Speakers
		Visionary Ivanka Elez                is returning in 2010!.
Click a name to bring up information.

	Most Reverend Tod David Brown  leads our local Diocese of Orange, CA of over 1,000,000 Catholics, assisted by two Auxiliary Bishops. Along with his service to this large diocese, he is a Member of the Pontifical Council on Interreligious Dialogue to coordinate Vatican relations with Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other world religions, serves as Chairman of the United States Bishops' Committee for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs and is a Member of the Orthodox-Roman Catholic Bishop's Dialogue. The Bishop’s motto is, “Come Lord Jesus.” (UP)
	Reverend Joseph A. Amalfitano is pastor of the Immaculate Conception of Lourdes Church in Marcus Hook, PA. He was ordained for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in May 1963. He also serves as Spiritual Director for the Pilgrim’s Peace Center, Crystal River, Florida, which has been active in spreading Our Lady’s messages from Medjugorje. During the Center’s annual Medjugorje Conference in November, Father “Joe” conducts the healing service.  (UP)
	Reverend Patrick Crowley, SS.CC. is a member of the Sacred Hearts Community and resides in Hemet, CA.. He is a member of the Association of Christian Therapists, is actively involved in Healing Light Ministry and has ministered for his Community in foreign countries. As a respected Retreat Master, Father has most importantly counseled women seeking healing from abortion. Father is the Spiritual Director for the Medjugorje Peace Conference and often travels to Medjugorje.   (UP)
	Reverend Timothy Deeter  was born and ordained in Chicago, and has ministered for the past thirteen years in Perth and Sydney, Australia, where he has worked in the areas of liturgical music, vocations discernment, young adult ministry, and the preparation committee for World Youth Day 2008. He is presently the pastor of St Paul’s Parish and chaplain of Edith Cowan University in Perth. Father has been to Medjugorje many times, and spends much of his time promoting devotion to Our Lady and adoration of Our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament.   (UP)
	Ivanka Elez is one of the six Visionaries from Medjugorje, who in June 1981 began seeing Our Blessed Mother every day. On May 7, 1985, she received the last of ten secrets and was told that from now on she would see Our Lady only once a year. Our Lady now appears to Ivanka every year on the anniversary of the first apparition, June 25. Ivanka’s mission from Our Blessed Mother is to pray for families. She lives in St. James Parish, Medjugorje with her husband, Rajko and their three grown children. Ivanka, her husband Rajko and their son Ivan will be with us at the conference. (UP)
	Reverend Joseph Grbes, OFM was born in Rama, Bosnia-Herzegovina. He joined the Franciscan Order in 1986 in Humac and studied philosophy and theology in Sarajevo, Canterbury and London. He was ordained a priest in 1993 at SS. Cyril and Methodius Croatian Parish in New York, and received a Master's Degree in theology at St. John's University. In 2001 he was named Pastor of St. Jerome Croatian Parish in Chicago. Father’s homilies deliver a message straight to the heart that encourages all to respond to Our Lady’s call to prayer and fasting for the conversion of the world. An accomplished counselor, he is an advocate of frequent confession to put the soul at peace, as Our Lady of Medjugorje requests.   (UP)
	Reverend Monsignor Craig Harrison, V.F. is pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Bakersfield, Calif. Since his arrival in 1999 the parish has grown from 1800 to 6900 families. This was brought about by his ardent involvement in the spiritual and social welfare of his parish community, i.e., Marriage Preparation Program, Workshops on Parenting and Relationships, Right to Life, Maternity House, Homeless Center, Habitat for Humanity, Scholarship Fund and many more. Monsignor adopted seven children prior to becoming a priest.  (UP)
	Deacon Alex Jones is a Permanent Deacon in the Archdiocese of Detroit. Until 2000, he was senior minister in Detroit at Zion Congregational Church of God in Christ and Maranatha Christian Church. In 1998 he and his wife, Donna began discovering the truth of the Catholic Church, which culminated with 54 members of his previous congregation, including 14 members of his family entering the Catholic Church. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2005 and now serves at three Detroit parishes   (UP)
	Reverend Monsignor James Lisante is pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Massapequa, NY. He is involved in media coverage that includes appearances on network and public television and a syndicated column that reaches 300 newspapers. Monsignor clearly and staunchly defends Catholic issues including the right to life for the unborn, faith and family relationships and is preparing to launch a new television show for PBS called Close Encounter. He also has authored four inspiring books.  (UP)
	Chris Mattson is the Mistress of Ceremonies for this Conference. Chris holds a Master's Degree in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas. For 17 years she worked for the Diocese of San Diego, CA, including several years as Diocesan pro-life coordinator. Chris has been married to Eric for 36 years and they have three grown children. She made her first pilgrimage to Medjugorje in 1988. Chris has helped with this conference behind the scenes since it's inception in 1990.   (UP)
	Tea Susac was born in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina. She and her husband now live within five miles of Medjugorje. Tea is a graduate of Mostar University and is a professor of English and Croatian languages and literature. She works for Marian Pilgrimages Ireland and Irish pilgrims. In Medjugorje she translates for priests and visionaries. She also translates for the evening prayer program and for MIR Radio. Tea says in Medjugorje, she “discovered a new life, with God, full of love.”      (UP)
	Reverend Rick Wendell is Pastor at Holy Angels Parish, West Bend, Wisc. His vocation came about unexpectedly in Medjugorje where an intimate experience of God’s love led him to respond to God’s call to become a priest. In 2007, after his ordination, on his second trip to Medjugorje, Father was in a disastrous bus accident. He will offer testimony of this accident and his blessed survival along with other pilgrims. Recently, with fellow priests, Father Rick has been conducting retreats for men in both his own and other dioceses. (UP)
MUSIC
	Connie Salazar, of Irvine, CA is an accomplished vocalist and recording artist. Because of her inspirational voice, she is invited to cantor at local diocesan liturgical celebrations and to sing for religious conferences throughout the United States.  Her music has been carried on a variety of Christian radio stations including EWTN, Vatican Radio, Indie Gospel Radio (Internet) and Ireland’s Highland Radio.  Connie will offer a number of vocals at this conference.   (UP)
	Spirit Alive Music Ministry—Lisa and Richard Derleth, Docie and Tony Heim, and Suzie and Michael Wooldridge—are a lively and deeply spiritual music group who perform at churches and conferences.  They offer their music as an avenue of meditation and prayerful contact with God. The group will provide music and song for the conference and liturgies. They have produced three CD’s.    (UP)

This conference is sponsored by the Medjugorje Peace Conference Committee.
Conference organizers recognize and accept that final authority 
regarding apparitions rests with the Holy See.

Last update: 07/21/10
© Copyright 2010 Medjugorje Peace Conference