Speakers

Bishop John Noonan

Bishop John Noonan was born in Limerick, Ireland and immigrated to New York at the age of 18. He later relocated to Miami where his calling to the priesthood led him to St. John Vianney College Seminary. After graduation, he attended St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1983. On September 23, 1983 he was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Miami and received his first pastoral assignment as parochial vicar, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, Pompano Beach. Having a keen interest in education, Bishop Noonan pursued additional studies and received a Master of Education from Boston College in 1996.

Pope John Paul II conferred the title of monsignor upon Reverend John Noonan on October 22, 2001. Pope Benedict XVI named him auxiliary bishop of Miami, June 21, 2005 and he was ordained to the episcopacy, August 24, 2005 at the Cathedral of St. Mary, Miami. The Holy Father appointed him bishop of Orlando, October 23, 2010 and his installation ceremony occurred on December 16, 2010 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe.

Alejandro Aguilera-Titus

Alejandro Aguilera-Titus has thirty years of experience in ministry with a strong emphasis on pastoral planning, leadership development and formation, catechesis and ministry with young people. He is a nationally known speaker and writer highly regarded for his practical application of theological thought to ministry in culturally diverse settings. Alejandro is currently Assistant Director of the Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mr. Aguilera-Titus is a Doctor in Ministry Candidate at Barry University. He holds a M.A. in Theology from the University of Portland and a B.A. in Communications with a minor in Philosophy from the Universidad Iberoamericana, in Mexico City. He is co-author of the series Prophets of Hope, St. Mary’s Press, and contributing editor of Liturgia y Canción, Oregon Catholic Press. He sits on the board of a number of national organizations including the National Catholic Council for Hispanic Ministry, the National Catholic Association of Diocesan Directors for Hispanic Ministry and Christian Churches Together USA.

Hosffman Ospino, PhD

Hosffman Ospino, PhD is an Assistant Professor of Theology and Religious Education at Boston’s College’s School of Theology and Ministry where he is also the Director of Graduate Programs in Hispanic Ministry.  His research and writings explore how the conversation between faith and culture shapes Catholic educational and ministerial dynamics. Dr. Ospino served as the principal investigator for the National Study of Catholic Parishes with Hispanic Ministry (2011-2014), whose main report was published as Hispanic Ministry in Catholic Parishes (Our Sunday Visitor, 2015). A related national study on Catholic schools serving Hispanic families is to be published later in 2015. Besides his works on catechesis, he has edited and authored several books on Hispanic ministry, including Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century: Present and Future (2010) and the upcoming Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century: Urgent Matters (2015). Dr. Ospino regularly addresses academic, ministerial, and catechetical audiences, nationally and internationally.

Fr. Jorge Torres

Fr. Jorge was born in Mexico, raised in NY and settled in Orlando at the age of 17 years old. Fr. Jorge entered seminary at the age of eighteen and holds and undergraduate degree in philosophy from St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and a Masters in Divinity from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, FL . Fr. Jorge was ordained in 2005 and served at St. Ann Catholic Church from 2005-2008. From 2008-2001 he served in his second assignment was Most Precious Blood Catholic Church while also serving as a chaplain for campus ministry at the University of Central Florida. In 2011 he became the vocation director. Since becoming director he has helped form discernment groups for young adults as well as teens in various parts of the diocese.

Father Carlos D. Suarez

Father Carlos D. Suarez is a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston. He studied at St. John’s Seminary and was ordained in 2011. Prior to entering seminary, Father Suarez earned a Bachelor’s degree in psychology at Boston University and spent several years working as a social worker with the elderly in Boston.

Father Suarez is presently assigned to a collaborative of three parishes in Brockton, MA as well as serving the Archdiocese as Assistant Vocation Director for Hispanic Ministries. Father Suarez is a member of the NCDVD Hispanic Subcommittee.