Speakers
Steven Smith, PhD
Dr. Smith is Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount St. Mary's Seminary (Emmitsburg, MD), one of the oldest, largest and most respected Catholic seminaries in the United States.
He has recently written a book, The Word of the Lord: 7 Essential Principles for Catholic Scripture Study that has received favorable reviews from Cardinal George and Scott Hahn, among others.
Dr. Smith earned a Ph.D. (Summa Cum Laude) from Loyola University of Chicago, specializing in New Testament and Early Christianity. He and his wife are "re-verts," having been raised Catholic, then spending some years in Evangelical "mega-churches" (Willow Creek, Illinois) before returning to the Catholic Church in 2000. Both Steve and Elizabeth earned M.A.'s at Wheaton College Graduate School, one of the most respected and rigorous evangelical universities in the U.S. (the "evangelical Harvard"). They have a lot of passion and interest in "Catholics returning home" - while retaining tremendous respect for what they gleaned from their spiritual journey.
Dr. Smith has been married twelve years; he and his wife have two children and live in rural Maryland.
Dr. Smith is Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount St. Mary's Seminary (Emmitsburg, MD), one of the oldest, largest and most respected Catholic seminaries in the United States.
He has recently written a book, The Word of the Lord: 7 Essential Principles for Catholic Scripture Study that has received favorable reviews from Cardinal George and Scott Hahn, among others.
Dr. Smith earned a Ph.D. (Summa Cum Laude) from Loyola University of Chicago, specializing in New Testament and Early Christianity. He and his wife are "re-verts," having been raised Catholic, then spending some years in Evangelical "mega-churches" (Willow Creek, Illinois) before returning to the Catholic Church in 2000. Both Steve and Elizabeth earned M.A.'s at Wheaton College Graduate School, one of the most respected and rigorous evangelical universities in the U.S. (the "evangelical Harvard"). They have a lot of passion and interest in "Catholics returning home" - while retaining tremendous respect for what they gleaned from their spiritual journey.
Dr. Smith has been married twelve years; he and his wife have two children and live in rural Maryland.
Colin Nykaza
Colin Nykaza is currently the Director of Young Adult Outreach for the Archdiocese of New York. Colin was a seminarian for 7 years and discerned that Jesus and Mary were calling him elsewhere. As a seminarian he received a BA in Theology from Sacred Heart University and a Masters of Divinity from Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary. When Colin was not a seminarian student he worked with Generation Life in Philadelphia as a Theology of the Body, Chastity, and Pro-Life speaker. He also was a Theology of the Body for Teens trainer for Ascension Press. You may also catch Colin on EWTN’s show The Eucharist. Colin considers it his life mission to help the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Immaculate heart triumph as she promised in Fatima.
Colin Nykaza is currently the Director of Young Adult Outreach for the Archdiocese of New York. Colin was a seminarian for 7 years and discerned that Jesus and Mary were calling him elsewhere. As a seminarian he received a BA in Theology from Sacred Heart University and a Masters of Divinity from Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary. When Colin was not a seminarian student he worked with Generation Life in Philadelphia as a Theology of the Body, Chastity, and Pro-Life speaker. He also was a Theology of the Body for Teens trainer for Ascension Press. You may also catch Colin on EWTN’s show The Eucharist. Colin considers it his life mission to help the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Immaculate heart triumph as she promised in Fatima.
Fr. Edward Hopkins, LC
Fr. Edward was born and raised in Central NY State. He entered the Legion of Christ in 1980 after graduating from Thomas Aquinas College in California that same year with a degree in Liberal arts. He studied Humanities in Salamanca, Spain and later philosophy at the Gregorian University in Rome and Theology at the Angelicum, University of St. Thomas in Rome.
He was ordained with a group of 60 Legionaries of Christ, (including 2 of his brothers), by John Paul II on January 3rd 1991, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Congregation. He has worked in several ministries during seminary training including work with university students, youth work and dean of students in a Catholic high school in Mexico.
Fr. Edward has also worked as vocation director and more recently as youth director offering spiritual direction, retreats and apostolic formation to youth and young adults. He recently worked in St Louis and the surrounding region with the formation of lay apostles, youth, family life and in other areas with the Regnum Christi Movement.
He currently works in greater New York area in Adult Faith Formation, which includes Directing spiritual exercises, Pre-Cana retreats, Marriage renewal retreats, Spiritual direction and directing Regnum Christi men and women in the area.
Fr. Edward was born and raised in Central NY State. He entered the Legion of Christ in 1980 after graduating from Thomas Aquinas College in California that same year with a degree in Liberal arts. He studied Humanities in Salamanca, Spain and later philosophy at the Gregorian University in Rome and Theology at the Angelicum, University of St. Thomas in Rome.
He was ordained with a group of 60 Legionaries of Christ, (including 2 of his brothers), by John Paul II on January 3rd 1991, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Congregation. He has worked in several ministries during seminary training including work with university students, youth work and dean of students in a Catholic high school in Mexico.
Fr. Edward has also worked as vocation director and more recently as youth director offering spiritual direction, retreats and apostolic formation to youth and young adults. He recently worked in St Louis and the surrounding region with the formation of lay apostles, youth, family life and in other areas with the Regnum Christi Movement.
