Fr. Peter Albano...holds a doctorate degree in Philosophy of Religion and Theology, and a master’s degree in psychology. He specializes in teaching courses in Philosophy of Religion, as well as Theology and its interrelationship with psychology, sociology, natural sciences, education, cultural studies, and humanity and the arts.

John Allen...is the prize-winning Senior Correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter; he is also CNN’s Senior Vatican Analyst and a frequent commentator for other media outlets. He authored five books on the Vatican and Catholic affairs, and writes the weekly Internet column, All Things Catholic.Allen has given hundreds of lectures in various parts of the world.

Sr. M. Lois Best, SND...directs the Ministry With the Sick and Elderly at St. Paschal Baylon. Her experiences, first in living with older and sick Sisters of Notre Dame, along with hospice and bereavement training, led to her current ministry.

Cathy Brudnicki...is executive director of the Ventura County Homeless and Housing Coalition and a St. Paschal’s parishioner. She serves on the Santa Barbara regional pastoral council and the Archdiocesan pastoral council.

Sr. Kathy Bryant, RSC...holds a Master’s Degree in Spirituality from the University of San Francisco, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from Graduate Theological Foundation in Indiana. Sr. Kathy has given workshops internationally and been published in the area of spirituality. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Sr. Kathy has worked and lived in Africa, Ireland and California.

Sr. M. Kathleen Burns, SND...has taught school, been Superior of the Notre Dame Center and given many retreats on spirituality. She received a License in Theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and is the formation director for the Sisters of Notre Dame.

Colleen Cason...as a career journalist and more recently an Internet content creator, Cason dedicates herself to telling peoples’ stories with dignity, with truth and, when possible, with humor. She currently writes and creates multimedia for news organizations, including the Ventura County Star, as well as for businesses and nonprofits in whose missions she believes.

Fr. Jim Clarke...is presently the Director of Spiritual Formation and Chairman of the Spiritual Theology Dept. at St. John’s Seminary. He is also Associate Spiritual Director at the Cardinal Manning House of Prayer for Priests. He holds masters degrees in Counseling and Religious Education, and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Mythology.

Msgr. Craig Cox...is Rector/President of St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. A native of Los Angeles and alumnus of St. John’s, he served six years as Vicar for Clergy in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and from 1992 to 2000 as Judicial Vicar of the Tribunal. He holds a doctorate in Canon Law from The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.

Fr. Steve Davoren...one of eight children, Fr. Steve was originally called to service as a police officer, serving eight years with the LAPD and the LA Sheriff. Fr. Steve was ordained in 1996 at St. John’s Seminary and currently serves as Pastor at Our Lady of the Assumption in Ventura.

Dn. Dick & Franca Dornan...A retired U.S. and World History teacher, Dn. Dick Dornan completed his masters degree in Communication Arts from Loyola University. Ordained a permanent deacon in 1975, Dn. Dick has worked in Baptism Catechesis, RCIA, Detention, and Ministry to the Homebound at St. Jude the Apostle Parish for more than 30 years. Through those years, Franca Dornan, a graduate of Marymont College, ministered at her husband’s side, taught kindergarten. Together they raised five wonderful children!

Marlene Elias...is an accomplished entertainer who has shared the stage with some of America’s biggest names, but all her accomplishments pale in comparison to her relationship with Mother Teresa. A meeting in 1987 led to a deep friendship between the women that inspired Elias to write and record several songs. In her talk, Elias shares first-hand encounters and continues the message of Mother Teresa to “See Jesus in everyone and to be Jesus to all those we meet.”

Pat Esseff...is associate program director of Catholic Charities in Ventura County and a St. Julie Billiart parishioner. Pat is a long-time servant on behalf of the poor in the County.

Dr. Jazmir Fajardo...is an M.D. and holds a doctorate degree in Physiology from Penn State University, but her passion is understanding and sharing her faith. Born in Venezuela, she moved to the United States in 1990 and has been involved in RCIA and Hispanic Ministry. She is currently a professor of Human Physiology and Biology at Moorpark College and a parishioner of St. Paschal Baylon.

