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Courage & EnCourage Annual Conference
July 18 – 21, 2019
Clergy Track on July 17
University of St. Mary of the Lake
Seminary & Conference Center
Mundelein, IL
CONFERENCE PRESENTERS & MASS CELEBRANTS
Liturgy and Belief
Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi is a traditional Catholic principle maintaining that the law of prayer is the law of belief. In other words, the way we pray—especially at Mass—expresses and shapes our faith in Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him as His disciples. What is the divine architecture of the Mass, in which we are invited to participate? What grace does Our Lord offer to us when we pray and prepare to receive Him in Holy Communion? With what blessing, understanding and mission do we go forth, when the Mass is ended?
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Fr. Paul Check was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Bridgeport, CT in 1997. In January 2008, he succeeded Fr. John Harvey as the Executive Director of Courage, a role in which he happily served until December 2016. From 2016-2020, Fr. Check was Rector of St. John Fisher Seminary in Stamford, CT. In August 2020, Cardinal Raymond Burke appointed him the Executive Director of the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, La Crosse, WI.
The Universal Call to Holiness: Jesus Meets the Woman at the Well
Real encounter with Jesus does not begin with our personal sanctity or perfection. It happens in the messiness of life. But once we've encountered Him, the Lord calls us to a life of transformation, conversion and evangelization. How can we, as women, best live out this call?
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Heather Voccola serves as Executive Director of Mary and Elizabeth, an apostolate dedicated to the interior renewal of women. She has a Masters in Theology and a certification in direction through Heart of Christ Spiritual Direction. Heather currently teaches priests, religious, seminarians, and laity through Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Avila Institute, and Stella Maris Network. She serves as a supervisor in the spiritual direction program at St. Meinrad Seminary. Currently living a vow of chastity in the world within an intentional community of female missionaries, Heather has two adult daughters from a prior marriage and one son-in-law, and she will forever be grateful for the vocation of marriage and motherhood.
Fr. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, Ph.D. earned his doctorate in neuroscience from Yale and did post-doctoral work at Harvard. He is a priest of the diocese of Fall River, MA, and serves as Senior Ethicist at The National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia. Father writes and speaks widely on bioethics and medical ethics. Since 2001, he has given several hundred presentations and invited lectures, and participated in debates and roundtables on contemporary bioethics throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
The Spiritual Fruitfulness of Living as Daughters of God
Women have a specific call and mission within the Church to be spiritual mothers. This call and ability flows from the reality that they daughters of God. Far from limiting their fruitfulness, their sufferings can be sources of grace and encouragement for others. This talk with focus on this truth and highlight how living out one’s vocation to holiness brings about joy in this life and eternal happiness in the next.
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Sister Mary Faustina, SsEW is a member of the Sister Servants of the Eternal Word. Sister grew up in Kentucky and joined the community in 2011. She made her final vows in 2019 and currently serves the community as vocation director.
Going Back to ’SCHL’—Retrieving the Sacramental, Catholic, Human, Liturgical Worldview
How the art, architecture, liturgy and ascetical spirituality of the Church provides the integrated blueprint for all of life.
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Fr. Thomas J Loya, is currently the pastor of Annunciation of the Mother of God Byzantine Catholic Parish in Homer Glen, IL. He is also the host of two radio programs; “Light of the East” which can be heard in more than 60 cities across the United States on several Catholic radio networks including EWTN Radio as well as “Beyond the Veil,” heard on Ave Maria radio. Fr. Loya completed his studies for the priesthood in both Pennsylvania and Rome where he attended the North American College earning an STB from the Angelicum University. He was ordained in 1982. Fr. Loya has served the Church in youth and young adult ministry and as an artist and design consultant. He has directed many retreats and has been a guest speaker at several conventions including World Youth Day 2002. Using his background in art, counseling, and Eastern Catholic spirituality, Fr. Loya applies the principles of The Theology of the Body to an understanding of all aspects of the human experience.
Behold the Amazing Gift (cf. 1Jn 3:1)
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A native of Springfield, Minnesota, Fr. Stephen Boyle was ordained a priest of St. Michael's Norbertine Abbey in California in 1990, having studied Philosophy and Theology at the Angelicum in Rome. In view of a teaching apostolate, he obtained a Mathematics degree from U.C. Irvine, while coaching sports at St. Michael’s Prep and helping in parishes on the weekends. In 2000 he was sent back to Rome to work at the Norbertine Generalate where he had lived as seminarian. Before returning to his home abbey in 2019, he obtained a License in Spirituality from the Angelicum.
Father Philip Bochanski, a native of suburban Philadelphia, studied at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1999. In addition to several parish assignments in the archdiocese, he has served as a high school religion teacher, chaplain to cloistered nuns, and a spiritual director for seminarians.
