Nine Day Novena of Hope March 13-21, 2017 Speaker Biographies LENT St. Benedict Catholic Church
Monday, March 13 7:00PM Hope in Prayer: Enhancing Our Prayer Life Guest Speaker: Matthew Leonard Matthew Leonard is an internationally known speaker, author, podcaster, filmmaker, and Vice President of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology (founded by Dr. Scott Hahn). A convert to Catholicism and former missionary to La tin America, Matthew is a frequent guest on radio and television programs across the country appearing on SiriusXM, EWTN, CBS, and the Magnificat. He hosts a podcast on itunes titled The Art of Catholic. Matthew is the Executive Producer and host of the bestselling Journey Through Scripture video series and is a featured speaker by Lighthouse Catholic Media. He also holds a Masters in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. In addition to numerous articles, he is the author of two books, Louder Than Words: The Art of Living as a Catholic and Prayer Works! Getting A Grip On Catholic Spirituality. Matthew lives in Ohio with his wife Veronica and their five children. Learn more about him at MatthewSLeonard.com. Tuesday, March 14 7:00PM Hope and the Saints: Witnesses of Hope Homilist: Fr. Joseph Mullakkara Fr. Joseph Mullakkara is currently a Parochial Vicar at St. Benedict Catholic Church. He is a member of the Missionaries of St. Francis De Sales also known as Fransalian Missionaries. The missionaries are an international missionary religious order founded in France in 1838 by Fr. Peter Mermier, under the patronage of St. Francis De Sales. It is the objective of the Fransalian Missionaries to bring about the renewal of Christian life by preaching parish missions. In November 1990, Fr. Joseph came to Atlanta and joined the community at St. Patrick s Church. In 2000, he joined St. Lawrence, and then was assigned as Parochial Vicar at St. Benedict Catholic Church in 2010. Each Monday evening, Fr Joseph facilitates a study on the Sunday Scriptures as well as a weekly class on spirituality. Wednesday, March 15 7:00PM Hope in Reconciliation Homilist: Fr. Matthew Dalrymple Fr. Matthew Dalrymple is currently a Parochial Vicar at St. Benedict Catholic Church. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but is a long time resident of Atlanta. He received a law degree in 2005 from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, and Dedman Law School at Southern Methodist. After graduation, he practiced law with private firms, and then was an assistant district attorney for Dawson County, Georgia. Father also attended Mundelein Seminary, Mundelein, Illinois, and the Pontifical North American College, Rome, Italy where he completed a licentiate in sacramental theology. He was ordained in 2014, and his first assignment in the Archdiocese before arriving at St. Benedict was as Parochial vicar at Prince of Peace Church, Flowery Branch.
Thursday, March 16 7:00PM Hope in Fasting Guest Speaker: Dr. Gerry Crete & Erin Moore Dr. Gerry Ken Crete earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision with a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy. He is a licensed Professional Counselor and Marriage and Family Therapist with certifications in treating trauma and sexual ad diction. He is the Clinical Director at Holy Family Counseling Center in Duluth and is an AAMFT clinical fellow and supervisor. He is an Assistant Professor in the Mental Health Counseling Department at Argosy University. Dr. Crete is committed to the integration of Catholic spirituality with evidence based mental health interventions. His research has focused on resilience of male survivors of childhood trauma. He helps facilitate diocesan retreats for male survivors of childhood abuse and runs a therapy group for men with sexual addictions. Erin Moore earned her M.S. in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Psychological Sciences, where she received training grounded in holistic, Catholic understanding of the individual and family. She received clinical training at Phoenix House Mid-Atlantic, where she worked with men, women and adolescents in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. Erin has experience working with individuals, couples and groups. She utilizes a variety of treatment approaches including emotion focused, interpersonal, cognitivebehavioral and mindfulness-based therapy. Erin moved to Atlanta and joined Holy Family Counseling Center in 2017. Friday, March 17 5:00PM Hope in the Way of the Cross Guest Speaker: Kat Doyle Kat Doyle is a Certified Lay Ecclesial Minister, Certified Social Justice Ministry Leader and currently the Director of Justice & Peace Ministries for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, including holding positions on various local, regional and national nonprofit Boards. Prior to that, she has worked at the local Catholic parish level as a Pastoral Associate, Director of Parish Life, and Director of Justice & Outreach Ministries, as well as being a Youth Minister for 10+ years. She studied Industrial Design at Auburn University and Theology at Springhill College- Atlanta, and earned advanced Social Justice credentials from The University of Dayton. Kat believes that faith formation is a lifelong journey and she works to inspire all people to move towards greater social responsibility through transformative, relationship-based actions. She is a gifted story teller who shares her global mission experiences and encounters with warmth and affection.
