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
Co-founders of Two Become Family
Renzo and Monica Ortega are Catholic ministry leaders, podcast hosts, authors, and speakers. They host the popular marriage podcast, Two Become Family (also available on YouTube), and are co-authors of the children's devotional, Go to Joseph for Children. Renzo is also the author of the men's devotional, Go to Joseph. Their online marriage ministry, Two Become Family, has been featured in the National Catholic Register and EWTN's "Life on the Rock" show, and their conversion story has been featured in the documentary St Joseph: Our Spiritual Father. Many of their talks can be found on Catholic Lighthouse Media. Renzo holds a MA in Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. The Ortegas live in Connecticut with their 5 children where they facilitate youth ministry and marriage prep ministry.
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.