Prior to joining the National Eucharistic Congress team, Tim Glemkowski served in the Archbishop’s Office for the Archdiocese of Denver as the Director of Strategy, helping to set up the archdiocese for a time of apostolic mission. He also authored Made for Mission: Renewing Your Parish Culture, which was released in Fall 2019 through Our Sunday Visitor. Tim is the founder and former president of L’Alto Catholic Institute and Revive Parishes. He is an international speaker who has also consulted for many organizations, dioceses, and parishes. His writing has appeared in numerous print and web-based theological and catechetical publications. Tim and his wife, Maggie, live in Littleton, CO, with their three young children.
Maggie is a graduate of Benedictine College where she studied accounting and finance. At first, she found herself on a path toward corporate America, but her faith drew her to work in advancement for St. Benedict’s Abbey. She then proceeded to broaden her skills at a marketing firm in the greater Chicago area. Her love for Jesus in the Eucharist, paired with her background in development and marketing, prepared her perfectly to accept the role of Engagement Manager for the Congress.
Joel Stepanek is responsible for guiding the teams that empower and energize the grassroots efforts of the Eucharistic Revival. He has served in a variety of ministry and leadership roles, including as a parish youth minister, RCIA team member, and Vice President of Parish Services at Life Teen. Joel is an author and speaker who is passionate about helping people encounter Jesus Christ and sending them out on mission. He earned a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Colorado State University—Global and a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Fordham University. Joel is an avid Spartan-racer and home cook who enjoys spending time with his wife, Colleen, and three children in Phoenix, AZ.
After graduating from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS, Molly interned with the Holy See’s delegation to the United Nations—Caritas Internationalis—in Geneva, Switzerland. While at the U.N., she was further convicted of the sanctity and dignity of every human person. Molly has worked with various apostolates serving the Church’s mission at diocesan, national, and international levels, supporting pro-life and religious freedom efforts. As part of the National Eucharistic Congress team, she is continually converted and revived by encountering the Person of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Prior to joining the National Eucharistic Congress team, Kris served as a Director of Youth Ministry at the parish level and more recently as the Vice President of Vagabond Missions. Kris has also been privileged to travel around the country, sharing the Gospel with teens and adults at retreats, camps, conferences, and parish missions. Over the years, he has contributed to various evangelical and catechetical writing projects and publications. In 2020, Kris published his first book, Hope Always: An Anchor for Life’s Storms. He is a graduate of Franciscan University, where he also serves as an adjunct professor of Catechetics. Kris lives in Steubenville, Ohio, with his wife, Grace, and their five children.
Before joining the National Eucharistic Congress team, Jaime was the Director of the Offices of Family Life, Youth Ministry, Social Ministry, and Multicultural Ministry at the Diocese of Corpus Christi. His sixteen years of service to the Diocese of Corpus Christi were preceded by five years in the seminary. With a background of serving in many ministries, he is humbled to share his gifts and talents in this effort to do God’s work. His passion for leading others to Christ inspires him to go where Christ leads him. Jaime volunteers in various roles at his parish, has been a member of the Adoración Nocturna ministry for eighteen years, and has two beautiful daughters.
Dana comes to the National Eucharistic Congress from a background of teaching in Catholic schools. Her love for the Church and the Eucharist has led her to this position, and she is so pleased to be a small part of this enormous movement in our Church. She is inspired by Saint Teresa of Calcutta’s words, “We can do no great things. Only small things with great love.”
Prior to joining the National Eucharistic Congress team, Tanner Kalina served as a FOCUS missionary. He is the co-creator of the Saints Alive podcast, which tells the stories of the saints to tens of thousands of families across the world. He is an international speaker who has shared the Gospel with ministries such as Ascension Presents, EWTN, FOCUS, NET, and many others. He chases holiness in his day-to-day, failing frequently but continuing constantly. Tanner and his wife currently live in Denver, Colorado.
Dave Moore is a joy-filled disciple who seeks to honor God through his music, ministry, and family. A devoted singer-songwriter, producer, and liturgist, Dave puts the bride of Christ before his artistic ambitions.
Dave and his wife, Lauren, are the founders of Catholic Music Initiative, a non-profit apostolate that creates beautiful and singable music for Mass. Their work strives to build a bridge between contemporary and traditional isles, while summoning engagement and enlivening the hearts of the faithful to enter into full union with God in the Mass.
