Paul J. Kim
Paul J. Kim Ministries
Keynote Speaker/Emcee
Paul utilizes his many talents (music, beatboxing, comedy, inspirational talks) to communicate the Gospel message of Christ to people in a way that is engaging, entertaining, and altogether life-changing.
Website
YouTube
Meg Hunter-Kilmer
Held By His Pierced Hands
Keynote Speaker
Meg Hunter-Kilmer is an itinerant missionary and storyteller who travels the world telling people about the fierce and tender love of God. She holds two degrees in theology from the University of Notre Dame, is a Fellow of the Sullivan Family Saints Initiative in the McGrath Institute for Church Life, and has written two books about the Saints.
Website
YouTube
Fr. Casey Cole CFM
Breaking in the Habit
Keynote Speaker
Fr. Casey entered the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) in August of 2011 and was ordained to the priesthood in June of 2019. Fr. Casey has published two books, Called: What Happens After Saying Yes to God and Let Go: Seven Stumbling Blocks to Christian Discipleship. He is the creator of two YouTube channels.
Website
YouTube
Josh Blakesley
Josh Blakesley Music
Musician
Josh Blakesley has acknowledged a simple calling: To make music that moves people into prayer and action. As a songwriter, specifically for liturgy in today’s era, the question that provokes Josh is, ‘how do I create a song that will honor traditions yet speak to the modern Church and lead them to worship?’
Website
YouTube
Amy Davila
St. Rose of Lima
Director of Youth Ministry
Amy has been a youth minister for over 10 years, she is currently the director of youth ministry at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Houston.
Claire McMullin
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Associate Director - Office of Vocations
Claire McMullin comes to the Vocations Office with a varied background. After 7 years of classroom teaching, she was called to lead Confirmation preparation and then to work with young adults taking a group to Rio for World Youth Day. As Campus Minister at University of Houston for 7 years, helping college students draw closer to God and his love for them became a passion that led her to complete her Spiritual Direction Certification and a Masters in Faith and Culture. Claire lives in Sugar Land with her husband of 20 years and 2 doggies along with a few young adults who camp out from time to time.
James Carrasco
St. Michael, Lake Jackson
Director of Faith Formation
Whether he’s fishing, parenting, or leading a youth night…James is probably distracted.
He’s a great example for young people to learn how to grow old without growing up. He absolutely LOVES Catholic Youth Ministry and his crazy-awesome family life. He has a VERY understanding wife and four rambunctious kiddos from 3 to 9 years old. His greatest strengths are his love of Christ and devotion to the Blessed Mother, and his greatest weaknesses are Double-Stuf Oreos and a glass of milk.
Katie Villarreal
St. Faustina Catholic Church
Coordinator of Youth Ministry
Katie is a sinner who is loved by Jesus. She has had the honor and blessing to serve as the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Faustina for the past four years. Katie’s time at St. Faustina, and in ministry throughout her life, has continually revealed to her the reality of the Gospel today. Getting to watch Jesus feed teens that are unafraid to be hungry over and over again has been the greatest privilege of her life. She really likes her family, friends, music, running, and probably you. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science in 2018. Katie is currently completing a Masters in Clinical and Mental Health Counseling at Divine Mercy University.
David Thies
St. Cecilia
Youth Minister
David Thies works full time with Gratia Plena Counseling as a Licensed Professional Counselor. He holds a master’s degree in Theology and a master’s degree in Counseling. Previously he has worked at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church in high school ministry for 12 years. David’s plays guitar (he used to build custom guitars), long boards, and feeds three stray cats. It started as one cat and has gotten out of control. David and his wife have two children on earth and two in heaven.
Claire Aalerud
St. Theresa, Sugarland
Asst. Director of Youth Ministry
Claire has a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management with two minors in Theology and Philosophy. She didn’t grow up going to church until her parents got divorced when she was in middle school. It was through this family tragedy that Claire and her mom found the Catholic faith. A group of her friends started a Rosary club in college and this is where she learned how to pray the “Hail Mary”. Praying the Rosary completely transformed her life. That’s also when she discovered the YouTube channel GabiAfterHours. It would be after college that she would move down to Texas to help with this YouTube channel and to do Youth Ministry. Claire grew up playing a lot of sports including soccer, downhill ski racing, tennis, ballet, cross country and track (2mile & 5K).
Truong Son Nguyen
St. Laurence, Sugar Land
Parochial Vicar
Fr. Truong Son is a Vietnamese priest born in the beautiful country of Vietnam, in a small city called Bien Hoa. He is one of eight children. His family came to America in 1990 when he was 5 years old, for freedom, opportunity, and purpose. God truly has blessed him to be in this awesome country that has amazing sports like baseball, football, and his favorite basketball. He grew up watching the Rockets winning two championships and fell in love. His favorite hobby of course is playing basketball, but he will play any sport. He loves fishing and hunting, to enjoy God's beauty and receive the abundance that he gives. The most awesome thing that He has received in life is God's blessing of faith, family, and culture. They are the reasons that he gets to be God’s chosen hands and feet to help and serve his people. Fr. Truong Son loves his priesthood. It is a true blessing to dance, play, and sing with God’s young church. It is a true blessing to heal, restore, and comfort his brothers and sisters of all ages in the struggles of their lives. There is no luck, all is a Blessing!
The Most Reverend Daniel Cardinal DiNardo
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Cardinal Archbishop
His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo is the metropolitan archbishop of Galveston-Houston and pastor to its 1.7 million-plus Catholics. He is a member of the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, the Pontifical Council for the Economy, and is on the Board of Trustees of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Website
YouTube
Dcn. Viet Nguyen
Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
Deacon
Dcn. Viet is a transitional deacon for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, next summer he will be ordained as a priest to serve the people of our Archdioceses.
