2020 Adult Rally - Meet the Speakers
Theme: "Jesus, Light of the World"
Ralph Martin is president of Renewal Ministries, an organization devoted to Catholic renewal and evangelization. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome and is a professor and the director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit. He was named by Pope Benedict XVI as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization and was also appointed as a “peritus” to the Synod on the New Evangelization in October of 2012. Ralph and his wife Anne have six children and sixteen grandchildren and reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Television: The Choices We Face
Books: “The Urgency of the New Evangelization: Answering the Call”, Author. “The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints”, Author. “Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization”, Author.
While attending University, Christy Dupuis had a powerful encounter with Jesus and fell in love with her Catholic faith. After completing a B.A. in English she went on to serve as a lay missionary with Catholic Christian Outreach. While serving as a missionary Christy began speaking at conferences and retreats and leading workshops on a variety of topics. Her passion for evangelization and communicating the Gospel continues to drive her service to the church.
Christy is married to Daniel and the mother of four young children who challenge and inspire her. Believing that the parish is instrumental in evangelization efforts, Christy serves as a member of the Pastoral Team at her local parish where she co-labours with her pastor and others to form disciples and provide opportunities for all men and women to encounter Jesus. Christy has rejoined CCO to serve, once again, as a lay missionary; this time, as a Parish Missionary and consultant helping to equip and train leaders for the renewal of parishes and their communities. Read more about Christy Dupuis
Monsignor Gregory N. Smith is pastor of Christ the Redeemer Parish in West Vancouver and the director of the Archdiocese of Vancouver’s first formation program for permanent deacons. He studied canon law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., from which he graduated with a licentiate, and in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, from which he received a doctorate degree. His doctoral thesis, The Canonical Visitation of Parishes: History, Law, and Contemporary Concerns, was published by the Tesi Gregoriana in 2008. He is a priest of the Archdiocese of Vancouver, and has served as its Chancellor, Episcopal Vicar, and Moderator of the Curia. Read more about Monsignor Gregory Smith
Father James Mallon is the Episcopal Vicar for Parish Renewal and Leadership Support for the Archdiocese of Halifax-Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. Although, now former pastor of Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax, he still is very much a part of this faith community. Father James is also the author of the best selling book “Divine Renovation: From A Maintenance To A Missional Parish”, an engaging guide for parishes seeking to cultivate vibrant and dynamic faith communities centred on missionary discipleship. In 2016, Father James also authored “the Divine Renovation Guidebook”, a step by step manual for transforming a parish. In 2019, Fr James co-authored the book, “Unlocking Your Parish” with Ron Huntley an inspiring and practical read on Alpha as a powerful tool for evangelization and discipleship. Read more about Fr. James Mallon