Host
Jim Beckman
Jim serves as the Director of Impact Center, a new ministry designed
to nurture and train youth ministers. A 1987 graduate of Franciscan
University, he has been involved in various leadership roles in local
and national youth ministry for… a really long time. Jim has served
as a host for Franciscan’s Summer Youth Conferences for many years,
and has built solid and thriving youth ministry programs in several
parishes. He is a dynamic and passionate speaker -- make sure you
bring an umbrella or rain coat if you’re sitting in the front row.
He and his wife Meg live in Colorado with their five children: Aaron,
Claire, Daniel, Jonathan and Brian, who all double as professional
wrestlers.
Music
Servant Singers
Servant Singers is a community of musicians from the Diocese of Alexandria,
Louisiana. Founded by Mark and Sally Dubroc, they lead praise and
worship for retreats, conferences, and rallies throughout the Diocese.
They have an album to their credit and continue to serve youth as
they spread the joy, love, and peace of Christ through their ministry.
Kelly Pease
Kelly Pease is a young, Catholic artist who is extremely passionate
about what she is doing—sharing the gospel. She uses exciting music
and heartfelt testimony to tell about the reality of God in her life.
Kelly has been writing and recording music since 1999. She has released
multiple CD’s and travels around the country singing and sharing Jesus.
At the heart of Kelly’s ministry is her real-life experience of the
faithfulness of God. This is the message she is determined to share.
Kelly’s desire for herself, as well as those she witnesses to, is
to continually come into deeper understanding of who Jesus is. She
lives in Louisiana with her family and her dog, Boco.
Entertainment
Fr. Stan Fortuna
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Fr. Stan is one of the founding members of the Franciscan Friars
of the Renewal, a community established by the late John Cardinal
O’Connor in the Archdiocese of New York. Fr. Stan spent many years
serving the poor in the South Bronx at the community's first house,
St. Crispin Friary. Since 1997, Fr. Stan has been involved full-time
in the preaching apostolate. An accomplished musician and composer,
Fr. Stan’s non-profit record company, Francesco Productions, gives
all proceeds directly to the poor. Among his many performances, Fr.
Stan was asked to preach and perform at the youth rally during Pope
John Paul’s visit to St. Louis in 1999. A humble troubadour for the
Lord, he uses his gift of music as a powerful means to reach deep
into the heart and soul of the young and the old throughout the world.
Priests
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, 5th Bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach,
appointed by Pope John Paul II on October 26, 1999. He holds a Master
of Divinity and a Licentiate in Canon Law. Bishop Barbarito is member
of the Catholic Biblical Association and the Canon Law Society of
America. He has served in diverse areas of ministry on the local,
national, and international level.
Fr. Larry Richards
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Fr. Larry is a gifted and captivating speaker, preacher, and retreat
master, Fr. Larry Richards holds the answer to some of life's most
profound questions. He speaks from experience as a pastor of an inner
city parish, a high school chaplain, a counselor, and evangelist.
Fr. Larry Richards has directed hundreds of retreats, parish missions
and conferences for young and old alike. His inspirational talks and
presentations, always authentic and enthusiastic, have changed the
hearts, minds and lives of millions of listeners worldwide. Ordained
to the priesthood on April 21, 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Fr. Larry
Richards has served as pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community
in Erie since July 1, 2002. He continues the task of unifying two
congregations into one community dedicated to Jesus through love,
prayer and service. In addition, he is the Spiritual Director of the
TEC (To Encounter Christ) Retreat Program for the Diocese of Erie.
Speakers
Lisa Epperson - Speaker
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Lisa is passionate, energetic and shares her love for Jesus and the
truth of His Church with teens and young adults around the country.
She has been involved with Life Teen for 13 years as a teen, Core
member, and youth minister. Lisa currently serves as the Eastern and
International Director for Life Teen. In addition to leading teens
closer to Christ, she co-founded “On the Deck”, a ministry committed
to building faith and community among college students. Lisa lives
in her hometown of Atlanta, Georgia and enjoys skydiving, hang gliding,
rock climbing, and a rousing game of Scrabble.
Shannon Dietz
Shannon is the coordinator of Youth Ministry for St. Martha's Catholic Church in Kingwood, Texas. She has a BA in Journalism/Public Relations from Stephen F. Austin State University, and a MA in Humanities/Creative Writing from the University of Houston Clear Lake.
Shannon began speaking about her faith in college and these days her favorite topics are “The real presence of God in our Lives”, and “Authentic Gospel Living.” Themes in her talks range from spiritual warfare to realizing God’s presence in our lives and LIVING it. She is currently finishing her memoir, “Inexcusable Me, Irreplaceable Him: My Journey to Finding Faith.” Shannon wouldn't be here if it weren't for God's guidance, her supportive husband, Neal, and two beautiful boys, Ryan and Seth, and of course all the teens who are her brothers and sisters in Christ!
Deacon Ralph Poyo - Speaker
Deacon Ralph has been in Ministry for over twenty years and has just founded a new ministry based out of Ohio called the New Evangelization Ministries. This ministry is available to Pastors and Church Staffs to equip them with training, resources, and strategies for evangelization that could be easily adapted to the charism of their parish. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Susan and they have five daughters. Deacon Ralph’s enjoys spending time with the all his girls in various outdoor activities, like hiking, soccer, and tennis.
John Beaulieu
John has served as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Outreach for Franciscan University for the past five years. He first responded to God’s call to minister to youth back in 1983 when he traveled with the National Evangelization Teams for two years. After graduating from Franciscan University in 1989 with a degree in counseling, John spent thirteen years ministering to youth at parishes in Texas, Colorado, and North Carolina. He has presented at local, diocesan, regional and national youth events including the NCYC and the NCCYM. In addition to youth, John ministers to parents and youth ministers through missions and retreats. John and his beautiful wife Lisa are blessed with four children: Andrew, Madeleine, Catherine, and JohnPaul.
Charlie Cantrell
Charlie lives in the great state of Louisiana where he has been married for four years to the prettiest girl in the world, Ali (not to mention the most patient). He has a beautiful two-year-old daughter, Ella Marie, and an extremely handsome one year old son, “Dude.” Charlie has been actively involved in youth ministry for eight years. In his spare time Charlie takes long walks on the bayou and reads poetry by candle light with his pet alligator, “Francine.”