Saturday, March 18 5:00PM Hope in Almsgiving Celebrant & Homilist: Fr. Roy Lee Father Royal (Roy) A. Lee, better known as Fr. Lee, comes from a family of six. He earned his PhD in Education from Colorado State University in 2007 with his dissertation being "Middle School African American Males: Goals, Career Aspirations and High School Retention Factors". In addition to being an ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Fr. Lee served as a priest for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, as well as adjunct professor for Xavier University s Institute for Black Catholic Studies, DeVry University, and St. Leo University teaching a wide range of courses from Sociology and Theology to English Composition as well as African-American History. He is an inspiring and sought after international speaker who, during his long and illustrious career, has served as Chaplain in the U.S. Air Force, led revivals in Japan, Hawaii, and Korea, and he has been involved in outreach ministries for the homeless and those in prison. Sunday, March 19 5:00PM Hope in Our Teens Celebrant & Homilist: Fr. Michael Silloway Father Silloway is currently the chaplain at St. Pius X High School in Atlanta. Raised in Peachtree City, he was inspired by the Christ-like example of his grandfather, who was a permanent deacon serving in parishes and prisons in the state of New York. But he was also attracted to the adventure of flying and hoped to join the Air Force. After graduating from McIntosh High School, he entered the University of Georgia. His dream of being a pilot was short-circuited by partial color-blindnes s. Through the answered prayers of both of his grandparents, he opted to dive into a vocation to the priesthood instead of becoming the best Catholic pilot the military had ever seen. From the University of Georgia, he transferred to Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, after being accepted by the Archdiocese as a priest candidate. After graduation from Franciscan University, he was sent to Rome, Italy, to complete five years of study at the Pontifical North American College. He was ordained a priest for the Atlanta Archdiocese in 2010. Father Silloway also holds a graduate degree in Sacred Theology from the John Paul II Institute in Rome for Studies in Marriage and the Family.
Monday, March 20 7:00PM Hope in Families (Feast of St. Joseph) Guest Speakers: Chad Burbrink & Andy Cook Chad Burbrink has attended St. Benedict Catholic Church for 20 years, briefly as a new transplant to the area in 1997, then becoming an official parishioner 12 years ago when he and his family moved back to the Johns Creek area. Chad and his wife, Doreen, have three happy and healthy boys. The adoption of their youngest was just finalized in November. When they first discussed the concept of becoming a foster family many years ago, they were surprised at the limited information available through the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Now that they have fostered and adopted, their goal is to use that experience to help provide our parish with better resources for prospective foster and adoptive families, and to generate more love and support for families who have already set sail on that journey. Andy Cook is President and CEO of Promise686, an organization that helps churches and families meet the needs of orphans and foster children. Andy began his leadership of Promise686 in 2013 after serving as a founding board member for the previous 5 years. He attended Washington and Lee University, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in English, and received a Master of Arts in Religion from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, with a concentration in ethics. Before coming to Promise686, Andy served in various leadership roles at Wesleyan School, a K-12 independent Christian school. During his ten years at Wesleyan he was the Director of Development and the Director of Admissions. He and his wife, Martha, have ten children and have adopted both domestically and internationally. Tuesday, March 21 7:00PM Hope in Suffering Celebrant & Homilist: Father Flood Father Paul A. Flood is the pastor of St. Benedict Catholic Church. Father is originally from Dublin, Ireland. He attended seminary at St. Gabriel s Retreat, The Graan, Enniski llen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, and All Hallows Missionary College, Drumcondra, Dublin, Ireland. He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Atlanta at All Hallows Seminary Chapel on June 10, 1990. He earned a degree in philosophical studies from the National Council of Education Awards; a bachelor s degree in theology at Maynooth College; a graduate degree in holistic studies at All Hallows College. He is also a registered psychiatric nurse. Father Flood has served in a number of parishes in the archdiocese. Father Flood serves as Dean for Northeast Metro Deanery in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Father Flood has served on the Priest Personnel Board, the Council of Priests and the Committee for the Ongoing Formation of Priests.