Featured Artists & Speakers
Joe Melendrez
Joe Melendrez is a professional youth minister, inspirational speaker, and Catholic performer who welcomes new opportunities to bring forth the Kingdom of God. Since 2008, he has dedicated his life to helping others, especially youth, grow deeper in prayer and stronger in faith. Joe travels across the country and around the world, speaking and performing at churches and schools. (He even had the opportunity to perform for Pope Benedict XVI at World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain!) Joe’s music covers a wide variety of faith focused topics, from Understanding the Sacraments, to Preparing for Heaven. It is not uncommon to see enthusiastic participants of all ages, from middle schoolers to senior citizens, pumping their fists in the air, while praising God, during one of Joe’s high energy concerts. Joe’s BA in Religious Studies, allows him to produce truly transformative retreats that are engaging and rich in spiritual content, resulting in an always exciting faith-filled experience! |
Josh Burger
Josh Burger, born in 1990, is one of the oldest survivors in the world with his condition, an extremely rare and almost always fatal form of dwarfism. As you might suspect, Josh has overcome countless serious challenges, beginning from the day he was diagnosed. He cannot walk or even stand, so he relies on a motorized wheelchair to move about in the world. Every bone in his body is misshaped and as a result he is deaf without his hearing aids. But, he will not let circumstances stop him from being the person God has designed him to be. His faith is the cornerstone of his life. |
Jackie Francois Angel
Jackie is a full-time traveling speaker, singer/songwriter, and worship leader from Orange County, CA. In 2006, she became an artist with OCP/SpiritandSong.com with whom she has released two albums. She has been involved in youth ministry since she graduated high school, and she now travels the globe speaking to young people about God’s love and leading worship for various events and ministries. In 2013, Jackie married the love of her life, Bobby Angel, and they now have two little girls and one boy. Check out iTunes or SpiritandSong.com to get Jackie’s albums “Your Kingdom is Glorious” and “Divine Comedy.” In Sept 2017, Jackie and Bobby released their first book, “Forever: A Catholic Devotional For Your Marriage”.
Jackie is a full-time traveling speaker, singer/songwriter, and worship leader from Orange County, CA. In 2006, she became an artist with OCP/SpiritandSong.com with whom she has released two albums. She has been involved in youth ministry since she graduated high school, and she now travels the globe speaking to young people about God’s love and leading worship for various events and ministries. In 2013, Jackie married the love of her life, Bobby Angel, and they now have two little girls and one boy. Check out iTunes or SpiritandSong.com to get Jackie’s albums “Your Kingdom is Glorious” and “Divine Comedy.” In Sept 2017, Jackie and Bobby released their first book, “Forever: A Catholic Devotional For Your Marriage”.
Samantha Yee
Samantha Yee is a Catholic writer and speaker whose five great loves include farmers market flowers, small children, mochi ice cream, the mountains, and the Eucharist. She has written for several nationally-circulated newspapers and magazines, such as the San Francisco Chronicle and Seventeen, and her poems and short stories have been published in peer-reviewed anthologies and literary journals. Sam is currently a full-time student at the University of California, Berkeley, although her background includes working as a preschool teacher, youth minister, and shark feeder and showing monks how to use Instagram (find her @misssamanthayee). Most recently, Sam was featured in The Catholic Woman's latest mini-documentary and had the opportunity to speak at Google's Global HQ in Mountain View. She is also working on starting a collaborative women's magazine rooted in personal story, named The Little Flower Collective after St. Therese of Lisieux.
Samantha Yee is a Catholic writer and speaker whose five great loves include farmers market flowers, small children, mochi ice cream, the mountains, and the Eucharist. She has written for several nationally-circulated newspapers and magazines, such as the San Francisco Chronicle and Seventeen, and her poems and short stories have been published in peer-reviewed anthologies and literary journals. Sam is currently a full-time student at the University of California, Berkeley, although her background includes working as a preschool teacher, youth minister, and shark feeder and showing monks how to use Instagram (find her @misssamanthayee). Most recently, Sam was featured in The Catholic Woman's latest mini-documentary and had the opportunity to speak at Google's Global HQ in Mountain View. She is also working on starting a collaborative women's magazine rooted in personal story, named The Little Flower Collective after St. Therese of Lisieux.
