2014 Speakers

Sonja Corbitt

A veteran Scripture teacher, Sonja founded Pursuing the Summit as an evangelical when her own deep need for more of God began to connect with her Protestant brothers and sisters, and she began receiving invitations to speak around the country. Sonja is a preacher, teacher and writer. She discovered a need for Catholic Bible Studies and began writing them. She felt the fire to share God’s word and preaches it. As a teacher, she has the burning desire to touch lives and set others on fire. Sonja brings the Bible alive in an every day style. She is a wife, mother, daughter… a woman of Faith. Her non-profit evangelical, Pursuing the Summit, creatively got its name through the Scriptures. The Scriptures portray the mountain-like-ness of God. It is Sonja’s “call within the call,” as Mother Teresa put it, to help inspire and equip us in the glorious, sweaty enterprise that will ultimately require our very last breath — pursuing the Summit. Let Sonja show you how the Bible applies to your circumstances right now, how to find answers there from God to the questions you have about your life, and to make the Scriptures come alive for you! For More information, please visit Sonja’s website at: http://pursuingthesummit.com

Sr. Catherine Marie

The Sisters of Life are an contemplative active Religious community of women consecrated for the protection and the enhancement of the sacredness of human life.

The community was founded in New York City by the late John Cardinal O’Connor in 1991.

Sr. Catherine Marie entered the Sisters of Life in 2001. Currently Sr. Catherine Marie serves in the Sisters of Life Holy Respite Mission at Sacred Heart Convent in Midtown Manhattan where pregnant women and their babies are invited to live with the Sisters. Before joining the Sisters of Life, Sr. Catherine Marie was active in the Canadian Pro-Life Movement and worked as an organizer for Ontario Students for Life. Sr.Catherine Marie graduated with a BSW from King’s College at the University of Western Ontario.

Fr. Larry Richards

A gifted and captivating speaker, preacher, retreat master, and author. Fr. Larry Richards holds the answer to some of life’s most profound questions. He speaks from experience as a pastor of an inner city parish, a high school chaplain, a counselor and evangelist. Fr. Larry Richards has directed hundreds of retreats, parish missions, and conferences for young and old alike. His inspirational talks, presentations, and books always authentic and enthusiastic, have changed the hearts, minds and lives of millions of listeners and readers worldwide. Father Larry Richards was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After high school, he attended the college seminary at Gannon University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health in 1983. Father Larry Richards continued his studies at the major seminary at St. Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, and received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1987. He will soon conclude his studies at the University of Notre Dame and be awarded a Master of Arts degree in Liturgy. Ordained to the priesthood in 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Fr. Larry Richards serves as pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community in Erie. He is also the Founder of the DME (Divine Mercy Encounter) Retreat Program for the Diocese of Erie. Fr. Larry Richards is the founder and president of The Reason for our Hope Foundation, a non- profit organization dedicated to ‘spreading the Good News’ by educating others about Jesus Christ. For more information on the foundation, go to: www.TheReasonForOurHope.org.