Dr. Margarett A. Schlientz, Conference Chair, has a masters degrees in theology (Marquette University), and spirituality (Creighton University), psychiatric nursing (University of Maryland) and a doctorate in Psychiatric nursing (University of Pittsburgh). In her professional career as a university administrator and teacher (Marquette University) she has developed the integration of the psychological and spiritual relationship necessary for human growth and development. With her professional expertise she works as a national consultant as an agent of change affecting the internal culture within the health care system. Because of the value integration for human growth she has consulted with numerous religious communities and diocese. Presently in addition to her work with health care systems she is the Assistant Director at the Institute for Priestly Formation at Creighton University where she teaches and ministers to diocesan seminarians in an intensive ten week spiritual renewal program each summer. Committed to the ministry of healing she has taught numerous workshops throughout the world aiding clergy and laity in the ministry of healing and deliverance. Presently she is part of the team with the Institute training diocesan priests in a three year program in spiritual direction integrating the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola.
Msgr. John Esseff. Msgr’s background is extensive with Masters degrees in Semitic Languages (Catholic University, Religious Education and Counseling (Marywood University) and a Doctorate in Ministry (Aquinas Institute, Dubuque, IA). His pastoral ministry has covered a myriad of needs serving the poor and destitute from the streets to prisons, homeless, handicapped in the Scranton area, Lebanon and Peru. He was pastor at numerous parishes in his diocese. Having served on numerous boards as consultant and advocate to interfaith groups, farm workers, prison chaplains, migrant workers, elderly etc. For two years he was director of the Pontifical Mission in Beirut, Lebanon. He also served as Director of the Propagation of the Faith and as Moderator for the Enthronement of the Sacred Heart in Scranton. He has received numerous awards and honorary degrees. Pope John II awarded him the Prelate of Honor award in 1983. Recently he responded to a need of Bishop Samuel Aquila to help develop a formation program for seminarians at Cardinal Meunch Seminary in Fargo, ND. He has returned to the Diocese of Scranton where he continues in his role as spiritual director and exorcist for the diocese.
Rev. Dennis D. McManus is on the faculty of Georgetown Univ, Washington, DC. Fr. McManus received his bachelor’s degree in Classical Languages and Philosophy from St. Mary’s College of California. He completed a Master’s degree in historical ethics at Georgetown University and a doctorate in historical theology (patrology) at Drew University. Together with Rabbi Leon Klenicki of the Anti-Defamation League of New York, he is co-editor of a forthcoming series from the Stimulus Foundation entitled, The Word Set Free: Preaching the Lectionary Free of Anti-Judaism. He is also a founding member of the board of the Institute for International Criminal Investigation, which examines forensic evidence of genocides world-wide. He served as Associate Director of the Secretariat for the Liturgy at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops from l997 to 2005. From 2005-2006, Fr. McManus was Director of the Intercultural Forum for Studies in Faith and Culture at The Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., where he also held the Smilow Chair in Catholic-Jewish Relations. In 2006-7, he was Associate Professor at Conception Abbey Seminary in Missouri. . He serves as Managing Editor of Paulist Press’ Ancient Christian Writers series, a patristics publication of nearly sixty volumes.
Fr. Philip Scott, F.J. was born January 26, 1960. He was ordained in the Diocese of St. Petersburg, Florida on May 6, 1989. On April 1, 1998 he was given permission to begin a community called the Family of Jesus. Their charism is to heal the family. Fr. Philip is now in Puerto Maldonado, Peru.
He is publishing a book on healing the father wound.
Paul Thigpen, PhD is the editor of TAN Books. An award-winning journalist and best-selling author, he has published forty-two books. His work has been translated into twelve languages and circulated worldwide.
Thigpen graduated from Yale University in 1977 summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, with Distinction in the Major of Religious Studies. He attended Emory University in Atlanta, where he earned an M.A. (1993) and a Ph.D. (1995) in Historical Theology.
In 2008 Thigpen was appointed by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to their National Advisory Council for a four-year term. He has served the Church as a theologian, historian, apologist, evangelist, and catechist in a number of settings, speaking frequently in Catholic and secular media broadcasts and at conferences, seminars, parish missions, and scholarly gatherings. He has recently published the book “Manual of Spiritual Warfare”.
Fr. Martin Pable O.F.M. Cap is a priest-psychologist who has been active in Capuchin ministries for many years. He is well known as a preacher for retreats and workshops, and as a spiritual director. One of his special interests is evangelization. He has developed a number of programs for parishes. He has four books in print: “The Quest for the Male Soul”, “Prayer: A Practical Guide, Remaining Catholic: Six Good Reasons to Stay in an Imperfect Church” and “Catholics and Fundamentalists: Understanding and Response”. A fifth book soon to be republished: “Reclaim the Fire: A Parish Guide to Evangelization”. He will speak on Franciscian Spirituality.
