Saint Matthew Speaker Series
Life is busy. Between work, family, friends, and all of our other responsibilities, it can be challenging to prioritize other aspects of our lives, including our faith. But as Jesus says in our patron’s Gospel, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Our task is to find ways to engage with our faith and redirect our focus toward it. Doing so will make the “business” seem less busy.
To help with this, we are excited to announce the start of the Saint Matthew Speaker Series, beginning in March of 2023! Our Speaker Series is designed to bring the parish community together to deepen our shared faith by offering unique perspectives from verified Catholic voices. Join us as we welcome dignified speakers with local and national renown to explore some of the most important topics surrounding our faith and unpack our most pressing questions in life.
Introducing Our Next Speaker…
The next speaker will be announced soon!
Previous Speakers
Dr. Ryan Hanning
Ryan Hanning, Ph.D. is a professor of Theology and Catholic studies at the University of Mary and an instructor and mentor for the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Catechetical Institute. He coordinates the outreach for Catholics Come Home and serves as a founding fellow of the San Juan Diego Institute, which assists several universities, non-profits, and religious apostolates, and a fellow of the Havard Institute for Virtuous Leadership and the Institute of Catholic Theology. In addition to teaching and consulting, Ryan also serves as assistant editor at Hearth & Field, a Christian agrarian journal, and writes and speaks internationally on education, theology, ecological ethics, and virtuous leadership. Ryan currently homesteads in Tennessee with his beautiful wife, Rebecca, and their 10 well-socialized homeschooled children.
Brad & Gina Miller and Christopher Dennis
Brad & Gina Miller are Saint Matthew parishioners, a former school parents, and the parents of Saint Matthew School alumna Anna Grace Miller, who died in a car accident on June 19, 2020, a tragedy that sent shockwaves through the Saint Matthew community. Christopher Dennis, who will be speaking with Brad & Gina at our Speaker Series event, is the man who struck Anna Grace’s car that night. Before the first court hearing after the accident, Gina asked God to send the Holy Spirit to be with her and Brad and to “give [them] the words” to say to Christopher should they meet him face-to-face. At the hearing, Christopher could have sat in any chair in the room. Unknowingly, Christopher chose the seat directly behind Brad and Gina. Feeling a warmth in the seat behind her, Gina turned to introduce herself. Christopher began crying, as did Gina and Brad as they told him, “We have forgiven you. Anna Grace is good. She is complete, and she is in heaven.” Join us to hear more about their incredible story, a true testimony of God’s providence, mercy, forgiveness, and grace.
Dr. James Pauley
Dr. James Pauley is Professor of Theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University. He is the author of two books focused on the renewal of catechesis: An Evangelizing Catechesis: Teaching from Your Encounter with Christ (Our Sunday Visitor, 2020) and Liturgical Catechesis in the 21st Century: A School of Discipleship (Liturgy Training Publications, 2017). In 2014, Dr. Pauley was appointed editor of The Catechetical Review, Franciscan University’s journal dedicated to catechesis and evangelization. Dr. Pauley began working as a parish catechetical leader in 1989 and has served professionally in parish, diocesan, and university catechetical formation for over thirty years. Having received his Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake in 2014, he enjoys serving as a frequent speaker in dioceses and parishes nationwide on a variety of topics related to evangelization, catechesis, and the transformative sacramental encounter. Dr. Pauley and his wife, Katrina, are blessed with three daughters.