Speakers 2023

to Know, to Love, to Serve

Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan

The Most Reverend Dennis J. Sullivan is the eighth bishop of Camden, New Jersey. He was installed on February 12, 2013.

A Bronx native, Bishop Sullivan was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of New York in 1971. Before coming to Camden, he was ordained as an auxiliary bishop for the archdiocese in 2004, and served eight years as vicar general under the late Edward Cardinal Egan and Timothy Cardinal Dolan.

Before becoming a bishop, he served in parish ministry as pastor of Ss. John and Paul Church, Larchmont, 2002-04, and St. Teresa in Manhattan, 1982-2002.

Bishop Sullivan also served as parochial vicar at the Parish of St. Elizabeth, Manhattan; Ascension, Manhattan, and Ss. Philip and James, the Bronx, from 1971 to 1981. In 1999 he was named a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness.

Mark Forrest, Irish Tenor

His melodic voice has filled concert halls and cathedrals worldwide. He has sung inspirational hymns for luminaries such as Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa. His soothing Broadway melodies have entertained award-winning performers including Charlton Heston and Maureen O’Hara.

Although this international Irish tenor has performed for some of the leading orators of our time, Mark Forrest is not beckoning audiences to himself, rather he hopes his listeners will hear a deeper call and attune their ears to his heartfelt message – a message that has been shaped by what many would call the tragedies in his life.

Mark Forrest’s “song” is The Faith and Family Foundation, an organization he and his wife Muriel, founded in 1999 to support and encourage individuals and families with special needs. His “lyrics” are the sanctity of human life, at every stage and age.

Mark and Muriel’s efforts to establish The Faith and Family Foundation were born out of the sorrowful death of their third baby boy – Francesco – who was diagnosed in utero with a severely compromised heart. He lived only five days, “touching more people than I ever will in a lifetime,” Mark says. Their second son, John Patrick, was also born with special needs and is battling a rare nerve condition that has left him blind and confined to a wheelchair.

Yet Mark and his wife turned their tragedies into triumphs and resurrected joy from the ashes of their sorrows. They embraced their pas personal despair and are now conveying hope to thousands around the globe through the Foundation.

The Foundation offers annual awards recognizing outstanding persons with disabilities, or individuals who work with or care for persons with disabilities, as well as awards to those who best exemplify the ethos of Faith and Family in a public setting.

Born in Dublin, Ireland, awarded full scholarships to study music, and educated at The Catholic University of America, Mark could allow his exceptional talent to take him worldwide with Broadway touring companies. But he is committed to his own family and to his life’s work sharing his music through The Faith and Family Foundation.

Mark uses his music, whether Broadway’s best inspirational tunes, traditional Irish songs, or classic hymns to inspire people everywhere to appreciate the importance of their faith and their family life in today’s changing society. All proceeds from Mark’s concerts and the sale of his CDs and tapes go to benefit the Foundation. The Foundation is also publishing a book on the life of Francesco Forrest, to bring support and encouragement to parents and siblings of babies born with chronic or fatal illnesses. An inspirational children’s book series is also planned.

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

Known around the world as the “Dynamic Deacon”, Harold Burke-Sivers 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 travels across the United States and around the world speaking at conferences, workshops, retreats, parish missions, high schools, and young adult events – in short, to everyone who desires to know Jesus intimately and enjoy a deeper personal relationship with Him. His areas of expertise include marriage and family life, discerning the will of God, the sacraments, male spirituality, evangelization, prayer, and many others.

Deacon Harold holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master of Theological Studies Degree from the University of Dallas. He co-hosts the national weekly broadcast “Living Stones” on Mater Dei Radio. Deacon Harold has appeared in the major feature film Power in My Hands and is the creator of Walk by Faith Wednesday Webinars, a weekly hour of Catholic catechesis and teaching.

In addition, he is the host or co-host of several popular series on EWTN television and is featured on the award-winning Chosen faith formation program by Ascension Press. Deacon Harold is the author of five books, including Behold the Man: A Catholic Vision of Male Spirituality, Father Augustus Tolton: The Slave Who Became the First African American Priest, and the acclaimed new book Our Life of Service: The Handbook for Catholic Deacons.

Retaining a deep love of Benedictine spirituality which he gained during his time discerning a call to that religious community, Deacon Harold is a Benedictine Oblate of Mount Angel Abbey. He is also a member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars and the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.

