Conference Speakers

	Ron & Carole Bergman live in Rockford, Illinois and have been married for 30 years, being married in 1978 after both of their previous marriages were annulled by the Church. They have 9 children, 26 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, which include their stepchildren. Carole is the mother of six and Ron is the father of three. Carole and Ron have been active in the Charismatic Renewal for 39 and 33 years, respectively; both have been prayer meeting and diocesan service team leaders for most of that time. Carole has been actively involved with an inner healing ministry, especially during the early years of the renewal. Ron is the Diocesan Liaison to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of Rockford, Illinois and is presently on the Steering Committee for the Association of Diocesan Liaisons. Carole is a retired Pharmacy Technician and Ron presently works for the diocesan newspaper in their diocese of Rockford.
	Josephine Cachia has been in the renewal for over 20 years. She is currently the Bishop's liaison for the English speaking prayer groups in the Diocese of Brooklyn and Director for the Charismatic Renewal Office there. She was elected to the National Service Committee in 2000 and elected to a second term in 2003. Josephine has been a speaker at Conferences, Women’s' Days of Healing, and Retreats. She was formerly employed in the Health Care Profession as a nurse. She has been married for 36 years to Peter, and they have two adult children and one lovely granddaughter.
	Fr Larry Carew has been involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal since 1971. He is currently the Liaison for the Renewal in the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT. He has recently served on the Steering Committee of the Association of Diocesan Liaisons and the National Service Committee Council. He is the author of a number of healing retreats and most recently "A School of Prayer for the Third Millennium", just released on DVD.
	Dr. Tom Curran is the Executive Director of Trinity Formation Resources, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping Catholics understand, explore and live their faith more deeply. Tom’s dynamic and humorous speaking style make him a popular teacher and conference speaker all across North America. He has given over 1200 presentations to more than 300,000 people in 30 states and six countries. In addition, he hosts a live radio program, Monday through Friday, called “Sound Insight” which airs to a potential audience numbering in the millions. Tom has produced 19 television programs for broadcast nationwide as well as more than 30 formative resources on audio and video. Tom also serves many dioceses, priests, ministry leaders and corporate executives nationally as a coach and consultant. Previously, Tom served as the Director of Evangelization 2000 for North America and the Caribbean. In that role, he helped ministry leaders of Catholic evangelization initiatives around the world to develop and inspire Catholic responses to Pope John Paul II’s call for a New Evangelization in preparation for the Great Jubilee Year 2000. Tom has an undergraduate degree in philosophy, a graduate degree in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome, and a Ph.D. in systematic theology from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Tom lives in Federal Way, Washington with his wife Kari, and their six children.
	Dan Dirkes was raised in the Word of God Covenant Community in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He has served as a Worship Leader for Renewal Ministries’ events, the Camden Diocesan Charismatic Conference and LIFETEEN. He led worship for daily and Sunday Masses at Christian Music Festival drawing 15,000 people from New England from 2002-2003. He is currently a Music Minister in his parish in New Jersey. He is recently married to Caroline Gambale-Dirkes
	Caroline Gambale-Dirkes, an Italian New Yorker, is a dynamic and passionate evangelist. She is the Coordinator of Evangelization at St. Joseph Church in Hillsborough, NJ and the Area Coordinator for LIFE TEEN in New Jersey and Eastern, PA. Caroline is a 1993 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville with a bachelor’s degree in Theology and Psychology. She has been active in youth ministry and evangelization for 16 years and served one of these years with the National Evangelization Teams. Caroline is an international speaker with a passion to proclaim the Gospel and help others be effective evangelists for Christ.
	Fr. John Gordon was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Newark in 1988. He has been active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal since 1975. He has served in various local, regional, national and international ways. Currently he is Vice-Chair of NARSC (North American Renewal Service Committee) an ecumenical umbrella group, and was a member of the NSC Council from 2001 until 2003. In January of 2003 he was elected a member of the National Service Committee. Fr. Gordon has been a speaker at a variety of Catholic charismatic conferences throughout the country as well as Steubenville High School Age Youth Conferences. He is a doctoral student at Fordham University, Graduate School of Education. Currently Fr. Gordon works as the Assistant Director of the Pre-Theologate Program at Franciscan University of Steubenville.