In 2009, Father Bochanski began serving as chaplain for the Philadelphia chapter of Courage International. In 2015 he was appointed as Associate Director of the Courage apostolate, at which time he moved to the Diocese of Bridgeport, where the apostolate is based. He was appointed Executive Director of Courage International at the beginning of 2017 and will continue in that role until June 2023. He will then move to Philadelphia where he will serve as the Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for Archbishop Pérez.
Father Bochanski is the author of six books, five sets of audio lectures, and numerous articles and book chapters, on various topics including church history, spirituality, evangelization and pastoral care. His most recent book, Wisdom of the Desert Fathers: Ancient Advice for the Modern World, was published by TAN Books in April 2020.
Father Bochanski currently serves as a consultant to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage. In December 2019, Pope Francis awarded him the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice1, a medal given in recognition of sustained and exceptional service to the Church.
Leyden Rovelo-Krull is the daughter of immigrant parents who settled in New York City and has worked in both corporate and legal sectors, giving voice to Latino issues through participation in community outreach and organization. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Legal and Policy studies from the Jesuit Fordham University. Mrs. Rovelo-Krull ran the offices of a Latino-founded, international multi-media social platform before following God’s call into religious formation. She taught RCIA and adult faith formation for over twelve years.
Currently she serves as the Director of Hispanic Ministry in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph after leaving her work with a non-profit, bipartisan association. Mrs. Rovelo-Krull spearheads the efforts of many different ministries in the diocese, but calls the parishioner volunteers who make them succeed, the real heroes.
One day she dreams of living full-time in her RV roaming the country and teaching the faith. She lives in Kansas with her amazing husband and wonderful mother. She is plotting how to sneak a puppy into the house.
Dr. Matthew Ramage is Professor of Theology at Benedictine College where he is co-director of its Center for Integral Ecology. His research and writing concentrates especially on the theology of Joseph Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI, the wedding of ancient and modern methods of biblical interpretation, the dialogue between faith and science, and stewardship of creation.
In addition to his other scholarly and outreach endeavors, Dr. Ramage is author, co-author, or translator of over fifteen books, including Dark Passages of the Bible (CUA Press, 2013), Jesus, Interpreted (CUA Press, 2017), The Experiment of Faith (CUA Press, 2020), and Christ’s Church and World Religions (Sophia Institute Press, 2020). His latest book, From the Dust of the Earth: Benedict XVI, the Bible, and the Theory of Evolution, was published by CUA Press in 2022.
When he is not teaching or writing, Dr. Ramage enjoys exploring the great outdoors with his wife and seven children, tending his orchard, leading educational trips abroad, and aspiring to be a barbeque pitmaster. For more on Dr. Ramage’s work, visit his website www.matthewramage.com.
A passionate convert to the Faith, Vicki is an avid reader who loves diving into the beauty and truth found in Catholic spiritual traditions. She has blogged on spiritual reading and sacrifice for over ten years and is the author of How to Read your Way to Heaven: A Spiritual Reading Program for the Worst of Sinners, the Greatest of Saints, and Everyone in Between, and The Lost Art of Sacrifice: A Spiritual Guide for Denying Yourself, Embracing the Cross, and Finding Joy. Her commentary has been featured on such sites as the National Catholic Register, Catholic Exchange and Big Pulpit. Additionally, she has been a guest on EWTN Live, EWTN Bookmark and Women of Grace with Johnnette Benkovic, to name a few.
A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Canon Matthew Talarico was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Raymond Burke in June of 2007 for the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. Canon Talarico studied at the international seminary of the Institute of Christ the King in Florence, Italy. He is currently serving as Rector of the Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago, as well as the Provincial Superior for the Institute’s American Province which includes apostolates in nineteen dioceses coast to coast.
The title “Canon” for the priests of the Institute refers to the specific lifestyle and mission which the Institute of Christ the King has received from the Church. The priests live in community with oblate brothers and chant together various parts of the Divine Office, such as morning Lauds and evening Vespers. The Institute is consecrated to Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception and is inspired by the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales, the Doctor of Divine Charity.
You can learn more about the Institute at www.institute-christ-king.org.
Dr. Timothy Lock is a Catholic father, husband, Franciscan tertiary, clinical psychologist, and educator. He is the founder and director of the Goretti Center for Healing and Forgiveness and full-time Director of Psychological Services at St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie). Dr. Lock also serves on the Board of Directors of Courage International.
