Featured Speakers

Chris Padgett has been doing ministry for over twenty years. He has been married to Linda Padgett for over 26 years and has nine children. They reside in Central New York. In 2018 the Padgett's started Catholic Family and Marriage, Inc. which is a non profit ministry that equips, empowers, and encourages families and marriages. Chris travels full time, using his gifts and talents to minister. Linda and Chris are both authors and presenters.

The Padgett's have a youtube reality show about their lives The Happy Place Homestead.  Visit it and enjoy!

Mike Patin uses energy, humor and stories to affirm God's goodness and presence among us while inviting others (and himself) to take the "next step" in our journey with God.

Mike has worked in ministry settings since 1984, first as a high school teacher and coach, and then in diocesan ministry for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. Since 2003, he has worked full time as a speaker and “faith horticulturist.”

Throughout his ministry, Mike has been privileged to speak to groups ranging from 10 to 23,000 in over 130 dioceses in the U.S. and Canada. He has spoken at parish missions, conferences, rallies, retreats, leadership institutes, and in-services, addressing youth, adults, families, clergy, seminarians, school faculties, businesses, athletic teams and hospital staffs.

Mike has published two books: A Standing Invitation, and This Was Not in the Brochure: Lessons from Work, Life and Ministry.

Christopher Wesley is a youth ministry coach and consultant with Marathon Youth Ministry. He is the director of youth and young adult ministry at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cockeysville, Maryland, and the former director of student ministry at Church of the Nativity in Timonium, Maryland. 

He also serves as the president of the unCUFFed Ministries Board of Directors in Baltimore, Maryland.

Chris is the author of Rebuilding Youth Ministry and Rebuilding Confirmation, in addition Chris  writes content for downloadyouthministry.com.

He and his wife, Katherine, have two sons and live in Pikesville, Maryland.

Christina Lamas is the Executive Director for the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry.  She has been involved in catechetical ministry for over 22 years.    

Previously, she served as associate director for the Office and Religious Education and as division coordinator of youth ministry for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.  She holds a Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She has a passion for enriching and empowering young people to find ways to actively live out their faith.


Christina considers her most important ministry being mommy to her daughter, Bella.

Bob Perron has worked with young people for over 30 years.  He has served as a parish youth minister, parish director of religious education, camp director and diocesan youth director. 

Bob is now blessed to be the Executive Director of the JMJ Pregnancy Center in Orlando, Florida. Bob has spoken at hundreds of diocesan youth conferences and parish missions in over 47 states along with several countries. He has been the MC at the National Mass and Rally for Life in Washington, DC, and has been a keynote at the Los Angeles Congress Youth Day and at the National Catholic Youth Conference. 

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