• FOR LIFE AND FAMILY

About Together in Holiness

Where Spouses Discover God’s Plan for Their Family
Together in Holiness is a marriage conference series for dioceses that inspires spouses to grow together in holiness and empowers parents to form their children in the Catholic faith. To learn more about the Together in Holiness marriage enrichment initiative, click here.
  • "I am grateful for the opportunity to host the third annual Together in Holiness conference in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. I encourage couples to attend this excellent event that teaches husbands and wives how to fulfill their mission of holiness and love. You will meet other faith-filled couples, learn how to build a wonderful future, and grow closer to the Heart of Jesus. May God bless you!"
  • - Most Rev. Gregory Parkes
    • Bishop of St. Petersburg
 

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

FOR  MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

  • Early Bird Couple: $54 | Early Bird Individual: $35
    •      Early Bird pricing ends January 26.
    •      A box lunch and a light afternoon snack is included for each adult registrant.
  • Couple: $64 | Individual: $40
  • On-site Childcare (2-12 yrs): $5/child
  • Scholarships for couples and individuals are available.
  • Exhibitors*
  • Ministry (Non-Profit) Registration: $95 (includes registration for 2 people & 1 table)
  • Vendor (For-Profit) Registration: $165 (includes registration for 2 people & 1 table)
 
  • *Pre-approval for exhibitor booths is required and space is limited. Please email [email protected] for more information.
Sponsors
  • If you and/or your organization is interested in joining our mission as a supporting sponsor, please click here for the Sponsorship Form. You can also submit the form online by clicking here.
 
  • For questions or more information, please contact the conference coordinator at [email protected].
Scholarships
  • If you need assistance with the cost of the conference, we encourage you to apply for a partial or full scholarship (click here); if you feel called to contribute to our scholarship fund, you can do so at the time of registration.
Refund Information
  • If you are no longer able to attend the conference, after purchasing your ticket, you may choose to transfer your registration fees to a scholarship couple in need, or request a refund.
 
  • All refunds must be requested 2 weeks prior to the conference. The last day to request a refund is Friday, February 27. All refund requests made on or after February 28  will not be accepted, but the funds will automatically be transferred to a scholarship couple in need. Please email [email protected] to transfer your registration or request a refund.
   

SCHEDULE

 
8:30 AM
  • Conference Check-In
9:00 AM
  • Mass and Marriage Blessing
  • Most Rev. Gregory Parkes
 
10:30 - 10:45 AM
  • Words of Welcome
10:45 - 11:45 AM
  • The Vocation of the Christian Family
  • Gwyneth Anne Spaeder, MD
 
11:45 AM - 1:45 PM
  • Break for Lunch and Prayer
2:00 - 3:00 PM
  • Marriage, Family, and the Virtue of Love
  • Deacon Scott Moore, MA, and Mary Beth Moore, MA
 
3:15 - 4:15 PM
  • Overcoming Challenges to Living a Virtuous Life
  • Renzo and Monica Ortega 
 
4:15 - 4:30 PM
  • Closing Comments

Speakers

GWYNETH ANNE SPAEDER, MD
Fellow, St. John Paul II Foundation

Gwyneth Anne Spaeder, MD, is a Fellow for the St. John Paul II Foundation and attended the University of Dallas where she graduated with a degree in Political Philosophy. She then attended The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, graduating in 2005. She is a Board-Certified Pediatrician and has practiced in both community ER and private practice settings. She completed a certificate in Health Care Ethics through the National Catholic Bioethics Center in 2015 and has published several articles pertaining to vaccine ethics. She also served as the guest editor for a NCBC Quarterly edition focused on Pediatric-specific issues. She is a recurrent presenter at Theology of the Body workshops for teens and for NFP/Marriage prep within the Diocese of Raleigh. She is a member of the Catholic Medical Association Triangle Guild. She lives in Wake Forest, NC with her husband and three children.

RENZO AND MONICA ORTEGA
Fellows, St. John Paul II Foundation

Renzo and Monica Ortega, Fellows for the St. John Paul II Foundation, are Catholic ministry leaders, podcast hosts, authors, and national speakers. They host the popular marriage podcast Two Become Family.   Their testimonies of faith, marriage, and parenting have been featured by the National Catholic Register, the Knights of Columbus, and Augustine Institute. They are coauthors of the children’s devotional Go to Joseph for Children, and Renzo is also the author of the men’s devotional Go to Joseph: 10 Day Preparation for Consecration to St. Joseph. They’ve also written the book Lovemaking: How to Talk about Sex with your Spouse, published by Ave Maria Press. Renzo earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern Connecticut State University and a master’s degree in theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Monica holds a bachelor’s degree in math and education from Western Connecticut State University and a master of education degree in educational leadership from the American College of Education. The Ortegas live with their five children in Connecticut, where they facilitate youth ministry and marriage prep ministry. twobecomefamily.com Instagram @twobecomefamily Facebook @twobecomefamily YouTube @twobecomefamily Substack: Two Become Family

MOST REV. GREGORY L. PARKES
Bishop of St. Petersburg

Bishop Gregory Parkes was born on April 2, 1964, to Ronald and Joan Parkes. He grew up in Massapequa, a town on Long Island, NY, and attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School. He and his two brothers were altar servers, and their parents were active in parish ministries. He moved to Tampa after graduating from Florida State University and worked in banking until God called him to the priesthood. In addition to a B.A. in Finance, he earned a Sacred Theology degree and an advanced graduate degree in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Orlando on June 26, 1999 and was appointed to serve as bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee in 2012. Pope Francis appointed Bishop Parkes to be shepherd of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg on November 28, 2016, and his Installation Mass was celebrated on January 4, 2017. His younger brother Stephen, also a priest, was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah on July 8, 2020. Since being named spiritual leader of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, Bishop Parkes has made it his mission to joyfully and courageously proclaim the Gospel while listening and responding to the needs of the priests and the people of God.

DEACON SCOTT MOORE, MA, AND MARY BETH MOORE, MA
Parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church

Deacon Scott and Mary Beth Moore have been married for 42 years and have four children, three in-law children, and six grandchildren.  Mary Beth was raised Catholic and has been a Catholic school teacher for 24 years, the last 4 years as the Director of Religious Education and Middle School Religion Teacher at St. Cecelia Catholic School.  She is a graduate of the Lay Pastoral Ministry Institute. Deacon Scott was raised a Southern Baptist, but after six years of prayer and deeper study of the Catholic faith, he joined the Catholic Church in 1988.  After Scott discerned a call to the diaconate, both he and Mary Beth attended St. Leo’s University in Tampa, Florida.  They both graduated with a Master of Theology focused on diaconal ministries.  Scott was ordained in October 2023 at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle in St. Petersburg.  He currently serves his home parish, Our Lady of Lourdes in Dunedin. 

SPONSORS

Venue

St. Timothy Catholic Church

17512 Lakeshore Rd
Lutz, FL 33558

For More Information:
Bella Oprandi, Conference Coordinator
832.779.1070
[email protected]

CONTACT US

  • PHONE

    832.779.1070

  • PHYSICAL ADDRESS

    1177 W Loop South, Ste. 940
    Houston, TX 77027

  • MAILING ADDRESS

    P.O. Box 5927
    Katy, TX 77491

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