The Most Reverend Archbishop Alexander K. Sample
Alexander K. Sample was born on November 7, 1960, in Kalispell, Montana. He studied philosophy at the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, receiving a Master of Divinity in 1990. Ordained a priest on June 1, 1990, at St. Peter Cathedral in Marquette, Michigan, he served as associate pastor there until 1993 and then as pastor of three parishes in the Diocese of Marquette. From 1994 to 1996, he studied canon law at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome, earning a JCL In the Diocese of Marquette, he held numerous roles, including Chancellor, Director of Ministry and Priest Personnel, Tribunal positions, and Canonical Pastor of St. Christopher Parish. Appointed Bishop of Marquette by Pope Benedict XVI on December 13, 2005, he was consecrated on January 25, 2006. On January 29, 2013, Pope Benedict XVI named him the eleventh Archbishop of Portland in Oregon, where he was installed on April 2, 2013.
Hegumen Damian Higgins
Abbot Damian is the Hegumen/Superior at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Redwood Valley CA where he entered as a monk in 1988. The Monks of Mt. Tabor belong to the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of St. Nicholas in Chicago. He was instructed in the art and spirituality of Byzantine Iconography eventually becoming an instructor in iconography providing retreats and workshops throughout the USA. The work of iconography is defined by Abbot Damian as the ideal prayer-practice for the monastic who seeks to express theology in artistic form but insists that this work is not limited to monastics and is enthusiastic to share the techniques and practices of this pray with all who might strive to connect their life of faith with artistic zeal.
Fr. Peter Do, OP
Fr. Peter Do, OP is a member of the Dominican Order with a remarkable personal story that spans continents and cultures. Born in Vietnam, he was forced to flee after the fall of Saigon, enduring a perilous journey by sea as a young boy before finding refuge in a Malaysian camp. His experience of survival and faith led him to join the Dominican Order, where he now serves with deep dedication. Fr. Peter currently serves as pastor at Holy Rosary Parish in Portland, Oregon. In July 2024, he participated in the historic Elective General Chapter of the Dominican Order in Long Khanh, Vietnam—the first Chapter held in a communist, non-Christian country. This event was particularly meaningful for him as it provided an opportunity to return to his homeland and reconnect with his family after more than 30 years.
Dr. Helene Paharik
Helene Paharik, PhD, MA, BA is an accomplished theologian, educator, and pastoral leader in the Catholic tradition, specializing in sacramental theology, missiology, liturgy, and the Eucharist. She serves as Associate Professor of Theology at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania (since 2018), where she teaches courses such as Sacramental Theology: Connecting Liturgy to Life and other pastoral and ecclesiological subjects through the seminary's programs and the Institute for Ministry Formation. A member of Saint Vincent Basilica Parish, she is married to Dr. James G. Paharik and is the mother of four children.
Dr. Kevin Clarke
Kevin Clarke, PhD, STL is Dean of the Institute for Lay Ministry and Associate Professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, MI, where he teaches Biblical Theology and Patristics. His research focuses on patristic readings of Scripture, including Maximus the Confessor’s Biblical understanding of Christ’s humanity in the monothelite controversy, with substantial original translation work. He teaches online for Holy Apostles College and Seminary and for monastic communities in Ireland and Italy. He is the U.S.A. National Correspondent for the AIEP-IAPS and Associate Editor of Patristic Theology, an open-sourced peer-reviewed journal. He especially enjoys courses on the Fathers, the Gospel of John, and the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Dr. Nathan Schmiedicke
Nathan Schmiedicke, PhD is Professor of Biblical Exegesis at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary (FSSP) in Denton, NE, where he commutes 14 weeks per year. When not teaching there, he lives on his family’s farm in Michigan with his wife Wendy, raising organic crops, animals, and their children. He teaches online for Holy Apostles College and Seminary and for monks at Silverstream Priory (Ireland) and Norcia (Italy). His book The Bible's Foundation: A Catholic Commentary on the Pentateuch explores how the Bible’s dramatic, symbolic, and epic literary modes convey sacramental action (Hebrews 4:12). He is currently writing The Gospel of She: How Woman is Mother of the Bible and Death of the Devil, examining the formative influence of the feminine reading of the protoevangelium (Gen 3:15b) on the rest of Scripture.
