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
Mary Guilfoyle
A wife, mother, and grandmother, Mary has been with ACTS XXIX since its founding in 2019. During her time in parish leadership as Director of Evangelization and Discipleship, Mary equipped over 100 parishes across the country to prayerfully discern how best to care for their people and reach those who have fallen away from the Church. Mary co-hosts the You Were Born For This podcast alongside Fr. John Riccardo, leads The Rescue Project, and serves on the ACTS XXIX leadership team, helping to equip bishops, pastors, and lay leaders. She is passionate about the role of healing and believes it is essential to becoming more fruitful on mission. Mary is a graduate of Washburn University.
Albert Faraj
A husband, father, and grandfather, Albert has been active in parish life throughout his entire adult life. He brings over 30 years of experience in leadership in both entrepreneurial and corporate settings. His expertise includes developing leadership teams, vision and strategy, and operationalizing transformation. His work has spanned multiple continents. He is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan.
Dr. Natalie Brei
Dr. Natalie Brei is a clinical psychologist, wife, and mother of five children. She lives and works in Lincoln, Nebraska, focusing on faith-integrated mental health services at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Counseling Center. Originally from Hays, she attended college at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and completed her training in psychology in Milwaukee and Kansas City before settling in Lincoln. She aims to build up the body of Christ by incorporating Catholic teaching into her activities at work, within her home, and in her church community.
Sister Maria Kolbe
Sister Maria Kolbe, IHM is a member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Wichita. She was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Sister is named after Our Lady and St. Maximilian Kolbe; to both she has great devotion. In 2023, she graduated from Pittsburg State University with a Bachelor’s in Pre-K-12 Spanish Education. This will be her third year at Trinity Junior/Senior High School in Hutchinson, Kansas, teaching Spanish and religion.
Sr. Mary Jane Frances
Sr. Mary Jane Frances, IHM is a member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Wichita. Growing up in Wichita, KS, Sister attended Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School. In high school, Sister was taught by the IHM Sisters and first felt the call to religious life. She entered the convent in 2014 after her freshman year of college and professed final vows as an IHM Sister in 2020. Sister Mary Jane Frances has completed two bachelor’s degrees through Newman University, one in nursing and another in secondary education with a biology concentration. For the last two years, Sister has enjoyed teaching junior high and high school science at Trinity Catholic Jr./Sr. High School. As time permits, she also assists with spiritual retreats for a variety of ages, from middle schoolers to adults.
Sr. John Marie
Sister John Marie, IHM is a member of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Wichita. She grew up traveling with her father’s military career, returning periodically to her parents’ hometowns of Hays and Victoria. She began her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education at Fort Hays before entering the convent. She later received a Master’s degree in Systematic Theology from St. Charles Borromeo’s Graduate School of Theology in Philadelphia. Sister John Marie has served as a Catholic school teacher and catechist for 17 years. She currently teaches PK-5 Music at Holy Family Elementary in Hays.
Sr. Maria Jacinta
Sr. Maria Jacinta grew up in Sacred Heart Parish, Arkansas City. After some college and volunteer evangelization experiences, she was surprised to find that Our Lord was calling her to enter religious life as an IHM Sister, that this is where all her deepest desires would be fulfilled. In her 25+ years in the Convent, she has found that Our Lord has more than kept His promise to her. Becoming an IHM Sister remains the best and most grace-filled decision she has ever made. Deo gratias! As a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sr. Maria Jacinta is eager to share with others the beautiful Marian spirituality she has received from years of instruction and prayer. “Freely you have received; freely you are to give.” Matthew 10:8
Geoff Andrews
Geoff grew up in Salina, Kansas and moved to Ellis, Kansas as a 9th grader. After high school he moved to Manhattan, Kansas, to attend Kansas State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education, and later earned a Master’s in Education Administration from Emporia State University. Geoff was a teacher, coach and administrator in Salina for almost 15 years. He began his duties as Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese in 2020. Geoff converted to Catholicism in 2006 and is a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. He and his wife, Valerie, have one son and they enjoy traveling together. Geoff is known for having a passion for people and the community and is looking forward to working with all the Catholic schools.
Deacon Bill Meagher
Bill Meagher is the director of the offices of Religious Education, Communications, Family Life, and Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Salina. He is also the head boys’ basketball coach at Thomas More Prep-Marian, where he was a theology teacher and campus minister for over ten years. Bill has also worked with young people as a parish’s CYO director and DRE. Bill lives in Hays with his wife, Mandy, and their three children, Thomas, Andrew, and Emma.
