About Ansel

Dr. Ansel Augustine has been a youth and community advocate in New Orleans for over 25 years. As a Black Masking/Mardi Gras Indian, he's also an active culture bearer of the city. Dr. Augustine is also an award winning author, an Emmy Nominated Producer, and a national speaker. He's also on the faculty at Loyola University New Orleans and Xavier University of Louisiana. You can learn more about his work at www.holyhotboy.info.  

About Cooper

Over the past 25 years, Cooper Ray has motivated and inspired youth and adults at countless diocesan, parish, and school events across the country and has spoken and led worship at the National Catholic Youth Conference, the National Conference on Catholic Youth Ministry, Catholic Heart Work Camp and Steubenville Youth Conferences, to name a few.  His relevant message and crowd interaction can reach a teen all the way in the back row. 

Cooper received his call to ministry while serving as a camp counselor at a Catholic summer camp during his college years.  It was at camp where God ignited his love for music and knowledge of ministry and started Cooper on a journey of drawing youth and adults to know and live the Gospel.  After 6 summers, he transitioned into diocesan ministry in Baton Rouge where he spent 10 years, 7 as the director of youth ministry.  Soon after arriving in Baton Rouge, Cooper's speaking ministry took off and slowly, but surely, schools, parishes, and other dioceses began to invite Cooper to share his stories, music, and life experiences.  After 16 years in formal ministry, he started the next phase in his journey answering the call to go "on the road" full-time where he spent 9 years traveling the country speaking and singing at conferences, rallies, retreats, and missions.  Cooper spent 4 years “in the trenches” of parish ministry as the Coordinator of Middle School Ministry at St. Ann in Coppell, TX, is a published artist with Spiritandsong.com and for 8 years was the contemporary music liturgy director for his parish while living in Baton Rouge.  Cooper is currently the Director of Strategic Partnerships for Newman Ministry. He holds a Bachelors in Psychology and a Masters in Pastoral Studies.

About Sammy

Sammy Argumaniz serves as the Director of Faith Formation at St. Rita Parish in Dallas, TX. He has over 13 years of professional ministry experience spanning international, parish, diocesan, and campus ministry (K-12, College).  He has also spent the last 16 years speaking and performing as Catholic musician, Sammy Blaze.  Originally from Abilene, TX, Sammy has called Dallas home for the last 12 years.  He earned his BA in Psychology from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, TX and Masters in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas. Most recently, he was the Director of Campus Ministry and Catholic Identity for John Paul II High School in Plano, TX.  In his spare time he enjoys watching football, outdoor adventures, creative writing and making memories with his wife, two children, and rescue dog. 

About Doug

With Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Philosophy and Theology and a Masters in Pastoral Ministry, Doug Tooke has over twenty-five years of professional ministry experience.  He has traveled to over 100 Diocese in the past 25 years teaching, keynoting conventions, and training ministers. Doug is a recipient of the National Catholic Youth Ministry Award from the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. He is married to his wife Becky and lives in Helena, MT with their five daughters. 

About John

Dr. John Rinaldo serves as the Director of Business Partnerships at Cristo Rey St. Viator in North Las Vegas, Nevada. John earned his Doctor of Ministry in Leadership and Organizational Development from the Pacific School of Religion at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. He also has a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry at Santa Clara University. John has served as a parish and diocesan director of youth and young adult ministry, parish business manager, pastoral associate for adult faith formation, and served on the executive leadership team for Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. John is married and has three young children. 

About Colleen

Colleen Halfmann is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing at Holy Family Catholic Church in Brentwood, TN. There she provides therapy to parishioners of all ages, and to others from the Nashville area. She enjoys integrating Catholic teaching with psychological and systems principles, to further the whole-person development of people in the Church.  Colleen earned her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Lipscomb University in 2016 and has been practicing since. She has been involved with youth ministry in varying capacities since she was a teen and has a heart for helping young people heal and grow in relationship with God. She is married to her husband Alex and they have 3 boys. She is an avid coffee lover who enjoys time outside, many genres of music, and a good historical drama.  

About Stan

Stan Cordero is the Director of Campus Ministry at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory in San Francisco, California. He has nearly 35 years of youth and campus ministry experience including serving for over two decades as the Director of Youth Ministry and Pastoral Juvenil Hispana for the Diocese of Santa Rosa. Stan is a doctoral candidate at Creighton University who holds an MA in Theology from the University of San Francisco, a Certificate in Catholic School Leadership from Merrimack College, and a BA in Urban Studies with an emphasis in Community Organization from San Francisco State University.  

About Sr. Josephine

Sister Josephine is a native Texan, born and raised in Houston. She graduated from the University of Dallas with a BA in Political Philosophy with a Business Concentration. Sister entered the banking industry, serving for 10 years as a Vice President in the Home Loans division of Bank of America in the roles of Operations Manager of a staff of 200 and later as a Project Manager.  