	Fr. Bob Hogan, BBD is one of the founding members of a new charismatic and Marian religious community called The Brothers of the Beloved Disciple. He was formerly a member of the Society of Mary. He holds a Master of Divinity, an MA in Theology and did doctoral studies in Marian Theology. He became involved in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in 1970 while in high school. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1983. He was Archdiocesan Liaison for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Cincinnati from 1989 – 1996. From 2000 – 2006 he served as Pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Church in San Antonio. He currently serves as Parochial Vicar there and is also working in the Renewal in the Archdiocese of San Antonio. He was a member of the NSC’s Advisory Committee from 1992 – 1996. He was elected to the Service Committee in January 2007.
	Fr. Richard Loch was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Scranton in 1979. He has recently been appointed Episcopal Vicar for Priests. Fr. Loch became involved in the Charismatic Renewal in 1972 and has participated in numerous prayer groups, Days of Renewal, Retreat Weekends and Conferences. Since 1985 he has been Moderator of the Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of Scranton and Liaison to the Bishop. Fr. Loch was on the Steering Committee of the Association of Diocesan Liaisons from 1995 through 2001, including being Chairman from 1998 through 2001. In January of 2003 Fr. Loch was elected to the National Service Committee. He was re-elected in January 2006.
	Al Mansfield, has served the Church for forty years in teaching, pastoral ministry and administration. He holds an undergraduate degree in history and a Masters degree in theology from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. Al has been a pioneer in the Renewal in the South since 1968, serving as Coordinator of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of New Orleans Office. Since 1972 Al has had the chief responsibility for organizing and managing charismatic renewal conferences in New Orleans which have attracted thousands of people from around the country. He is a past member of the National Advisory Committee and he served the National Service Committee as a "Traveling Timothy" for several years. Al is a gifted teacher and has spoken at numerous conferences and retreats around the country. Al is married to the former Patti Gallagher and they have four children. In 1995, Archbishop Francis B. Schulte appointed Al and Patti to be his Liaisons to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and they are recipients of the Papal Medal, Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (For the Church and the Pope).
	Renée A. Marazon is a Catholic author, consultant, workshop, retreat, and mission presenter as well as an early childhood educator who has given educational presentations at local, state, national, and international conferences and Catholic workshops, retreats, missions, and conference presentations at traditional and charismatic catholic events. She is a member of All Saints Parish in Rossford, Ohio serving as a Spiritual Formation Consultant to parish pastoral ministers and committee leaders. She has authored over ten secular publications. Her Catholic publications include: Renewing the Renewal: A Firestorm in the Catholic Church, 2004 MAPS for life; The Catholic Handbook of Child Growth, Development, & Learning, 2003. MAPS for life; and Deliverance Prayer: A Matter of Wisdom, Discernment, and Obedience, 1998. MAPS for life.
	Michelle Moran , together with her husband Peter, is a founder member of Sion Catholic Community for Evangelism. She originally trained as a teacher and taught in a College for 5 years before ministering full time in Sion Community. In 1998, Michelle completed a Masters Degree in Pastoral Theology at the Cambridge Theological Federation. Her Thesis was titled "Leadership and Ministry in Catholic Parishes". Michelle has a lot of experience in Parish ministry. She led the Sion Parish Mission Team from 1985 until 1988 when she took up the post of the Community’s Director of Training, pioneering evangelisation teaching and training. She has a great deal of experience of working full time in the Church, nationally and internationally over the last 25 years; her expertise lies in the areas of evangelism; communication and organisation. Michelle has been involved in Catholic Charismatic renewal from her youth. She had a ‘conversion’ experience and was baptised in the Holy Spirit as a teenager. She has ministered in CCR all over the world as a conference speaker and teacher. Michelle’s first book "Pass It On" (practical hints on sharing your faith) was published in 1990. A second book, "Crossing The Line" (evangelisation in a Catholic context) followed in 1995. Since then Michelle has written numerous articles for Catholic and ecumenical magazines and journals. Michelle is currently Chair of the NSC for Catholic Charismatic Renewal in England and Wales and President of ICCRS, the International Council for Renewal in Rome. One of her desires is to see the next generation of young leaders in CCR trained and equipped for ministry and leadership.
