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Speakers, MC's and Performers

- Most Reverend José H. Gomez is the Archbishop of Los Angeles, the nation’s largest Catholic community. In his ministry, Archbishop Gomez encourages people to follow Jesus Christ with joy and simplicity of life, seeking to serve God and their neighbors in their ordinary daily activities.
- Benito Medrano is the Young Adult Ministry coordinator for the Diocese of Orange, CA. Previously, he worked for the Office of Formation and Evangelization in the Diocese of Fresno as Hispanic and Youth and Young Adult Ministry Coordinator which included ministry to migrant communities and Spanish-speaking apostolic movements. He has also served in the leadership team of Region XI’s Committee on Pastoral Juvenil, and as interim member-at-large in the executive board of LaRED, the National Catholic Network of Pastoral Juvenil Hispana. Benito was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico and came to California at the age of 15 with his parents and four siblings where he studied Religious Studies.
- Brenda Noriega has been serving God's people and influencing her community from an early age at the parish, diocesan, regional and national levels. Brenda is a national speaker. Brenda earned a master's degree in pastoral ministries from Santa Clara University. She collaborates in national and international ministry committees, including the International Youth Advisory Body for the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life in Rome. Brenda is passionate about a holistic and transformational pastoral approach that includes life, dignity, justice, and mission. She is currently a Ph.D. student in Theology and Education at the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College. Her research project is on practices of everyday spirituality and faith formation processes with young people in the United States.
- Father Victor is a Capuchin Franciscan Friar and Priest, and a native of Southern California. As the Vocation Director of the Capuchin Franciscans in the west coast, he often travels to different cities and states, casting out nets in deep waters to draw vocations to the Church. Besides doing retreats, talks, and conferences, Father Vic loves to share the Gospel message through Catholic Rap music in live events, social media, and Spotify, going by the moniker, "Bro Vic." Being passionate about the dignity of all human life, Father Vic has even made music that addresses the "life" issue. He is excited and pumped to be the MC this year at One Life LA’s youth and young adult kick off at Olvera Street.
- After powerfully encountering Jesus in the Eucharist as a teenager, Fr. Josh Johnson dedicated his life to becoming a wholehearted disciple of Jesus Christ. Ordained for the Diocese of Baton Rouge in 2014, Fr. Josh has dedicated his priesthood to inviting all people to become saints in their walk toward eternity. Fr. Josh travels widely as a speaker at conferences, retreats, and youth events. He is well-known for his popular Ascension podcast Ask Father Josh as well as his Q&A video show on Ascension Presents. Fr. Josh has written several books with Ascension, including the best-selling Pocket Guide to Reconciliation (co-written with Fr. Mike Schmitz), Pocket Guide to Adoration, Broken & Blessed & On Earth as it is in Heaven. Fr. Josh has contributed to several Ascension faith formation programs, including Altaration: The Mystery of the Mass Revealed and the Rejoice! Advent series. Fr. Josh is the Vocations Director for the Diocese of Baton Rouge, as well as pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus parish. He can often be found praying the Rosary and walking in the neighborhoods of his parish, inviting those under his pastoral care to become intentional disciples of Jesus Christ
- Francis Cabildo is a So. Cal-based, Catholic worship leader and songwriter. He and his wife Nicole are raising 5 boys and he serves as the Director of Worship at USC Caruso Catholic Center. He holds a degree in Theology and is passionate about helping people discover God and to fall in love with Jesus and the Church. He has written a number of songs such as Lord of All, Surrender and Wildfires. Francis loves to help people pray through music and worship.
- Gloria Purvis is a graduate of Cornell University and she worked for nearly two decades in the mortgage industry before becoming a risk management director at a major financial services company. She served on the National Black Catholic Congress' Leadership Commission on Social Justice, and as an Advisory Board Member on the Maryland Catholic Conference's Respect for Life Department as well as the Archdiocese of Washington's Pastoral Council. She also taught Natural Family Planning and helped prepare engaged couples for marriage as a member of a Pre-Cana team in the Archdiocese of Washington. She has appeared in various media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, PBS Newshour, Catholic Answers Live, and EWTN News Nightly, and hosted Morning Glory, an international radio show. She is Our Sunday Visitor’s Catholic of the Year for 2020.
- Kairy Marquez was born in a modest town in Santiago, Dominican Republic. She is daughter to a garment worker and a former Aguilas del Cibao baseball player. Since her birth, her grandmother made sure that Christ, the Blessed Mother, and the Church were part of her life. She attended Resurrection Church in her hometown. Being their youngest choir member and attending the Legion of Mary meetings with her grandmother are some of her fondest childhood memories. This is also where she discovered her inclination to music. Currently, Kairy is a full time worship leader and speaker. She first spanish album as a solo arist is named "Volar". In addition to ministering in events in the US, she tours with Cielo Abierto (www.cieloabierto.com.mx.), a Mexico-based production company that hosts eucharistic concerts in Mexico and Latin America. She has a special regard for Mother Teresa, St. Francis and St. Therese of Lisieux. Kairy lives in Atlanta, Georgia, USA with her husband Edwin and their two boys, Evan and Liam. She enjoys designing dresses with her mother, photography, fitness, eating out, songwriting, movies, nature, traveling, reading and cooking (and eating) anything with avocado!
- Katie Prejean McGrady is a wife, mom, award-winning author, international speaker, podcaster & daily radio show host. After working in youth ministry and high school education for a number of years, Katie began speaking full time in 2017, averaging over 100,000 miles a year traveling to speak at events for young people, parishes, parent groups, fundraisers, retreats, religious education conferences, and more. Katie began working with Ave Maria Press in 2019 to help create digital and audio content for Ave Explores, a multi-media project digging into various Catholic topics relevant to people who want to learn more and live their faith in a real, practical way. She hosts the Ave Explores podcast, a long-form interview style podcast that topics relevant topics each season. She appears as a Catholic commentator on CNN, is a consultant for the USCCB working group on youth and young adult ministry, and has given an OSV Talk on motherhood.
- My life started rather rough. When I was born, I was not brought into a loving family. In fact, it was quite the opposite. On April 6, 2002, I was born to a single mom who was homeless, helpless, and in serious need. We were on our own in the world and I needed her care. And just when I should have received that from her, I was sadly mistaken. My mother, instead of caring for me, sent me off to live with different friends and family members, every so often coming back just to drop me off somewhere else. I was sick, malnourished, and in need of the Lord’s help. Soon the Lord rescued me and whisked me off to a loving Christian home. He put me right where I needed to be. As I started to grow more healthy and happy, the system found my father. I was placed with him and though not much is known about my time there, it was short-lived. My father disappeared, and yet again, I was helpless and needed the Lord to intervene. By the grace of God, He brought me back home! I grew up loved, cherished, and most of all, taught in the ways of the Lord who rescued me in times of pain and struggle. My adopted family is full of love and I love to use my story to break the stereotypes around it. Adoption is not the end It's the beginning. Organizations like FosterAll help bring real hope and love to helpless children like me and give us a most priceless gift, a forever family.
- Gabe Reyes has led music throughout Southern California since 2005. In addition to weekly liturgies, Gabe leads worship at retreats for teens and young adults, VBS events and summer camps. He has traveled to lead worship music beyond the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, including the Diocese of Diego, Diocese of San Bernardino, Diocese of San Jose, Diocese of Fresno. Outside of California Gabe has led music for summer camps in Georgia and Arizona. In 2020 his first single, “Your Promise” launched his release of music leading up to the most current releases which can be heard on all platforms.