GLORIA PURVIS

Pro-life and whole-life, @iamgloriapurvis is a public speaker and radio host. She is the leading Catholic voice on racial justice and the pro-life movement, connecting our understanding of the dignity of the human person to the issues of racism and abortion. She is dedicated to promoting the dignity of human life, marriage, and creating a just society for all.

ED SHOENER

Ed Shoener was ordained a permanent deacon in 2004 and serves at St. Peter’s Cathedral in the Diocese of Scranton. Shoener is a founding member of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers and the Catholic Institute of Mental Health Ministry at the University of San Diego. He serves on the Council on Mental Illness of the National Catholic Partnership on Disability and on the Board of Pathways to Promise, an interfaith cooperative that facilitates the faith community’s work in reaching out to those with mental illnesses and their families. Deacon Shoener, along with Bishop John Dolan, is coauthor of the books Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders and When a Loved One Dies by Suicide (Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN).

He, along with family and friends, founded “The Katie Foundation” after his daughter, Kathleen, died by suicide in 2016. Katie’s obituary went viral because it spoke to the needs and concerns of people who live with mental illness. He lives with his family in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

SISTER NORMA PIMENTEL

Sister Norma Pimentel, a Sister with the Missionaries of Jesus, is Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley for over 12 years. She oversees the charitable arm of the Diocese of Brownsville, providing oversight of different ministries & services in the Rio Grande Valley through emergency assistance, homelessness prevention, disaster relief, clinical counseling, pregnancy care, food programs, and the Humanitarian Respite Center. In recognition for her work on the US-Mexico border in which Sister Norma oversaw the provision of a safe space for migrants to rest and regain strength; in 2015 Sister Norma received the Martin Luther King Jr. “Keep the Dream Alive” award from Catholic Charities USA and awards from many recognizing her work with the immigrants. The work of the Humanitarian Respite Center has brought international attention to the importance of respecting each human life, whether that of an immigrant, refugee, homeless or any person marginalized, excluded, or cast aside. This attention has encouraged many others to see and to do acts of kindness to anyone in need of compassion and care because every human life must be respected.

KARYME LOZANO (OneLife LA Ambassador)

Karyme Lozano is one of the most prominent international television stars today. Karyme also co-starred in the Epic movie, For Greater Glory, playing the role of Doña Maria Sanchez Del Río, a mother of who is now, saint Jose Luis Sanchez del Rio. She is the producer and director of a pro-life film, The True Meaning of Love, and is currently promoting her latest acting film, Corazón Ardiente. Karyme is a diligent pro-life advocate working with crisis pregnancy centers in Los Angeles, speaking to women facing crisis pregnancies, and has significantly helped many young and young adult women realizing the value of life in the mothers’ womb.
Karyme is a pro-life speaker who can relate her faith in an understandable and relatable manner. Her experience of drifting from her faith followed by her journey back home, in addition to the trials and tribulations she has encountered along the way, makes her testimony extremely heartfelt and compelling. Karyme is an exceptional inspiring speaker who naturally connects with everyone she encounters. She and husband Michael live in Los Angeles with their 3 children.

LAS COLIBRÍ

LAS COLIBRÍ or “The Hummingbirds,” have a passion for music, beauty, and girl power. These women are flying into new territory as one of the most unique ensembles of its genre by returning to the all-string instrumentation of the early 20th century mariachi tradition and the colorful, feminine costumes of the Mexican cinematic divas of the 40’s and 50’s. After years of achieving much success individually as instrumentalists and vocalists in various professional arenas, these women have come together to form a stringed ensemble that is like no other in it's genre. Aside from their unique interpretation of traditional sones, huapangos, and rancheras, audiences will also recognize sounds of jazz, rock, oldies, and R&B through their innovative arrangements. With a lovely blend of vocal harmonies, beautiful smiles, and traditional mariachi instrumentation consisting of a Guitarrón (Bass), Guitar, Vihuela (Soprano Guitar), and Violins, Las Colibrí will be sure to get you laughing, crying, singing and even dancing to their contagious beats and melodies.