MF-06
 

Dr. Paul Ford...is Professor of Theology and Liturgy at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. An international authority of the life and writings of C.S. Lewis, Dr. Ford has taught at Fuller Seminary, Loyola Marymount University, and Mount St. Mary’s College. He is married to Philosophy Professor Janice Daurio.

Sr. Gretchen Hailer, RSHM...with a twinkle in her eye, Sr. Gretchen always takes her learners on a fabulous journey through history and the way our God has spoken to His people over the years. She is an author and catechist practitioner, and holds a Masters in Religious Education from the University of San Francisco.

Fr. Dave Heney...grew up in Thousand Oaks and attended St. Paschal Baylon, where he is now the Pastor. He was ordained a parish priest in 1978 and holds a master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from USC. He is the author of Don’t Tell Me What to Do!, a book on modern moral issues. He is also a leader of the annual Holy Land Tour, now in its fifth year. In 2002, he founded The University Series.

Fr. Leon Hutton...is an Assistant Professor of Church History at St. John’s Seminary. He holds multiple masters degrees and is a Ph.D. Candidate at Catholic University of America. Fr. Hutton is a member of the American Catholic Historical Society, the Pasadena Historical Society, and the Ventura County Historical Society.

Fr. Felix Just, SJ...currently serves at the Loyola Institute for Spirituality in Orange. He is a former professor at Santa Clara University, University of San Francisco, and Loyola Marymount. He holds a Ph.D. degree from Yale University. Fr. Just was born in Berlin, Germany; grew up in Tucson, Arizona; and enjoys hiking and backpacking.

Chris Knabenshue...has been traveling, researching and teaching about the controversial Shroud of Turin since 2000. He combines Catholic theology and philosophy, with diligent research in science, and his passion for acting to share information about the Shroud in a powerfully dramatic presentation. He currently teaches Theology and English at Crespi Carmelite High School.

Fr. David Loftus...a graduate of All Hallows College, Dublin, and Boston College, Fr. David currently serves as coordinator and consultant at the Office of Religious Education in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. He has facilitated the International Forum for Adult Faith Formation and presently serves as vice president of the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership.

Mike Lynch...has been a Director of RCIA for more than 12 years, first at St. Maximilian and now at St. Paschal. He taught at Cardinal Spellman Catholic High School in The Bronx, NY, and has a master’s degree in Religion and Religious Education from Fordham University. His casual style offers an entertaining mix of tradition and trivia, all well rooted in the Catholic faith.

Sr. M. Antonine Manning, SND...has been a Sister of Notre Dame for 60 years. She received her B.S. from Notre Dame College in Ohio, and an M.A. from Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. She taught high school in Ohio and California for 32 years and has lived in Thousand Oaks since 1980.

Mary Lou McGee...currently serves as Pastoral Associate at Our Lady of Malibu, and she directs The University Series adult education program. She is a former adult education and faith formation coordinator for the Los Angeles Archdiocese, a national retreat leader and speaker, Catholic school principal, teacher, and catechist. Mary Lou holds a masters degree from the University of San Francisco.

John Neiman...holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in History from Hardin-Simmons University, a Southern Baptist school in Abilene, Texas. Fr. Neiman became a Roman Catholic in 1976 and was ordained by Cardinal Mahony on February 1, 1986. His close personal friendship with Anne Frank’s father provides Fr. Neiman with unique insights into this famous story and its legacy.

Betty Odello...has been a Professor of Philosophy at L.A. Pierce College for more than 20 years with an emphasis on teaching Bioethics and Critical Thinking. She serves on the the L.A. Archdiocese Commission on Life Issues: End of Life Committee and the Northridge Hospital Medical Ethics Committee. Her education includes courses at Georgetown University’s Kennedy Institute of Ethics and a Master’s in Nursing from UCLA.