Fr. Ambrose Mary Little, O.P. will speak on Dominican Spirituality, more a way of life than a set of practices. We will look at how the life of prayer forms us to proclaim the Word and then we will look at how the confraternities of the Order of Friars Preachers, the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, the Confraternity of the Angelic Warfare, and the Confraternity of the Holy Name give the faithful a partricipation in the life of preach;ing through an apostolate of prayer and example.
| CONFERENCE TEAM: | Msgr. John Esseff, Rev. Carl Schmidt, C.Ss.R, Dr. Margarett Schlientz, Conference Chair; Tom & Rosalie Hersil, co-chairmen, Tina & Lisa Hersil, Ginny Kopp., Doris Kresheck, Sr. Marilyn Metz, Chris Nault. | ||||||||
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| Dr. W. Joseph Schlientz Technical Director | Tom & Rosalie Hersil, co-chairmen | Tina & Lisa Hersil | Doris Kresheck |
Joe Received his MS in Chemistry at Georgetown Univ. and his PhD in Chemistry at University of Georgia. He spent years as a research chemist followed by the last 12 years as a chemistry instructor in Community College and High School. He has a strong background in electronics. After retirement he has devoted his time to web design and internet marketing and currently has 3 websites:
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Thomas Hersil is active in the parish ministry at Mary Queen of Heaven in healing and deliverance. Retired from the military where he strongly witnesses his moral and spiritual values within the relationships of his crew team members. Rosalie comes with an extensive professional career in nursing as a clinician, educator and administrator both in the USA and Japan. She is a core team member and leader in the River of Life Prayer Group. She is a respected teacher for renewal seminars, leader in the Charism of intercession, inner healing and deliverance, spiritual warfare and a retreat director. They have received their certificate of completion of the course The Art of Spiritual Direction at Our Lady of Divine Providence in Clearwater, Florida. | Christine and Lisa are both active members of their parish at Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, West Allis, WI. Christine is a sacristan and Eucharistic minister at the parish. They are members of the Intercessors group in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Lisa will be a discerner and Christine an intercessor for this conference. Christine is active in the Ecce Ancilla Domine team deepening in the gifs of the Holy Spirits and also in integrating a course in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Lisa is active by applying the gifts of the Holy Spirit where she meets with the Ecce Ancilla Domine group praying for a continued outpouring of the Holy Spirit. | Doris has been involved in ecumenical prayer in various groups throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. She has a master’s degree in Education and recently retired. Currently she prays with people for healing and deliverance and is active in her parish at Gesu. She has received her certificate of completion of the course The Art of Spiritual Direction at Our Lady of Divine Providence in Clearwater, Florida. She is a member of the core team of Intercessors prayer group within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. |
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| Chris Nault | Marilynn Futterer | Virginia Kopp | Sr. Marilyn Metz RSM |
| Christine, a professional nurse, has committed herself to integrating spirituality at the professional level in various specialties of the health care field. With a special interest in children, she has developed skills in catechetical teaching, tutoring and volunteering in many and various rolls. She shares in the role of Eucharistic minister at her parish, St Mary’s, Elm Grove and is active in the Intercessory prayer group in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and a facilitator and core team member teaching the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. She is active as a core team member in the weekly River of Life Prayer Group. As a group of discerners in the Ecce Ancilla Domine, in preparation for this conference she has been a valued contributor. | Marilynn has been active in prayer ministry for over 25 years. She is the parent of five grown children. Marilynn is also an Associate of the Sisters of Mercy. As a member of Divine Mercy Parish in the Milwaukee Archdiocese of Wisconsin, she has participated as a Eucharistic Minister, Reader at daily Mass, Facilitator of Communion services, Parish Commission Member, and Confirmation Teacher. She is also an active member of the Charismatic Renewal and serves on the Discerner Team for Southeastern Wisconsin with liaison Deacon Patrick Frye. For the past ten years, Marilynn has been a part of the prayer team focusing on personal growth in the Holy Spirit. She is active in the intercessors group of the archdiocese as a co-team member. | Virginia has been married to Paul for 34 years. They have 4 children, Jennifer, 32, Jason 30, Matthew 26, and Michael 18. She has been involved in her parish for 30 years as a CCD teacher, parish council member, prayer leader, enthronement coordinator, sacristan, choir member, funeral committee member. She is a Spiritual Director and Coordinator of a program called “Lord Teach Me to Pray” for women under the group Magnificat (a Catholic Charismatic Woman’s group). She was on the Charismatic Board in the Milwaukee Archdiocese in the late 80’s. | Sister Marilyn has degrees are in Reading and Learning Disabilities and in Social Work focusing on Family Therapy; Actively involved in the Charismatic renewal since 1989, she has served on the leadership Archdiocese of Milwaukee. She, with Rosalie Hersil have led a group of intercessors and taught the Charism of intercession in the Milwaukee Archdiocese for over 20 years. |