Mary Rice Hasson, J.D.
Mary Rice Hasson, is the Kate O’Beirne Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., where she directs the Catholic Women’s Forum, a network of Catholic professional women and scholars. Mary is also co-founder of the Person and Identity Project, an initiative that equips parents and faith-based institutions with the resources they need to counter gender ideology and promote the truth about the human person. An attorney and policy expert, Mary has been a keynote speaker for the Holy See during the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, addressing education, women and work, caregiving, and gender ideology. Mary and her husband Seamus Hasson have seven grown children, and one granddaughter.
Sr. Bethany Madonna
Sister Bethany Madonna, SV, was raised in Melbourne, FL. While attending the University of Central Florida, she had a profound encounter with the Lord, which drew her heart toward the vulnerable unborn and their mothers. After her graduation in 2006, she worked for the Respect Life Office for the Diocese of Orlando before joining the Sisters of Life in 2007. Immersed in Eucharistic prayer within a vibrant community life, the Sisters' missions include caring for women who are pregnant and in crisis; accompanying college students on campus; inviting those suffering after abortion to receive the healing mercy of Jesus; intercessory prayer; retreat works; and fostering a culture of life through evangelization.
Sister Bethany made her final vows in 2015, and serves as the local superior and mission coordinator in Phoenix, where the Sisters accompany vulnerable pregnant women and also have a ministry of presence and evangelization on ASU Tempe’s campus. She is passionate about sharing the message of life and love.
Fr. Sean Kilcawley, STL
Since 2014, Fr. Sean Kilcawley, has served as the Director of the Office for Family Life in the Diocese of Lincoln. Fr. Kilcawley has focused his efforts on diocesan initiatives to prevent early exposure to pornography, and resources of intervention and healing for those affected by pornography. In 2019 he completed certification as a Pastoral Sexual Addiction Practitioner through the International Institute for Trauma and Addictions Professionals.
Fr. Ricardo Pineda, CPM
Fr. Ricardo was born into a Catholic family of both Salvadoran and Mexican descent and is a native of San Diego, California. He joined the Fathers of Mercy as a postulant in July of 2008 and, following his one-year novitiate, he professed his first year of temporary vows of Obedience, Poverty, and Chastity on August 14, 2009. He graduated from Holy Apostles College and Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Fathers of Mercy in May of 2013. For three years, he served as an associate pastor of four small parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville. In June of 2016, he was reassigned to the Fathers of Mercy Mission Band. He also currently serves as the community’s Treasurer General.
Fr. Malachy Joseph Napier, CFR
Fr. Malachy is originally from Georgia, the second oldest of eight children in the family – six boys and two girls. In 2008 he joined the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, making his final vows in 2014, and being ordained to the priesthood just last year in May of 2020. During seminary he focused his studies on the anthropology of John Paul II and Edith Stein, which culminated in writing a thesis on the topic of sexual identity and gender ideology from the Catholic perspective. In his final year of seminary, he was blessed to work with Courage and receive formation and experiences that have shaped his priesthood already. Currently he serves in the CFR's mission in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, where his principle work is with youth and prisoners.
Deacon Patrick Lappert, MD
Patrick W. Lappert, MD, is chaplain for Courage in the Diocese of Birmingham and divides his time between his private practice of plastic surgery and serving as deacon at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church in Decatur, Alabama. Deacon Lappert was raised in a Jewish home, but lived most of his adult life as an atheist. He converted and was received into the Catholic Church in 1995. As a certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Dr. Lappert established the Craniofacial Reconstructive Surgery Unit, as well as the Wound Care Center for the largest medical-treatment facility in the world. A veteran of the Naval Service, he retired with the rank of Captain, USN, after serving for twenty-four years. He also served for three years with the United States Marine Corps, flying in the F4 Phantom with VMFA-451. Deacon Lappert has been married to Patrice Ann Oberst for thirty-four years. They have six grown children.
Dr. Greg Bottaro
Dr. Greg Bottaro is a Catholic Psychologist who directs the CatholicPsych Institute and developed Catholic Mindfulness. Before getting his doctorate, he spent four years living as a Franciscan Friar. Under the mentorship of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, he formed a spirituality based on Abandonment to Divine Providence which he now applies to psychological principles in his practice. Dr. Bottaro ultimately discerned a call to family life; he and his wife Barbra have been married for eight years, and they now have six children.
Dr. Christopher Gross
A native of Virginia, Dr. Christopher Gross earned his B.A. in political science and religion from Hampden-Sydney College. After completing his M.T.S. at Harvard Divinity School, he earned his Ph.D. from Catholic University of America. Dr. Gross is currently an assistant professor at Divine Mercy University, where he teaches courses in theological anthropology and virtue ethics. His research has appeared in academic journals such as The Catholic Bioethics Quarterly, The Journal of Moral Theology, and The Journal of Psychology and Theology. His current research interests are in the area of Thomistic virtue ethics, bioethics, and marriage formation. He resides in Manassas, VA, with his wife Jennifer and their seven young children.
Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR
Fr. Glenn Sudano is one of the eight Founding Members of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal which has been granted Pontifical Recognition on June 13, 2016. During the formative years of the Community, Fr. Glenn served as vocation director, novice master, and as community servant (Superior). He continues to serve the community and others through spiritual direction, pastoral counseling, spiritual deliverance ministry, preaching at parish missions and other forms of evangelizing. He has appeared on EWTN, Relevant Radio, MaryTV of Medjugorje, and at Marian Conferences.
Sr. Helena Burns, FSP
Sr. Helena Burns is a member of the Daughters of St. Paul. She is a movie reviewer for The Catholic Channel--Sirius XM and she wrote and directed a documentary on the life of Blessed James Alberione: www.TheMediaApostleFilm.com. She is also a co-producer on www.The40Film.com. Sister has written a Theology of the Body curriculum and her daily book for women is "Draw Near to Jesus" (revised version of "He Speaks To You," coming out Fall, 2020). She is a dual citizen, Canada/USA: an international woman of mystery.