Fr. Yojaneider García serves as the Director of the Office of Catechesis and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Paterson, New Jersey, and resides at St. Vincent Martyr Parish in Madison. He holds two master’s degrees (Summa Cum Laude): one in Sacred Scripture and another in Catechesis from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He also serves the diocese as a Censor Librorum. He currently represents the (FCH) in Nuevo Momento, a leadership development program designed to equip individuals to effectively lead Catholic organizations.

Ordained to the priesthood in 2014, Fr. Yojaneider has served in a variety of pastoral and educational roles, including parochial vicar, temporary administrator, seminary teacher, chaplain for Hispanic Ministry, and Spanish instructor. Originally from Colombia, he was formed by the Vincentian Fathers and earned a degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Bolivarian University. He also holds certifications in Accounting, Business Administration, and Electronics. Fr. Yojaneider is passionate about evangelization and formation. As he puts it, “Catechesis is a sacred and fundamental task for the Church. I want to contribute to the renewal of catechesis, empowering leaders to embrace the magnificent vocation and mission of the catechist".

Melissa Alvarez is Associate Director in the Office of Evangelization & Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. She leads the Ministry for Persons with Disabilities and has served the archdiocese for over a decade in various capacities. Those roles include Catholic Schools lead teacher, served in parish religious education and Early Childhood Center Director. She received her bachelor’s in science from the University of Houston and her Master’s degree in Catechesis and Evangelization from Franciscan University at Steubenville. Affiliate with the National Catholic Partnership on Disabilities and member for the Disability Resource Center Advisory Committee for Harris County in the City of Houston.

Ana Barraza is an international bilingual speaker, certified Special Education teacher, Master Catechist, and Catholic author with certifications in Digital Evangelization and Catholic Digital Entrepreneurship. She is part of the Loyola Press Speaker Corps, the head of the Ministry for Catholics with disAbilities for the Diocese of Sacramento, and the Adaptive Faith Formation catechetical leader for her parish. Her website, Catholicus.info, and social media are her contribution to Adaptive Digital Evangelization and Catechesis.

Miguel Angel Vences is associate director of Evangelization and Catechesis of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, which serves more than 1.7 million Catholics in 146 parishes. He is charged with overseeing the formation and certification of catechists as well as the formation of new and experiences parish catechetical leaders in alignment with the Catechetical Framework for Lifelong Faith Formation and the Christ-centric archdiocesan curriculum, developed and promulgated by Cardinal Archbishop Emeritus, Daniel DiNardo.

Marilyn Santos is the associate director of the Secretariat of Evangelization and Catechesis at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Previously she served as director of Missionary Education at the National Office of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. She has held leadership positions in youth, young adult, and cultural diversity ministries in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Diocese of Brooklyn, and the Diocese of Metuchen. Marilyn was president of La RED, the National Catholic Hispanic Youth Ministry Network and a consultant to the USCCB Secretariat on Laity, Marriage, Family and Youth. She lived as a missionary with the Salesian Sisters in Ecuador.

She has presented workshops and talks at multiple national and diocesan conferences and meetings, including those sponsored by NCEA, NCCL, NFCYM, Archdiocese of Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, and Mid-Atlantic Congress. Marilyn was a guest speaker at the 2017 USCCB Convocation for Catholic Leaders: The Joy of the Gospel in America and the 2019 USCCB V National Gathering.

José M. Amaya is the Director of Faith Formation in the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. He is responsible for the implementation of the AMS Forming Disciples for the New Evangelization: Archdiocesan Religion Curriculum Guide, the AMS Family Witness to Christ (digital platform for families to grow in faith at home), catechist formation and catechetical leadership development. The Archdiocese serves 1.8 million Catholics at 220 military installations in continental United States and around the world. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Washington Theological Union. He enjoys gardening when he is not traveling around the globe to serve those who serve in the US armed forces.