In 1990, John founded Emmaus Ministries, an outreach to men involved in prostitution in Chicago. He served as Executive Director of this work until 2010 at which time he and his family moved to Ohio and entered a long period of elder care for John’s aging and dying parents. Our Sunday Visitor published John’s book “Streetwalking With Jesus: Reaching Out In Justice and Mercy” in 2011 and in 2014, the Greens opened Cafe O’Play, a place of respite and fun for families. In 2021 John went on staff with the Evangelical Catholic assisting Catholic parishes in developing sustainable movements of evangelization and discipleship. Carolyn and John were married in February of 1993. For many years Carolyn toured the midwest as part of the singer/songwriter duo “GreenChoby”and released 5 recordings of original music. She has been a singer-songwriter, worship leader, urban missionary, online fitness coach, and entrepreneur. But most importantly, she has been a wife to her husband John for over 29 years and a mother to four children, now aged 20, 18, 16 and 14.
Kathryn Jean Lopez is a senior fellow at the National Review Institute where she directs the Center for Religion, Culture, and Civil Society. She is also editor-at-large of National Review and she is a nationally syndicated columnist with Andrews McMeel Universal. Lopez has been published by a wide variety of publications including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, America, Stars and Stripes, The National Catholic Register, and First Things. She is also a columnist for Our Sunday Visitor’s Newsweekly , and she is on the editorial advisory board of Angelus where she contributes regularly. She co-authored the book How to Defend the Faith without Raising Your Voice and she contributed to the book When Women Pray: Eleven Catholic Women on the Power of Prayer.
Lopez was awarded the annual Washington Women in Journalism Award for Outstanding Journalism in the Periodic Press from CQ Roll Call in 2016 for writing about Christian genocide and persecution. She speaks frequently on faith and public life, at several venues including college campuses, and on radio and television. A product of New York City Catholic education, she serves on a number of Catholic boards and is a member of Cardinal Timothy Dolan’s Pro-Life Commission. At the opening Mass of the Year of Faith in Rome in October 2012, Pope Benedict XVI presented Lopez with a message to women throughout the world.
Full Conference Package…….….$425.00 per person
Includes overnight accommodations (3 nights) and all meals from Thursday dinner through Sunday lunch.
Commuter Package.………………Thursday: $75.00
Includes meals. Friday: $110.00
Saturday: $125.00
Sunday: $55.00
Clergy Track (for clergy only)….……no charge
Special program on Wednesday, July 17. Includes lunch. Free-will offerings gratefully accepted. Lodging may be arranged at the participant’s expense. See online registration for clergy track accommodation options plus full conference rates.
All prices quoted in U.S. Dollars.
Registration deadline is July 3.
Problems registering online? Please contact:
University of St. Mary of the Lake
Conference Center — Registration
1000 East Maple Avenue, Mundelein, IL 60060-1174
+1 (847) 566-8290
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS
Thursday, July 18
2:00 — 4:30 pm Registration
5:00 — 6:00 pm Celebration of Mass
6:00 — 7:00 pm Dinner
7:30 — 9:00 pm Keynote Address:
Praying in Times of Crisis
Fr. Paul Scalia
9:00 — 9:45 pm Welcome for First-Time Attendees
Courage Staff
9:00 —10:30 pm Healing Prayer Service
(with private Confession)
Fr. James Livingston
Friday, July 19
7:00 — 7:30 am Misa en Español
7:30 — 8:30 am Breakfast
9:00 — 9:30 am State of the Apostolate
Fr. Philip G. Bochanski
9:30 — 10:30 am St. Thérèse: The Way of Merciful Love
Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC
11:00 — 11:45 am Celebration of Mass
12:00 — 1:00 pm Lunch
1:30 — 2:45 pm Three Concurrent Sessions:
For Men:
The Truths Hidden Behind the Secrets Men Keep
Mark Houck
For Women: Uncompromising Purity
Kelsey Skoch
EnCourage Members:
Accompanying Family Members Who Experience Same-Sex Attraction
David Prosen
3:15 — 4:45 pm Courage & EnCourage Meetings:
Courage Men – Fr. Fisher, CFR
Courage Women – Yvonne M.
EnCourage Fathers – Fr. Bochanski
EnCourage Mothers – Fr. Leon
EnCourage Spouses – Fr. Ryan, SJ
5:00 — 6:00 pm Free Time
Meeting for Chaplains & Group Leaders
Fr. Philip Bochanski & Courage Office Team
6:00 — 7:00 pm Dinner
9:30 — 6:45 am Eucharistic Adoration
(all night, opening with Rosary)
Saturday, July 20
6:45 — 7:00 am Benediction
7:00 — 7:30 am Misa en Español
7:30 — 8:30 am Breakfast
9:00 — 10:30 am Spiritual Combat & the Grace of Purity
Fr. Raphael Mary Salzillo, O.P.
