thank you for a wonderful conference!
Father Chris Alar, MIC
Provincial Superior, Marians of the Immaculate Conception
Father Chris Alar, MIC, is the Provincial Superior of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy Province of the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception in the United States and Argentina. He wrote and produced the popular "Divine Mercy 101" and "Explaining the Faith" YouTube series and is the author of the bestselling books After Suicide: There's Hope for Them and for You and Understanding Divine Mercy, as well as the new book, Understanding the Sacraments: God's Grace Guaranteed. He is host of the EWTN show Living Divine Mercy, which airs on Thursdays, 10:00 p.m. EST. From 2014-2024, he served as "Fr. Joseph, MIC," the Director of the Association of Marian Helpers.
Anne Auger
Evangelist and Speaker
Anne Auger is a wife and mother of 7 children. She graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a Masters Degree in Theology in 2003 and has worked extensively in RCIA, Adult Catechesis, and Religious Education programs throughout the Milwaukee and Madison dioceses. She has served as an instructor at the Seat of Wisdom Institute in Madison, and has been a keynote speaker at many parishes and Catholic events. Most recently, Anne became Director of Evangelization for St. Therese of Liseux Parish in Madison. Anne has a heart for people and a down to earth approach to faith that is sure to inspire you.
Mother Amata Veritas, OP
Mother Amata Veritas, OP, is the Prioress General of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. She has had many experiences in the adventure of religious life, from teaching sixth grade and high school English to serving the community as postulant mistress. In the summer of 2021, she was elected Prioress General. In this role she loves seeing how Our Lord is at work in and through her community as they preach the truth and bring children, young people and adults to know and love Christ through Catholic education and catechesis.
Msgr. James P Shea
President, University of Mary
Monsignor James Patrick Shea serves as president of the University of Mary. He was inaugurated in 2009 as the sixth president of the university and, at the age of 34, became the youngest college or university president in the United States.
The oldest of eight children, Monsignor Shea grew up on a dairy and grain farm near Hazelton, North Dakota, just 38 miles from the University of Mary’s main campus.
Monsignor Shea served with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity at the Gift of Peace AIDS Hospice while teaching religion at two inner-city schools in Washington, D.C.
Deeply committed to the education and formation of young people, Monsignor Shea is a priest of the Diocese of Bismarck.
Julianne Stanz
Best Selling Author
Storyteller, bestselling author and encourager, Julianne Stanz is known for her dynamic speaking and retreat ministry. As the Director of Outreach for Evangelization and Discipleship at Loyola Press and a consultant to the USCCB, Julianne has spent over two decades inspiring audiences across the globe.
She is the author of the best-selling books Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace and Start with Jesus: How Everyday Disciples Will Renew the Church published by Loyola Press. Her latest book, The Catholic Parent’s Survival Guide: How to Answer Your Children’s Toughest Questions about Faith, also published by Loyola Press, offers practical wisdom for families navigating faith conversations together.
Ashley Pavlic, MD, MA
Ashley Pavlic MD MA is a wife and mother of four young children. She is an Emergency Medicine physician and directs courses on ethics, character and professionalism at Medical College of Wisconsin. She received her undergraduate degree from Princeton University and her MD and MA (Medical Humanities and Bioethics) from Northwestern University.
She created and now leads an 18-month medical student course on character and professional development. She co-founded the Department of Emergency Medicine’s Division of Global and Population Health and has implemented curricula for students and residents on ethics and caring for vulnerable patient populations. She co-directs the Bioethics and Medical Humanities Scholarly Concentration for medical students. She serves on the Archdiocesan Health Care and Bioethics Committee. She lives with her young family in Lake Country and attends St. Charles in Hartland.
Archbishop Jeffery S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee
The Most Rev. Jeffrey Scott Grob was named Archbishop of Milwaukee by Pope Francis on November 4, 2024. He was installed January 14, 2025.
Born March 19, 1961, in Madison, Wisconsin, Archbishop Grob was the only child born to Bonnie (Meinholz) Grob and the late Gerald Grob. He grew up on a dairy farm in nearby Cross Plains.
Archbishop Grob was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Chicago by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin on May 23, 1992 and has served in many roles in his 32 years there in addition to pursuing advanced studies.
The new Bishop Grob chose for his Episcopal motto the phrase “Jesus the Vine” from the Gospel of John (John 15:5) “I am the vine, you are the branches.”
