Women: Chosen for a Purpose

"You Did Not Choose Me, But I Chose You"
-John 15:16

To register visit allentowndiocese.org/womens-conference

Mass Celebrant:

Bishop Alfred A. Schlert was born to Alfred and Marylou Schlert in Easton on July 24, 1961, and was educated at St. Jane Frances de Chantal Elementary School, Easton, and Notre Dame High  School, Easton. He prepared for the Priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia,  the Pontifical Roman Seminary, Rome and St. John Lateran University, Rome. He was ordained a  priest at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown on September 19, 1987, by The Most  Reverend Thomas J. Welsh, Second Bishop of Allentown.

He served as a Parochial Vicar at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Allentown, as a Professor at his alma mater, Notre Dame High School, Easton and as the Catholic Chaplain at Lehigh University, Bethlehem. During his years at Notre Dame High School, he resided at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Easton, St. Bernard Church, Easton and Sacred Heart Church, Bath. He completed graduate studies at the Pontifical North American College, Rome and the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome where he received a Licentiate in Canon Law in 1992.

He was named Vice Chancellor and Secretary to Bishop Welsh in 1997 before being named Vicar General of the Diocese by The Most Reverend Edward P. Cullen, Third Bishop of Allentown, in 1998. As Vicar General, he oversaw the coordination of all administrative offices of the Diocese. From 1998 to 2008 he was in residence at the Cathedral of Saint Catharine of Siena, Allentown. While still serving as Vicar General, he was appointed Pastor of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church, Hellertown in July 2008. Upon the Ordination and Installation of The Most Reverend John O. Barres, Fourth Bishop of Allentown, he was reappointed as the Vicar General of the Diocese and resumed full-time service as Vicar General in February 2010, with residence at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Hellertown, until his Ordination as the Fifth Bishop of Allentown.

Pope St. John Paul II named him Chaplain to His Holiness with the title of Monsignor in 1999. Pope Benedict XVI named him a Prelate of Honor, the second highest rank of Monsignor, in 2005.

Bishop Schlert served as Vice President of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference and as a member of its Administrative Board. He also served on the Diocesan Council of Priests, the Diocesan Finance Council and the Diocesan College of Consultors. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of DeSales University, Center Valley, Pennsylvania.

He was appointed the Fifth Bishop of Allentown by Pope Francis on June 27, 2017. He was ordained a Bishop and installed as the Fifth Bishop of Allentown on August 31, 2017.

Speakers:

Dr. Edward Sri is a theologian, author and well-known Catholic speaker who appears regularly on EWTN. Each year he speaks to tens of thousands of people from around the world, including clergy, parish leaders, catechists and laity.

He has written several best-selling books, including A Biblical Walk through the Mass, Walking with Mary and Who Am I to Judge? – Responding to Relativism with Logic and Love. His latest release is, Into His Likeness: Be Transformed as a Disciple.

Edward Sri is also the host of the acclaimed film series Symbolon: The Catholic Faith Explained and the presenter of several faith formation film series, including A Biblical Walk through the Mass; Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother; and Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John.

He is a founding leader with Curtis Martin of FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), where he currently serves as Vice President of Formation. Dr. Sri leads pilgrimages to Rome and the Holy Land each year and is the host of the weekly podcast “All Things Catholic.” He holds a doctorate from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and is an adjunct professor at the Augustine Institute. He resides with his wife Elizabeth and their eight children in Littleton, Colorado.

Sarah Christmyer is a Catholic author, Bible teacher, and speaker with a special love for lectio divina and journaling as ways to draw close to Christ in Scripture. She is the co-developer and founding editor of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible study program and author or co-author of more than a dozen books and Bible studies. Her latest book is Becoming Women of the Word: How to Answer God’s Call with Purpose and Joy (Ave Maria Press).  Sarah serves as an adjunct faculty member at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia and as a board member of the Malvern retreat house in Malvern, both in the Philadelphia area. She blogs at ComeIntoTheWord.com.

 

 

Spanish Track Speakers / Presentadoras en Español:

Martha Fernández-Sardina es una oradora y escritora internacional bilingüe, predicadora y maestra, cuya misión es preparar el camino del Señor (Jn.1: 23, Is.40: 3), mientras ayuda a implementar el llamado de la Iglesia para la Nueva Evangelización y una Civilización del Amor. Dos veces Directora Arquidiocesana de evangelización, también se desempeñó como Directora de Comunicaciones Arquidiocesanas para hispanos. Martha es la fundadora y Directora de Recuerda eres Amado (Remember You Are Loved)™, y presentadora de una serie de televisión semanal del mismo nombre, una de las muchas iniciativas de Prepare The Way Enterprises ™, un ministerio dedicado a equipar a los católicos "redescubrir la alegría de creer y el entusiasmo por comunicar la fe "(Porta Fidei, 7). Martha ha tocado la vida de miles de personas que hablan inglés y español de todas las edades y orígenes étnicos a través de interesantes programas de radio y televisión, artículos interesantes y cientos de charlas animadas en más de 40 estados de los Estados Unidos, y en Australia, Brasil, Canadá, República Dominicana, Italia, Nueva Zelanda y Portugal. Martha equipa a los discípulos misioneros que pueden crear una cultura de encuentro capaz de responder a la globalización de la indiferencia y la cultura desechada denunciada por el Papa Francisco, y la dictadura del relativismo y la "nueva religión del ateísmo" desenmascarada por el Papa Benedicto. Ayuda a las personas a saber y proclamar que "creer significa confiar en un amor misericordioso que siempre acepta y perdona, que sostiene y dirige nuestras vidas, y que muestra su poder por su capacidad para enderezar las líneas torcidas de nuestra historia" (Lumen Fidei , 13). Ella ayuda a individuos y grupos, parroquias y diócesis a dar testimonio del amor y la verdad a través de una nueva evangelización de corazón a corazón y de convertirse en evangelizadores santos y eficaces todos los días. Las charlas, los textos y el testimonio de Martha ayudan a las personas a obedecer el mandato de "duc in altum" ("navegar mar adentro” - Lc 5) y a realizar lo que ella llama "una prueba de obediencia, estiramiento de la fe, fortalecimiento de la confianza, visión, formación de equipo con Cristo para que el amor y la verdad de Dios puedan reinar en los corazones, los hogares y la sociedad”.

 

 

La Hermana Sophia Marie Peralta, S.C.C. es miembro de las Hermanas de la Caridad Cristiana, Hijas de la Bienaventurada Virgen María de la Inmaculada Concepción. Transformadas por un estilo de vida eucarístico, las Hermanas de la Caridad Cristiana glorifican a Dios dejándose compenetrar y llenar del amor de Cristo, de manera que se desborde en amor al prójimo, en servicio a la Iglesia. La Hna. Sophia Marie es la Subdirectora del Departamento de Pastoral (Campus Ministry) del Colegio Allentown Central Catholic High School.