Featured Speaker
Fr. John Riccardo
Fr. John was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 1996. In 2019, after 23 years in parish ministry, he founded Acts XXIX to proclaim the gospel in an attractive and compelling way and to equip clergy and lay leaders for the age in which God has chosen us to live. Fr. John is a graduate of the University of Michigan, the Gregorian University, and the Pope John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family.
Breakout Session Speakers
Dr. Currie Myers
Dr. Currie Myers is a former agnostic that shares is story of conversation to the Catholic faith. But it’s not just a story about conversion, but about how God, in His infinite patience, worked through the people in his life to lead him home. It’s a story of questions and doubts, of moments of grace in unexpected places, and of the quite yet powerful force of hospitality that soften his heart. With an extensive and distinguished 24-year career in law enforcement at the local, state, and federal level, Dr. Myers reveals why his law enforcement life led him down the road of spiritual emptiness. “I saw things that no one should ever have to see-things that made me question the presence of a loving God.” But through the love and hospitality of his wife and family, a priest, and when God said to him, “What are you waiting for? I am here.” His life was changed forever.
Grant Ginther
A product of Hays, America, Grant graduated from TMP-Marian to live the college dream in Manhattan, KS: have a good time and cheer on the ‘cats. It was at Kansas State that he found what he was actually made for: a life lived with and for God. Grant has since served as a FOCUS missionary at the University of Oregon working with men to live abundant lives of faith and authentic masculinity, all with the aim of becoming saints who challenge others to become saints as well.
Megan Robl
A Salina native, Megan began volunteering with nonprofits at a young age and always felt called to return to her home community and make a difference. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications with minors in Business and Dance from Kansas State University, is a 2018 graduate of Leadership Salina, and earned a certificate in nonprofit executive management from the University of San Diego in 2023. Megan also represents the Diocese of Salina as an active member of the Catholic Charities USA network, connecting with leaders across the country to strengthen and grow the Church’s mission of service. She has served as Executive Director of Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas since August 2020. Under her leadership, the organization serves more than 8,000 people each year across the 31 counties of the Diocese of Salina, offering financial assistance, personal care items, pregnancy and adoption support, counseling, and thrift store programs.
She is deeply grateful to lead a mission-driven organization made possible by dedicated staff, generous supporters, and committed volunteers. Megan finds daily inspiration in the examples of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, St. Teresa of Calcutta, and Mother Angelica—women of courageous love and bold faith. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, dancing, napping, cheering on K-State football, spending time with her family and friends, being an aunt and godmother, and loving on her 12-year-old Yorkie-Bichon, Hershey. Megan and her fiancé, Clinton, are members of St. Mary Queen of the Universe Parish and look forward to their wedding in December 2025.
Sr. Megan Thérèse Tunink
Sr. Megan Thérèse, MS is a finally professed member of the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln. She first met the Marian Sisters while studying at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. After professing her First Vows in 2016, she continued her education at Benedictine College, earning degrees in Mathematics, Biology, and Secondary Education. She has spent the last six years teaching Religion, Math, and Journalism in diocesan high schools in Lincoln and Wahoo, Nebraska. This year she will be working in the Parish Office at St. John the Baptist in Beloit. When she has free time, Sr. Megan Thérèse enjoys reading, playing various musical instruments, and trying to learn new skills (currently she’s trying her hand at painting).
Sr. Benedicta Hawkins
Hello! My name is Sr. Benedicta and I’m a Marian Sister from the Diocese of Lincoln, NE. I’m currently serving at our mission in Beloit, KS, where I teacher 6th-10th grade Theology. This is my first year there! Two of my favorite things are the Parable of the Lost Sheep and teaching Junior High. The first one because while I was in college, I had a life changing experience with the Parable of the Lost Sheep while assisting in a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium. A 4yr-olds perspective on the receptivity and joy of the Good Shepherd changed my life and I truly believe this encounter enabled me to say yes to my vocation. The latter because the vulnerability, quirkiness, and passion for greatness that Junior High students possess inspires me to be fully committed to Christ. Why be half in for anything?
If I have extra time, I enjoy splitting it between reading, sewing, and shooting hoops. I have dreams of achieving the 100-pages a day reading goal, replacing more zippers than any other person, and I grew up 35 minutes away from Caitlin Clark!