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The presentations from the speakers who presented at the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress and information about them can be found below.

Dr. Edward Sri is a well-known Catholic theologian and author who speaks to tens of thousands of people around the world each year.  He is the founder with Curtis Martin of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), where he currently serves as Senior Vice President of Apostolic Outreach.  His best-selling books include No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk through Christ’s Passion; Walking with Mary; Who Am I to Judge? – Responding to Relativism with Logic and Love; and Into His Likeness: Be Transformed as a Disciple.  He is host of the acclaimed film series Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained and presenter of several film series including A Biblical Walk through the Mass; Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother; and Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John.  Dr. Sri leads pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land each year and is host of the weekly podcast “All Things Catholic.”  He holds a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and is an adjunct professor at the Augustine Institute.  He resides with his wife Elizabeth and their eight children in Littleton, Colorado.

Dr. Sri's Eucharistic Congress Presentations:

Fr. John Riccardo was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996.  In 2019, Fr. John founded Acts XXIX, a Catholic missionary apostolate which equips clergy and lay leaders for the apostolic age in which we live.  Since the ministry’s founding, more than 2,000 priests and bishops have been ministered to during retreats, clergy convocations, and workshops.  Fr. John and Mary Guilfoyle host the podcast "You Were Born for This," and many of Fr. John’s homilies and presentations are available on Acts XXIX website for study, sharing and prayer.  Fr. John is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Gregorian University in Rome, and the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.

Fr. Riccardo's Eucharistic Congress Presentations:

Fr. Luke Spannagel grew up on a farm in rural Illinois and is the pastor of Sacred Heart parish in Rock Island, IL.  He graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Landscape Architecture, then went on to seminary at Mount St. Mary’s in Maryland and was ordained in 2003.  His 19 years as a priest have been full and joyful, including 6 years as chaplain at St. John’s Newman Center at the University of Illinois.  He is passionate about sharing with people the gift of living in Christ and growing together as a family in faith.  Fr. Luke is an official Eucharistic Preacher for the National Eucharistic Revival.

Fr. Spannagel's Eucharistic Congress Presentation:

Steve Ray is a convert to the Catholic Church and the author of three best-selling Ignatius Press books (Crossing the Tiber, Upon this Rock, and St. John’s Gospel).  He speaks at conferences around the world.  He is a regular guest on The Journey Home and has appeared on many other radio and TV programs.  He is writer, producer, and host of the 10-part DVD series The Footprints of God: the Story of Salvation from Abraham to Augustine filmed entirely on location in the Holy Land and surrounding countries.  Steve and his wife Janet are certified guides to the Holy Land and lead pilgrimages throughout the Middle East and Rome.  He and Janet live in Michigan.  They have four children and twenty grandchildren.

Steve Ray's Eucharistic Congress Presentations:

Dave and Lauren Moore have over 15 years experience as Catholic musicians and recordings artists.  They serve as Resident Worship Leaders for the Diocese of Dallas and are founders of the Catholic Music Initiative.  They have a passion for writing, arranging, and performing music to build up the Catholic Church.  They have mentored more than 30 Catholic musicians, serve as music consultants for Catholic parishes and events, and produced liturgical and non-liturgical music for over 50 artists.  We were very excited to welcome them to the U.P. to connect us to Christ and lead us in prayer through music.