Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila was ordained to the priesthood in 1976, and served in parish ministry in the Archdiocese of Denver for eleven years.  He served the Archdiocese as Co-director for Continuing Education for Priests and as an advisor for the Bishop’s Committee on the Liturgy.  He was Secretary for Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Denver from 1995 until 1999.  He then served as the first Rector of St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver and Chief Executive Officer of Our Lady of the New Advent Theological Institute. He was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Fargo in 2001.  He succeeded to the See in March 2002, upon the retirement of Bishop James S. Sullivan. Bishop Aquila serves on the Bishops’ Advisory Council for the Institute for Priestly Formation.  He has served as a member of various United States Conference of Catholic Bishops committees.  

FR. ANDREW APOSTOLI, CFR

Fr. Andrew Apostoli is a member of the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.  Bishop Fulton J. Sheen ordained him a priest in 1967.  He has been active in teaching, preaching retreats, and in giving spiritual direction.  He is an adjunct faculty member of St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie, NY.  In his community, he has served as Community Servant and Novice Director.  In 1988, he helped found the Franciscan sisters of the Renewal.  Fr. Apostoli is presently active in producing videotapes, especially for his TV series on EWTN, and audiotapes on various topics related to the spiritual life.  He has written numerous books and pamphlets, and is also writing regularly for Envoy and Soul magazines.  Currently, he is serving as a Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Canonization for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

FR. JOSEPH CHRISTENSEN

Fr. Joseph Christensen is the 8^th of twelve children, born in Essexville, MI.  He joined the Franciscan Friars immediately after High School.  He attended Kings College of the University of Western Ontario where he earned his B.A. in philosophy in 1990.  He graduated with a M. A. in Scripture and a M. Div. in 1995.  In 1996, he was invited by Bishop James S. Sullivan to the Fargo Diocese where he helped run and teach at an all-boys boarding school.  He was ordained in 1997.  Father is now parochial vicar at the Cathedral of St. Mary in Fargo.

Fr. Benedict Groeschel is the Director of the Office for spiritual development of the Archdiocese of New York.  He founded and is on staff of Trinity Retreat.  Fr. Groeschel is professor of pastoral psychology at St. Joseph's seminary.  He has published numerous books and tapes on spirituality and pastoral counseling.

REV. MSGR. ROBERT LALIBERTE

Msgr. Robert Laliberte was born in Fargo, ND in 1946--the eldest of seven children.  He was ordained to the Priesthood for the Diocese of Fargo on Dec. 2, 1973.  He received his Doctorate in Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome in 1996.  He was named Prelate of Honor by Pope Benedict XVI, Oct. 7, 2006.  Msgr. Laliberte has taught at North Dakota State University, Cardinal Muench Seminary, the University of Dallas, and F-M Communiversity.  He has also taught in the Deacon formation programs since 1978, and has assisted in liturgical formation. He has given numerous retreats, written papers and publications.  Msgr. Laliberte has a reading knowledge of Latin, New Testament Greek, Biblical Hebrew, French, Italian, and German.

FR. CLEMENT J. MACHADO, SOLT

Fr. Clement Machado was born in British Columbia, Canada and raised in Montreal, Canada.  He served as Parochial Vicar and Parochial Administrator in Ottawa, Canada.  He is a member of the Society of Our Lady of The Most Holy Trinity, and was former Vice-Rector of his community’s seminarians in Rome, Italy.  Fr. Machado is involved with Vatican Radio, and has presented a series of television programs on EWTN based on St. Pio of Pietrelcina and Purgatory.  He has also presented a series on Christian morality for the EWTN radio network WEWN.   Fr. Machado promotes healing of the whole person, body, mind, heart, and soul through intercessory prayer and the ministry of Sacramentals and the Sacraments, particularly the Sacraments of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Confession.  Father pursues his international evangelization ministry on five continents through preaching, teaching, retreats, parish missions, conferences, days of recollection, Bible study and healing of the family lineage.  He is currently based in Rome, Italy.

