Meet the NFCM Speakers Bureau and Media Network Contributors: 

 

 

Danny Abramowicz, an NFL legend has played for both the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. His playing career lasted from 1967 through 1974. Upon his retirement, he held the NFL record for catching at least one pass in 105 consecutive games. After his playing career, Abramowicz worked in private business in New Orleans. He also spent five years as an analyst for Saints games broadcast on radio. In 1992, he was hired by Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka to serve as special teams coach. He served in this capacity from 1992 to 1996. From 1997 to 1999 Ambramowicz served as the Saints offensive coordinator. Abramowicz is a devout Roman Catholic, a motivating speaker, and is active with various organizations and foundations dedicated to philanthropic causes. He is also an accomplished writer, having authored a book titled Spiritual Workout of a Former Saint in which he tells an amazing story of a recovering alcoholic grabbing onto-and working hard at-his second chance at life. In the Fall of 2008 Danny launched a masculine spirituality show on EWTN entitled Crossing the Goal. Danny is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. Click here to listen to his podcasts.

Mike Aquilina is executive vice-president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He is the author or editor of more than a dozen books on Catholic history, doctrine, and devotion. Mike has hosted several television series on EWTN, and he appears often on Catholic radio. He is past editor of New Covenant magazine and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. His journalistic work has appeared in periodicals throughout the world. Mike blogs on the early Church at www.FathersOfTheChurch.com.  His books have been translated into many languages, from Hungarian and Portuguese to German and Braille. His book The Grail Code has appeared in ten languages since its publication in 2006.Mike and his wife Terri have been married since 1985. They live in the suburbs of Pittsburgh with their six children.  Click here to read his articles.

 

Doug Barry is the founder and Director of the Catholic apostolate Radix, as well as a husband and father of six children.  For more than a decade he has traveled throughout the United States and beyond spreading and defending the Catholic Faith.  With a dynamic and explosive style, Doug has spoken to thousands, young and old alike, through television, radio and live appearances. He is probably best known for his direct, no holds barred approach to confronting the culture of death.  He is also recognized for his one-man performance of the Passion of Christ, seen regularly on EWTN and other Christian channels throughout the world. Doug is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.  Click here to listen to his podcasts.

 

Maurice Blumberg is Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men Center. Maurice was the founding Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men (NFCM), which was officially established in March of 2001. Under his leadership, the NFCM grew from just 12 men’s conferences in 2002 to over 50 conferences and Catholic Men’s Fellowships in 2008 all across the U.S. He is a Jewish convert to the Catholic faith and is active in various parish ministries, including Renew, RCIA, and Alpha ministries. He is married with five children. He has been a speaker and part of mission teams in parishes in Calgary, Canada; conferences in Slovakia in Eastern Europe; and prisons in Maryland. He has also spoken at many Catholic men's conferences. He is on the board of directors of The Word Among Us devotional magazine, for whom he has also written several articles. He also writes articles for Catholic Man Channel on the Catholic Exchange website and Catholic Men’s E-zine on the NFCM website. He has been a leader of Catholic men's groups and prayer groups for over 30 years. His industrial experience includes over 30 years in various management, technical, and training positions with IBM and Lockheed Martin. Maurice is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. 

 

 

 

Fr. James B. Farnan is one of seven children and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before entering the seminary he was a commodities broker in Chicago Il. He studied at the North American College in Rome and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh on June 24, 2000.  He is a sought after teacher and speaker in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. In addition to his parish ministry, he served in special ministry at the Ryan Catholic Newman Center, ministering to the various colleges and universities in the Oakland area of Pittsburgh. He also served as Associate Director of Religious Education and Catholic School Catechesis for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. He is heavily involved in the faith formation of men and leads many workshops and retreats within the Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Pittsburgh. Fr James B. Farnan is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.  Click Here to listen to his podcasts.

 

 

 

Sean Forrest: A songwriter from an early age, Sean always had a love for Jesus, but got distracted by the world as he grew older, immersing himself in the secular party scene, resort life and all things worldly. But God would put faith-filled loved ones, physically disabled children and a powerful series of experiences in his path to lead him to a profound conversion to the Catholic faith and deep commitment to spread the Word of the Gospel. Sean Forrest is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. Hear him speak.

 

 

Francisco "Paco" Gavrilides has served as a Catholic missionary in the ministry of evangelization and the buliding of Charismatic Christian communities thoughout the United States, Latin America and in countries around the world for over 20 years. He has been involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement since 1968 and gives conferences in English and Spanish. Paco received his STB from the archdiocesan seminary in Monterrey, Mexico. He is currently working in the office of evangelization in the archdiocese of Detroit as an evangelization coordinator. Among other ministries, he teaches couples on Christian marriage and coordinates the ministry for men.  He was the Director of Programming at St. John Center for youth and family.  Previously he worked at St. Thecla Parish in Clinton Township, Michigan as Director of Adult Education & Family Formation.  Paco and his wife Inez have three children. Together, they have produced an album of prayerful and inspirational music entitled Gaze Upon the Lord.  The songs and music are the original inspirations given to Inez by the Lord. He is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.

