Opening Day of the International Week of Prayer and Fasting Oct. 12, 2024

On Saturday, October 12, 2024, we will host the Opening Day in person to begin the International Week of Prayer and Fasting! This is a 9-day prayer event where thousands will participate in Prayer, Fasting, Praying the Rosary, and Adoring the Sacred Eucharist.

Our schedule for the Opening Day is coming soon! The day will include:

• Recitation of the Holy Rosary
• Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
• Inspirational Speakers
• Eucharistic Adoration
• and much more!

You can join us in person if you are local to DC, MD or VA and you can participate in our LIVE Virtual 3 day conference following this event.

Register to reserve your spot in person (space is limited) and to ensure you receive reminders about the event before it happens! Early Bird Discount $35 expires on September 30th which includes a boxed lunch. The cost for this event starting October 1st is $45 per person which includes a boxed lunch.

The Most Reverend Robert Joseph Baker, S.T.D, Celebrant and Homilist

The Most Reverend Robert Joseph Baker, S.T.D., was appointed fourth bishop of the Diocese of Birmingham on August 14, 2007, and was installed at the Cathedral of St. Paul on October 2 of that same year. Bishop Baker was born on June 4, 1944, and grew up in Ohio. He was ordained a priest on March 21, 1970 for the Diocese of St. Augustine, Florida. Among the many pastoral experiences he had as a priest in Florida were working with university students as a campus chaplain, starting soup kitchens and other initiatives to assist the poor, and helping to bring the Cenacolo Community (a Catholic drug rehab program) to the United States. On July 12, 1999, he was named Bishop of Charleston by Pope John Paul II. On September 29, 1999, he was ordained a bishop.

Since arriving in Birmingham in 2007, Bishop Baker built upon the legacy of his predecessors and also started several new initiatives, including bringing the Cenacolo Community to the diocese, overseeing a comprehensive renovation of Camp Tekakwitha, promoting the service of the poor and the pastoral care of immigrants, and convoking a Eucharistic Congress for the Diocese’s 50th anniversary in 2019. His retirement as bishop was accepted by His Holiness, Pope Francis, on March 25, 2020, and he chose to remain in the Birmingham area.

Bishop Baker’s episcopal motto is “Rejoicing in Hope”, inspired by Romans 12:12.

Jim Wahlberg, Speaker

Jim Wahlberg aims to serve God by writing, speaking, filmmaking, and serving our community.

Jim serves as the executive director of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, which was created to improve the quality of life for inner-city youth through a working partnership with other youth organizations.

Jim is a producer, writer, and director of films, and uses his talents and experiences to raise awareness about opioid addiction and point to the hope found in Christ.

He is the author of The Big Hustle, and Executive Producer of Mother Teresa: No Greater Love.

Jim has been married to his lovely wife, Benny, for 28 years and they have 3 children.

Dan and Stephanie Burke, Speakers

Dan Burke is the past President and C.O.O. of EWTN's worldwide news network. He is presently the founder and President of the Avila Institute for Spiritual Formation, which offers graduate and personal enrichment studies in spiritual theology to priests, deacons, religious, and laity in over 100 countries and prepares men for seminary in over 80 dioceses.

Dan is a best-selling author and editor of numerous books on authentic Catholic spirituality. In his deep commitment to the advancement of faithful Catholic spirituality, he is also the founder of Apostoli Viae, a world-wide, private association of the faithful dedicated to living and advancing the authentic spiritual patrimony of the Church.

Stephanie Burke devotes the majority of her time in spiritual direction and deliverance ministry. Dan and Stephanie host the Divine Intimacy Radio show broadcast weekly on EWTN Radio. Past episodes can be found, along with thousands of articles on the interior life, at SpiritualDirection.com.

They are also privileged to see the fruits of the healing and liberating power of God unleashed in the lives of individuals and marriages at their talks, retreats, conferences, and online events.

Most importantly, Dan and Stephanie are dedicated to and grateful for their marriage, their four grown children, their grandchild—and the opportunity to serve Christ and His Church.

www.SpiritualDirection.com
www.Avila-Institute.org

Dr. Seggy Yanez Acosta, Speaker

Dr. Seggy Yanez Acosta is a Catholic stress and pain specialist practicing in Manassas and Fredericksburg, Virginia, under S.T.R.E.S.S. Centre, Inc. She is licensed & board certified as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist and a Diplomate with American Academy of Pain Management. She believes in the integration of her Catholic Faith into her practice. Her patients appreciate the opportunity to be able to pray with her and discuss the meaning of their sufferings in light of their faith. She does individual, couple, and family therapy. In addition, she treats all types of pain conditions using non-pharmacological approaches to healing.

Dr. Acosta is the author of Diabolical or Psychological: The Differentiation of Psychological Diseases from Diabolical Disorders, and her newest book, Success Despite Distress.

She received her Master's Degree (M.S.N.) in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing (B.S.N.) degree at the Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines. She is the Vice President of the Legion of Mary Fairfax Committee and a catechist at St. Clare of Assisi Parish. She is a founder of the Holy Trinity Jubilee Park, Inc., a non-profit center for evangelization and the only Catholic Park in Northern Virginia offering outdoor retreats for all ages with a built-in rope and obstacle games.

Alexis Walkenstein, Speaker

Alexis Walkenstein is an Emmy Award winning TV journalist turned film producer and PR pro. She is founder and president of AWE PR, an international publicity and marketing agency that leads campaigns for entertainment, business and start-up enterprises.

Her PR work revolves around movies, television, personalities, consumer business, higher education, start-up business, crisis, ministry apostolates and social media. She has led media and marketing efforts for many amazing and family friendly movies, including the recent blockbusters The Chosen: Season 3 episodes 1 and 2; Unplanned (for which she was also a co-producer and led international distribution efforts for Mexico and S. Korea); Jesus Thirsts: The Miracle of the Eucharist; and Reagan.

Alexis travels the world to make Jesus known. She is an author, speaker and frequent newsmaker. Her favorite topics include transforming the culture through media, pro-life issues, Hollywood culture, media trends, women in business, the power of the Eucharist, the feminine genius in imitation of Mary, social savvy and the virtual office. Alexis is fiercely devoted to Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and firmly believes Catholics need heroes for today. Her saint heroes are Saint John Paul II, Ven. Fulton J. Sheen, St. Clare, Saint Mother Teresa, Saint Edith Stein, and Saint Philomena.

Alexis’ work Fulton J. Sheen was published by Pauline Media and was endorsed by Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop Robert Reed, Raymond Arroyo, and Mark Hart. Follow her at http://LexiCaliBlog.com and on all the social networks.

Fr. Dan Leary, Speaker

Fr. Dan Leary is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. Ordained in 1997, Fr. Leary’s great love for Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother are evident in his present ministry as Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Clinton, MD, as well in his healing ministry.

There are many moving accounts of his previous work serving as chaplain to the 350+ Sisters of Mary, where he served as a spiritual father and chaplain to tens of thousands of poor Boystown and Girlstown students in their care, many of whom were previously trafficked. Prior to that assignment, he served as pastor of St. Andrew Apostle in Silver Spring, MD.

Fr. Leary graduated from Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, MD. He has been instrumental in serving the poor throughout the world and organizes and supports several mission trips each year through Mustard Seed Communities, and his retreat ministry, Anima Christi Retreats.

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