George Peate...is the author of Unborn Jesus Our Hope, published in 2006. Over the years Peate has given hundreds of pro-life presentations and many of his articles on pro–life topics have appeared in religious, pro-life and secular publications. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and McGill University, Canada, a former high school teacher, and former Director of the Right to Life League of Southern California.

Maggie Perrone...Director of RCIA at St. Maximilian Kolbe, Rickelmann has a B.S. degree from the University of Michigan, and a master’s degree in Theology at St. John’s Seminary. Her many roles include mother, ER nurse, labyrinth liturgist, parish lector, school volunteer, and soccer mom.

Bob Pisapia...spends time on archaeological excavations in California and Utah, and is the author of three articles on Hopi and Zuni iconography. He retired from Occidental Petroleum Corporation in 2000 and is currently President of the St.Maximilian Kolbe Conference of St.Vincent de Paul.

Fr. Chris Ponnet...is Pastor of St. Camillus Center and chaplain at County-USC Medical Center. He holds a Master’s in Divinity from St. John’s Seminary and is a board-certified chaplain through the interfaith Association of Professional Chaplains. He speaks, writes, and works for peace and justice, and serves on the board for Pax Christi.

Sr. Edith Prendergast, RSC...is the Archdiocesan Director of Religious Education for Los Angeles. Sr. Edith holds a Masters Degree in Theology from Boston College and a Doctorate in Ministry from Claremont School of Theology. An engaging speaker, Sr. Edith covers her subject well with humor, spirituality, and soft-spoken understanding.

Dr. Cecilia Raine-Huckestein...is an educational psychologist who holds an MA in English Literature from the University of Hawaii and a Doctorate in Educational Psychology from USC. She has been an educator for more than 25 years and is a published novelist and author of professional and human interest articles.

Sr. M. Regina Robbins...holds a Master's Degree in Theology from the Gregorian University in Rome and in English from Loyola-Marymount. She has been involved in formation both as novice directress in her community and as Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John's Seminary. Currently she is full-time in spiritual direction, spirituality, scripture and retreats.

Rabbi Morris Rubinstein...graduated as a rabbi and teacher with a Master’s Degree in Hebrew Literature in 1959. He was an Air Force Chaplain in Ankara, Turkey, and Kessler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, where he became involved in the civil rights movement. After Biloxi, he left the military chaplaincy and between 1964 and 1972 he served as the spiritual leader at synagogues in Mattawan, New Jersey, and Scottsdale, Arizona. He then served as rabbi at Valley Beth Israel Synagogue in Sun Valley, California, for 28 years. Now retired and living in Camarillo with his wife, Miriam, he continues to serve by leading Torah study at Temple Etz Chaim in Thousand Oaks on Saturday mornings.

Fr. Joe Scerbo...is a Franciscan Friar of Atonement. Ordained in 1970, he holds a Master in Counseling Psychology from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and a Master in Theology from St. Paul’s College, also in Washington. He holds a Ph.D. in Religion and Personality Sciences from the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley. As a mendicant friar, Fr. Joe goes into the world to minister to men and women where he finds them, to help turn stumbling blocks into stepping stones.

David Shaffer...is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a speaker on a host of topics including marriage and family issues, sacred scripture, theology, and the integration of psychology and faith. He has a Master’s of Divinity from St. John’s Seminary and a Master’s in Marriage Family Therapy from Mt. St. Mary’s.

Dave Shaneyfelt...is a partner with the Ventura office of Anderson Kill Wood & Bender, P.C., where he is engaged in complex civil litigation and insurance recovery in state and Federal courts. He is a former trial attorney with the U.S. Dept. of Justice in Washington, D.C. and is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College and Willamette College of Law. He has also published numerous articles in Catholic, secular and professional publications.

Dr. William Shaules...received his PhD in New Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena in 2005. He also has a Masters of Divinity from Fuller and a Masters of Religious Studies from Mount St. Mary’s College in Los Angeles. He presently teaches in the Diaconate Formation Program for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles as well as at Loyola Marymount University and at Fuller Seminary.