 

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 in the U.S., Canada, Africa, and Eastern Europe for the past twenty five years, assisting and training local churches in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ and ministering through the exercise of spiritual gifts. Peter is the co-host of the weekly television show The Choices We Face, and the host of the daily radio show Fire on the Earth. He is a frequent conference speaker, and the author of books and audio tapes about discipleship and life in the Spirit. His most recent book is entitled When the Spirit Comes in Power. 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. Peter and his wife Debbie have four children, ages 12 to 19, and are members of Christ the King parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Peter is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. Click here to listen to him speak.

 

Mark Houck, Co-Founder & President of The King's Men, is a 1997 graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After pursuing his dreams to become a professional football player following his playing days in college, Mark worked in Human Resource Management as a recruiter, salesman & production manager. Feeling called to make a difference in young people's lives, He transitioned into a career as a counselor at a juvenile correction facility from 1998-2002. Upon receipt of his Master's Degree in Education in 2003 from Holy Family University in Philadelphia, Mark began his career lecturing teens on their sexuality through the ministry of Generation Life. Since 2004, Mark has shared the messages of pro-life and chastity with thousands of teens and parents throughout the United States and Canada. He is 33 years old, married, and lives in Quakertown, PA. Mark is on the NFCM speakers bureau. Click here to listen to him speak.

 

Deacon Alex Jones was once a Pentecostal minister in Detroit. In seeking to give his flock the most genuine experience of the early Church prayer and worship services, he carefully read Scripture, the Fathers of the Church and writings of the early saints. The more he read, the more Alex came to the startling conclusion that the present day Catholic Church - and the Holy Mass - is the same exact "worship service" from the very early Church. Alex began to share his findings with his parish, and eventually Alex, and most of his parish, joined the Catholic Church. Today he preaches with his usual passion about Christ - as a Catholic deacon. For more information you can view his web site at deaconalexcjones.com. Deacon Alex is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. Click here to listen to him speak.

 

Matthew Kelly was born in Sydney, Australia, on July 12, 1973. Over the past ten years more than two million people in fifty countries have attended his talks, seminars, and retreats. Against the backdrop of his travel to fifty countries, millions more have been touched by his writings and appearances on radio and television programs. In the wake of devoting the past decade of his life to his international speaking schedule, Kelly has also gained acclaim as an author. His most recent books include: The Rhythm of Life, The Book of Courage, Rediscovering Catholicism, The Shepherd, A Call to Joy, and Mustard Seeds. Collectively his titles have been published in numerous languages and have sold more than 750,000 copies. Both as a speaker and as an author, Kelly possesses a powerful ability to combine the ageless tool of storytelling with a profound understanding of today's culture and the common yearnings of the human heart. As a result he captures our imaginations and helps us to see the challenges and opportunities of our everyday lives in a new light. With a keen sense of humor and heartwarming charm, Kelly seems to effortlessly elevate and energize people to pursue the highest values of the human spirit and become "the-best-version-of-themselves." Matthew Kelly's message is both timely and timeless. His example is authentic and inspiring. His passion for life is refreshing and challenging. It is certain that he will continue to be, with increasing influence, one of the most sought-after and endearing spiritual voices of our time. Matthew is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. Click here to listen to him speak.

 

Father Roger Landry was ordained a Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts by Bishop Sean O'Malley, OFM Cap. on June 26, 1999. After receiving a biology degree from Harvard University, Fr Landry studies the priesthood in Maryland, Toronot, and Rome. He is ione of the co-founders of the Boston Catholic Men's Conference and speaks frequently at men's conferences and retreats. Father Landry is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. Click here to listen to him speak.

 

 

Bob Lockwood: An award-winning Catholic columnist, editor and commentator, Bob Lockwood is the Director for Communications for the Diocese of Pittsburgh and General Manager of the Pittsburgh Catholic. He is the author of the book, "A Faith for Grown-ups, A Midlife Conversation about What Really Matters" (Loyola Press). Bob is one of several co-founders of the Catholic Men's Fellowship of Pittsburgh. He advises the lay leaders on an Online Media Outreach that is engaged by thousands of men worldwide each week. Bob is on the NFCM speakers bureau. 

 

 

John Martignoni, his wife and four children live in Birmingham AL. John is the Founder and President of the Bible Christian Society, an apologetics and evangelization apostolate dedicated to teaching and explaining the truths of the Catholic Faith. He is also the host of EWTN Open Line, a live, internationally telecast call-in program of Bible apologetics every Monday afternoon on EWTN Radio. John travels throughout the country and internationally speaking at parishes and conferences about the Catholic Faith and the Bible. Hundreds of thousands of copies of his talks have been distributed in all 50 states and more than 30 foreign countries. His talks, and a number of other apologetics materials, are available for FREE on his website: www.biblechristiansociety.com and are also posted on the NFCM Online Media Network.  John is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.  Click here to listen to him speak.