MOTHER ADELA GALINDO, SCTJM

Mother Adela Galindo was born in Leon, Nicaragua. In 1990, she founded the Religious Institute of sisters “Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary” in the Archdiocese of Miami.  Mother Adela has dedicated her life to the arduous task of forming the hearts of men, women, youth, religious, priests, couples, families, the Spiritual Family of the Pierced Hearts, to be witnesses of authentic love…of responsible love.  She teaches many to walk simply and courageously the path of love.  This mission has taken her to many countries to teach and witness to the Potency of love and to the Splendors of the Treasures of the Church. The motto of her religious community: “All for the Heart of Jesus through the Heart of Mary”.

SR. M. TIMOTHEA ELLIOTT

Sister M. Timothea Elliott was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She is a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan. Sister received her doctorate in Sacred Scripture (S.S.D.) from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy. She taught at the Pontifical Biblical Institute and at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1984 to 1991. She returned to the United States in 1991 and taught Sacred Scripture at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Dunwoodie for eight years. In 1999 she went to Denver, Colorado and taught Scripture at St. John Vianney Seminary for eleven years. At the present time, Sister M. Timothea is Director of Christian Formation for the Diocese of Knoxville, TN.

DR. RAY GUARENDI

Dr. Ray Guarendi is a father, clinical psychologist, author, public speaker and radio host. His radio show "The Doctor Is In" can be heard weekdays. Dr. Ray's experience includes school districts, Head Start programs, mental health centers, substance abuse programs, inpatient psychiatric centers, juvenile courts, and a private practice. Dr. Ray has been a regular guest on national radio and television, including Oprah, Joan Rivers, Scott Ross Prime Time, 700 Club, Gordon Elliot, and CBS This Morning. He's appeared on regional radio and television shows in over 40 states and Canada. He has been the program psychologist for Cleveland's Morning Exchange, Pittsburgh 2-Day, and AM Indiana. He has written several books, including Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime, You’re a Better Parent Than You Think!, now in its twenty-fifth printing, Back to the Family, Good Discipline, Great Teens, and his newest book, Adoption: Choosing It, Living It, Loving It.

Dr. Edward Sri is professor of Theology and Scripture at Augustine Institute in Denver.  He is the author of several Catholic best-selling books:  The New Rosary in Scripture: Biblical Insights for Praying the 20 Mysteries and The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of the Da Vinci Code (coauthored with Mark Shea).  His most recent book is titled Men, Women and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights on John Paul II's Love and Responsibility.  He also is the author of Mystery of the Kingdom: On the Gospel of Matthew, Queen Mother: A Biblical Theology of Mary's Queenship and Dawn of the Messiah: The Coming of Christ in Scripture, and a co-author of the popular apologetics series, Catholic for a Reason. Edward is a founding leader with Curtis Martin of FOCUS.  He appears on EWTN and regularly writes and speaks on Scripture, apologetics and the Catholic faith.  He holds a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

AL BARBARINO

Al Barbarino is a Lay Apostolate Franciscan of the Padre Pio Shelter in New York, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.  In the past 15 years, Al has recorded 8 albums (CD’s and tapes) of spiritual inspirational music.  He also has a video on “Our Catholic Faith”.  Practically every weekend, he sings and speaks at different parishes throughout the U.S. and abroad for the homeless at The Padre Pio Shelter, orphans of the Croatian/Bosnian War and for the poor of the parish.  Al is married, has 3 children, and works as a counselor in a high-security prison for youth in the South Bronx, NY.

MICHAEL O'BRIEN

Michael O'Brien has made over 20 trips to Medjugorje.  On his first pilgrimage to Medjugorje, Vicka wrote him a message.  The first time Vicka saw him, (March '88) Michael answered the message with the worldwide popular album, Sounds of Medjugorje.  He currently makes a 50-city concert tour each year.  After 400 cities, 60 Marian Conferences, and 1/2 million albums, he has become one of Medjugorje's favorite sons.

BETH WALZ

Beth Walz has worked in Religious Education and the Pro-Life movement for the past 20 years. She is an active member of Holy Apostles Parish in Meridian, Idaho. Beth serves as the President of her local St. Vincent de Paul Conference.  Beth and her husband Tom have three children and two grandchildren.