Sam Todzia is a Catholic husband, father, carpenter, and speaker with a passion to engage young people with the Gospel and a life of faith. With over 15 years of experience working with teenagers, including at risk teens and those suffering from mental illnesses, he brings a practical approach to youth ministry taking into account all that today’s teens are facing. His presentation is dynamic and provocative; challenging students to think critically about their lives and the plan God has for them.

Sam blends teaching with games and stories to meet teens where they are and guide them to the Truth. Young people leave with a renewed appreciation of their deepest identity as beloved sons and daughters of God the Father. God has a plan for all of His children. Sam helps them see beyond who the world tells them to be so that they can become the people our world desperately needs them to be.

Sam and his wife Kristin spent a year as Catholic missionaries in the remote mountains of Haiti as part of Movin’ with the Spirit Haiti180. They participated in community outreach and worked with a local crew to build the orphanage, Kay Mari Manman Tout Timoun (House of Mary, Mother of all Children). They now live in Connecticut with their six children.

In 2011 Sam and his brother Jon began the Catholic men’s ministry Meat and Greet with the intention of gathering together men of faith, and strengthening them in the resolve to live out their calling as Catholic men with confidence and conviction. Hundreds of men have grown in faith through this ministry. In 2014 they founded Red Barn Ministries to expand their ministry to build up the youth of the Catholic Church in New England. Sam has since made this his full time mission. Sam holds a master’s degree in theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Invite Sam to help strengthen the men in your community or to ignite the fire of God’s love in the hearts of the young people in your school, parish, or youth group.

Sister Deirdre Byrne is an active missionary sister and superior of her community in Washington, DC. She is double board-certified in family medicine and general surgery. A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Sister Deirdre (known to many as Sister DeDe) is one of eight siblings, attended Langley High School, and graduated from Virginia Tech. After college, Sister DeDe followed in her thoracic surgeon father’s footsteps and entered medical school at Georgetown University, where she eventually completed a surgical residency. During that time she also joined the Army. After a life of medical and military service in far ranging areas, she was led to the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts community, whose charism involves sisters placing each and every person they care for between the Heart of Jesus and Mary. Her apostolate has been performing overseas medical missionary surgery and providing free medical care for the poor and uninsured. The over 125-year-old community includes 400-500 members. By 2000, the board-certified Dr. Byrne made her commitment to the Little Workers and began her novitiate training in earnest.

Sister DeDe retired with the rank of Colonel from the United States Army in 2009 after 29 years of service in the military. She was extremely grateful for the opportunity to have served the “brave soldiers” while deployed to Afghanistan. Over the years, Sister Deirdre has found it easy to integrate her medical and military service into her religious vocation. Though comfortable in scrubs, she wears a full black or a white working habit when she can and is grateful for the impact it has on those to whom she ministers. Currently, she is the superior of the D.C. Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts house near Catholic University, where the sisters run a pro-bono physical therapy clinic and diabetic eye clinic, retirement home for her elderly sisters as well as a music school pre-school children.

Sister DeDe’s other charitable medical/surgical service includes hands-on ministry in the rubble of the twin towers following the terrorist attack on 9-11, caring for the sick during the earthquake in Haiti in 2011 and annual medical missions to Haiti and Iraq.

Dr. Peter Kreeft is a renowned Catholic philosopher, author, and professor of philosophy at Boston College. With a deep passion for defending and explaining the Christian faith, Kreeft has written over 80 books, covering topics such as philosophy, theology, and apologetics. Known for his clear and engaging writing style, he is particularly recognized for his works on the intersection of reason and faith, including his well-known books Socratic Logic and Handbook of Christian Apologetics. Dr. Kreeft's thought-provoking insights have made him a sought-after speaker and a trusted voice in contemporary Catholic intellectual circles. His ability to present profound theological and philosophical concepts in accessible ways has made him a beloved figure among those seeking to understand and live out the Catholic faith more deeply.

Hingham resident Arthur P. “Artie Boyle” is a Dorchester native, he’s been married to his high school sweetheart, Judy, for 50 years. They have 13 wonderful children and 28 grandchildren. He’s been a successful businessman, amateur hockey player and coach. Perhaps most telling of his character, though, is that he is a man of deep faith – a practicing, devout Catholic.

Artie is a product of Catholic Elementary education in Dorchester, MA at ST. Peter’s. He has been employed by the Archdiocese of Boston for the past four years working with the Catholic Appeal and with the Campaign for Catholic Schools under the direction of Jack Connors and Kathleen Driscoll. Artie owned and operated a successful transportation business for thirty years before joining the Archdiocese. Artie sold his business with the hopes of getting into something that would enable him to help spread the faith.

In the year 1999 Artie was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma (Kidney Cancer) that spread to his lungs. The doctors gave him less than 5% chance for survival. At the urging of two dear friends he went to Medjugorje, Bosnia-Hercegovina, an apparition site of the Blessed Virgin Mary that began in 1981. It was in Medjugorje that Artie believes he was healed by Jesus through the intercession of Mary and by way of the sacrament of Reconciliation and the power of Forgiveness.

Father Justin, a Dominican friar of the Province of St. Joseph, was ordained to the priesthood in May 2020. He is Catholic Chaplain for Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI, and is a member of the Hillbilly Thomists, a band of friars who play bluegrass and country music.