Advent Retreat Speakers

The Retreat has ended but you can still join below!

The Retreat is self-paced.

This means that you can participate wherever you are and whenever you have the time.

It’s like a do-it-yourself retreat, but you’re not doing alone — we’re doing it with you! We hope you’ll join us.

Patiently Waiting for God

by Fr. Leo Patalinghug

How to Pray: Lectio Divina

by Tim Glemkowski

Seeking & Experiencing Joy Through Our Faith

by Fr. Leo Patalinghug

Impossible Things Can Happen: The Story of Zechariah, Elizabeth and John

by Andi Oney

Choosing Joy

by Mary Lenaburg

The Geneology of Jesus & Why It’s Important

by Deacon Larry Oney

Purifying Our Faith

by Fr. Leo Patalinghug

— Why join the Pray More Advent Retreat? — 

Renew your hope as you wait expectantly & joyfully for God to work in your life and to answer your prayers.

Deepen your faith and pray more this Advent season from the comfort of your own home!

Here’s a preview!

Why Join the Pray More Advent Retreat?

Learn how to have a holy, prayerful and transforming Advent.

Renew your hope as you wait expectantly & joyfully for God to work in your life and to answer your prayers.

Slow down during this busy season and reflect on your relationship with Jesus, and grow closer to Him through prayer.

Deepen your faith and pray more from the comfort of your own home or while you’re on the go!

Father Leo is a priest member of a community of consecrated life, Voluntas Dei (The Will of God). He is the creator and founder of an international food and faith movement called Plating Grace, whose mission is to build relationships, strengthen families, as well as communities, utilizing the power of food. The movement began with one proven concept; the act of sharing meals can help families thrive and bring people together who may have different views or backgrounds. Plating Grace has now reached thousands of people through Father Leo’s pilgrimage around the world to feed people body, mind and soul.

Father Leo is also the founder and chair of the nonprofit group, The Table Foundation, a nonprofit organization with a mission to support to culinary community along with assisting those returning to the community from the prison system. The objective being to assimilate them through a formation process and give them culinary training to obtain skills needed to earn gainful employment.. His unique background as a chef and his previous experience as a two-time black belt martial arts instructor and former award-winning break dancer and choreographer has earned the attention of major media outlets, including the Food Network where he won, “Throwdown with Bobby Flay!”  The mission to see food as a gift from God to nourish your family and to strengthen relationships is making this world a better place one meal at a time.

Danielle Bean is brand manager at CatholicMom.com, an apostolate of Holy Cross Family Ministries. She is creator and host of the Girlfriends podcast and co-host of The Gist on CatholicTV. Danielle is also author of several books including Momnipotent, You Are Enough, and Giving Thanks and Letting Go. She is a retreat leader and a popular speaker on a variety of subjects related to Catholic family life, education, marriage, and motherhood. Danielle has been married to her husband Dan for 25 years and together they have 8 children. Learn more about Danielle and her work at DanielleBean.com.

Deacon Larry Oney is the chairman of HGI Global, founder of Hope and Purpose Ministries, international motivational speaker, host of the “Life and Spirit” podcast, author of Amazed by God’s Grace (published by The Word Among Us Press), Divine Mission:  Discovering Your Hope and Purpose, Reflections on the Kingdom of God, and UP FAITH! God loves a faith that is always looking up!, and co-author of two books. Larry Oney infuses positivity and inspiration into his work and ministries. His dynamic presentation style and message of hope has led to hundreds of speaking engagements across the globe. Over thirty years of experience making critical business decisions while helping to awaken the faith of others has uniquely equipped Larry Oney to present lively, invigorating, knowledgeable, and life-changing presentations. 

The mission of Hope and Purpose Ministries is to participate in the New Evangelization through preaching, teaching, leading retreats, conducting parish missions, and fostering the Baptism of the Holy Spirit using excellent media initiatives thereby offering hope and purpose to all individuals through encouragement and knowledge sharing.Through Hope and Purpose Ministries, the team is working to further the ministry of Jesus to proclaim the Kingdom of God (Matthew 10:7), encourage others that God has a plan and purpose for their lives (Jeremiah 29:11), and to help heal the broken-hearted (John 10:10b).

The Pray More Advent Retreat Preview

The Retreat is self-paced.