11:00 — 11:45 am Celebration of Mass
12:00 — 1:00 pm Lunch
1:30 — 2:45 pm Two Concurrent Sessions:
For Men:
Forming and Sustaining Authentic Friendships
Adam Minihan and David Niles
For Women:
Sisters & Friends – Sharing Life’s Joys and Struggles
Mary Rice Hasson
3:15 — 4:45 pm Breakout Sessions
Courage and the Media: How to Proclaim the Good News about Chastity in Today’s Climate – Ann Schneible
Courage Latino – Rossana Goñi (Español)
EnCourage Parents/Courage Men – Fr. Fisher, CFR
EnCourage Parents/Courage Women – Yvonne M.
Fostering Good Relationships With Your Diocese – Karl M.
Married Men Who Experience Same-Sex Attraction – Steve A.
Sports Camp Intro – Darryl P.
4:45 — 6:00 pm Free Time
6:00 — 7:00 pm Dinner
7:30 — 8:45 pm Courage & EnCourage Member Testimonies
9:15 — 11:00 pm Social
Sunday, July 21
7:00 — 7:30 am Misa en Español
7:30 — 8:30 am Breakfast
9:00 — 10:15 am “I have called you friends” (John 15:15)
Fr. Philip G. Bochanski
10:50 — 11:00 am Memorial for Deceased Courage Members and Chaplains
11:00 — 11:45 am Celebration of Mass
12:00 — 1:00 pm Box Lunch
*Simultaneous translations from English to Spanish will be made available*
Transportation & Accommodation
The USML Conference Center will assign rooms for overnight registrants. Registrants will be informed of their particular accommodation arrangements at check-in OR an email will be sent 2 weeks prior to the conference if room assignment is off campus (NOTE: 2 offsite venues only minutes away). Those who are not accommodated at the USML Lodge will be provided with shuttle service to and from their site.
USML Facilities
Wireless internet access
Guest Computers and printer, fax machine, stamps
Laundry machines
Complimentary: Coffee, tea, soda, water, refrigerator, newspapers & TV available in the Living Room anytime
Conference Center Location
The University of Saint Mary of the Lake is located at 1000 E. Maple Avenue in the town of Mundelein, IL, approximately four miles west of Interstate 94. The closest airport is O’Hare International Airport, which is about 28 miles south of USML.
Driving Directions
If you are heading North on Interstate 94: To reach the seminary from Interstate 94, take the Hwy 176 exit and turn right at the foot of the ramp to head west (the ramp loops around). Go approximately 4 miles. Soon after passing Marytown on your right, you will see the signs for the University, which will also be on your right.
If you are heading South on Interstate 94: To reach the seminary from Interstate 94, take the Hwy 137 exit and turn right. Go approximately 3 miles and turn left onto Hwy 21. Go approximately 2 miles and turn right onto Hwy 176. After approximately 2 miles, you will see Marytown on your right. Soon afterwards, you will see the signs for the University on your right.
Car Service Options
With American Taxi, the guaranteed rate from O'Hare to St. Mary of the Lake Seminary is $40. If you need a van for 4 or more passengers with luggage, there is an $8 additional charge for a total of $48. In both cases there is no extra charge for passengers.
There are several ways to order an American Taxi: by mobile app (called American Taxi Dispatch), available on Android and iPhone; by website: http://www.americantaxi.com or call 800-244-1177 (use the automated system, or press 7 to speak to an operator); for airport rides call 847-255-9600.
University of St. Mary of the Lake:
Seminary and Conference Center
The Conference Center at the University of St. Mary of the Lake (USML) Seminary in Mundelein, IL, is one of the finest in the Midwest for gatherings. The peaceful natural surroundings of the campus create an ideal environment for relaxation, reflection, and renewal. Guests can walk through the woods along the three mile road circling the lake or simply enjoy the quiet serenity of the beautiful setting. Courage’s first Mundelein conference was held in 2001. Since then, we have returned often to this picturesque location for our annual gatherings. The centrality of the venue allows many of our members and friends across the country to attend, who might not be able to do so otherwise.
Courageous Friendship:
Inspiring Hope and Renewal
The Courage-EnCourage apostolate is a spiritual community – an international family of friends who support one another, through prayer and fellowship, in living the Church’s teachings. This year, our annual gathering will focus on the theme of friendship and examine how Christ-centered friendships renew our spirits and inspire us to live in hope. A true Catholic community, Courage is made up of men and women of all ages, ethnicities, and backgrounds, drawn together by our shared love of Jesus Christ, the sacraments, and the full teachings of the Church, especially as they pertain to same-sex attraction. Our hope in Christ inspires us to strive for interior chastity — chastity of the heart — as we grow in discipleship, with the support, love, and prayers of brothers and sisters who are companions on this journey. May this year’s conference be a time to strengthen and renew the bonds of courageous friendship as we come together once again in prayer and fellowship, for mutual edification and personal reflection. Together, our community will continue to pray for ever-deepening union with our Lord Jesus Christ in whom is our hope, joy, and salvation.