Dave’s deepest desire is to see a unified church, where the Eucharistic Lord has primacy of place in the hearts of the faithful—rightly honored, adored, and worshiped. Dave resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Lauren, and their daughter.
Kathleen joins the National Eucharistic Congress with a heart for serving the Church, most recently in her parish of Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Phoenix. Shortly after her conversion and return to the Catholic Church in 2005, she discovered Eucharistic adoration and has had a weekly holy hour since. As she drew nearer to Jesus over the years, several providential mentors helped shape her passion for stewardship, discipleship, and evangelization. A 2012 graduate of the Archbishop Harry J. Flynn Catechetical Institute and 2015 graduate of Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota, she is a dedicated behind-the-scenes manager with an unusual knack for seeing the big picture while swimming in the details. She lives in Phoenix with her husband, daughter, and black lab.
Fernando comes to NEC with over 20 years of experience in stewardship, campaign, and fundraising.
A first-generation migrant to the US from Mexico City and a University of Arizona graduate, he spent the first half of his career in the broadcast industry before transitioning to the non-profit sector. He has been successfully involved in fundraising efforts with the Boy Scouts of America organization as Executive Director, with the Phoenix Diocese during their capital campaign, in parish stewardship, and most recently as Philanthropic Advisor with the Catholic Community Foundation.
Fernando and his wife, Dominga, will celebrate 23 years of marriage and have four children. They live in Phoenix, AZ, and are active members of St. Francis Xavier Jesuit Parish, Cursillo, and Tepeyac Leadership Initiative.
Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, Ariel is thrilled to be a part of this Jeremiah 24:7 moment in history. Earning her Business Administration degree from Ave Maria University, Ariel’s passion for faith-based organizations was ignited by pro-life fundraising. She skillfully organized galas and auctions prior to transitioning into Enrollment Management at her alma mater. There, she dedicated herself to prayerfully assisting families and spearheading external communications. Ariel is supported in this new role by her loving husband and young daughter.
After a profound encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist, God led Alyssa Mae out of her corporate business career to serve the Church. Her adventure started off as a missionary with NET Ministries Australia and continued as a Coordinator of Mission Advancement and Youth Formation for a parish in New England. She returned home to Virginia Beach, VA, and before joining the NEC team, she spearheaded a student pathway program as an airline recruiter. Her missionary heart continues to serve as a youth ministry volunteer while also emceeing and speaking at various events. Alyssa Mae loves traveling, creating knot rosaries, arranging beautiful charcuterie, dancing, and singing for Jesus!
Before joining the National Eucharistic Congress, Marilyn taught high school theology in the Diocese of Phoenix for 10 years and Spanish for 2 years in the Archdiocese of Denver. She originally hails from Phoenix but moved to Denver in 2020. She is a graduate of Franciscan University, receiving a B.A. in Theology, and it is there that she fell in love with Eucharistic Adoration. She is excited to be able to be part of this movement of the Holy Spirit and prays that others might encounter the most precious gift of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Arielle joined the National Eucharistic Congress after working as a project manager at a secular non-profit and feeling that her talents would be of most reward if they were fueled by her love of Christ. Her charitable experience with immigrant communities, coupled with her education in sociology from Northeastern University, led her to discover a social justice devotion to serve and represent the underrepresented. She holds dear to her heart the examples of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta and Saint Martin de Porres in their giving of alms. Arielle volunteers her time and talents to her parish in Atlanta and, at leisure, is a foodie and yogi.
Sarah Houde is orchestrating the event planning and execution of the National Eucharistic Congress. Her love of event planning stemmed from an early age with her childhood party planning notebook. Since then, in her 15-year career, she has executed hundreds of ministry events for thousands of people across the country. With a heart for hospitality, a love of details, and impressive organizational skills, she finds much joy in setting the stage for God to work. Originally from the picturesque state of Maine, Sarah also has an impressive travel resume—from paragliding through the Swiss Alps to riding a camel in Israel, she’s enjoyed the wonders of the world. When not traveling or preparing for events, you can find her throwing a dinner party, learning to waltz, and enjoying the beautiful things in life.
