Catholic Voices: Books, Podcasts and People of the Good News Conference
- Good News Conference
- Jun 24
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 1
Hope is on the horizon at this year's Good News Conference; we will be blessed with an inspiring lineup of presenters, including dedicated teachers, actors, authors, and more.
But the good news has already begun- and you don’t have to wait until the conference to hear it. Now is the perfect time to get to know our incredible presenters; Explore their latest work, discover online resources, and start preparing for your journey of good news today.
Read:
Most teenagers are searching for a sense of belonging; Fr. Rob Galea went searching for this feeling in all the wrong places before finding his calling as a priest.
In Breakthrough: A Journey from Desperation to Hope, Fr. Rob details his journey from a lost, reckless kid- caught up in lying, stealing, gang life, and addiction- to discovering his faith and ultimately pursuing a career in the seminary.
Very relevant to the theme of this year's conference, the memoir is centered around hope and offers insight into Fr. Rob's journey, helping you connect with his story before experiencing his passion firsthand at the Good News Conference.
Do you find yourself unfulfilled in a cycle of overconsumption? Do you want to put the phone down, clock out, and experience what's really important in life?
The Stewart Family felt this way- and they decided to flip their lives upside down to find a deeper purpose.
In The Grace of Enough, Haley Stewart shares her family’s experience moving away from a comfortable life in Florida to a small apartment on a Texas farm with no flushing toilets. This humble, country lifestyle inspired her memoir, which emphasizes the importance of slowing down, taking a breath, and centering life around family, relationships and prayer.
This year’s conference will be led by our talented emcee, Doctor Matt Petrusek.
In Evangelization and Ideology, Doctor Petrusek explores how the modern political divide has impacted religious practice, often distorting the Gospel message. Through his lectures, books, and work as Senior Director of the Word on Fire institute, Doctor Petrusek keeps faith at the forefront of all of his work.
Listen:
For many Catholics, picking up a Bible can feel intimidating or overwhelming; Fr. Mike Schmitz wants to help you make scripture a part of your daily routine.
Our inspiring keynote speaker hosts this 365-episode podcast, taking you through the entire bible in one year, deepening your understanding of scripture and helping you to experience the transformative power of the Gospel in your daily life. You can also catch up with Fr. Mike during his weekly homilies, available on iTunes, Hallow, and bulldogCatholic.org.
In this podcast, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames takes you through a step-by-step guide to change the way you pray. The Rosary in a Year explores the foundations of the rosary and helps listeners make praying a daily habit.
In the most recent episode, Fr. Mark explores the meaning behind Caravaggio’s famous painting of the Nativity with Saint Francis and Saint Lawrence.
Brush up on your scripture with The Jeff Cavins Show! Our presenter shares tips for staying faithful as a modern-day disciple in this weekly Bible study podcast.
In his latest episode, Jeff urges us to seize opportunities to share God’s love with others with real life examples and practical advice.
Many Americans start going to church by force and eventually drift away from the foundations of religion. In The Father & Joe, Fr. Boniface Hicks encourages us to get back to church, facilitating conversations about the struggles and successes of being close to God.
Watch:
We are honored to welcome Jonathan Roumie, who portrays Jesus in the acclaimed TV Series, "The Chosen", as a presenter at this year's conference.
"The Chosen" scored a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, with fans of the show saying Jonathan's portrayal of Jesus was “brilliant”, “human”, and “so moving”, that it allowed life-long Catholics to see familiar Bible stories in a whole new light. Season five of "The Chosen" started streaming on Amazon Prime on June 15th.
Did you miss church this week? On Bishop Robert Barron's YouTube channel, you can watch his Sunday sermons and more videos with insightful commentary on faith and culture.
More to Look Forward to :
Alessandro De Franciscis
Dr. Alessandro De Franciscis evaluates patients who are cured of their ailments after bathing in a special spring in Lourdes, France. Historical site of Mother Mary apparitions, this miraculous spring has been attributed to 7,000 cases of unexplained cures from severe medical conditions. The 71st miracle at Lourdes was confirmed by church authorities just a couple months ago - read more about it here!
Sister Agnes Mary Graves
One of the bright minds of our conference, Sister Agnes serves as a Director of Nursing at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She is a dedicated member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan, and is currently assigned to Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent in Winona, Minnesota.
Actor David Henrie
Jonathan Roumie isn’t the only well-known actor attending this year’s conference- David Henrie will also be taking the stage as a featured presenter. Commonly known for his television roles in Wizards of Waverly Place and Paul Blart Mall Cop 2, David has built a successful career in the entertainment industry while remaining rooted in his faith and family values.
Looking ahead to the 2025 Good News Catholic Conference
These dedicated leaders of faith provide us with thought-provoking books, enriching podcasts, and uplifting media to inspire our journey leading up to the Good News Catholic Conference. So let the good news start now -explore, listen, read, and prepare your heart- we can't wait to hear more words of wisdom from our 2025 presenters!
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