Contributors

Melinda Ribnek is a lifelong Catholic, originally from Savannah, Georgia. She currently lives on California's Central Coast with her husband Brian and their seven children. In her spare time, she volunteers for the Church and in her community.

Meredith Dawson is a Catholic convert living in the Midwestern United States. She is a Cherokee Native American and an independent Tolkien scholar.

Michael E. DeSanctis, Ph.D., is retired professor of fine arts and theology at Gannon University in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is the author of Building from Belief: Advance, Retreat and Compromise in the Remaking of Catholic Church Architecture   (Liturgical Press, 2002) and Renewing the City of God: Catholic Architectural Reform in the United States (Liturgy Training Publications, 1994). He also has an article soon to appear in the October 2022 issue of Worship journal entitled, "An Architecture of Pardon and Consolation," which examines new and reconfigured place of Catholic worship that embody the theology underlying Pope Francis's 2016 "Year of Mercy."

Michael Lofton is a graduate of Christendom College Graduate School of Theology where he received his Master of Arts in Theological Studies (Cum Laude) in 2018. He is currently working on a doctorate in Theology with Pontifex University and is writing a dissertation on the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Michael is the founder of theReason & Theologyshow, where he has interviewed many of the leading figures in contemporary theology. He has worked with Catholic Answers as an affiliate apologist and also appeared on EWTN, SiriusXM Radio, Radio Maria. He has also contributed frequently to various newspapers and websites.

Michael Patrick Barber is Professor of Scripture and Theology at the Augustine Institute Graduate School (Florissant, MO). He is the author of numerous scholarly publications as well as public-facing books, including The Historical Jesus: Memory, Methodology, and the Gospel of Matthew (Cambridge University Press, 2023) and The Bible and the Anointing of the Sick,Catholic Biblical Theology of the Sacraments Series (Baker Academic, forthcoming 2025). He lives in the St. Louis area with his wife Kimberly and their six children.

Michel Therrien, STL, STD is the President and CEO of Preambula Group. Prior to founding Preambula Group, he served as the President of the Institute for Pastoral Leadership and the Director of Evangelization for the Diocese of Pittsburgh. Before moving to Pittsburgh in 2014, he was a professor moral theology and Academic Dean at the Augustine Institute in Denver, CO. He taught for seven years at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe, PA, also serving as Academic Dean from 2008-2012. He holds a B.A. in Theology from Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA, an M.A. in Theology and Christian Ministry from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the International Theological Institute in Gaming, Austria, and a Doctorate in Fundamental Moral Theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland (2007). Michel is the author of The Catholic Faith Explained (Sophia Institute Press, 2020).

Mike Gray is a husband, father of four (with one on the way), combat veteran, and attorney living in
Findlay, Ohio. He writes about his interests (mostly about homebrewed beer, barbecue, parenting, and
Catholicism) at www.mikegrayblog.com and on Twitter @mikegrayok.

Mike Lewis is the founding managing editor of Where Peter Is. In addition to his work for the site, his writing has appeared in America Magazine, National Catholic Reporter, US Catholic, The Irish Catholic, Catholic Outlook, The Synodal Times, and other Catholic publications. He has been quoted in The Washington Post, Vanity Fair, The New York Post, and other mainstream outlets on Catholic affairs. He previously co-hosted the Field Hospital podcast with Jeannie Gaffigan and The Debrief podcast. Before founding Where Peter Is, he worked in communications at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and Catholic Climate Covenant. He is married with four children.

Nathaniel "Nate" Tinner-Williams is a co-founder and editor of the Black Catholic Messenger. He is also a theology grad/nerd and loves to engage in the New Evangelization through the internet. A lifelong Christian and newborn Catholic, he is always looking to discover just how deep and wide the Church truly is.

Nathan Turowsky—a native New Englander, an alumnus of Boston University School of Theology, and one of the relatively few Catholic alumni of that primarily Wesleyan institution—works in the nonprofit sector and writes at Silicate Siesta.

Nicholas Senz is a husband and father, and Pastoral Associate at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Fishers, IN. He received a B.A. in Communication Studies (Journalism track) from the University of Portland, and an M.A. in Philosophy and M.A. in Theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, CA. Nicholas served as a Master Catechist in California. He has taught faith formation and catechist training courses in parishes across the country, and has taught philosophy and religion at the community college level. He has also been published in several Catholic websites and periodicals, including Aleteia, Catholic Digest, Catholic Herald (UK), Catholic World Report, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. Nicholas lives in Indiana with his wife and three children.

Nick Freiling is Managing Editor at Theophaneia and a homeschooling father of five. He lives in Jacksonville, FL.

Patric is a 27 year-old graphic designer, writer, and wannabe theologian. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a BA in Religious Studies and BA in Graphic Design. He is currently working on an MA in Theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is an active member of his parish in Bowling Green, KY, where he acts as a catechist and member of his church’s young adult core team.

He is active on his faith blog www.smellysheep.wordpress.com.

Patrick Calderon is a lay Catholic based in Vancouver, Canada, where he helps coordinate various young adult ministries. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology and political science and a Master of Global Affairs degree from the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Paul Chu is currently a philosophy instructor for CTState, the Connecticut Community College, and has previously taught philosophy in college, university, and seminary settings. He also served as a staff writer and editor for various national publications. He is co-founder of Sacred Beauty, a Private Association of the Faithful in the Diocese of Bridgeport dedicated to honoring the beauty and holiness of God through artistic and intellectual creativity founded in prayer, especially Eucharistic contemplation. He contributes regularly to https://questionsdisputedandotherwise.substack.com/.