Dr. Currie Myers
Dr. Currie Myers is a former agnostic that shares his 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 quiet yet powerful force of hospitality that softened 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
Sr. Benedicta is a Marian Sister from the Diocese of Lincoln, NE. She is currently serving at their mission in Beloit, KS, where she teaches 6th-10th grade Theology. This is my her first year there! Two of her favorite things are the Parable of the Lost Sheep and teaching Junior High. In college she had a life-changing experience with the Parable of the Lost Sheep while assisting in a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium. A 4-year-old’s perspective on the receptivity and joy of the Good Shepherd changed her life and she truly believes this encounter enabled her to say yes to her vocation. She loves teaching because the vulnerability, quirkiness, and passion for greatness that Junior High students possess inspires her to be fully committed to Christ. Why be half in for anything? If she has extra time, she enjoys splitting it among reading, sewing, and shooting hoops. She has dreams of achieving the 100-pages a day reading goal, replacing more zippers than any other person, and grew up 35 minutes away from Caitlin Clark!
Lindy Meyer
Lindy Meyer is the founder and owner of Siena Catholic Services, based in Concordia, KS, where she lives with her husband, Tony. Together, they have been blessed with seven children and six grandchildren. Lindy brings over 20 years of experience in parish and diocesan ministry, offering a deep well of insight, compassion, and faith to her work. She is a Certified FertilityCare Practitioner and Educator, serving as the Natural Family Planning Coordinator for the Diocese of Salina and Director of the Diocesan FertilityCare Practitioner Education Program. Lindy is dedicated to forming and supporting professionals in the field of fertility appreciation, and she extends this commitment nationally as the Vice President for Membership of the American Academy of FertilityCare Professionals. Lindy is a passionate advocate for the dignity of women, the sanctity of marriage, and the power of faith-informed healthcare. Her work weaves together theological understanding, practical wisdom, and a heart for serving others.
Colleen O’Dowd
Colleen O’Dowd originally hails from Chicago, IL, but has served all over the country in parishes, schools, and dioceses. Her alma mater is Marquette University — but she has found that the powerful whisper of the saints, the passion of staff teams, the openness of the people, and the power of the Holy Spirit at every place God has brought her to has prepared her to say YES to the Lord in ways she could not have imagined! She serves as the Called & Gifted Coordinator for the Catherine of Siena Institute and is super excited and grateful to get to encounter Jesus through accompanying others who desire to grow in relationship with Jesus and discern their God-given charisms. She walks with current Institute teams as well as parishes and individuals to implement Called & Gifted on the ground and helping to raise up and support more disciples and more teams to keep the missionary discipleship party rolling! Colleen loves the saints! She also loves to read, cook, travel, and a good cup of coffee at Nomad Lounge (IYKYK). She’s working on becoming a lover of nature now that she lives in Colorado Springs!
Conference MCs
Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt
Fr. Gale Hammerschmidt was born and raised in Hays, Kansas, and graduated from Thomas More Prep/Marian High School. He then attended Kansas State University, where he received a degree in secondary education. Fr. Gale spent nine years in Manhattan, KS, at Msgr. Luckey Jr. High School as a history teacher and football, basketball, and track coach. From 2005-2012, Fr. Gale studied at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, CO. In 2012, Fr. Gale was ordained a priest and is currently the pastor of St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. Prior to this assignment, he served as a priest in Junction City, KS, and at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina, KS. Fr. Gale has served as a high school chaplain and vocation director for the Diocese of Salina. He is also the founder of the Prayer and Action summer mission program that has now spread to numerous dioceses throughout the country.
Kate Weisner
Kate Weisner was born and raised in Olathe, KS. A cradle Catholic, Kate attended Catholic school K-12 and attended Sunday mass with her family. However, the seeds of her spiritual life did not grow until she graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in 2021 and decided to attend college at Kansas State University. Through her encounter with the lively St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center, Kate’s spiritual life blossomed into what it is today. During her college summers, Kate pursued mission work in various forms, including FOCUS Summer Projects, Christ in the City, Camp Kateri Tekakwitha, and even becoming Fr. Gale’s assistant for part of a summer. This past May, Kate graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science with minors in Well-Being, Pre-Couple and Family Therapy, Leadership Studies, and even received a certificate in Nonprofit Leadership—as she hopes to start her own nonprofit someday. Looking forward, Kate will be attending Franciscan University of Steubenville in the Fall to pursue a graduate degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. In her free time, Kate loves to spend time with her friends, read books that make her cry, and bake delicious desserts that make her wonder if her friends are just using her for her baking skills.