Catholic Women's Conference
Home Conference Details Registration Speakers How to Help Parish Captains Spread the Word Volunteer Donate Sponsor Links Previous Conferences About Us FAQs	Speakers Most Reverend José H. Gomez, STD Archbishop of San Antonio “Strong Women and Holy Mothers: Lessons from Scripture and (the Lives of) the Saints" The Most Rev. José H. Gomez was installed as Archbishop of San Antonio on Feb. 15, 2005. Archbishop Gomez previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Denver since his ordination on March 26, 2001. Archbishop Gomez has distinguished himself as a respected national leader among Hispanic priests in the United States. He has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for his contribution as a Hispanic Priest. On July 25, 2008 he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a consultant to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Archbishop Gomez is also an enthusiastic supporter of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and constantly encourages all Catholics to witness their faith in their daily lives. For more information, click here. Sr. Raffaella Cavallin “Conquering Discouragement and Attaining Peace” Sister Raffaella Cavallin belongs to a religious community called "Apostles of the Interior Life." She ministered at the Catholic Centers at the University of Illinois and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before moving to Texas. She currently assists students at the St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M University. Sr. Raffaella and her sisters are kept busy by offering spiritual direction, doing campus evangelization, and offering talks and formative guidance to the dozens of groups and activities at St. Mary’s Catholic Center. For more information, click here. Susan Selner-Wright, PhD “Thomas Aquinas and Benedict XVI on the Virtuous Life” Dr. Susan Selner-Wright has been teaching philosophy to college students and seminarians for over 20 years. Currently she is an associate professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, where she is Chair of the Philosophy Department and Director of the Pre-Theology Program. Her teaching and scholarship focus on Metaphysics, Ethics, and the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. She is married and has two school-aged children. Marilisa Carney “Supermodels on a Runway to Holiness” Marilisa Carney has been a leader in the pro-life movement throughout Texas and the entire nation. In 2004, Marilisa was instrumental in launching the first ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College Station, TX. She is the former Executive Director of one of the largest and most effective local pro-life organizations in America, the Coalition for Life in Bryan/College Station, TX. Marilisa has been a spokesperson on pro-life issues in dozens of media outlets throughout Texas including ABC and CBS television stations and the Dallas Morning News. Marilisa is proud to now be doing the “real” pro-life work by staying home with her three children. Marilisa and her husband, Shawn, live in Bryan/College Station. Breakout Session Speakers Renata Furst, PhD Renata Furst is a faculty member at Assumption Seminary. Her areas of expertise are the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), and the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. She has recently authored two books on the Old Testament: Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah and Job and Joshua to Chronicles. She did her doctoral studies at the University of Montreal. Fr. George Montague, SM Fr. George Montague, SM teaches Scripture at St. Mary’s University. Author of more than twenty books in the area of biblical and pastoral theology, he has also been a speaker on six continents. He received his doctorate in Sacred Theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Fr. George is the former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America and editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly. In 1995, he began a new religious community in the Marianist family, the "Brothers of the Beloved Disciple.” With Fr. Mary Marshall, he was given permission by his Marianist superiors to work with the new community of the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple.

Catholic Women's Conference

Speakers

Most Reverend José H. Gomez, STD

Archbishop of San Antonio

“Strong Women and Holy Mothers: Lessons from Scripture and (the Lives of) the Saints"

The Most Rev. José H. Gomez was installed as Archbishop of San Antonio on Feb. 15, 2005. Archbishop Gomez previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Denver since his ordination on March 26, 2001. Archbishop Gomez has distinguished himself as a respected national leader among Hispanic priests in the United States. He has been recognized with numerous awards and honors for his contribution as a Hispanic Priest. On July 25, 2008 he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI as a consultant to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America. Archbishop Gomez is also an enthusiastic supporter of vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and constantly encourages all Catholics to witness their faith in their daily lives. For more information, click here.

Sr. Raffaella Cavallin

“Conquering Discouragement and Attaining Peace”

Sister Raffaella Cavallin belongs to a religious community called "Apostles of the Interior Life." She ministered at the Catholic Centers at the University of Illinois and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison before moving to Texas. She currently assists students at the St. Mary's Catholic Center at Texas A&M University. Sr. Raffaella and her sisters are kept busy by offering spiritual direction, doing campus evangelization, and offering talks and formative guidance to the dozens of groups and activities at St. Mary’s Catholic Center. For more information, click here.

Susan Selner-Wright, PhD

“Thomas Aquinas and Benedict XVI on the Virtuous Life”

Dr. Susan Selner-Wright has been teaching philosophy to college students and seminarians for over 20 years. Currently she is an associate professor at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, where she is Chair of the Philosophy Department and Director of the Pre-Theology Program. Her teaching and scholarship focus on Metaphysics, Ethics, and the philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas. She is married and has two school-aged children.

Marilisa Carney
“Supermodels on a Runway to Holiness”

Marilisa Carney has been a leader in the pro-life movement throughout Texas and the entire nation. In 2004, Marilisa was instrumental in launching the first ever 40 Days for Life campaign in Bryan/College Station, TX. She is the former Executive Director of one of the largest and most effective local pro-life organizations in America, the Coalition for Life in Bryan/College Station, TX. Marilisa has been a spokesperson on pro-life issues in dozens of media outlets throughout Texas including ABC and CBS television stations and the Dallas Morning News. Marilisa is proud to now be doing the “real” pro-life work by staying home with her three children. Marilisa and her husband, Shawn, live in Bryan/College Station.

Breakout Session Speakers

Renata Furst, PhD

Renata Furst is a faculty member at Assumption Seminary. Her areas of expertise are the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), and the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola. She has recently authored two books on the Old Testament: Ruth, Ezra, Nehemiah and Job and Joshua to Chronicles. She did her doctoral studies at the University of Montreal.

Fr. George Montague, SM

Fr. George Montague, SM teaches Scripture at St. Mary’s University. Author of more than twenty books in the area of biblical and pastoral theology, he has also been a speaker on six continents. He received his doctorate in Sacred Theology at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Fr. George is the former president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America and editor of the Catholic Biblical Quarterly. In 1995, he began a new religious community in the Marianist family, the "Brothers of the Beloved Disciple.” With Fr. Mary Marshall, he was given permission by his Marianist superiors to work with the new community of the Brothers of the Beloved Disciple.