He currently works in greater New York area in Adult Faith Formation, which includes Directing spiritual exercises, Pre-Cana retreats, Marriage renewal retreats, Spiritual direction and directing Regnum Christi men and women in the area.
Pat McNamara, PhD
Dr. Pat McNamara is presently an adjunct professor of Church History at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie. A graduate of Cathedral Prep Seminary, Fordham and St. John's, he earned his Ph.D. in Church History from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He has also taught at St. Francis College and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington. For ten years he was an Archivist at the Diocese of Brooklyn, and while he was there he wrote a history of the Brooklyn Diocese and of the Brooklyn Tablet, the diocesan newspaper. He is presently finishing a book on Catholic New Yorkers, which will be out in December. He runs a daily blog on Church History titled McNamara's Blog, and he writes a weekly column on the subject a Patheos, a popular religion website. A lifelong native of Queens, Pat lives with his wife and daughter in Astoria. He is a lector and parish council member in his parish, while his wife runs the youth group and his daughter sings in the choir. He has made frequent appearances on TV and radio to discuss Church History.
Dr. Pat McNamara is presently an adjunct professor of Church History at St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie. A graduate of Cathedral Prep Seminary, Fordham and St. John's, he earned his Ph.D. in Church History from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. He has also taught at St. Francis College and the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington. For ten years he was an Archivist at the Diocese of Brooklyn, and while he was there he wrote a history of the Brooklyn Diocese and of the Brooklyn Tablet, the diocesan newspaper. He is presently finishing a book on Catholic New Yorkers, which will be out in December. He runs a daily blog on Church History titled McNamara's Blog, and he writes a weekly column on the subject a Patheos, a popular religion website. A lifelong native of Queens, Pat lives with his wife and daughter in Astoria. He is a lector and parish council member in his parish, while his wife runs the youth group and his daughter sings in the choir. He has made frequent appearances on TV and radio to discuss Church History.
Dan Norton
Dan Norton is a Catholic apologist from Boston, Massachusetts. He has spoken to college and Theology on Tap groups throughout the northeastern United States. He is an award winning speaker and the former President of the public speaking club, Copley Square Toastmasters, in Boston. He has academic degrees in both philosophy and engineering. He received a MA in Philosophy degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio and a Civil Engineering degree from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. As someone with an extensive background in religion and science, he is especially interested in the perceived conflicts between religion and science today.
Dan Norton is a Catholic apologist from Boston, Massachusetts. He has spoken to college and Theology on Tap groups throughout the northeastern United States. He is an award winning speaker and the former President of the public speaking club, Copley Square Toastmasters, in Boston. He has academic degrees in both philosophy and engineering. He received a MA in Philosophy degree from the Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio and a Civil Engineering degree from the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston. As someone with an extensive background in religion and science, he is especially interested in the perceived conflicts between religion and science today.
Chris Zajdzinski
Chris Zajdzinski was raised a Baptist “Bible Christian” who thought the Catholic Church was a heretical non Christian organization. When the Blessed Pope John Paul II died in 2005, Chris believed he was a condemned soul! Later that year, Chris experienced a spiritual conversion that caused him to question the theological conflicts and inconsistencies he saw within the Protestant Christian world. He began studying Catholic teaching, exploring the faith historically, and meditating on the scriptures from a Catholic viewpoint. By the grace of God, his eyes were opened to the truth, beauty and goodness of the Catholic Church. After an intense journey of prayer, study, and guidance from the Holy Spirit, Chris was confirmed into full communion with the Church, along with his wife and 4 children on Divine Mercy Sunday 2008.
His journey into the Church made Chris aware of two unfortunate realities. First, most non Catholics misunderstand what the Church teaches to be true. The result is many people rejecting Catholicism based on a disconnected and inaccurate version of the faith. Second, many Catholics do not feel fully equipped to effectively evangelize and explain their faith to others. Chris became passionate about helping others develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith, and encouraging them to grow in their relationship with Christ. Through his work with Virtuous Life, Chris hopes to assist the transforming and evangelizing work of the Holy Spirit in the Church today. Chris is currently pursuing his M.A. in Theology from the Augustine Institute.
Chris Zajdzinski was raised a Baptist “Bible Christian” who thought the Catholic Church was a heretical non Christian organization. When the Blessed Pope John Paul II died in 2005, Chris believed he was a condemned soul! Later that year, Chris experienced a spiritual conversion that caused him to question the theological conflicts and inconsistencies he saw within the Protestant Christian world. He began studying Catholic teaching, exploring the faith historically, and meditating on the scriptures from a Catholic viewpoint. By the grace of God, his eyes were opened to the truth, beauty and goodness of the Catholic Church. After an intense journey of prayer, study, and guidance from the Holy Spirit, Chris was confirmed into full communion with the Church, along with his wife and 4 children on Divine Mercy Sunday 2008.
His journey into the Church made Chris aware of two unfortunate realities. First, most non Catholics misunderstand what the Church teaches to be true. The result is many people rejecting Catholicism based on a disconnected and inaccurate version of the faith. Second, many Catholics do not feel fully equipped to effectively evangelize and explain their faith to others. Chris became passionate about helping others develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith, and encouraging them to grow in their relationship with Christ. Through his work with Virtuous Life, Chris hopes to assist the transforming and evangelizing work of the Holy Spirit in the Church today. Chris is currently pursuing his M.A. in Theology from the Augustine Institute.