Fr. Joe Shea...is pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Simi Valley. Ordained in 1978, he served as an associate pastor at St. Ignatius of Loyola in Los Angeles and St. John Vianney in Hacienda Heights. He served six years as Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and 13 years as an administrator and pastor of Holy Family Catholic Community in Glendale.

Joe Sikorra...is a man with a vision: to experience and share the joy, comfort, and love of God. This vision is kept in focus by the love of his two sons, both suffering from the same rare and incurable genetic disease. Well known for his song writing and musical performances at The University Series and area parishes, Sikorra is also a therapist along with David Shaffer. Through his own family’s journey in faith, he has experienced struggles and pain, but also the joy and hope that only God can provide.

Dr. Daniel Smith-Christopher...a popular speaker, Smith-Christopher has a master’s degree from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Indiana and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Oxford University, England. He is currently a Professor of Theology at Loyola Marymount University and appears frequently on the Discovery and History channels.

Fr. Alexi Smith...has served as the ecumenical and inter-religious officer of the Archdiocese since 2000. A past president of the inter-religious council of Southern California, he is a recipient of The Valley Interfaith Council’s prestigious Religious Leadership Award.

Mark Stevens...is a managing partner at Sequoia Capital, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Prior to Sequoia, he spent several years in corporate sales and marketing at Intel Corporation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, a bachelor’s in economics, and a master’s degree in computer engineering from USC, plus a master’s in business administration from the Harvard Business School.

Greg Stone...received his master’s in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at the Pepperdine University School of Law, where he met Fr. Scerbo and learned the legend of St. Francis and the Wolf of Gubbio. He is a trained mediator with experience working in the courts and as a media consultant. Greg is the author of the newly-published book “Taming the Wolf: Resolving the Conflicts Ruining Your Life.”

Gerry Straub...is founder and president of The San Damiano Foundation, a Burbank-based Secular Franciscan ministry that puts the power of film at the service of those helping the weak and the poor. A former network television executive, he is the award-winning author of four books and has produced 11 films through the Foundation since 2002.

Fr. Steve Thoma...teaches the craft of Catholic preaching at St. John’s Seminary. In his years of ministry, he has served two parishes, was chaplain/teacher at a high school, director of formation for the Congregation of the Resurrection, and adjunct professor at Kenrick Seminary and Aquinas Institute of Technology in St. Louis, Missouri. Fr. Thoma earned his Masters and Doctorate degrees from Aquinas Institute.

Sandor Vandor...is a holocaust survivor of a Nazi forced labor camp in Austria. Sandor is a retired engineer, widower, volunteer at a Ventura County Medical Center clinic, and writer/speaker about his experience and life of gratitude and forgiveness. He holds a Mechanical Engineer degree from the Technical University of Budapest, Hungary, and a Professional Engineering license from the State of New York.

Dr. Chuck Weber...received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA in 1964 and has since been a member of the electrical engineering faculty at USC. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. A parishioner of St. Paschal Baylon, he is a lector and leads the Thursday evening Genesis-to-Revelation Bible Study.

Char Wenc...has been educating parents and teens with her thoughtful, effective, and often humorous advice on how parents and teens can survive and thrive in today’s often chaotic world. Char holds a master’s degree in Education, is a professor at Loyola University in Chicago and The Adler School of Professional Psychology, and is the mother of two. The author of two highly acclaimed books, “Parenting: Are We Having Fun Yet?”, and “Cooperation: Learning through Laughter,” Char reminds us there is no such thing as a perfect parent – or a perfect child.

Rhett Young...is the Faith and Family Minister at St. Paschal Baylon. He has more than twenty years of experience working with children, parents, and educators as a high school teacher and elementary school principal. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology and philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville and a master’s degree in education from Xavier University, Cincinnati. The father of seven, he is fluent in the love languages of children.

Dr. Andrew Yuengert...is a Professor of Economics at Seaver College, Pepperdine University. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University. He is a former President of the Association of Christian Economists, and currently serves as editor of the journal Faith and Economics. Recent books include The Boundaries of Technique: Ordering Positive and Normative Concerns in Economic Research, from Lexington Books, and Inhabiting the Land: the Case for the Right to Migrate, published by the Acton Institute for Religion and Liberty.

