2006—Keynote Presenters

Friday, December 1—Rev. Allan Deck, S.J.

Spreading the Good News of a New Day

While many church leaders have gotten used to speaking in terms of evangelization and outreach, the idea of evangelization as outlined in church documents is rich, complex, and more demanding than meets the eye. Evangelization is a challenging process, a framework for accomplishing the church’s mission. Father Deck will lay out some implications for Catholic youth ministry today.

Father Deck is the executive director of the Loyola Institute for Spirituality. A member of the Society of Jesuits since 1963 and a priest since 1976, he holds a doctoral degree in sacred theology from the Gregorian University in Rome and another doctorate in Latin American Studies form St. Louis University. The author of two books and editor of three, Fr. Deck has specialized in Hispanic religion, culture, and spirituality in issues of pastoral ministry.

Saturday, December 2—Mike Patin

The Work of Our Hands

Youth ministry can feel like “planting in the desert” and that does not seem very bright. Naysayer’s question our work and efforts…new challenges face us, but the same commitments…and hope…remain.

Mike Patin is a highly regarded and sought after youth ministry speaker, trainer, and consultant. Since 1984 he has served as a high school religion teacher, campus minister and assistant coach, as well as the director of the CYO/Youth Ministry Office for the Archdiocese of New Orleans from 1990-2003. Mike holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University of the South in New Orleans. He also has received a Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies from the Center for Ministry Development and a Certificate of Advanced Studies in Pastoral Life and Administration from Loyola University.

Sunday, December 3—Sr./Dr. Jamie Phelps, O.P.

Light on the Horizon

Hoping in the midst of hopelessness is a traditional religious virtue that has abounded in the African American Community whose collective “desert experience” is an historical time line: Middle Passage, slavery, lynching, segregation, civil rights struggle…and Hurricane Katrina. At the same time we are a people of ever-renewing hope who survive and thrive because of the love of Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God present and manifest in our midst. We are a people who “are able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us.” (Ephesians 3: 20)

Sr. Jamie Phelps has been a member of the Adrian Dominican Congregation since 1959. She has more than forty years of public ministry in the Roman Catholic Church and in the wider community as a theologian, scholar, author, educator, pastoral ministers, liturgist, preacher, spiritual and retreat director, social worker, and administrator. She currently is the Director of the Institute for Black Catholic Studies and Professor of Systematic Theology at Xavier University in New Orleans, LA.

Also Featuring...

ValLimar Jansen—Presider, Friday Afternoon General Session

Sponsored by Oregon Catholic Press

ValLimar Jansen is a highly regarded singer, cantor and recording artist. She is also a college professor, a leader of worship and prayer, and a workshop presenter at conferences across the United States. She trained as a fine arts major at Howard University, in Washington, D.C., and completed her B.A. at California State University, San Bernardino. She completed her master's at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she is working on a Ph.D. in dramatic arts.

 

J ManibusanJesse Manibusan—Emcee

Sponsored by Oregon Catholic Press

Jesse Manibusan is a popular singer, songwriter, storyteller and eager witness of faith to young and old alike. Well known throughout the country for his gifted blend of story, humor and song, Jesse brings his unique message of compassion and grace to every venue and person he encounters.