Put Put Into the Deep 2008

The theme for 2008 was "Put Out Into the Deep" on April 12 at the A.J. Paulmbo Center.

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Most Reverend David A. Zubik, D.D.

Bishop of the Diocese of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

David A. Zubik was born on September 4, 1949 in Sewickley. His family, which included his father, Stanley, who has returned to Pittsburgh with him from Green Bay, and his mother Susan (Raskosky), who died in 2006, lived for many years in Ambridge and belonged to Good Samaritan Parish.

He attended St. Stanislaus Elementary School and St. Veronica High School, both in Ambridge, before entering St. Paul Seminary in Pittsburgh. He received an undergraduate degree at Duquesne University in 1971 and continued his studies at St. Mary Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he earned a degree in theology.

After his ordination as a priest by Bishop Vincent M. Leonard on May 3, 1975, he served as Parochial Vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in Shadyside until July 24, 1980. He was then named Vice-Principal of Quigley Catholic High School in Baden as well as Chaplain at the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse and Chaplain to the students at Mount Gallitzin Academy. At the same time, he began graduate studies in the School of Education at Duquesne University, where he earned a master’s degree in education administration in 1982.

In 1987, he entered the ministry of diocesan administration when he was appointed Administrative Secretary to then-Bishop Anthony Bevilacqua, who is currently the retired Cardinal Archbishop of Philadelphia. In 1988, he was named Administrative Secretary and Master of Ceremonies to then-Bishop Donald W. Wuerl, who has since been named Archbishop of Washington, DC.

In 1991, Father Zubik became the Diocesan Director of Clergy Personnel, where he oversaw the life and ministry of the diocese’s priests. He was named Associate General Secretary and Chancellor of the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1995 and then Vicar General and General Secretary in 1996, a position in which he was responsible for the administration of diocesan central offices. He also was the Chaplain to the Sisters of the Holy Spirit at their Motherhouse in Ross Township.

A year later, on April 6, 1997, he was ordained an auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh and titular bishop of Jamestown, North Dakota.
As a bishop, he has served on many boards and committees at the diocesan, local and national levels, including St. Paul and St. Vincent Seminaries, the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference of Bishops, the Duquesne University Board of Directors, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Priestly Life and Ministry, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Priestly Formation.

On October 10, 2003, Pope John Paul II named Bishop Zubik the eleventh Bishop of the Diocese of Green Bay. Installed on December 12, 2003, he embarked on vigorous efforts to improve vocations to all walks of life, deepen spirituality, and evangelize people of all ages. These efforts bore fruit as priestly vocations increased during his tenure.

Responding to the call to protect children and young people from sexual abuse, Bishop Zubik also developed strong programs to address misconduct by clergy and others in ministry. For each year during his tenure, audits conducted on behalf of the National Review Board established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops found the Diocese of Green Bay to be in full compliance with the national standards for creating and maintaining safe environments for children.

In May 2004, Bishop Zubik accepted a three-year term to the Board of Advisors of University of St. Mary of the Lake Mundelein Seminary in Chicago, and in November 2004, he was elected chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on the Laity, a three-year term that began in November 2005.

He currently serves on three committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops – the Administrative Committee, the Laity Committee, and the Audit Sub-Committee – in addition to the National Advisory Council.

Bishop Zubik is the fifth native son to lead the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Bishop J. F. Regis Canevin, who led the diocese from 1904-1921, and his successor, Bishop Hugh C. Boyle, who led the diocese until 1950, were born in areas that at the time were part of the diocese’s territory. Bishop Vincent M. Leonard, who led the diocese during the 1970s, and Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl were native Pittsburghers.

Fr. Larry Richards

Pastor, Radio Program Host and President of “The Reason for Hope Foundation”

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.

Father Larry Richards was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After high school, he attended the college seminary at Gannon University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling in 1983. Father Larry Richards continued his studies at the major seminary at St. Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1987. He will soon conclude his studies at the University of Notre Dame and be awarded a Master of Arts degree in Liturgy.

Ordained to the priesthood in 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Fr. Larry Richards serves as pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community in Erie. He is also the Spiritual Director of the TEC (To Encounter Christ) Retreat Program for the Diocese of Erie.

Fr. Larry Richards is the founder and president of The Reason for our Hope Foundation, a non- profit organization dedicated to ‘spreading the Good News’ by educating others about Jesus Christ. For more information on the foundation, go to: www.TheReasonForOurHope.org.

Fr. Larry Richards hosts a nightly radio show called “Changed Forever with Father Larry Richards.” It can be heard nationwide on Relevant Radio daily at 8 pm ET/ 7pm CT, Sunday at 7 am ET/ 6 am CT. For more information, or to listen on-line, go to: www.relevantradio.com

Deacon Alex Jones

Permanent Deacon of the Archdiocese of Detroit, convert to Catholicism and former Pentecostal/Evangelical Minster

From April 1975 to December 2000, Deacon Alex was the senior minister of two Protestant churches in the city of Detroit: Zion Congregational Church of God in Christ (1975-1982), the second oldest Pentecostal church in Michigan, and Maranatha Christian Church (1982-2000), an Evangelical/Charismatic church.

In March of 1998, while reading the apostolic fathers and subsequent church history in preparation for a Wednesday evening bible study, Deacon Alex discovered the Church to be charismatic/liturgical, hierarchical, and Eucharistic-centered. In light of that discovery, His wife Donna and Deacon Alex began a two-year journey into the Catholic Church that culminated in fifty-four members of his previous congregations, including fourteen members of his family, entering the Catholic Church on the Easter Vigil of April 14, 2001.