Sister was raised Baptist and entered the Catholic Church in 2005. Later, in November of 2011, she began her formation to be a religious Sister. In November of 2020 Sister Josephine professed her final vows as a Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth. 
 
She is a licensed counselor. serving as the school counselor for the cathedral grade school in Tyler, TX, and also in private practice. Sister has also served in vocations ministry and as a national speaker for youth and young adults. 

About Tammy

Tammy Becht served as the Director of the Office of Youth and Young Adult Formation at Saint Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology from 2013-2022. As supervisor of the Saint Meinrad Young Adult Initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., and as Director of the One Bread, One Cup youth liturgical leadership conferences, Tammy worked to raise awareness of the necessity of engaging young people in the life and liturgy of our faith communities. 

Being a mother of four and having a very active household, Tammy learned how important is to engage young people in the faith as she raised her family. Having served as a parish catechist for many years, she then accepted a position in youth ministry at her parish in 1999. This work of raising her children and accompanying others in parenting their children in the faith, laid the foundation for the rest of her career. Once her own children were raised and graduated from college, Tammy paused from ministry to pursue her dream of earning a college degree. She achieved a degree in Theology from Bellarmine University in Louisville, KY in 2013. Tammy immediately began studying at Saint Meinrad for a Master of Art in Pastoral Theology which she earned in 2016. Tammy has 25 years of experience in youth and young adult ministry. She currently serves as a co-chair on the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) planning team, serves as a mentor for students in the Strong Foundations for Catholic Leaders program of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute, and has taught the Prayer and Liturgy course for EQ Saints’ Certificate in Youth Ministry Studies. 

Tammy lives in Floyds Knobs, Indiana with her husband Kevin. Their four children and nine grandchildren live close by, which makes for very lively and loud family gatherings. Tammy enjoys traveling, reading, and cooking. Her greatest joy is that her children and their spouses are active in their parishes and all her grandchildren are being raised in the faith of the Catholic Church. 

About Noelle

Director of Programs

Noelle Garcia is the Director of Programs for EQSaints. She is a Catholic musician, speaker, podcaster, wife, and homeschooling mom of six kids. Noelle has spoken at Steubenville Conferences, NCYC, various parish and diocesan events, and has several talks available on Formed.org, and is the cohost of the new Symbolon Refresh produced by the Augustine Institute. Noelle has a Masters of Theological Studies and currently resides in Oklahoma City.

About Steve

Steve Angrisano is undoubtedly one of the most effective and versatile ministry leaders in the Church today. Young and old alike embrace the passionate message of faith, hope, and love woven throughout his music and storytelling. Always rooted in a spirit of humility and faithfulness, Steve’s honest style of ministry is born from who he is: a committed witness to the life and love of Jesus Christ.

Steve’s unique blend of humor, song, story, and interaction engages audiences of all ages. This makes him both a natural and popular choice for parish missions, youth conferences, and diocesan, national, and worldwide events. A veteran musician and composer, Steve has been featured at numerous events including World Youth Day, the National Pastoral Musicians Conference (NPM), the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, Franciscan University Summer Conferences,  National Catholic Youth Conferences (NCYC), and many other national and international events. Steve and his family call Coppell, Texas their home.

About Brian

Brian Greenfield is a theology teacher and national speaker. He has been in education for over sixteen years and has been doing ministry for over twenty years. Brian has spoken at numerous parish events and national conferences, including the SEEK Conference, NCYC, and the Steubenville Youth Conferences. 

Brian was born and raised in Washington, DC, where he attended Gonzaga College High School. After high school, Brian attended Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ.  He graduated from Seton Hall in 2001, with a degree in communications. Brian then attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville to study theology. In 2002, Brian felt the call to religious life and entered the Community of the Franciscans of the Renewal, in New York City, and began his formation as a Franciscan Friar.

After finishing his Postulancy, Brian returned to Washington, DC to further discern God's call for his life. Brian eventually returned to Seton Hall University to finish his studies in theology and to serve as a part-time Campus Minister. While in New Jersey Brian began his career in education and also began his work with Hard as Nails Ministries, a non-profit ministry to youth and young adults. He received his M.A. in Theology in May 2005. He went on to receive another Master’s Degree in Education Leadership in 2011. He has been in education for seventeen years. He has been a speaker, and retreat leader, and organizer for over 20 years.

Brian currently lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife Genevieve and his three children, Mieko, Michael, and Grace. He works at Jesuit High School, where he is a Theology teacher and Assistant Disciplinarian. He continues to travel throughout the country bringing the message of hope and healing found in the Gospel.

