Deacon Jason Bulman and his wife Rachel have been married for 15 years and have 7 children (six on earth and one in heaven.) Jason is a practicing physician assistant, speaker and writer. He has appeared on numerous podcasts, serves on the board for Catholic Charities of Central Florida and holds a Master’s Degree in Theology. Rachel is a stay-at-home mother, international speaker, and author. She served as the editor for With All Her Mind: A Call to the Intellectual Life, a collection of essays from various Catholic women exploring the often forgotten aspect of the feminine genius – the intellectual life.

Rachel authored Becoming Wife: Saying Yes to More than the Dress, a theological and philosophical reflection on being a wife. The Bulman family has been featured on the series “Meet the Bulmans” on the Word on Fire Institute YouTube channel, and Rachel and Jason also wrote and recorded a novena for married couples which is featured on the #1 Catholic meditation, prayer, and sleep app, Hallow.

Dr. Matthew Bunson is Vice President and Editorial Director of EWTN News. For the past 30 years, Dr. Bunson has been active in the area of Catholic social communications and education, including writing, editing, and teaching on a variety of topics related to Church history, the papacy, the saints and Catholic culture. He is the author or co-author of over 50 books, including: Saint Pope Paul VI, The Encyclopedia of Catholic History, The Pope Encyclopedia, We Have a Pope! Benedict XVI, The Saints Encyclopedia and various best-selling biographies.

Steve Ray’s talk on the cruise was about what he calls the “Twelve Unknown Sorrows of Mary.”

Steve Ray is a convert to the Catholic faith and a popular author, speaker, and pilgrimage leader. He has been to the Holy Land exploring, filming, and leading thousands of pilgrims. Steve is a regular guest on Catholic radio and TV including Catholic Answers, Ave Maria Radio, and EWTN.

Some of his books include:Genesis: A Bible Study Guide and CommentaryCrossing the Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historical ChurchUpon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church

Deacon John Rybski and his wife Judy sit down with Vanessa to share their story of marriage, faith, and the deaconate.

Chuck Gaidica is an author, keynote speaker, podcast, and radio host. Many people may know Chuck from his national and local radio and television work in Michigan spanning over four decades. He has multiple Emmy awards and was awarded the prestigious Silver Circle Award for broadcast excellence by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. After retiring from fulltime television news and radio, Chuck served on staff at two churches before returning to the Catholic Church. He also worked as a leader of various efforts to bring business, media, churches, and non-profits together as “forces for good”.

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers – known around the world as the “Dynamic Deacon” – is one of the most sought-after speakers in the Church today. He is a powerful and passionate evangelist and preacher, whose no-nonsense approach to living and proclaiming the Catholic faith will challenge and inspire those who hear him. He is the host of several series on EWTN including Beacon of Truth and is the author of several books, including Our Life of Service: The Handbook for Catholic Deacons, Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality, and Building a Civilization of Love: A Catholic Response to Racism

Father Joshua Fons was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. After hearing the call to the priesthood, he studied for his Bachelors in Philosophy and Catholic Studies at St. John Vianney College Seminary, and has a Masters in Divinity from Sacred Heart Major Seminary as well as a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology for the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He spent 4 years as a full-time missionary with FOCUS, evangelizing and discipling college athletes. He was ordained a priest in 2024, and now is the Parochial Vicar of St. Patrick Parish in Brighton, MI.

Jeff and Ahlam Kassab have been married for 35 years and are blessed with two children. Their marriage is centered on Christ and rooted in sacrificial love, which shapes the way they serve other couples. They provide marriage preparation and ongoing mentorship, especially for those who may be struggling. Jeff holds a master’s degree in Catholic Theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary and is deeply formed in Scripture and Catholic apologetics, having given numerous lectures and presentations on the faith.

Father Patrick Setto is a priest of the Chaldean Eparchy of Saint Thomas the Apostle in Detroit. Father Patrick’s ministry beautifully weaves together faith, healing, and beauty. Through his pastoral work, he has a special passion for marriage ministry and inner healing, helping people experience restoration, deeper relationships, and freedom in Christ. Alongside his priestly ministry, he also shares the Gospel through sacred art and music, using beauty as a doorway into prayer, reflection, and a deeper encounter with God’s presence.

Dr. Greg Popcak is a fellow of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the chair of the Marriage and Family Studies Concentration in the Master of Pastoral Studies program at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He also holds teaching positions on the psychology and graduate theology faculties at Franciscan University of Steubenville.Lisa Popcak is a Certified Family Life Coach, a Lactation Consultant, and professional educator with specializations in learning styles and early childhood development, adoption, and attachment. They have been married 27 years and are the parents of three children. She and Dr. Greg are popular guests on many Catholic radio and television programs and their work has been featured in the LA Times, Washington Post, Ladies Home Journal, NPR, USA Radio Network, FoxNews, and many other outlets.

Dr. Elizabeth Lev is an American-born art historian with the good fortune to live and work in Rome. After finishing her studies at the University of Chicago in 1989, Elizabeth moved to Northern Italy to do her graduate work at the University of Bologna. Shortly after her decision to reside in Rome in 1997, Elizabeth began giving tours for a small cultural association and in 2001 passed the licensing exam for guides. She serves as a faculty member teaching Art History at Duquesne University’s Italian campus and has since joined the teaching staff at the Pontifical University of the Angelicum in Rome. She is the author of many articles and books including How Catholic Art Saved the Faith: The Triumph of Beauty and Truth in Counter-Reformation Art and The Silent Knight: A History of St. Joseph as Depicted in Art. Learn more about her work at lizlevtours.com