thirties and now finds the most joy in friendship with the Lord, his disciples, and in accompanying those seeking to grow in their faith.

Bob and Maggie McCarty have spent their professional careers working for the Church at the parish, diocesan, and national levels. They offer workshops, retreats, and training programs in ministry skills and issues internationally. They also assist Catholic ministry organizations in mission assessment, grant writing, and strategic pastoral planning. Bob is adjunct faculty at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.

They wrote “Be A Champion for Youth: Standing With, By and For Young People!” through Saint Mary’s Press, and Bob’s recent book is “The Heart of a Disciple” through Paulist Press.

Bob and Maggie are active in their home parish, St. Francis of Assisi in Fulton, MD, serving in marriage prep ministry and on the adult faith formation team. Their hobbies include adventure travel and grandparenting!

John Roberto is Executive Director of the National Community of Catechetical Leaders (NCCL). He has spent a lifetime working in faith formation—teaching, writing, researching, consulting, and developing program resources. His publications include Lifelong Faith: Formation with All Ages and Generations (Church Publishing, 2022) and Digital Ministry and Leadership in Today’s Church (Liturgical Press, 2022).

Amy McEntee knew from an early age that she wanted to be a teacher, but only God knew that her love of learning and ideas would take her from the classroom to curriculum publishing. In between, Amy has served as a parish catechetical leader, teacher service program coordinator, and diocesan staff. Currently serving as Publisher at RCL Benziger, she holds degrees in education, theology, and management. She lives with her husband, Patrick, in Dayton, Ohio.

Galen Tate is Organist/Director of Music at St. Thomas More Church (Darien), a position he has held since 1990. Holding a M.Mus. in organ performance from the University of Tennessee, he serves on the music faculty of Sacred Heart University (Fairfield), where he teaches in the classroom and is an organ instructor. As a conductor there, Galen founded the SHUpermen and the university’s first ensemble for women. As a recitalist, he most recently performed at Trinity Church on the Green (New Haven) with the Yale Academy Sinfonietta, Church of the Transfiguration (New York City) and at First Congregational Church (Fairfield). As an accompanist, performances have taken him throughout the Northeast and abroad to England, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Spain and Ireland. Galen is currently a collaborative accompanist of Connecticut Chamber Choir, an adjudicator for the American Guild of Organist scholarship competitions, and supports both middle and high school choral programs in concerts and competitions throughout Fairfield County.

Jeffrey Taveras is a seasoned vocalist and the lead cantor at St. Aloysius Church in New Canaan, Connecticut. With a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Boston University and over a decade of experience, he brings a deep passion for liturgical music and a commitment to enriching worship through song. Jeffrey is dedicated to honoring life's sacred moments and is thrilled to share his musical gifts at this year's Nexus 2026!

Lynn M. Wilson has a M.S. Ed., ABD Health Education from NYU and is working on a Master’s in Theology from Augustine Institute. She is a representative for Sadlier Publishing. Lynn is a former (and forever) teacher of college-level Educational Methods, Adolescence, Nutrition, and Health Education. She has also taught PreK and Grade 2 Reading in Texas and New York. She is a Catechist and OCIA assistant across Long Island and originally a Cradle Catholic from Saint Louis.

Marilyn Santos is the associate director of the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She previously served as director of Missionary Education at the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. She has held leadership positions in youth, young adult, and cultural diversity ministries in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Diocese of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Metuchen. She lived as a missionary with the Salesian Sisters in Ecuador. She has presented workshops and talks at multiple national and diocesan conferences and meetings, including those sponsored by NCEA, NCCL, NFCYM, and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. In September of 2026, she was commissioned as an Instituted Catechist by Pope Leo XVI.

Luigi Manente is a husband and father of five. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Theresa, for 11 years, and his little ones include Ramiel, 10; Gabriella, 8; Elizabeth, 6; Joseph, 4; and Ezekiel, 2. Luigi is currently the Director of Guilds for the Diocese of Bridgeport and has spent over 10 years in youth ministry at various parishes and worked for 10 years for the Archdiocese of New York in young adult outreach before taking the position with the Diocese of Bridgeport.  He also has experience in the non-profit and corporate world. He has a bachelor's from St. John’s University in Queens in Marketing (2004) and a Master's in Catechetics & Evangelization from the Franciscan University of Steubenville (2023). He has a deep and abiding love for his faith, the New York Mets, and most especially for our Holy and Blessed Mother Mary and looks forward to sharing his heart with all of you.

Dr. Stella Marie Jeffrey currently lives in Fargo, ND (yes, it’s a real place) with her husband, Greg. She spends the majority of her time working in missionary discipleship and evangelization across the US and Canada. She completed her PhD at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute, DC, in 2020. Currently, she works full-time for Franciscan University of Steubenville, both supporting partners with the Catechetical Institute, CI, and as an adjunct professor for Theology and Catechetics. She has served ‘onthe front lines’ of the apostolic work of the Catholic Church for most of her adult life. She prays that whatever she does will be a means for all to grow in our love, understanding, and passion for Jesus Christ, the Savior and Lord, and His Family, the Church. May we increase our ability to “speak the Faith in a conversional way” with everyone we meet.

Suan Sonna is the Director of Apologetics and the Director of The Forum for Catholic Discipleship for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Suan has a B.A. in Philosophy from Kansas State University, an M.T.S. in New Testament studies from Harvard Divinity School, and is currently pursuing an M.A.R. in Second Temple Judaism at Yale Divinity School. Suan has appeared on various podcasts and YouTube channels, including Catholic Answers, Counsel of Trent, Pints with Aquinas, and many others. Suan is a Protestant convert to Catholicism. He runs the YouTube channel and podcast Intellectual Catholicism.

Colin Petramale was born and raised in Schenectady, New York. After completing a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from SUNY Oswego, he did a year of service in Chicago, where he accompanied the elderly population. This led him to pursue and earn a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from the University of Dayton. Calling Connecticut home for the past 8 years, Colin has worked in various ministries, including college, high school, retreat, and parish. He finds his greatest joy in making faith relatable for everyday people and seeing communities built.

Ela Milewska has ministered in a variety of environments, from a small community in West Virginia to a department in the Archdiocese of New York. She has trained youth ministry and catechetical leaders, catechists, and educators across the United States and internationally. Ela is the director of evangelization for the Franciscan Friars of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province. 

Kendall McLaren is a digital communications professional at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, supporting social media strategy, video storytelling, and content development that helps the Church communicate clearly and consistently across platforms.

Fr. Kareem Smith is Pastor of Saint Michael the Archangel Church in the Bronx, whose passionate preaching and vision for a more inclusive Church continue to inspire many. As President of the National Black Catholic Clergy Caucus and a powerful voice for faith, justice, and liturgical diversity, he brings a message of hope and renewal to God’s people.