About Ela

For more than twenty-five years, Ela Milewska has been blessed to minister in a variety of environments, from a small community in West Virginia to a large parish in Raleigh, NC. She has also served as the diocesan youth ministry consultant for the Diocese of Raleigh. In 1999, Ela joined Cultivation Ministries, a nationally recognized youth ministry training and consulting organization based in the Chicago area. While pursuing her doctorate in catechesis at the Catholic University of America, she also worked as the coordinator for the National Initiative on Adolescent Catechesis. Ela began serving the Archdiocese of New York as the director of the Office of Youth Ministry in October of 2015. She is currently the executive director of the Department of Youth Faith Formation overseeing the offices that help parishes form young people and their families from early childhood to twelfth grade.  

Ela has trained youth ministry and catechetical leaders, catechists, and educators across the United States and internationally. In 2016, she was the recipient of the National Youth Ministry Award.

She lives in Yonkers, New York overlooking the Hudson River with her incredibly weird cat, Mr. Frank Noodles.

About Alejandro

Alejandro Barraza is the coordinator of the Hispanic Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Diocese of Sacramento, CA. Alex has served youth as a volunteer, parish director, diocesan coordinator, and nationally for the past twenty-seven years. He participates in the Congar Institute as a presenter on topics related to Pastoral Juvenil and Hispanic ministry. Alex is bilingual and bicultural, in these last months of the pandemic he has dedicated himself to training parish leaders on the great opportunity to adapt our ministries to social networks.

About Jenny

Jennifer (Jenny) Kodysz is blessed to serve the Diocese of Austin as the associate director in the office of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry where she primarily serves middle and high school youth ministry leaders and pastors through support, training, and consultation. She also manages the Austin diocesan catholic youth conference (DCYC) and works closely with National Catholic Youth Conference.

Jenny’s undergraduate work was in English and journalism. She also has her Master of Arts degree from the Augustine Institute. She has a deep love for God, her family, evangelization, St. Paul, and St. Augustine. She is a freelance writer and editor, loves to travel to big cities, and lives just north of Austin, Texas with her dog and two birds.

About Anne

Director of Resources

Anne E. Keough is passionate about creating extraordinary experiences and resources that inspire, empower, and equip others to know the transformative love of Jesus Christ more fully.

She has served the Catholic Church in a variety of roles locally, regionally, and nationally for over two decades. Her professional ministry journey began as the Director of Youth Ministry at a parish in the Dallas area prior to moving to a position as an Associate Director in the Office of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministries for the Diocese of Dallas. At the parish level, she oversaw a comprehensive youth ministry program that included weekly youth ministry faith formation nights, preparation efforts for the receipt of the Sacrament of Confirmation, and collaborative efforts with the parish community that included a Catholic School.

In her role as an Associate Director of Content Development, she was the creative lead responsible for architecting the planning and development of content, scope, and event logistics for programming associated with diocesan youth, young adult, and campus ministry efforts. She served as the project lead and chief design agent of ongoing formation, training, and professional development of ministry leaders for various ministry gatherings, events, and initiatives. 

She lives in Dallas, TX and is excited to continue to serve the Church as the Director of Resources for Equipping the Saints.

About Robert

Vice President, Equipping the Saints

Robert Feduccia is a speaker, retreat leader, writer, and educator, motivated by belief in the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to transform lives. After launching the Youth Liturgical Leadership Program with One Bread, One Cup in 2000, Robert went on to serve as a development editor for St. Mary’s Press, and then as the general manager for Spirit & Song, the contemporary music division of Oregon Catholic Press (OCP). A graduate of St. Meinrad Catholic Seminary and the Catholic University of America, Robert has taught theology to deacon candidates in dioceses around the country. He has been the keynote speaker at numerous diocesan conferences and is recognized as an expert in the New Evangelization, having written the evangelization document for the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. He has been a frequent contributor to OCP’s Today’s Liturgy and to the Center for Ministry Development’s Youth Ministry Access. He has spoken at Life Teen’s Catholic Youth Ministry Convention on several occasions and has served on the planning committees for the National Catholic Youth Conference and for the US bishops’ World Youth Day efforts. He lives in the Nashville area with Kathleen, his wife, and their two sons and two daughters.

About Declan

President, Declan Weir Productions, Inc. and Equipping the Saints

Since its founding in 1991 as a theatrical scene shop, Declan Weir Productions, Inc. has grown to become a full-service event management provider and the premier production company for Catholic events in the United States. Events include The Convocation for Catholic Leaders (2017) and V Encuentro (2018) by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; the National Catholic Youth Conference (since 1993), National Conference for Catholic Youth Ministers (since 1994), and Holy Fire (since 2016) by the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry. With over 30 years of experience, DWP has earned a reputation for excellence, with both strong technical know-how and a staff that truly cares about bringing your event and your message to life. Declan is a member of St. Philip Catholic Church in Franklin, Tennessee.