Most Reverend Robert F. Vasa, D.D., Bishop of Baker, OR
Keynote Speaker

Bishop Vasa is one of the few bishops to stand in defense of families' rights on the issues of any curriculum (mandated safe environment or otherwise) which would violate parents and children’s rights as taught in the Vatican’s The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality.  Bishop Vasa is the Episcopal Advisor to the Catholic Medical Association, and serves on the panel of Healthy Families: Safe Children.

Bishop Robert Vasa was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Glennon P. Flavin for the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska, on May 22, 1976. He was named a Prelate of Honor, with the title of Monsignor, by Pope John Paul II, in 1995. After serving the Diocese of Lincoln in many capacities for more than 20 years, including service as Vicar General, Bishop Vasa was named the fifth Bishop of Baker, Oregon, by Pope John Paul II on November 19, 1999. He received his episcopal consecration on January 26, 2000 from Archbishop John George Vlazny, with Bishops Thomas Joseph Connolly and Fabian Bruskewitz serving as co-consecrators.  

Presentation: The Power of Relationships
Description: In collaboration with other professionals, Bishop Vasa has created an educational program to assist parents in forming healthy and secure relationships with their children. Bishop Vasa’s talk describes first, how a secure attachment relationship assures children will develop empathy, self-control, and harmonious personalities; and second, how secure attachment will provide the most effective protection children can have against becoming victims of sexual abuse or developing aggressive behaviors.

Presentation: Secure and Safe Child

Tena Crosby, WA
Tena and her husband Robert are home schooling their six children: Cady, Benjamin, Sarah, Lucy, Mary, and Terinda.

Tena Crosby is President and Owner of Fast Track Communication, an organizational development consulting firm specializing in individual and organizational effectiveness. Tena works with individuals, businesses, schools, and government agencies to improve communication, resolve conflict, and develop skills in individuals for improved organizational effectiveness. Tena provides training on topics such as conflict resolution, time management, team building, communication skills, effective meetings, motivation, mediation, and public speaking - just to name a few. In addition, Tena works with organizations on issues of organizational development, providing services such as retreat facilitation, team building, and other organization development interventions.

She has a degree in Oral and Written Communication from Seattle University and a Master's degree in Whole Systems Design from Antioch University.

Tena has served as a volunteer mediator for the King County Dispute Resolution Center and Director of Chapter Programs for the Puget Sound Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development.

Presentation: Sculpting Your Communication Muscles
Description: Since the Tower of Babel we have been having difficulties haven’t we? Our families are often living examples of God's words: “ Let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.” Why would He do that? We all have people in our lives where communication is easy, fun, and effective. Then there is the rest of the world…Is it possible that all this frustration is designed to bring us closer to one another and the One Who created us?
Tena Crosby brings together the worlds of business communication and home school practicality in this seminar to help us see ourselves and our family members better. She will help us identify our primary communication “muscle” and the other communication “muscles” that need development in our lives. As Providence would have it …chances are the others in our home are strong where we are weak and we are strong where they are weak! So by understanding ourselves and our family members better we can learn to communicate more effectively with one another and live out God’s plan for our families. This session will be fun, informative, and immensely practical.

Janice Hedin, Maple Valley, WA
Janice Hedin is a longtime homeschool mother and advocate.  She has two children, ages 31 and 28 whose first day of “school” was college.  Janice counsels and encourages homeschoolers through workshops at homeschool conferences, support group meetings, and churches.  She received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 from the Washington Homeschool Organization. She is co-presenter of the parent-qualifying course, OPTions for Parent Teachers.

Presentation: The Benefits of Homeschooling
Description: It’s not only the child who benefits from being homeschooled but, the whole family. If you’re bringing your child out of the “system” for the first time, no matter what age, you’ll see changes for the better. If you’ve always homeschooled, there are advantages at every age. Learn about some benefits to homeschooling you’ve never thought of, but will surely appreciate.

Teresa Roth, Newman Lake, WA
Teresa Roth is a homeschooling mother and history buff who, along with husband Dave, founded Heritage History, an organization dedicated to the promotion of classical juvenile history books. She has been homeschooling her five children for twelve years, and teaches science and history at two cooperatives in the Spokane area. In addition, she maintains a website containing the complete texts of over 400 traditional juvenile histories, at www.heritage-history.com.

Description: History was once considered to be a source of entertainment as much as instruction. The modern trend however, is to focus on analysis and comprehension, even in the younger grades. This talk will discuss the differences between traditional, “story-based” juvenile history, and modern history, and give specific suggestions for teaching history using books that students will love and read willingly.  We’ll discuss age-appropriate selections, girl vs. boy  preferences, and provide tips for motivating reluctant readers.

Mark Shea, Seattle, WA
Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. In addition to being co-author of the smash bestseller A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions About The Passion of the Christ, he is also the author of By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition (Our Sunday Visitor), Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did (Basilica), This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence (Christendom Press), and The Da Vinci Deception: 100 Questions About the Facts and Fiction of The Da Vinci Code (Ascension). His most recent work is the acclaimed Mary, Mother of the Son trilogy (Catholic Answers). An award-winning columnist, Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register and his regular feature on InsideCatholic.com. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio and he is also a guest each Tuesday on "Heart, Mind, and Strength" radio and each Friday on “Sound Insight” with Dr. Tom Curran. He has also appeared numerous times on television to talk about the Catholic Faith, as well as maintaining the popular blog Catholic and Enjoying It. In addition, Mark is a nationally known speaker on various issues in Catholic faith and life. Finally, Mark is Senior Content Editor for www.CatholicExchange.com. He lives in Washington State with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.

Presentation: Mary, Mother of the Son
Description: Few things are more ooky for a nice Evangelical than Catholic devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here's the story of how this Evangelical came to see that the Catholic understanding of the Bride of the Holy Spirit and the Mother of the Family of God was thoroughly biblical, refreshingly sane, and deeply satisfying to the soul.

Catholic Mens' Panel

Bishop Robert Vasa

Mark Shea

Rich Thrasher

Presentation: The Catholic Husband and Father
Description: A few good men share their experience and wisdom on the role of Catholic fathers and husbands, homeschooling, forming children in the faith, and more.

Catholic Scouts' Panel

Fr. Jacob Maurer, Tacoma, WA

Julia Fogassy, Seattle, WA
Julia Fogassy was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest.  She and her husband Karl have been blessed with nine children, ages 15 to 38.  Julia owns Our Father's House which is dedicated to providing families with educational materials.  She has been a home educator for twenty-five years and serves as the chairman for the Archdiocesan Committee on Scouting.  Julia was one of the founding members of the Northwest Catholic Family Education Conference. She is an expert in homeschool conference organization, and serves as our consultant and co-treasurer.

Deacon Roy Harrington
Deacon Roy, a life member of the National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS), was ordained for the Archdiocese of Seattle on November 17, 2007 and is currently serving as the Archdiocese’s Assistant Scout Chaplain and NCCS’s Region 12 chair covering Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and Alaska. He is also a chaplain for Catholic Community Services at St. Martin de Porres’ Shelter where 212 homeless men over the age of 50 reside. His primary pastoral duties are at Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Seattle which sponsors Pack and Troop 338, BSA. After retiring as a colonel with 30 years in the Army Reserve, Deacon Roy is employed as the Emergency Management Coordinator for King County Metro Transit. Married for 32 years to the former Elizabeth Ann McGarry, Deacon Roy and Liz have three children, Julia, Kevin and John, all grown and out of the house!

Presentation: 100 Years of Catholic Scouting
Description: Over the past century, Scouting has played an important role in the formation of millions of young Americans. Learn how Scouting forms men for the Church.