Speakers

BIO FOR ALL OUR SPEAKERS

Father Rene' Canales Moderator/ Master of Ceremonies

Father Rene was born in El Salvador and at the age of 16 came to the USA. He was ordained a Priest in 2006. He has a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy, Masters in Theology, and an MBA in Church management from Villanova University.

He is the Moderator of the Camden Diocese Catholic Renewal and also serves at the Regional Hispanic Ministry of many parishes. Fathers love for the Church is seen in his vibrant and energetic preaching. He is a beloved spiritual leader who inspires all to live their faith joyfully.

Father’s love of the Holy Duet of the Holy Spirit and Blessed Mother is evident in his teachings. The Holy Spirit speaks powerfully through Father Rene and leads the faithful with deep inspirations of Gods direction.

Father Rene' Canales ~ Regional Hispanic Ministry, Our Lady of Hope Parish, Blackwood, NJ

Father Rene' Canales ~ Pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Lindenwold, NJ

Father Ariel Hernandez ~ Guest Speaker

Rev. Ariel Hernandez, a priest for the Camden Diocese in New Jersey, was born and raised in Argentina. After completing his studies at Jesus the Good Shepherd Seminary in Argentina, he was called by Our Lady Queen of Peace to the priesthood in the United States. He was ordained by Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio on the Feast of Our Lady, Help of All Christians in 2003.

He was the first pastor of The Parish of the Holy Cross in the Bridgeton area where he merged five churches into one parish. He is now the pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in the Newfield area which has four churches and two shrines, including the outdoor Padre Pio Shrine in Landisville. He served as Associate Vicar of the Spanish Apostolate in the Camden Diocese. He continues to work with the Spanish Apostolate and is an instrument of union and healing for the American and Spanish cultures. He is very active in the healing ministry and he celebrates a monthly Healing Mass at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.

He founded an Emmaus Ministry at his parishes to help families grow spiritually. He offers Silent Retreats for men and women to help them grow in holiness. He has an active Farm Ministry during the summer months to unite workers and owners. He founded the Caritas Christi Food and Clothing Pantry which serves the poor and the immigrants. He instituted Couple Retreats to strengthen marriages. He provides all of these services in both English and Spanish.

He is devoted to Our Blessed Mother under many titles. Father Ariel received a special gift from the Blessed Virgin under the title of Our Lady of Schoenstatt and he is the custodian of a miraculous image of her from Argentina. He celebrates a Mass in her honor every 18th of the month and he communicates her message of love to all.

Father Ariel Hernandez - Pastor of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament, Landisville, NJ

Josip Elez ~ Guest Speaker from Medjugorje

Medjugorje and Our Lady’s messages are my life. I have been living in Medjugorje my whole life, and having a Mother ( Ivanka Elez ) who is a visionary was very challenging, especially when I was a teenager… To always be at the pilgrims’ disposal was not something I had wanted for my life, but after spending a few years abroad, I felt deep within my heart what my mission is and what I’m called to do! From then on, I was living in Medjugorje working as a guide, helping pilgrims and allowing the pilgrims to help me.

Josip is now the Co-Owner of the traveling agency https://www.81tours.com

He and Scott Riggins (of the Littlest Angel Bookstore) organizes pilgrimages in Medjugorje, Spain, France, Italy, Holy Land. Josip lives together with his parents, siblings, his wife and two children.

Josip Elez ~ Co-Owner of 81 Tours

Daniel O'connor ~ Guest Speaker

Daniel O’Connor is a Philosophy Professor at SUNY (State University of New York) Community College. He holds a Master’s degree in Theology from a Catholic seminary. He teaches courses in general philosophy, existentialism, and religion, and is also a doctoral student working on a PhD in Philosophy.

He is the author of 2 books (The Crown of History and The Crown of Sanctity)introducing the revelations of Jesus on the Divine Will of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

Daniel is the founder of the Divine Will Missionaries of Mercy (DWMoM.org). He may be contacted through his personal website, DSDOConnor.com. Daniel teaches in and writes from New York, where he lives with his wife and four children.

Daniel O'Connor - Prof of Philosophy & Theology - New York

Rev. Father B. Thomas Celso ~ Guest Speaker will be zooming to us from mary's hill.

Rev. Fr. B. Thomas Celso was born to Bernard and Katherine Celso in Newark, NY on May 27, 1950 on the Eve of Pentecost Sunday in the Holy Year. Thomas grew up in Newark in the Parish of St. Michael’s with 4 siblings, two sisters and two brothers and attended St. Michael’s School Elementary School.

Education:

High School:

St. Andrew’s Seminary in Rochester, NY until the school became a Prep-School.

Graduated from Newark, Sr. High School

College:

Monroe Community College

Graduated from Brockport State

Seminary:

St. John Fisher College Member of Becket Hall

St. Bernard’s Seminary in Rochester, NY.

Ordination:

1977 to the Diaconate

Priesthood:
On March 9, 1979 at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Irondequoit, NY.

Fr Celso was Associate Pastor in the following Parishes:

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish

Sacred Heart and St. Ann parishes in Auburn NY

St. Francis De Sales Parish in Geneva, NY

St. John the Evangelist in Spencerport, NY

St. Mary Parish in Canandaigua, NY.

Father Celso’s Work on the Canonization of Luisa Piccarreta:

1976: Father Celso was introduced to the Divine Will while studying in Springfield, MA. during CPE.

December of 1993: The Bishop of Rochester gave Fr. Celso permission to work with the Secretariat of the Cause in the Archdiocese Trani, Italy for the promotion of the Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

November 20, 1994: Fr. Celso was present at the opening of the Cause of Luisa on the Solemnity of Christ the King in Trani, Italy.

February 2, 1996: Fr. Celso was asked to help copy the writings of Luisa Piccarreta by the Secretariat of the Cause of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta in the Secret Archives of the Vatican under the Direction of then Cardinal Ratzinger, during the week and ending on – the Feast of the Presentation.

On October, 29, 2005: Father Celso attended the closing of the Cause of Luisa Piccarreta in which the Diocese of Trani gave its positive evaluation, asking the Vatican for its approval to have Luisa canonized.

Everyone who knows “The Servant of God” Luisa Piccarreta is awaiting her being named “Venerable.” Many of the miracles attributed to her are being looked at by the Vatican at this time.

Retirement and Retreats:

Father Celso, is now a retired senior priest but continues to help out weekly at the St. John Bosco and Chesterton Academy Schools where he offers Holy Mass and Confession for the faculty and students. Father can also be heard on Weekly programs on Mary’s Hill.

Fr. Celso gives Retreats and days of Recollection throughout the United States and Europe on the Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta and the Divine Will.

REV. FATHER B. THOMAS CELSO