Fr. Leo Patalinghug is a priest member of a community of consecrated life, Voluntas Dei (The Will of God). He is the creator and founder of an international food and faith movement called Plating Grace, founder and chair of the nonprofit group The Table Foundation, and creator of the Plating Grace and Grub Food Truck.
He is a best-selling author (including his latest book Dining with the Saints), acclaimed international speaker, radio host, host of The Father Leo Show on YouTube and a weekly international food and faith show on EWTN, Savoring our Faith. He also holds a degree in Mariology that he obtained in Rome during his time there.
His unique background as a chef and his previous experience as a two-time black belt martial arts instructor and former award-winning break dancer and choreographer has earned the attention of major media outlets, including the Food Network where he won "Throwdown with Bobby Flay!"
The mission to see food as a gift from God to nourish your family and to strengthen relationships is making this world a better place one meal at a time.
National Speaker + Life Coach, As an evangelist and life coach, Mary Bielski has spoken to over 125,000 youth and adults globally. Her mission is to awaken the Church to the transformative power and love of Christ - and to call others into a radical life given entirely to Him. Mary has partnered with ministries across the country, speaking at events such as Encounter Ministries, Steubenville Conferences, the Damascus Empower Conference, Abide Catholic Women’s Conference, LA Congress, and numerous parish and diocesan events.
She holds a Master’s in Theological Studies from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. Through engaging storytelling, personal witness, and one-on-one life coaching, Mary draws every audience into the beauty of the Catholic faith, a deeper love for Christ, and the call to radical discipleship.
Be His. Be Brave. Be You.
Caitlyn Gonya grew up in the Tulsa area and attended Benedictine College where she had a profound encounter with the Lord that paved the way for a life of mission. She received a Bachelor's degree in Theology and English from Benedictine and a Master's degree in Theology from the University of Notre Dame.
She has worked for the Diocese of Tulsa and Eastern Oklahoma in several capacities over the last decade and has witnessed the Lord give so many reasons for hope in our local Church. She is a wife to Patrick, and a mom to four little ones here on earth and one in Heaven. She and her family enjoy frequent family dance parties, Nerf gun fights, and morning snuggles.
Claudia is a cradle Catholic in “permanent conversion” as she describes herself. She was born in Bogotá, Colombia, where she graduated as a Social Communicator from the Pontifical Xavierian University. One of her favorite prayers is the Suscipe prayer written by St Ignatius of Loyola.
She is the wife of Gabriel, and mother of Samuel and Martín. After moving to the United States 20 years ago, Claudia has centered her life on her family while serving her parish — Saint Benedict — and the broader community through various apostolates and roles.
Claudia is a Catholic Life Coach from Metanoia Catholic, a Spiritual Companion from the Diocese of Tulsa, and has a certification in Catholic Social Teaching from the Catholic University of America and CAPP USA. Currently, she serves as the Manager of the Maternity Care Clinic of Catholic Charities in Tulsa. In her free time, she enjoys silence, reading, photography, gardening, and dancing.
Claudia es católica de nacimiento en "conversión permanente", como ella misma se describe. Nació en Bogotá, Colombia, donde se graduó como Comunicadora Social de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Una de sus oraciones favoritas es la oración Suscipe, escrita por San Ignacio de Loyola.
Es esposa de Gabriel y madre de Samuel y Martín. Tras mudarse a Estados Unidos hace 20 años, Claudia ha centrado su vida en su familia, sirviendo a su parroquia —San Benedict— y a la comunidad en general a través de diversos apostolados y roles.
Claudia es Coach de Vida Católica de Metanoia Catholic, Acompañante Espiritual de la Diócesis de Tulsa y cuenta con una certificación en Doctrina Social Católica de la Universidad Católica de América y CAPP USA. Actualmente, se desempeña como Directora de la Clínica de Atención Materna de Caridades Católicas en Tulsa. En su tiempo libre, disfruta del silencio, la lectura, la fotografía, la jardinería y bailar.
Sarah Swafford is the founder of Emotional Virtue Ministries. She speaks internationally on a
variety of topics including faith, relationships, and interior confidence. Engaging audiences of all
ages, Sarah shares her message at school assemblies, retreats, rallies, parishes, and
conferences around the world, including FOCUS’ SEEK conference and Steubenville
conferences in the United States and Canada.
She is the co-author of Gift and Grit: How Heroic
Virtue Can Change Your Life and Relationships and author of Emotional Virtue: A Guide to
Drama-Free Relationships. She is co-host of Ascension’s What We Believe: The Beauty of the
Catholic Faith, filmed at over thirty holy sites in Rome, as well as EWTN’s At the Heart of
Relationships. Sarah is also a contributor to Ascension’s Chosen.
She resides in Atchison,
Kansas with her wonderful husband, Dr. Andrew Swafford, and their children: Thomas, Fulton,
Cate, Kolbe, John Paul, and Avila.
Noelle Garcia 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. She is also 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.
