Chika is a dynamic and engaging speaker and already has quite the presence in the young adult community.  Chika's testimony is powerful!  Chika has faced more than her fair-share of struggles as a teenager.  However, she shares that, "Being Christian does not mean having the absence of difficult moments, being a Christian does not mean having an absence of suffering, being a Christian means seeking Christ in your suffering." 

Chika has asked the difficult question:  what is the thing holding you back from following Jesus more fully?  This is a question our young adults need to be confronted with. 

In addition to being a powerhouse speaker, Chika has had the opportunity to speak at NCYC, Given, Steubenville youth conferences, FOCUS SEEK conferences, and The Catholic Feminist France pilgrimage.  She's also a contributor to Blessed is She as well as "Connected" and "Venture: the Bible Timeline" by Ascension Press.  She is  the author of My Encounter:  How I Met Jesus in Prayer. 

Sr. Alicia is a member of the Franciscans of the Eucharist of Chicago.  This religious community carries out the mission of the Church through service to the poor, evangelization, teaching, and Eucharistic Adoration.  She studied theology at Loyola  University Chicago (BA) and Mundelein Seminary (MDiv), and received her MA in Teaching from Dominican University in River Forest. 

Sr. Alicia says her vocation as a woman religious is rooted in Baptism and "critically connected to the Eucharist", from which she draws strength and hope to give to her neighbors in the "difficult circumstances" they experience.  

Fun fact:  Sr. Alicia was featured on Food Network's "Chopped" series in 2015 and WON!  She competed on a special Thanksgiving show that was divided into three 30-minute segments, from appetizer to main course to dessert.  She states, "I did it to highlight how we can all work together to help end hunger in our country, and also to give witness to Jesus.  I saw it as something I could do for the poor and for Jesus." 

Katherine is currently the Program Director of the Thriving in Ministry Initiative through the McGrath Institute at the University of Notre Dame.  Born in Mexico and raised in Colombia, Katherine received a BA in Modern Languages in 2000 from King College in Tennessee and an MA in Pastoral Ministries in 2005 from St. Thomas University.  She has more than 19 years of experience in youth ministry. 

She began as a Youth Minister at St. Mary's Church in Johnson City, Tennessee, where she later became the Director of Pastoral Ministries.  Before coming to the McGrath Institute, Katherine served for four years as the Associate Director of Youth Ministry at the Office of Formation and Discipleship for the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Katherine has more than 22 years of experience in parish and diocesan ministry.  We are excited to have Katherine share her culture with us! 

Fun fact:  Katherine speaks SEVERAL languages and has been to many different World Youth Days. 
 

Emcee

Emcee

TBD