Captain Daniel L. Mode, CHC, USN, Chaplain of the U. S. Coast Guard

Captain Daniel L. Mode earned his undergraduate degree in Philosophy in 1988 at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He then attended Mount Saint Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and graduated in 1992 with Master’s Degrees in History and Theology. His History Master’s thesis on the life and heroics of Navy Chaplain Father Vincent Capodanno was eventually transformed into a popular biography, known as The Grunt Padre. It became the catalyst for his many public speaking engagements regarding the life of Father Capodanno and the Navy Chaplain Corps.

Father Mode was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in May 1992 for service in the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia. His subsequent pastoral assignments included: Associate Pastor of a 12,000-member parish in Fairfax Station (1992-1996), Vice-Principal of Bishop O’Connell High School in Arlington (1996-2001), and Pastor of Queen of Apostle’s Parish in Alexandria (2001-2005).

Chaplain Mode began his military service in September 1988 as a Chaplain Candidate Program Officer, with the rank of Ensign. Concurrent with his seminary training in preparation for ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood, he served at a variety of on-the-job Navy training assignments.

Promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade in 1998, Chaplain Mode accepted a superseding appointment to the Reserve Component of the United States Navy. During his nine years of reserve time he drilled at Bethesda Naval Hospital (1998-1999) and at the Office of the Chief of Navy Chaplains (2000-2003). In January 2004, Chaplain Mode began drilling with MEFREL 106, in direct support to Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. From May 2005 to March 2007, he was mobilized for service in Operation Enduring Freedom, attached to the Commander, Joint Task Force 76 in Bagram, Afghanistan. As a supervisory chaplain there, he coordinated the ministry of seventeen US and coalition chaplains in providing pastoral care to more than 30,000 soldiers in over 50 forward operating bases.

In June of 2007, CAPT Mode was assessed to the Active Component of the United States Navy and was assigned to USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (CVN 75). He completed a seven-month deployment to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and maritime security operations. From June 2009 to June 2012, CAPT Mode was assigned to the United States Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut to serve the staff and the brigade of cadets. From July 2012 to October 2014, he was assigned as the Command Chaplain of the USS WASHINGTON Strike Group in Japan completing two six month deployments in the Seventh Fleet. From November 2014 to May 2016, he was the Command Chaplain of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In June 2016, he assumed the duties as the Division Director of Plans and Operations for the Chaplain Corps and completed a seven month fellowship at the Religious Freedom Institute in Washington, D.C. From June of 2019 to March of 2022, he served as the 7th Fleet Chaplain in Yokosuka, Japan. He currently serves as the 12th Chaplain of the Coast Guard.

CAPT Mode is a 2015 Naval War College Distance Education graduate of Joint Professional Military Education Phase I. His awards and decorations include a Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3 stars), Navy Commendation Medal (2 stars), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon.

Major General Karl H. Gingrich Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, U.S. Army Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8

In July 2019, Major General Karl H. Gingrich became the Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E), in the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, Headquarters, Department of the Army. As the Director of Program Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E), General Gingrich is responsible for developing the Army’s five-year budget projections. He assesses, evaluates, and synchronizes Army programs to ensure Army senior leaders possess the relevant facts to implement critical policy and resourcing decisions. He is also the Executive Agent for Army officers serving as analysts in the Operations Research/Systems Analysis (ORSA) field within the Army.

Prior to his current assignment, MG Gingrich served as the Director, Capability and Resource Integration with the United States Cyber Command, from 2017 until 2019. Before this, he served as the Assistant Program Executive Officer, Office of the Program Executive Officer, Command, Control and Communication (Tactical), at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland.

Major General Gingrich received his officer commission from Temple University as an Armor Officer with a degree in Civil and Construction Engineering Technology. After leading tactical formations in the Army, he embarked on a career in Operations Research, supporting and leading the Army’s Force and Program Development with service at every echelon.

His operational experience includes Operation Enduring Freedom as the Deputy Director, Chief of Assessments, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan/Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, and Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Chief, Force Generation, Plans, and Assessment Division with Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq.

Major General Gingrich holds master’s Degrees from the University of Louisville, U.S. Air Force Air University, and the National Defense University. He is married to Lori Gingrich and they have two children – Aubrey and Connor – and a daughter-in-law, Jessica.

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