• FOR LIFE AND FAMILY

TOGETHER IN HOLINESS
SUGAR LAND, TX

about Together in Holiness

Where Spouses Discover God’s Plan for Their Family
"As the family goes, so goes the nation and so goes the whole world in which we live. Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song. The Future starts today not tomorrow." –St. John Paul II
Together in Holiness is a marriage conference series for dioceses inspiring spouses to grow together in holiness and empowering parents to form their children in the Catholic faith.
  • Powerful presentations from national and local speakers
  • Quiet time together, Mass, Reconciliation, Eucharistic Adoration
  • Practical ideas and insights for spouses and parents
To learn more about Together in Holiness, click here.
  • Online registration closed on Thursday, May 3 at 12:00 pm (noon).
  • There will be NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION at the Sugar Land location. 
 
  • If you would still like to join us, The Woodlands location will be taking adult conference walk-ups only (NO CHILDCARE). On-site registration will be at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in The Woodlands beginning at 8:00 am. Click here for more details. 
 
  • If you have any questions ahead of Saturday's event, please contact Susie Lopez at [email protected].

"I am pleased to welcome this marriage initiative into the archdiocese. My hope is that spouses from across the archdiocese will be blessed and strengthened in their noble vocation by participating in this event."
  • Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Archbishop of Galveston-Houston

REGISTRATION

  • *Early bird pricing only available until March 30.
  • Early Bird Couple: $49
  • Early Bird Individual: $29
  • Childcare (2yrs-12yrs): $5/child
  • Scholarships for couples or individuals are available. Please email [email protected] for scholarship inquiries.
 
  • A box lunch is included for each adult registrant. Parents are responsible for packing a lunch for their child(ren) who are in childcare.

  • *General pricing begins on March 31. 
  • Couple: $59
  • Individual: $35

  • EXHIBITORS

  • Ministry Registration: $85 (includes registration for 2 people & 1 table)
  • Vendor Registration: $150 (includes registration for 2 people & 1 table)
 
  • *Pre-approval for exhibitor booths is required. Please email [email protected] for more information.

SCHEDULE

8:00 AM
  • Conference Check-In
 
  • Childcare Check-In
  • Sacrament of Reconciliation (8:00 – 8:30am)
8:30 AM
Mass
9:15 AM
  • Conference Check-In Continues
 
  • Childcare Check-In
  • Light Breakfast
  • Ministry and Vendor Booths - available throughout conference
10:00 AM
Words of Welcome
10:15- 11:15 AM
  • “Straight Talk for Spouses: How to Love Each Other Rightly”
  • Patty Schneier, Author and Catholic Speaker
 
  • “Love one another as I have loved you...” Fifteen years ago, Patty wrestled with this question and asked, “HOW, Lord? What does that look like in marriage?” These questions led Patty and her husband Larry to discover the meaning of authentic love, real intimacy, and the transforming power of God’s grace. In this talk, Patty speaks directly to both spouses about loving each other rightly. Imagine how strong EVERY marriage would be if every husband really knew how to love his wife... It changes everything.
11:30- 12:30 PM
  • Breakout Sessions: Panels for Women and for Men
 
  • Women's Panel 
  • Gabriela Karaszewski, M.S., M.A. - Moderator
  • Mini Vettical, M.D. - "Virtue and Children: Moving Beyond Pacifying, Negotiating, and Threatening"
  • Annamarie Omanga - "Getting Your Spouse and Your Kids to Heaven"
  • Helen Tschoepe - "Balancing Work and Family Life"
 
  • Men's Panel
  • Christopher J. Stravitsch, D.Min. - Moderator
  • Matthew Watson - "Virtue and Children: Moving Beyond Pacifying, Negotiating, and Threatening"
  • Patrick Cannizzaro - "Getting Your Spouse and Your Kids to Heaven"
  • Preston Young - "Balancing Work and Family Life"
12:30- 2:00 PM
  • Break for Lunch & Prayer
    • Box Lunch Pick-Up (lunch is included for conference registrants)
      • Lunch is not provided for children in childcare. Parents are responsible for bringing a lunch for their child(ren).
    • Sacrament of Reconciliation (1:00 – 2:00 pm)
    • Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (1:00 pm – 2:00 pm)
    • Benediction (1:45 pm)
    • Exhibitor Booths – available throughout conference
2:15- 3:15 PM 
  • "True Happiness: Living Well, Living for the Good"
  • Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J.
 
  • In this talk, Father Pacwa will take attendees on a winsome walk with some of history’s greatest thinkers on the subject of virtue, showing how the basic natural truths of human flourishing, confirmed in many cultures, find their fullest expression in the Catholic Faith. In the Sacrament of Matrimony and in the family, Our Lord makes visible His own love for us. It is this greatest and most necessary virtue, love, that orders a life that is well lived, and a home that is peaceful and welcoming.
3:15- 3:30 PM 
Marriage Blessing & Sending Forth
 

Speakers

PATTY SCHNEIER
Catholic Author and Speaker

Patty Schneier is a Catholic author, speaker, and radio host from the Archdiocese of St. Louis.  For 21 years, she has travelled the country, inspiring Catholics to reignite their faith.  Her book, Love Letters from Mom on What Matters Most, is a must-read for parents who want to pass the faith on to their children, and her podcast, The Daily Dose of Encouragement, is heard daily on Covenant Network Catholic Radio.  Patty has been a guest on EWTN and is a recipient of the Archbishop Robert J. Carlson Excellence in Communications Award.  She and her husband Larry have been married for 36 years; their oldest son is a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Louis.