Emma Dunbar...offers up prayers of encouragement, comfort, forgiveness, and mercy in the form of beautiful music, based around Schütz’s “Seven Last Words of Christ On the Cross” and other Lenten themes. Dunbar, who performed at Carnegie Hall in 2008, is a graduate of Westminster Choir College of Rider University, a music conservatory in Princeton, N.J.

“Kevin Stoller and Friends”...is a concert of ensemble music for organ and other instruments featuring Kevin Stoller on organ, Paul Salvo on trumpet, Jennifer Duke on harp, and other artists.

Paradisa!...includes three young artists: Christina Steffen on flute, Blythe Tretick on cello, and Andia Fennig at the piano. Each have extensive performance experience and active careers as soloists, chamber musicians, and collaborative artists with a wide range of musicians and ensembles. In addition to their impeccable classical backgrounds (including multiple graduate degrees through the doctorate), Paradisa! members have performed variously on national tours of Wicked, The Producers, Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Phantom of the Opera. Preview their music at Paradisa.net.

Joe Sikorra...is a man with a vision: to experience and share the joy, comfort, and love of God. This vision is kept in focus by the love of his two sons, both suffering from the same rare and incurable genetic disease. In response to his family’s journey in faith, Joe Sikorra writes songs of struggle and pain, but also songs of the joy and hope that only God could provide.

Facultad de Clases en Español

P. Olivier Bagnoud...nació en una familia católica en Suiza y se graduó en el Instituto Suizo Federal de Tecnología en Zurich donde recibió su Master en Agronomía. A los 22 anos experimento una profunda conversión de la mente y del corazón y le entregó su vida a Jesucristo. Poco tiempo después se unió a la Koinonia John the Baptist, una comunidad de sacerdotes y de hermanos y hermanas consagrados. Allí hizo sus votos perpetuos de pobreza, castidad y obediencia. En el 2003 recibió su licenciatura en teología de la Pontificia Universidad de Teología Marianum en Roma. Luego trabajó como entrenador de evangelizadores en la Escuela Internacional de Evangelizadores de la Koinonia John the Baptist y viajó a través de varios países incluyendo Suiza, Polonia, la República Checa, Alemania, India y los Estados Unidos.

P. Cirilo Bailon...es sacerdote diocesano, de la Diócesis de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca, México desde l993. Recibió su Título en Psicología de la Universidad IberoAmericana en la Ciudad de México y es maestro de Psicología en dicha Universidad. Actualmente está por terminar su Doctorado en Investigación Psicológica.

Rudy Finke...Nacido en Borken, Alemania, Rudy ha trabajado con braceros en Paraguay, universitarios en México y con la población hispana en los Estados Unidos desde 1978. Ha participado en múltiples congresos en: Anaheim, Utah, San Francisco, San Diego, Denver, Miami, Nevada, Houston y más. Pronto tendrá 2 libros listos: Amor Propio, Como Dios Manday Recetario para Mantener el Amor del Ser Querido. Es consejero y director de educación religiosa, con grados en Psicología, Filosofía, Teología y Educación.

Lourdes Gonzalez-Rubio...La Sra. Lourdes es catequista y fue coordinadora de la pastoral hispana para las regiones de Santa Bárbara y San Fernando. Ha sido conferencista invitada en las Diócesis de San Diego, San Bernardino, Fresno y Stockton y ha publicado 3 libros de poesías. Actualmente se desempeña como coordinadora de Ministerios Catequéticos para la Oficina de Educación Religiosa de la Archidiócesis de los Ángeles.

Marco Ramirez...is coordinator of Small Christian Communities for the San Fernando Pastoral Region. At Bishop Wilkerson's request, he also serves as the Coordinator of Hispanic Ministry for the San Fernando Region. A popular speaker on the topic of Evangelization, this is his first season teaching for The University Series.