Ronnie LaGro
Ronnie LaGro grew up a nominal Catholic, wanting to know if God was truly real. Doubtful that a retreat would make a difference, he had an actual experience of Jesus which has affected his life since. He is fueled by a desire to communicate the real love of God. Knowing Jesus has led Ronnie to working at locked psychiatric hospitals, volunteering with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and serving men who prostitute themselves on the streets of Chicago. He is lucky to be a husband and father and is currently working with people who have severe mental illness. |
Armando Cervantes
Armando M. Cervantes holds a BA in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Public and Community Service, an MA in Pastoral Theology, and just recently received his Executive Master in Business Administration from Chapman University. |
SkaAmen
SkaAmen is a Catholic Band that uses ska, reggae, alternative rock, and a mixture of Latin rhythms to praise the Holy Name of God and expand His Kingdom. The band was founded in 2008 by Diego Hernandez, and is comprised of members from different cities all over the bay area and beyond. Our mission is to expand the Kingdom of God through art (especially music) and media, encouraging and challenging all those who will listen, to say “yes” to Jesus Christ’s personal invitation… “Come and follow me…”
SkaAmen is a Catholic Band that uses ska, reggae, alternative rock, and a mixture of Latin rhythms to praise the Holy Name of God and expand His Kingdom. The band was founded in 2008 by Diego Hernandez, and is comprised of members from different cities all over the bay area and beyond. Our mission is to expand the Kingdom of God through art (especially music) and media, encouraging and challenging all those who will listen, to say “yes” to Jesus Christ’s personal invitation… “Come and follow me…”
Papa Joe & The Family
Papa Joe and the family have been doing music in the Sacramento Diocese for over 10 years. It has been a family affair and a labor of love, love for music and love for Jesus. They strive to bring a youthful contemporary feel to the music all with an emphasis on being reverent and prayerful. From contemporary Catholic hymns to gospel, they try and bring a soulful flavor in all that they do. The members of the group include Papa Joe, Sheriden, Elias, Zavier and Selia. Supported by his wife Merlynne and eldest son Marselys. Not pictured is Ed and Maria Padrones who are an integral part of the church based ministry.
Papa Joe and the family have been doing music in the Sacramento Diocese for over 10 years. It has been a family affair and a labor of love, love for music and love for Jesus. They strive to bring a youthful contemporary feel to the music all with an emphasis on being reverent and prayerful. From contemporary Catholic hymns to gospel, they try and bring a soulful flavor in all that they do. The members of the group include Papa Joe, Sheriden, Elias, Zavier and Selia. Supported by his wife Merlynne and eldest son Marselys. Not pictured is Ed and Maria Padrones who are an integral part of the church based ministry.
Bishop Michael Barber, SJ
The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, SJ, was ordained to the episcopate and installed as the fifth Bishop of Oakland on May 25, 2013 in the Cathedral of Christ the Light. Bishop Barber has deep roots in the East Bay. His father, Adlai Barber, was born in Oakland and his mother, Dolores, in San Francisco. Bishop Barber himself was born in 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah, during a temporary job assignment for his father. As a child the bishop lived in San Francisco, Novato and Sacramento, graduating from St. Pius X Preparatory School in Galt. He has fond memories of holidays spent with relatives in Oakland, San Leandro and Castro Valley, and of teaching at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park.
The Most Reverend Michael C. Barber, SJ, was ordained to the episcopate and installed as the fifth Bishop of Oakland on May 25, 2013 in the Cathedral of Christ the Light. Bishop Barber has deep roots in the East Bay. His father, Adlai Barber, was born in Oakland and his mother, Dolores, in San Francisco. Bishop Barber himself was born in 1954 in Salt Lake City, Utah, during a temporary job assignment for his father. As a child the bishop lived in San Francisco, Novato and Sacramento, graduating from St. Pius X Preparatory School in Galt. He has fond memories of holidays spent with relatives in Oakland, San Leandro and Castro Valley, and of teaching at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park.
"Papal Ninja" Sean Bryan
Sean Bryan is an American Ninja Warrior competitor and the Lay Mission Project’s Animating Director. Sean received his BA in Physics from UC Berkeley, and an MA in Theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology. He is a lay Minister and Apostle of our Lord.
Sean Bryan is an American Ninja Warrior competitor and the Lay Mission Project’s Animating Director. Sean received his BA in Physics from UC Berkeley, and an MA in Theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology. He is a lay Minister and Apostle of our Lord.
Fr. Mike Ritter
Fr. Mike Ritter is the Parochial Vicar of St. John the Baptist Parish in Chico.
Fr. Mike Ritter is the Parochial Vicar of St. John the Baptist Parish in Chico.