Special Guest Speakers

Theologian | Professor | Author

Dr. Scott Hahn is a bestselling author and world-renowned speaker on topics related to Scripture and the Catholic faith. As a former Protestant and Presbyterian minister, Scott converted to Catholicism in 1986. He is now known for his internationally recognized seminars, bringing Protestants and former Catholics back into the Catholic faith.  For more information on Dr. Hahn and his resources, check out his website here.

Theologian | Professor | Author

Dr. Lawrence Feingold is an Assistant Professor of Theology at Ave Maria University’s Institute for Pastoral Theology. He and his wife converted to Catholicism in 1989, and he later received a doctorate in Dogmatic Theology, summa cum laude. From 1995-96 he studied Biblical Hebrew and Greek in Jerusalem at the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum. His scholarly interests center on the theology and philosophy of St. Thomas Aquinas and the Thomistic tradition, the relationship between nature and grace, Christian anthropology, Christology, fundamental theology, the Jewish roots of the Catholic faith and the relationship between Christian faith and culture.

Inspirer | Speaker 

Alex Gotay is a dynamic national teen, young adult and adult speaker who uses his unique perspective combined with his passion, humor, creativity and stories to communicate the good news in a way that connects with ALL!

He is an author and has keynoted at several national Diocesan Youth Conferences, been on EWTN for Youth Ministry, spoken at official Life Teen Events, led a breakout session at the National Catholic Youth Conference, co-host of "Sainthood in the City" Podcast, is on the Hallow App, has been on several national, international radio stations, podcasts and continues to travel across the nation to speak at conferences, parishes, schools retreats, events, etc.  If you would like to learn more about Alex, check out his website here.

Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church

Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil is the current Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church. He was ordained on December 21, 1980 for the Eparchy of Thrichur and later completed his doctorate in Oriental Canon law. He has served as a vicar as well as in various roles for the curia for the Eparchy of Thrichur and was later appointed as the first Recorder of the Marymatha Seminary. He was ordained as a bishop on April 10, 2010 as an auxiliary bishop of Trichur and was later appointed as the first Bishop of the Syro Malabar Eparchy of Shamshabad on October 10, 2017 and installed on January 7, 2018, making him the Apostolic Visitator for the Syro Malabar faithful residing outside the territorium proprium (proper territories of the Syro Malabar Church). On January 8, 2024, the Syro Malabar Archiepiscopal Synod elected Mar Raphael Thattil as the fourth Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church. His presence at the Eucharistic Congress will be a particularly significant one as this will be his first visit to our eparchy since his election.

Bishop of St. Thomas Syro Malabar Diocese of Chicago

Bishop Mar Joy Alappatt is the second and current Bishop of the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Eparchy of Chicago. He was ordained a priest for the Syro Malabar Eparchy of Irinjalakuda on December 31, 1981 and served as a priest in India until he moved to the US in 1993 to serve in the Archdiocese of New York and the Archdiocese of Newark. He later served as a chaplain at  Georgetown University Medical Center from 1999-2002, where he completed the university's clinical pastoral education program before he served at multiple parishes within the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Eparchy of Chicago. He was appointed auxiliary bishop of the St. Thomas Eparchy in 2014, and was consecrated a bishop on September 27th of that same year. On July 3, 2022, he was appointed as the bishop of our eparchy and was installed on October 1, 2022. His episcopal motto is "Joyfully for your souls,” which as all those who encounter him can agree, he faithfully adheres to. He is well known as a retreat preacher, orator and musician, and has written lyrics for several Christian devotional songs and published a few music albums.

Bishop Emeritus of St. Thomas Syro Malabar Diocese of Chicago

Bishop Mar Jacob Angadiath was ordained as a priest for the Eparchy of Palai on January 5, 1972 and served as a priest in the eparchy until 1984 when he was sent to Dallas, TX. While serving at a Latin rite parish, he established the St. Thomas the Apostle mission in Dallas and later established the first Syro Malabar parish in the US in 1984. He later served as the first director of Mar Thoma Shleeha parish in Chicago until he was ordained as the first Bishop of the St. Thomas Syro Malabar Eparchy of Chicago on July 1, 2001. He served faithfully as our bishop (as well as the Permanent Apostolic Visitator to Canada until the erection of the Eparchy of Mississauga in 2015)  until his retirement on July 3, 2022. He continues to be active in our eparchy even after his retirement.

Renowned Speaker

Fr. Daniel Poovanathil is a well known speaker and current Director of the Mount Carmel Retreat Centre in India. Fr. Daniel’s talks have reached many via Youtube and Instagram, with over 560,000 Youtube subscribers. To hear his talks, please see his Youtube and Instagram channels, as well as the Mount Carmel Retreat Centre website.