 

Father Philip Merdinger, B.H., is a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston. In addition he is the founder of the Brotherhood of Hope and chaplain for the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. Ordained for the Archdiocese of Newark in 1964, he moved to the Archdiocese of Boston in 1995. Father comes to us with extensive experience and expertise in retreat work. He has ministered in retreat work throughout the country, and the Brotherhood of Hope sponsors retreats for men in Massachusetts and Florida, and offers spiritual support to Clergy, Religious, and Seminarians.  Fr. Philip is also a popular speaker at Catholic men's conferences. The Brotherhood of Hope, established in 1980, is a canonically recognized Catholic community of brothers and priests consecrated to Christ, dedicated to evangelization, and committed to a life together as a spiritual family. Their focus is a deep personal relationship to Jesus Christ, our All-Sufficiency, lived in the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. A major part of its mission is an outreach to Catholic men and to young men and women at several college campuses. For Catholic men, the members of the brotherhood facilitate the development of parish-based men's groups, minister at men's conferences, and lead retreats. Fr Philip is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. Click here to listen to him speak.

 

Deacon Ralph Poyo. Ralph was born to his Colombian mother, Connie, and his Cuban father, Jose, in Cali, Colombia. They came to the United States in 1965 and spent a few years in Atlanta, Georgia before settling in Miami, Florida.  It was during high school in Miami that Ralph met his future wife, Susan, and after five years of dating, they married in 1984.  They now have five beautiful daughters: Sarah Marie, Rachel Joy Louise, Leah Christine, Rebekah Faith, and Hannah Grace. He testifies that he has come to understand the true meaning of patience in living with his “Six Pack” of women.  Still, second only to the Lord, they are the loves of his life, and he counts it his greatest accomplishment to have introduced his girls to the Lord.  Deacon Poyo is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau. Click here to listen to him speak.

 

Father John Riccardo was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996. The youngest of five children. A graduate of The University of Michigan. After working for several years in the professional world, entered the seminary to begin studies for the priesthood. Studied philosophy at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. Studied theology at the Gregorain University in Rome. Received a Sacred License in Theology (STL) from The Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family. Formerly serving as the Director of the Cardinal Maida Institute located at St. John Center for Youth and Family in Plymouth, Michigan.  Visit Fr. John Riccardo's Podcast: http://frjohnriccardo.libsyn.com. Fr Riccardo is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.  Click here to listen to Father Riccardo speak.

 

Father Larry Richards 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. Fr Larry is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.  Click here to listen to Father Larry Richards.

 

Jesse Romero is a former Los Angeles Deputy Sheriff and National Kickboxing Champion. Jesse rediscovered his Catholic roots  then studied and prayed his way back to a fervent on-going practice of the Catholic Faith. Through his experiences with non-Catholics and fallen-away Catholics alike, Jesse is well-versed on all Catholic issues and topics and, as a bilingual speaker, specializes in evangelization, youth events, apologetics seminars, conferences of all sizes and bible studies. Jesse holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Mount St Mary's College in Los Angeles and he has a Masters Degree in Catholic Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio. As the proud parents of Paul, AnnMarie and Joshua, Jesse and his wife Anita have been happily married for 25 years. Visit Jesse at www.jesseromero.com. Jesse is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.  Click here  to listen to him speak.

 

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers is the Founder and Director of Aurem CordisTM, a Christian evangelization and apologetics organization dedicated to the dissemination and promotion of Catholic values, principles, and teaching in complete faithfulness and total submission to Holy Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium. The goal of this apostolate is to bring as many people as possible to a deeper love of Christ and the Gospel by sharing the truth of the Catholic faith in love. Deacon Harold is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.  Click here to listen to him speak.

 

 

Mike Timmis, a Detroit business man is Co-Founder of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men.   He serves as Chairman of the Board of member of Prison Fellowship Inernational. He is a Knight of Malta, a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, a member of the Cardinal Club and Legatus (the organization for Catholic business leaders), and is heavily involved in the Archdiocese of Detroit.He and his wife, Nancy, got involved in reaching out to, and working with, the poor after their 15-year-old daughter was killed in an auto accident in the mid-1980s. Their efforts have taken them to Peru, led to the building of four schools in Uganda and one in Rwanda, and helping fund the Cornerstone Schools, a system of nondenominational Christian schools in Detroit that were an early initiative of Cardinal Adam Maida. Mike is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.

 

Father James A. Wehner was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in 1995. After ordination, he served as secretary to then Bishop Donald Wuerl and completed doctoral studies in Rome . Father Wehner is the rector of Saint Paul Seminary, director of the diaconate program, and director of the department for evangelization. In 2004, he assisted a group of prominent lay men who co-founded The Catholic Men’s Fellowship of Pittsburgh (CMF). Today, Father Wehner serves on their board and acts as the diocesan liaison. Fr Wehner is on the NFCM Speakers Bureau.