Dr. Lynne Bissonnette-Pitre
Lynne Bissonnette-Pitre, MD, PhD, LGCHS is a psychiatrist, musician and iconographer. She has lectured nationally, led retreats and has been organizing the Sacred Liturgy Conferences since 2013. She currently serves on the Holy Alliance of the Catholic Medical Association. She teaches classes on sacred scripture, iconography, and Gregorian Chant and is a Dame Grand Cross of the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. She is also the co-founder and director of Schola Cantus Angelorum and is the Executive Director of the Sacred Liturgy Conference.
Dr. Lawrence Feingold
Lawrence Feingold, STD is Professor of Theology at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis. He and his wife were baptized in 1988 and were received into the Catholic Church in 1989. He is the author of Touched by Christ: The Sacramental Economy; The Eucharist: Mystery of Presence, Sacrifice, and Communion; Faith Comes from What Is Heard: An Introduction to Fundamental Theology; The Mystery of Israel and the Church; and The Natural Desire to See God According to St. Thomas Aquinas and His Interpreters. His work focuses especially on sacramental theology, fundamental theology, and the relationship between Scripture, tradition, and doctrine.
Fr. Bradley T. Elliott, OP
Fr. Brad Elliott, OP spent ten years as a professional drum set player before discerning a call to dedicate his life entirely to Jesus Christ. He left the music industry to enter the Western Dominican Province and, after completing his theological studies, was ordained to the priesthood on June 22, 2018, at St. Dominic’s Church. In 2014, Fr. Brad received a Master’s degree in philosophy from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California. In 2021, he earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. He later completed his Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the The Catholic University of America, focusing on the role of human craft and participatory governance in the Church’s social doctrine. Fr. Brad currently serves as Professor of Moral Theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California.
William Heyer Architect
William Heyer has been in practice since 1997. He opened his own office in 2002. From historic renovations and beautifications to new churches, residences, and furniture, William's knowledge and skills in the classical language for contemporary architecture form the foundation for his practice. The classical language of architecture is a continuous tradition throughout the whole of architectural history. Classical principles, based on time-honored rules set down over two millenia ago, form a living language which invigorates and gives meaning to architecture and reveals beauty in infinite expressions.
Fr. Joseph Levine
Fr. Joseph Levine pursued his vocation to the priesthood after graduating from Thomas Aquinas College and was ordained on September 14, 2010, for the Diocese of Baker. He currently serves as pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns, Oregon. Fr. Levine is the author of "The Stone Rejected by the Builders: Some Uncommon Reflections on Social Justice", which examines social justice through the fundamental relationships revealed in Genesis and emphasizes the primacy of right worship. He is also the author of the forthcoming book Foreigner in a Strange Land, a study of the documents of Vatican II. A key advisor to the Sacred Liturgy Conference, Fr. Levine contributes to its mission of promoting the Church’s liturgical life and worship.
Fr. Joseph Selinger, OP
Fr. Joseph Selinger OP is a member of the Order of Friars Preachers of the Western Dominican Province. He was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada. He earned a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Philosophy at the Collège Universitaire Dominicain in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and both a Master of Arts in Philosophy and Master of Divinity at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California, United States. Father Joseph entered the Dominicans in 2014 and made solemn profession in 2020. He was ordained to the priesthood on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart in 2022. He has been serving as a parochial vicar of Holy Rosary Parish in Portland, OR since July 2022.
Fr. Joshua Clifton
Fr. Joshua Clifton was born and raised in San Luis Obispo, CA. He graduated from the University of California at Berkeley and from Mount Angel Seminary. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Monterey in 2012. Father Clifton has ministered as a priest at several churches in California, including Madonna del Sasso Church in Salinas, Holy Trinity Parish in Greenfield, St. Patrick's Parish in Watsonville, Our Lady of Refuge Parish in Castroville, and Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Santa Cruz. He currently resides in the Archdiocese of Portland where he serves as the administrator of St. Birgitta Catholic Church in Portland and St. Mary Catholic Church in Vernonia.
Fr. Paul Raftery, OP
Fr. Paul Raftery, OP is a native of Northern California, Fr. Paul originally attended the University of California, Davis. During his time there, he began considering a religious vocation. Encouraged by his uncle, a Dominican priest, he entered the Order of Preachers, making his first profession in 1977 and thereafter studying at St. Albert’s College (also known as the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology) in Oakland. Fr. Paul went on to earn his master’s of Divinity and was ordained to the priesthood in 1984. Some of his earliest assignments were at Newman Centers at the University of Arizona and the University of Oregon. He then spent an extended period in parishes up and down the Pacific coast, shepherding souls in Portland, Oregon, and in Northern California. Yet he still found the time to pursue a licentiate degree in the history of liturgy at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, which he completed in 1998.