• 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.
  • "It is my pleasure to welcome the second annual Together in Holiness conference to the Diocese of Venice on Saturday, October 22nd, the Feast of St. John Paul II. An invitation to all married and engaged couples to join me at this inspiring event is warmly extended. This day of prayer and presentations will enable each couple to reflect upon the great gift of the marriage vocation entrusted to them. I pray that through the intercession of St. John Paul II, the 'Pope of the family,' this day will be fruitful for all."
  • - Most Rev. Frank J. Dewane
Bishop of Venice

REGISTRATION

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

FOR  MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT

  • Early Bird Couple: $54 | Early Bird Individual: $35
    •      Early Bird pricing ends September 5.
    •       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 supporting sponsors, 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, October 7. All refund requests made on or after October 8 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

 
9:00 AM
  • Conference Check-In
10:00 AM
  • Words of Welcome
10:15 - 11:00 AM
    • The Holy Eucharist: The Source and Summit of Marriage and Family Life
    • Rev. Shawn Monahan, OMV
     
11:10 AM - 12:45 PM
  • Break for Lunch and Prayer
1:15 - 2:15 PM
    • A Family That Prays Together
    • Christopher J. Stravitsch, DMin
 
2:30 - 3:30 PM
    • To Love and To Cherish: Deepening Love and Intimacy in Marriage
    • Damon & Melanie Owens
     
3:30 - 3:35 PM
  • Closing Comments
4:00 - 5:00 PM
  • Vigil Mass and Marriage Blessing
    • Celebrant: Rev. Michael Young

Speakers

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.

DAMON AND MELANIE OWENS
Co-Founders of Joyful Ever After

Married 27 years, Damon and Melanie Owens are founders of Joyful Ever After and hosts of The Catholic Marriage Summit 2020. Since 1993, Melanie, full-time homeschooling mother of eight, and Damon, first executive director of the Theology of the Body Institute, have trained over 20,000 couples in marriage, NFP, and Theology of the Body. Melanie earned her BA in Sociology at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and her MSW at the University of California at Berkeley. Presenters at the 2015 World Meeting of Families and the 2017 USCCB Convocation of Catholic Leaders, Damon and Melanie keep a full international speaking schedule at conferences, seminars, universities, high schools, seminaries, and parishes on the good news of marriage, sexuality, Theology of the Body, Theology of the Family, adoption, and NFP. Damon has published numerous articles, appears regularly on many radio and television programs (EWTN, Catholic Answers, Ave Maria, Relevant Radio, Immaculate Heart Radio, ABC World News Tonight, CBS News, NPR), and has hosted and produced three 13-part television series for EWTN. He is also an accomplished gospel singer honored with a solo during the 1995 NJ Papal Mass at Giants Stadium presided by Pope St. John Paul II. In 2018, Pope Francis honored Damon with the papal Benemerenti Medal in recognition for his service to the Church in support of marriage and family. Damon and Melanie are the parents of eight and live outside of Philadelphia.

MOST REV. FRANK J. DEWANE
Bishop of Venice in Florida

Most Reverend Bishop Frank J. Dewane serves as the spiritual leader of approximately 250,000 Catholics in the 10-county Diocese of Venice in Florida. He was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006 as the second Bishop of the Diocese. Bishop Frank J. Dewane was named Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Venice in Florida by Pope Benedict XVI on April 25, 2006, and on January 19, 2007, he was installed in his current role as Bishop of the Diocese. In addition to holding a degree from the University of Wisconsin, Bishop Dewane also completed studies at The American University in Washington, D.C., as well as from Pontifical Gregorian University and Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, both in Rome. Prior to entering the seminary, Bishop Dewane worked for the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) in Moscow, Russia, and then for a subsidiary of PepsiCo in New York City. Ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Green Bay in 1988, Bishop Dewane was appointed in 1991 to serve as a member of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York City, during which time he represented the Holy See at several international conferences. In 1995, he was transferred to the Pontifical Council “Cor Unum” and was later appointed Under Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace. Bishop Dewane serves on the Ad Hoc Committee against Racism, and Subcommittee for the Pastoral Care of Migrants, Refugees and Travelers for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishop Dewane previously served on several committees at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops including the Committee for Domestic Justice and Integral Human Development (past Chair), Committee for International Justice and Peace. Bishop Dewane is a member of the Board of Directors of the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, and is the Episcopal Liaison for Catholic Charities, USA.

CHARLOTTE SACCO
Speaker and Spiritual Director

Charlotte Sacco is a wife to Jason for 25 years, mother of three girls and grandmother of five. She serves as a Spiritual Director in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and has a heart on fire for bringing people and families to a deeper understanding of their mission and purpose in Christ. Charlotte supports the St. John Paul II Foundation as a speaker and emcee for the Together in Holiness initiative. Knowing well the challenges and beauty of marriage and raising children - along with the importance of prayer, the Sacraments and counting on God‘s grace - she strives to help married couples not just survive, but thrive in their marriage!

REV. SHAWN MONAHAN, OMV
Associate Director, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Retreat Center

Fr. Shawn Monahan, OMV is a native of Boston MA, he graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1995 and was ordained a priest for the Oblates of the Virgin Mary in 2002.  Since then he has enjoyed a variety of apostolic ministries including parish life, giving parish missions, retreat ministry and in seminary formation as Novice Master. He also serves on the board for Support After Abortion, which seeks to end the demand for abortion by healing those impacted by abortion.  Working both in seminary formation and retreat ministry Fr. Shawn has developed a deeper understanding of the dynamics of growth and maturity in the Christian life and how to overcome and heal the wounds that hold us back from experiencing Jesus’ deepest desire for each of us: “I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”  His podcast, “Homilies to Heal the Heart and Soul” are accessible on a variety of platforms, including Spotify and iTunes.

SPONSORS

Venue

St. John XXIII Catholic Church

13060 Palomino Ln
Fort Myers, FL 33912

For More Information:
Ellen Clements, 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

Top