Deacon Alex graduated from Wayne State University in 1965 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education and taught in the Detroit school system for twenty-eight years. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Archdiocese of Detroit on October 1, 2005. Deacon Alex received his Masters in Pastoral Studies from Sacred Heart Major Seminary on April 28, 2007, and on May 31, 2007, retired from the position of evangelization coordinator for the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. As deacon he has been assigned to serve the three parishes of St. Suzanne/OLGH, St. Mary of Redford, and St. Thomas Aquinas by his bishop, Adam Cardinal Maida.

Deacon Alex was born in 1941 and is married to Donna Camille. They have three grown sons: Joseph, Benjamin, and Marc, ten lovely grandchildren, and one stubborn Beagle named Amanda.

Robert Rogers

Renowned Catholic speaker, author and founder of “Mighty in the Land Foundation”

A resident of the Kansas City suburb of Glenaire, Missouri, Rogers grew up in the Westwood neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. Rogers, 41, is the son of George and Mary Rogers who now live in Northern Kentucky. Robert, a committed lifelong Catholic, worked as an Electrical Engineer for 13 years for Motorola, having received his BSEE from University of Cincinnati. He just recently earned his MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management in Kansas City in June 2004.

For over 13 years, Robert was husband to Melissa and father to Makenah, Zachary, Nicholas and Alenah Wenying (adopted in the Hunan Province of China). Eight short months after returning from China with Alenah, Robert and his family were returning from a wedding on August 30, 2003 in Wichita, Kansas, 200 miles from their home in Kansas City. They had just finished having ice cream together at Braum's Ice Cream in Wichita. Suddenly Robert’s entire life changed. Robert joins us today to tell his remarkable story of hope and God's grace through tragedy. Robert encourages all to have the hope, peace, and comfort of God which are available to all of us. It’s up to us to make a choice to receive His free Heavenly gifts. Today, accept Jesus’ Resurrection gift of eternal life. Trust him, and have peace.

Robert started “Mighty in the Land” ministries in January 2004 to change the way people live their Godly and family relationships - through a compelling message of Hope, Encouragement, and Priorities. Rogers has also established the Mighty In The Land Foundation to advance the care and adoption of orphans and special-needs children worldwide. His hope is to sponsor five orphanages on five continents. He wants to challenge people to “Live a Life of No Regrets” through his family’s testimony.

He conveys this message through spoken, written, and music ministry. Robert travels around the country and speaks, plays the piano, and sings to groups who need this message. An accomplished musician, Rogers started taking piano lessons at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music at the age of 10. His CD’s include compositions that he has written and composed himself. He has been composing since he was about 12. He is also writing with the plan to release several books. Robert is now self-employed full time in this ministry of speaking, composing and recording music, and writing.

Peter Herbeck

International Speaker and EWTN program host.

Peter Herbeck is the Vice President and Director of Missions for Renewal Ministries. Peter oversees the work of lay mission teams throughout the world who work to equip Catholic lay people to respond to the Holy Father's call for a new evangelization. He has traveled extensively with these teams as they assist and train local churches in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and ministering through the exercise of spiritual gifts.

Peter holds a BA in Philosophy from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota and a MA in Theology from Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan. He is a team member of F.I.R.E. and a frequent conference speaker. He has written numerous articles on evangelization and the exercise of spiritual gifts

Peter and his wife Debbie have four children, ages 13 to 20, and are members of Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Rev. James A. Wehner

Rector of St. Paul Seminary, Dir. Of Dept for Evangelization and Board member of CMF of Pittsburgh

A native of Pittsburgh ’s northside, Father Wehner attended Most Holy Name School and North Catholic High School , Troy Hill. He entered Saint Paul Seminary in 1989 later graduating from Duquesne University with his undergraduate degree in philosophy. Father Wehner was assigned for theological studies at the North American College in Rome . He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Wuerl in June 1995. After serving as Bishop Wuerl’s personal secretary and master of ceremonies, he was assigned for doctoral studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome . Father Wehner earned the doctorate in sacred theology summa cum laude in the area of evangelization. Father Wehner returned to Pittsburgh in Spring 2001 where he has served as rector of Saint Paul Seminary for the past five years. He served as chaplain of Shuman Juvenile Detention Center and the Pittsburgh Serra Club. Today, Father Wehner is the director of the department for evangelization, director of the office for the diaconate, director of priestly formation and recently appointed as a Trustee to Carlow University . Father Wehner serves on the board of directors for the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Pittsburgh.

Mike Clark

News Anchor WTAE-TV Pittsburgh

Mike has been anchoring the news at WTAE-TV Channel 4 since 1995. He is a graduate of St. John’s University in New York. Mike is married with four children and serves as an assistant coach for their soccer, baseball and basketball teams..

Mike’s work as a news anchor, reporter, and writer has been recognized for its excellence by numerous organizations, including The Emmys, the Golden Quill, and The Associated Press. Mike was also cited for his distinguished field anchoring of Pope John Paul II’s visits to St. Louis in 1999, and to New York and Baltimore in 1995. Mike was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from LaRoche College in 2004, the 2002 Humanitarian of the Year Award from the Fraternal Societies of Greater Pittsburgh and a Cardinal Fulton Sheen Television Award in New York City for his series of reports on the Chimbote Mission in Peru in 2000. Among his many pursuits, Mike is a board member at the DePaul Institute and The Chimbote Foundation, and volunteers his time for the make-A-Wish Foundation, the Mercy Hospital Foundation, the Greater Pittsburgh YMCA, the Arthritis Foundation, the Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council, the Salvation Army/Project Bundle-Up, St. Vincent DePaul Society the Sisters of Divine Providence, the Sisters of Saint Basil and the Sisters of Saint Francis.

Mike teaches a media course at LaRoche College's Challenge Program, and he writes a monthly column on parenting and youth sports for the Pittsburgh Sports Report.