Bishop Robert F. Vasa
The Most Reverend Robert Vasa is a native of Lincoln, Nebraska and was ordained on May 22, 1976. He earned a Licentiate of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and on November 19, 1999 was named the fifth Bishop of Baker, Oregon by Pope John Paul II. In 2011 he was appointed by Pope Benedict to his current position as Bishop of Santa Rosa.
Reverend Joseph Fessio, SJ
Fr. Joseph Fessio, S.J., was ordained on June 10, 1972. In 1975, he earned his Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Regensburg, West Germany, writing his dissertation under the direction of Fr. Joseph Ratzinger. Fr. Fessio is the Founder and Editor of Ignatius Press. He is also the publisher of Catholic World Report and Homiletic & Pastoral Review. As a Jesuit professor he founded both Campion College and the St. Ignatius Institute of the University of San Francisco. He has taught philosophy and theology courses at several schools. He worked as a consultant for the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and is the co-founder of Adoremus: Society for the Renewal of the Sacred Liturgy. Fr. Fessio is an internationally recognized lecturer on topics related to the liturgy and Pope Benedict XVI.
Reverend Monsignor Arthur Calkins
Monsignor Arthur B. Calkins is a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. and was ordained a priest on 7 May 1970 for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. He has a master’s degree in theology from the Catholic University of America, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology with specialization in Mariology from the International Marian Research Institute in Dayton and a doctorate which he earned summa cum laude in the same field from the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (the Seraphicum) in Rome. He retired from active priestly ministry in the Archdiocese of New Orleans as of the first of July 2017 when he took up residence at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish in Sulphur, LA where he continues his priestly ministry. He contributed to the recently published Oxford Handbook of Mary and has given several papers at the annual meeting of the Mariological Society of America as well as preaching a number of missions and retreats. A list of Msgr. Calkins publications.
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. Luke Buckles, OP
Fr. Luke Buckles grew up in the Lutheran tradition and while attending pre-med converted to Catholicism. Half-way through his courses he discerned a call to the priesthood and entered the Order of Preachers. After completing his studies in Theology and a Master of Arts through the Graduate Theological Union he was ordained to the priesthood in 1978. He completed a Doctor of Sacred Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome and Licentiate in Sacred Theology, Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome. He is currently Adjunct Professor of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology.
Sr. Mary Vianney, MSSR
Laudetur Jesus et Maria! Sister Mary Vianney, MSSR is a member of the Marian Sisters of Santa Rosa, the diocesan religious community founded by Bishop Robert Vasa in 2012. Sister entered the Marian Sisters in 2014 and made her Perpetual Profession of Vows on November 21, 2020. The charism of the Marian Sisters is to magnify Jesus Christ in union with Our Lady by communicating the Beauty, Goodness, and Truth of the Catholic faith in a spirit of joyful evangelization while living the fullness of the Church's liturgical life. Sister Mary Vianney serves her community as the Vocations Directress and Postulant Mistress and the Diocese of Santa Rosa as the director of the Office of Faith Formation for Catholic Schools. Sister holds a Master of Science degree in Psychology and is Master Catechist for the Diocese of Santa Rosa. She enjoys making lace and singing in the choir. She considers it an honor to participate in this year’s Sacred Liturgy Conference. All for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls!
Fr Stephen Boyle O. Praem
A native of Springfield, Minnesota, Fr. Stephen Boyle was ordained a priest of St. Michael’s Norbertine Abbey in California in 1990, having studied Philosophy and Theology at the Angelicum in Rome. In view of a teaching apostolate, he obtained a Mathematics degree from U.C. Irvine, while coaching sports at St. Michael’s Prep and helping in parishes on the weekends. In 2000 he was sent back to Rome to work at the Norbertine Generalate where he had lived as seminarian. Before returning to his home abbey in 2019, he obtained a License in Spirituality from the Angelicum.
Lynne Bissonnette-Pitre, MD, PhD, LGCHS
Dr. Lynne Bissonnette-Pitre 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 and has served on the Executive Board of the CMA. 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.
Fr. Theodore Lange, STL
Fr. Theodore Lange is a priest in the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, and is currently serving as Pastor of Shepherd of the Valley in Central Point, Oregon. He was appointed a Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis in 2016 and is State Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus. Past service includes: Formation Direction/Adjunct Professor/Assistant to Director of Spiritual Formation at Mt. Angel Seminary, Prison Chaplain, Parochial Vicar at Shepherd of the Valley and Our Lady of Fatima. Fr. Theo has preached numerous retreats and days of reflections through his time serving as a priest in the Archdiocese. He has been involved with the Sacred Liturgy Conference since its beginning, and currently serves as MC during the conference lecture sessions.
Fr. Joseph Levine
Fr. Joseph Levine graduated from Thomas Aquinas College and after a long journey was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Baker, Oregon. He currently serves as pastor of Holy Family Catholic Church in Burns, Oregon.
Fr. Stephen Kenyon
Fr. Stephen Kenyon was born in Taichung, Taiwan, the son of Pentecostal missionaries. He entered the Catholic Church in 2011, and began seminary two years later. He received an MA in Theology from Mount Angel Seminary and an STB from the Pontificio Ateneo San Anselmo. In 2019, he was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon, and has served at Shepherd of the Valley Parish in Central Point, St. Anne Parish in Grants Pass, and is currently at St. Mary Parish in Eugene.
Fr. Robert Wolf
After discerning a call to the priesthood in 2001 Fr. Robert Wolf discovered Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who he calls his first Spiritual Director and apologist for the Catholic Faith. He graduated with a bachelors degree in Philosophy and a Masters of Divinity, both from Mount Angel Seminary and was ordained in 2010. He currently serves as pastor of St. Anne’s parish in Grants Pass, Oregon.