Defending the Faith Conference

John Paul Von Arx

John Paul Von Arx seeks to share his faith and love for country music in venues all across America and has been performing professionally for the last 12 years. Since the release of his debut solo album in 2018, John Paul has been known for his advocacy work for people with Down Syndrome and their families. Additionally, in 2020, he began working as a staff member at Franciscan University where he currently oversees Men’s and Women’s Ministry. When not performing or giving talks, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters outdoors.

Dr. Scott Hahn

Dr. Scott Hahn is the "Fr. Michael Scanlan Professor for Biblical Theology at Franciscan University". He is the founder and president of the St. Paul Center, an apostolate dedicated to teaching Catholics to read Scripture from the heart of the Church. Dr. Hahn has been married to Kimberly for 44 years. They have 6 children and 22 grandchildren. They also have one son ordained to the Diocese of Steubenville, Fr. Jeremiah Hahn. The author and editor of over 50 popular and academic books, Dr. Hahn's works include bestselling titles: Rome Sweet Home and The Lamb's Supper. His most recent title is Catholics in Exile; Biblical Wisdom for our Journey Home (Emmaus Road, 2023).

Kimberly Hahn

Kimberly Hahn wed Scott in 1979. They met at Grove City College, where she earned a B.A. in Communication Arts. While Scott studied to be a pastor, Kimberly earned an MA in Theological Studies in 1982. They have 6 children and 22 grandchildren. Kimberly became a Catholic in 1990 in Joliet, Illinois, after a difficult struggle during the four years following Scott’s entrance into the Catholic Church. Together they wrote Rome Sweet Home: Our Journey to Catholicism. Kimberly also wrote Life-Giving Love: Embracing God’s Beautiful Design for Marriage, and a four-volume series on marriage and family life: Chosen and Cherished, Graced and Gifted, Beloved and Blessed, and Legacy of Love. Her podcast “Beloved and Blessed” reaches tens of thousands weekly.

Jeff Morrow

Dr. Jeffrey Morrow, a Jewish convert to Catholicism, is a professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is the author of a number of books including The Catholic Guide to the New Testament (with Jeff Cavins); Murmuring Against Moses (with John Bergsma); and Modern Biblical Criticism as a Tool of Statecraft (with Scott Hahn).

Shane Owens

Dr. Shane Owens is assistant professor of theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville and director of three master's programs in theology. Owens is a theologian with the St. Paul Center and host of Bible Across America. An alumnus of Franciscan, he earned his PhD at The Catholic University of America, specializing in the theology of St. Augustine, the reception of the Bible, and the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition. He previously taught at The Catholic University of America, the Dominican House of Studies, and Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University. He is author of Return to the Heart: The Biblical Spirituality of St. Augustine’s Confessions. He and his bride, Esther, raise their three children in Steubenville, Ohio.

Dr. Andrew Swafford

Gavin Ashenden

Father Carter Griffin

Father Carter Griffin is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. Raised Presbyterian, he converted to Catholicism while attending Princeton University. He served for four years as a line officer in the United States Navy prior to entering the seminary. Father Griffin is rector at St. John Paul II Seminary, where he has served since 2011. He is the author of Why Celibacy: Reclaiming the Fatherhood of the Priest, Cross-Examined: Catholic Responses to the World’s Questions, Forming Fathers: Seminary Wisdom for Every Priest, and most recently, Forming Families, Forming Saints, all published by Emmaus Road Publishing. Scepter Press will soon publish Reclaimed: Win the War of Freedom, Self-Mastery, and Holy Purity.

Father Roger Landry

Msgr. Roger J. Landry, a priest of the Diocese of Fall River, is national director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in the United States. A graduate of Harvard College and the North American College in Rome, he served as attaché to the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the UN in New York City, Catholic chaplain at Columbia University, ecclesiastical assistant to ACN-USA, and has been a pastor, newspaper editor, and high school chaplain. He served as onsite commentator for EWTN’s coverage of the papal conclaves that elected Pope Francis and Pope Leo as well as the funerals of Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis. His homilies, articles, retreats, conferences, and other offerings are available for free at catholicpreaching.com.

Marcus Peters

Dr. Marcus Peter is a former militant atheist who encountered Jesus Christ, became a Protestant preacher, and eventually returned to the Catholic Church in 2010. He has given thousands of talks across the world on the faith. Dr. Peter has studied philosophy and Alphonsian Spirituality, received a master’s degree in systematic theology and a doctorate in biblical studies, and is pursuing a second Canonical PhD in Scripture from St. Mary's University in London. He is the director of theology for Ave Maria Radio and the Kresta Institute; the host of EWTN's daily international radio program, Ave Maria in the Afternoon, which focuses on applying Scripture to culture; and the host of Unveiling the Covenants, a TV program applying Scripture to life.

Rob Corzine

Megan Hjelmstad

Megan Hjelmstad (“Helm-stead”) is a devoted wife, enthusiastic hockey mom, and retired Army officer living in Denver, Colorado.  In her “spare” time she serves God as a Catholic author, speaker, and women’s mentor, helping others embrace their God-given dignity and pursue personal holiness. Megan is the author of Offer it Up: Discovering Deep Meaning and Powerful Purpose in Suffering, a writer for SpiritualDirection.com, and a longtime team member of Blessed is She. Megan adores books, sleep, sunshine, and Colorado’s great outdoors almost as much as she adores Jesus in the Eucharist. Learn more at MeganHjelmstad.com.

Bishop Joseph Williams

Special Guest: Ana Munley

Ana Munley is a Catholic speaker, digital creator and host of the AfterMass podcast, where she encourages people to move beyond lukewarm faith and live a deeply devout Catholic life. She shares content online that helps Christians better understand Scripture, Church teaching, the sacraments, and the call to deeper conversion. Ana is a wife and mom of two, and lives in Florida with her husband, Joe. She is passionate about calling people to deeper conversion and reminding them that holiness is the calling of every Christian.

Special Guest: Keith Nester

Keith Nester is the Executive Director of Down to Earth Ministry. Keith is a former pastor/youth pastor with more than 20 years in full-time ministry. In 2017, after a 20-year-long discernment process, Keith resigned from his full-time ministry position and joined the Catholic Church. Keith is the author of two books, The Convert’s Guide to Roman Catholicism: Your First Year in the Church and Unpacking the Mysteries of the Rosary. Keith continues to use his preaching gifts to speak in Churches and events about faith, theology, and his journey to Catholicism. He has a popular YouTube channel, making videos and other content, bringing the truths of the Catholic Faith to the world in his unique style.

Special Guest: Emily Dinneny

Emily Dinneny, also known as @Catholic.Converts on social media, converted to the Catholic Church at just 17-years-old. Drawn to the Church through online apologetics, she began creating Catholic content to inspire in others the same desire for conversion. Over the past few years, Emily has garnered more than 100,000 followers across various platforms, especially on TikTok. Emily graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2023 with degrees in philosophy and cognitive and behavioral neuroscience. She now works full-time for Catholic Answers, a Catholic apologetics media ministry dedicated to explaining and defending the faith.

Special Guest: Brian Holdsworth

Brian Holdsworth is a writer, speaker, videographer, and entrepreneur based in Edmonton, Canada, where he lives with his wife and eight children. After entering the Catholic Church at the age of 22, he has been driven by a sustained desire to share the transformative impact of faith on his life and sense of purpose. He produces bi-weekly video essays on YouTube, exploring topics such as apologetics, culture, philosophy, politics, and theology. His channel has amassed over 20 million views and more than 200,000 subscribers. Learn more at brianholdsworth.ca.