REV. MITCH PACWA,
Keynote speaker

Father Mitch Pacwa, S.J. received his B.A. in Philosophy and Theology from the University of Detroit, summa cum laude. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1976 with the Society of Jesus, as a Master of Divinity and S.T.B. from the Jesuit School of Theology of Loyola University, magna cum laude. At Vanderbilt University, he received his Master of Arts as well as his Ph.D. in Old Testament. He is best known for his appearances on EWTN for over the last thirty years. Fr. Pacwa is a best-selling Catholic author and has written numerous books on a variety of topics about the Scripture and our Catholic Faith to continue to teach us and generations to come. As we know, since the 1960's the Catholic church has lost several generations of baptized Catholics due to a lack of knowledge of their Catholic Faith. But since the 1980's there has been efforts to address the lack of faith in our young adults: Theology on Tap, Cardinal Newman Society, Fellowship of Catholic University and College Students and Young Catholic Professionals to name a few known efforts. Father's mission is to offer younger adults the opportunity to talk with him in informal, smaller venues. He wants to listen to, support, and strengthen the next generation of Catholics as they strive to live their Faith in today's culture. In 2017, Father extended his teaching mission by embarking on a new 'Legacy of Faith' Initiative. This is a specific effort to reach younger Catholics in answering their questions and concerns as living as Catholics in the 21st century.

MINI VETTICAL
Panelist

Mini Vettical, MD is a wife, mother of five children and has given up her career as Internist and Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine to raise her children.

HELEN TSCHOEPE
Panelist

Helen Tschoepe has been married to Phil for 37 years, and they have 4 grown children, all happily married, and 6 grandchildren. When her youngest child started kindergarten, she returned to teaching at St. Michael Catholic School, where she taught 2nd grade for 19 years and then became the Religion Resource Teacher. Helen also helps with all the Sacramental preparation at St. Michael’s and teaches twice a month for Pre-K3 through 5th grade.

PRESTON H. YOUNG
Panelist

Preston H. Young is Regional Managing Partner at Stream Realty Partners.  Mr. Young also serves on the Board of Trustees for the Free Enterprise Institute and is on the Board of Directors for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Business Ethics Forum and Western Academy. At Texas A&M University, Mr. Young serves as an Advisory Board Member for Mays Business School and is a member of the 12th Man Foundation’s Champions Council.  He and his wife, Amber, have three children and are parishioners at St. John Vianney Parish in Houston.

CHRISTOPHER J. STRAVITSCH, DMin
Chairman of the Board, St. John Paul II Foundation

Dr. Chris Stravitsch is Co-founder of the St. John Paul II Foundation and Chairman of the Board. He has a passion for creating new ministries that meet today's most pressing needs, especially the pastoral needs of couples and families. Dr. Stravitsch earned a Doctor of Ministry from The Catholic University of America, Washington DC, where he focused his research on the spiritual formation of spouses and families. He earned a dual degree in Pastoral Counseling from St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas, which consisted of an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy and M.A. in Pastoral Ministry, and he earned a B.A. in Psychology from Texas A&M University. Dr. Stravitsch is the President and Founder of Rejoice Counseling Apostolate, an apostolate which serves parishes by providing onsite Catholic counseling services. He is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. Dr. Stravitsch and his wife, Sarah, reside in Katy, Texas, with their five children.

GABRIELA KARASZEWSKI
Panel moderator

Gabriela Karaszewski, M.S., M.A. is currently the Director of the Office of Young Adults & Campus Ministry at the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. Obtained a M.A. in Pastoral Studies from University of St. Thomas and Master of Science from University of Washington. Serves as member of the National Advisory Team for Young Adult Ministry for the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth at the USCCB. Previously was the Director of Faith Formation for 10 years at a parish in Texas. Originally from Mexico, married to a Polish man and they have two daughters.

PATRICK CANNIZZARO
Panelist

Pat has been married for 7 years and has three children; he works in financial services. His home parish is St. Bartholomew in Katy. Pat and his wife, Joanna, are self-proclaimed marriage enthusiasts. They were speakers for the Chicago Archdiocesan marriage preparatory program, they have been featured at Theology on Tap, and they remain involved in marriage prep ministry.

MATTHEW DAVID WATSON
Panelist

Matthew David Watson is the Upper School Head at Aristoi Classical Academy, a K-12 charter school in Katy, TX. He received his B.A. in History from George Fox University, summa cum laude. Mr. Watson has worked in private and public K-12 education since 2003, along the way earning an M.A. in Early American History from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an Ed.M. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He and his wife, Jenny, have five children and are parishioners at Saint Bartholomew the Apostle Catholic Church in Katy, where they serve in the marriage preparation ministry.

ANNAMARIE OMANGA
Panelist

Originally from Chicago, Annamarie Omanga has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.  She began her career in the middle school classroom and then spent 6 years directing a tutor/mentor program for inner city youth in Chicago.  Annamarie then took her teaching skills to the business arena, where she started in training and development and then enjoyed a career in Human Resources with Cap Gemini America and AIG.  Annamarie has been married to Billy Omanga for fourteen years and is at home full time raising two daughters and two sons.  The Omangas are parishioners at St. John Vianney Parish in Houston. 

SPONSORS

Venue

St. Laurence Catholic Church - Ave Maria Parish Life Center

3103 Sweetwater Blvd
Sugar Land, TX 77479

For More Information:
Susie Lopez, 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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