Paul E. Jarzembowski is the author of Hope from the Ashes: Insights and Resources for Welcoming Lenten Visitors (2022) from Paulist Press. He serves on staff at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington DC, within the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, and has been actively involved in the leadership of several USCCB initiatives including World Youth Day, the Convocation of Catholic Leaders, the Fifth National Encuentro, the Synods on Young People and on Synodality, Journeying Together, and the Eucharistic Revival. Paul is also a national and an international leader in the Church’s pastoral work with youth, young adults, and the laity, consulting with and speaking for dioceses, eparchies, parishes, colleges and universities, religious communities, digital ministries, and conferences around the world.

Paul Faheylives in Michigan with his wife and five kids. He is a limited licensed professional counselor, retreat leader, and catechist. He is a co-founder of Where Peter Is, founder and co-host of the Pope Francis Generation podcast, and the host of the Third Space podcast. He provides counseling for those who have been spiritually abused and produces resources for Church leaders to better safeguard their communities against all forms of abuse.

Pedro Gabriel, MD, is a Catholic layman and physician, born and residing in Portugal. He is a medical oncologist, currently employed in a Portuguese public hospital. A published writer of Catholic novels with a Tolkienite flavor, he is also a parish reader and a former catechist. He seeks to better understand the relationship of God and Man by putting the lens on the frailty of the human condition, be it physical and spiritual. He also wishes to provide a fresh perspective of current Church and World affairs from the point of view of a small western European country, highly secularized but also highly Catholic by tradition.

Pete Vere is a canonist, author, and catechist. His books include Surprised by Canon Law (volumes 1 & 2), More Catholic Than The Pope, and Annulments: 100 Questions and Answers. Pete and wife Sonya are blessed with seven children. In his spare time Pete enjoys camping with his family, riding his Indian Scout motorcycle, and refereeing professional wrestling.

Preslaysa Williams is an award-winning author who writes contemporary romance and women's fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. Proud of her heritage, she loves sharing her culture with her readers. She has a MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill University, a Master in Public Administration from the College of Charleston, and an undergraduate degree in Spanish Language & Literature from Columbia University. Preslaysa is also a professional actress, a planner nerd, an avid bookworm, and a homeschool mom who often wears mismatched socks. Her contemporary romance entitled A Lowcountry Bride releases on June 1, 2021 with Avon Books/HarperCollins.

To follow along with her busy life, visit her at www.preslaysa.com where you can sign up for her newsletter

Rachel Amiri is the former production editor of Where Peter Is and currently serves as communications specialist for the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus. She has also appeared as the host of WPI Live. She is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Theology and Political Science, and was deeply shaped by the thought of Pope Benedict XVI. She has worked in Catholic publishing as well as in healthcare as a FertilityCare Practitioner. Rachel is married to fellow WPI Contributor Daniel Amiri and resides in St. Louis, Missouri, where they are raising three children.

Rachel Dobbs is a Catholic convert and a happily married woman with two black cats living in Jacksonville, Florida. She works as a Sr. Library services associate at the University of North Florida where she received her Bachelor's and Master's in history. In addition, she's a novice Benedictine oblate. Her interests include history, reading, knitting, fantasy, and RPGs.

A Catholic and friend of a frequent contributor to WPI.

RafaelLuciani. Venezuelan layman, Doctor of Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University. He received an honorary doctorate from the Faculty of Theology at the Dominican Institute of Aquinas in the United States. He is a Professor Ordinarius at the Jesuit`s Andrés Bello Catholic University in Caracas, and has taught in several Universities in Latin America and North America. He currently teaches Ecclesiology, Latin American Theology, and the Second Vatican Council. He is an expert for CELAM (Latin American Episcopal Council) and a member of the theological advisory group to the presidency of CLAR (Latin American Confederation of Religious). He is co-coordinator of the intercontinental group of theologians and canonists Peter & Paul Seminar, serves as a member of the theological commission of the General Secretariat of the Synod for the synodal process (2021-2028) and was a Peritus at the XVI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on Synodality.

Rebecca Malmquist lives in the Atlanta, GA area with her husband and daughter. She is a Definitively Promised Secular Carmelite, as well as a writer and retired teacher. She earned her B.A. and M.Ed. from Brenau University. She enjoys reading and studying Carmelite theology, and sharing spiritual theology with others through writing. Rebecca is also co-founder of the discussion group, Authentic Contemplative Prayer, now hosted on the Discord app. This group teaches about prayer in accordance with the Carmelite Doctors of the Church.

Robert Christian is the editor of Millennial, an online periodical on religion, politics, and culture by millennial Catholics.

Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D. is Professor of Systematic Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, MI. He is a former president (2014–2016) of the Mariological Society of America; a member of the theological commission of the International Marian Association; and a corresponding member of the Pontifical Marian Academy International.

Rodrigo Guerra López is the secretary of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.

Originally from Mexico City, he graduated in philosophy from the Free Popular University of the State of Puebla, Mexico; he was then awarded a higher degree in university humanism from the Ibero-American University, Mexico, and a doctorate in philosophy from the International Academy of Philosophy of the Principality of Liechtenstein.

He has held the role of academic coordinator of the John Paul II Pontifical Institute in Mexico City and has served as professor of metaphysics, bioethics, and philosophy of law at the PanAmerican University, Mexico. In 2013 he held the Karol Wojtyla Memorial Lectures at the Catholic University of Lublin, Poland.

From 2004 to 2007 he directed the Observatorio Socio Pastoral of the Latin American Episcopal Council. In 2008 he founded the Centro de Investigación Social Avanzada (CISAV), of which he is professor-researcher of the Division of Philosophy and member of the Consejo de Gobierno.

He is a member of the theological commission of the Latin American Episcopal Council and of the Pontifical Academy for Life, and is the author of numerous publications in the field of anthropology, bioethics, and social philosophy.