Our Leadership
Episcopal Advisory Board
Most Reverend James F. Checchio, Bishop of Metuchen, NJ
Most Reverend Steven J. Lopes, Bishop, Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter
Executive Board and Founding Team
Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk, J.C.D., M.B.A.
Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk, JCD is a priest of the Diocese of Orange, California, a canon lawyer, and Co-founder and Spiritual Director of the Foundation of Prayer for Priests. Ordained to the priesthood in 2005, Msgr. Doktorczyk worked in the grocery business and human resources prior to entering seminary, earning a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach, in 1998. While in formation for the priesthood, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology in 2004 from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and a Licenciate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, also in Rome, in 2007. He served as parochial vicar at St. Joachim Church in Costa Mesa from 2007-2011 and concurrently as Adjutant Judicial Vicar. From 2011 to 2016 Msgr. Doktorczyk was an official at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Vatican City and Adjunct Spiritual Director at the Pontifical North American College, also in Rome. In 2016, Msgr. Doktorczyk earned his doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He serves as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Orange, having completed his service to the Holy See at the end of 2016.
Kathleen Beckman, L.H.S.
For twenty-five years, and in thirteen countries, Kathleen Beckman has served in the Church’s ministry of evangelization through Catholic radio and television, writing and speaking. Sophia Institute Press has published her four best-selling books including, “Praying for Priests”, “God’s Healing Mercy”, “When Women Pray” and the newest, “A Family Guide to Spiritual Warfare”. At the invitation of the clergy, Kathleen has served in the Church’s ministry of exorcism and deliverance for sixteen years. She was on faculty for the Pope Leo XIII Institute at Mundelein Seminary for six years, completed the Association of International Exorcists course at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University, Rome, in 2017. She presently serves as the lay administrator of the exorcism and deliverance ministry and is a member of the exorcist’s team. In 2013, with encouragement from the Vatican’s Congregation for the Clergy, Kathleen co-founded the “Foundation of Prayer for Priests” a ministry of intercessory prayer for the holiness and protection of clergy. A wife, mother, and grandmother, she and her husband are small business owners and parishioners at San Antonio de Padua Parish where Kathleen has been a daily communicant for thirty years.
FR. CHARLES CORTINOVIS, S.T.L., J.D.
Father Charles Cortinovis is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington. He is currently the pastor of Saint Ambrose Catholic Church in Cheverly, Maryland as well as the Executive Director for Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Archdiocese of Washington. Father Cortinovis has previously served in several other assignments in the archdiocese. He was ordained a priest on June 20, 2009, after completing his theological training at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He earned the degrees of Bachelor of Sacred Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University and Licenciate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, also in Rome. In his licentiate studies, Father Cortinovis was a Russell Berrie Fellow in Interreligious Studies. Prior to entering seminary, Father Cortinovis practiced environmental law, having earned degrees in Biochemistry and Environmental Science from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, and a J.D. from the George Washington University School of Law.
GABRIEL FERRUCCI, K.C.* H.S.
Gabriel Ferrucci is a devout Catholic businessman and generous benefactor, with a long career spanning executive and board positions at various financial, educational, cultural, community, and Catholic institutions. A 1965 graduate of Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, Gabriel held executive positions at Raybestos Manhattan Inc. before acquiring and becoming president and chief executive officer of Keystone Engineering Company, a supplier for the aerospace industry. Gabriel has been invested into both the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre (2003) and the Order of Malta (2007). In 2009, Gabriel he received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal, the most prestigious award that a layperson can receive from the Pope. He has especially demonstrated spiritual paternity of priests and seminarians through his generosity, not only for the temporal needs of seminaries, but for the spiritual formation of seminarians and priests. Gabriel and Maria, his wife of 57 years, have three children, six grandchildren, and live in Laguna Beach, California.
BOARD Members
Fr. Nick Schneider, S.L.D
Fr. Schneider is a priest of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota. Ordained to the priesthood in 2009, Fr. Schneider studied music performance at the University of Mary in Bismarck and Catholic humanities at Campion College in San Francisco before entering seminary. After completing undergraduate studies in theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, Fr. Schneider continued formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. While there, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology in 2008 from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. After ordination to the priesthood, he continued his studies at the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm in Rome, completing a Licentiate and Doctorate in Sacred Liturgy. Currently, Fr. Schneider serves in his home diocese as Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Mandan, ND and Director of the diocesan Office of Worship.
Cynthia Hunt, M.D., T.O.C.
Dr. Cynthia Hunt is a physician with over 30 years of experience and Co-founder of JMJ Maternity Homes, a non-profit apostolate providing homeless pregnant women with shelter, resources and support services. Since receiving her medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in 1984, she has achieved Board Certification in the areas of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry. Today, Dr. Hunt maintains a practice in Child/Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry, and also serves as President of the Fresno Guild of the Catholic Medical Association. Dr. Hunt has served bishops, priests and seminarians in various capacities, most recently as both psychiatric consultant to the Diocese of Fresno and Adjunct Faculty Member at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California and the Pope Leo XIII Institute. An accomplished pianist and Lay Carmelite for over 20 years, Dr. Hunt lives with her husband and family in Monterey, California.
MR. ALLAN SMITH
Allan Smith is the Editor of the book, "Cries of Jesus from the Cross: A Fulton Sheen Anthology" (www.sophiainstitute.org). He presently hosts the weekly ‘Your Life is Worth Living Program’ on Radio Maria Canada and FM 98.5 (CKWR). The Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen taught that the key to the renovation of the Catholic Church and the salvation of souls was to renew the priesthood. As an active member of the Serra Club, Allan is committed to working on initiatives that foster spiritual fatherhood towards priests and seminarians. He lectures at seminaries, university campuses, and Catholic conferences, and gives presentations in parishes on how to foster prayer for priests, seminarians, and vocations. The following two famous Archbishop Sheen quotes are ones that Allan lives by: “Unless souls are saved, nothing is saved.” and, “It is not only souls that have to be saved; it is society as well.” Allan Smith is the founder of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Mission Society of Canada and lives with his wife and family in Toronto, Canada. To learn more visit: www.bishopsheentoday.com and www.archbishopfultonjsheenmissionsocietyofcanada.org
Advisory Team
Most Reverend David D. Kagan, Bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota
Rt. Reverend Eugene J. Hayes, O. Praem., J.C.D. - St. Michael's Norbertine Abbey (Silverado, California)
Mgsr. John Esseff- IPF, Institute for Priestly Formation, Omaha, NE
Mgsr. Richard Soseman - Pastor, St. Mary, Peru and St. Valentine, Peru, Diocsese of Peoria, IL, Emeritus member of the Congregation for the Clergy
Mother Judith Zuniga, O.C.D. - Superior General, Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
Mother Dolores Marie, P.C.P.A., Abbess, Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, Hanceville, Alabama Monastery (EWTN)
Denise Marie Scalzo, O.F.S., L.G.C.H.S. - Lay Franciscan, Founding Member of the Franciscan Foundatino for the Holy Land and Foundation of Prayer for Priests
Marilyn Quirk, L.H.S. - Foundress of Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women