	Jim Murphy was born in Wyandotte, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. While a senior in High School, Jim made a decision to surrender the rest of his life to Christ. This decision had a major impact on every aspect of Jim's life. In 1976 he received his bachelor's degree in Social Work from Wayne State University School of Social Work in Detroit. Since that time, Jim has worked in the Catholic Church in various capacities: As a member of parish pastoral teams; in youth ministry on parish, diocesan, and national levels; religious education; sacramental preparation; parish missions; consultant and facilitator for many groups; and as an International conference speaker. Jim has been extensively involved in Charismatic Renewal and was the chairman of the National Service Committee from 1993-1996. In 1992, inspired by the American Bishop's pastoral letter Heritage and Hope, Jim successfully completed an 18 month, 4,200 mile journey on foot, carrying a cross across America in an effort of prayer and evangelization. Jim has authored a booklet entitled 17 Steps Toward Better Communication With Your Teen. Jim, his wife Susan, and their son John Patrick currently reside in Michigan.
	Aggie Neck has been a leader in Catholic Charismatic Renewal since 1972. She currently is Co-Director at Servant House, a Catholic Charismatic House of Prayer in Marksville, Louisiana. She is also the Chairman of the National Service Committee, a member of the steering committee for the Southern Regional Conference in New Orleans, and the Diocesan Service Committee for the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the Diocese of Alexandria, Louisiana.
	Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR is a Franciscan priest at Franciscan University of Steubenville who has been ordained for 11 years. Presently, he serves the University as the Director of the Study Abroad Program in Gaming, Austria. He was born and raised in Durango, Colorado and has four brothers, one sister and 19 nieces and nephews. He has been involved in the Renewal for over 20 years. He served with the National Evangelization Teams (NET) for one year and FIRE for four years. He has spoken at Charismatic Conferences across the US and Canada. He has produced two CD series of talks: There is Freedom is a series of 6 talks on the spirituality of freedom, and Generation Why which is a series of talks discussing the youth culture. He has a new book that will be released this Easter titled Spiritual Freedom: God’s Life Changing Gift. He is scheduled to return to the U.S. in June.
	Fr Peter Sanders, Orat. is Provost of the Oratory of Monterey, California and Director of New Pentecost Catholic Ministries. He works extensively in the healing and teaching ministries, developing information and training for those called to Spirit-led ministry, as well as prayer, retreats and speaking engagements. His ministry takes him frequently to North, Central and South America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. He is the author of Healing in the Spirit of Jesus: a practical guide to the ministry, as well as numerous tapes and CDs concerning discernment and growth in ministry and the dynamic use of gifts of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Peter holds graduate degrees in Religious Education, Counseling Psychology, and Sacred Theology.
	Sr. Mary Anne Schaenzer, SSND has experienced charismatic renewal since 1968. She served on the steering committee of the Association of Diocesan Liaisons from 1987 to 1993. She served on the NSC Advisory Committee and later on the NSC Council from 1992 to 2002. She was elected to the NSC in 2002. Sr. Mary Anne currently serves as Pastoral Associate for Adult Faith Formation Ministries in a large suburban parish in Burnsville, Minnesota. Her past experience includes teaching, full time work in charismatic renewal, hospital/hospice chaplaincy, pastoral care to the Sisters in her own SSND community healthcare in Mankato, Minnesota and R.C.I.A. coordination
	Marianne Skrobiak is a psychotherapist in private practice in Hales Corners, Wisconsin. She has been in the counseling field for over 20 years and has worked in the areas of Adult Formation and RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) at both the parish and the archdiocesan level. She has a Masters Degree in counseling. Her other experiences include Director of retreats and days of reflection, keynote speaker, spiritual mentor and presenter on a variety of topics. She is both a motivational and inspiration speaker, a woman of the Word, who loves the Lord and shares that love enthusiastically with others. She has designed and presents a six-week series for Divorce Recovery – an opportunity for healing, at parishes in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee as well as a Day of Healing: Beyond Divorce. Marianne serves as the Associate Liaison for the Charismatic Renewal of Southeastern Wisconsin and is a Core Team Member of River of Life prayer group.