This means that you can participate wherever you are and whenever you have the time. 

Our Father Who Keeps His Promises

by Stacey Sumereau

The Messiah

by Fr. Patrick Briscoe

Letting Go of Sin for the Hopeful Life

by Katie Sciba

Awaken the Saint Within You, Part II:
Deepening Your Prayer Life

by John Kinuthia

Eliminating Self-Comparison for Grateful Reality

by Katie Sciba

Embracing Vulnerability to Overcome Pain

by Katie Sciba

Looking closer at St. Joseph this Advent

by John Kinuthia

God is Faithful

by Fr. Patrick Briscoe

Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP

Stacey Sumereau

Full Biographies Below ↓

— Why join the Pray More Advent Retreat? — 

Renew your hope as you wait expectantly & joyfully for God to work in your life and to answer your prayers.

Deepen your faith and pray more this Advent season from the comfort of your own home!

Why Join the Pray More Advent Retreat?

Learn how to have a holy, prayerful and transforming Advent.

Renew your hope as you wait expectantly & joyfully for God to work in your life and to answer your prayers.

Slow down during this busy season and reflect on your relationship with Jesus, and grow closer to Him through prayer.

Deepen your faith and pray more from the comfort of your own home or while you’re on the go!

Katie Sciba is a national speaker, retreat writer, and six-time Catholic Press Award-winning columnist. She holds a degree in theology from Benedictine College, and her work on Catholic minimalism, spiritual intimacy with Jesus, as well as marriage and family has impacted audiences nationwide. Katie writes for Cincinnati’s Catholic Telegraph and has been featured on several podcasts and radio shows. Her humor and honesty enable her to connect well with a crowd.

At home, Katie homeschools her children and plays an active part in her husband’s small business. She and Andrew live with their family in Omaha, Nebraska.

You can learn more about her on her website and on her Facebook page.

Father Patrick Mary Briscoe has recently finished his studies in theology at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. Ordained a priest in May 2016, he presently serves at St. Pius V parish in Providence, Rhode Island. He has two younger sisters–who are twins–and thus has no fear of picking fights, even when he’s outnumbered! 

Fr. Patrick graduated from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, where he majored in philosophy and French literature. Since joining the Dominican Order, he has served in campus ministry, as an intern at the Archdiocese of Washington, as a missionary in Kenya (alongside the Missionaries of Charity), and at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC. Following his ordination to the priesthood, he worked on special assignment for the Knights of Columbus in Krakow, Poland, as an organizer at the World Youth Day Mercy Centre.

John Kinuthia is a Catholic Speaker and Retreat Presenter who inspires people to live their faith fully alive. In his ministry, John is dedicated to helping every person Awaken the Saint Within.

John is also the Director of Cornerstone Impact, a professional training and coaching company that facilitates engaging and highly impactful personal growth and professional development programs to strengthen teams, improve relationships and increase productivity.
​
He was born and raised in Kenya and is the 2nd of 7 children. In Kenya, he was involved in many aspects of his Catholic Faith including a member of a ‘Small Christian Community’, Catholic Youth Leadership, and a member of VIDES Kenya, a volunteer organization that serves underprivileged children in the Nairobi Area, which is where he met his wife.

In 2012, John came to the US to reunite with the love of his life and pursue his dreams. John enjoys spending time with his family. He and his wife are blessed with 3 beautiful boys; Joey, Caleb and Leo.

Stacey Sumereau was a touring Broadway singer and dancer in classic hit shows The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast. Stacey toured 43 States and nearly every province of Canada before discovering that God was calling her away from the competitive world of theatre.

She was sought by cameras to be featured on the Reality TV Show The Sisterhood: Becoming Nuns as one of five young women discerning a religious vocation. Although she discerned that God was calling her to marriage and motherhood, Stacey’s discernment experience sparked a call to encourage other young people to let God guide their life choices and to live out of their God-given dignity.

Stacey uses her unique talents of singing, humorous storytelling, and even fire-eating! She has spoken at the National Catholic Youth Conference, the LA Religious Education Congress, and dioceses and parishes across the Country. She hosts the popular Catholic podcast Called and Caffeinated. You can find her online at staceysumereau.com, and on social media @staceysumereau.