CFCA presenters
Father James Barnett is a priest of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great. Father Barnett was ordained in 1965. He has been preaching for CFCA since 2009.
Father Barnett has served in Bolivia, Honduras and El Salvador. Most recently Father Barnett served in campus ministry at the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
Currently Father Barnett lives in St. Louis, Missouri. He serves as student master for the Dominican Priory at the Aquinas Institute of Theology.
“I love preaching for CFCA! The very best years of my life were spent in the 80s and 90s with the poor in Central America. Every weekend I preach, I flash back to that time and feel that I'm continuing to offer hope for my friends there and for many more families through CFCA.”
— Rev. Barnett
Father Richard Bayuk is a priest of the Kansas City Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Father Bayuk was ordained in 1975 and has been preaching for CFCA since 1996.
Father Bayuk has served in a variety of ministries, including parish ministry, hospital chaplaincy and teaching. Most recently he served his community as formation director at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, where he also taught part time.
In addition to his ministry with CFCA, Father Bayuk is currently the vice-provincial for the Kansas City Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
“Everyone who is a part of the worldwide community of CFCA brings their unique talents and gifts in service to walk with the poor. I believe deeply in the mission of CFCA. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to use my gifts as I invite people of faith to respond to the call of the gospel of compassion and justice and become sponsors.”
— Rev. Bayuk
Father Jerry Beat is a priest in the Diocese of Wichita, Kan. Father Beat was ordained in 1963. He was a member of the CFCA board from 1991 to 1999 and has been preaching for CFCA since 2006.
Father Beat worked in the Wichita Diocesan Mission's parishes in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, between 1973 and 1986. While there, Father Beat helped CFCA set up one of its first projects in Venezuela, and assisted in setting up sponsorships. Before retiring he served as a pastor in a bilingual parish and a hospital chaplain in the Diocese of Wichita.
Father Beat is officially retired, but he still works with the Cursillo Movement, which provides adult education for immigrants from Latin America. He also serves with the Kairos prison ministry and on some weekends, he substitutes in parishes.
Read the Catholic Diocese of Wichita's article about Father Beat.
“I preach for CFCA because sponsorship blesses and enriches the families of both the sponsor and sponsored in sharing God’s love for one another.”
— Rev. Beat
Father Dennis Colter is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained in 1966. He began preaching on behalf of the CFCA in 2010.
He has studied at the University of Louvain, Belgium, and at the Angelicum in Rome. During his years of active ministry, Father Colter has served as a teacher, pastor, chaplain and vocation director.
Father Colter currently serves as administrator of St. Patrick’s Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Father G. William Fischer is a priest of the Toledo-Detroit Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. He was ordained in 1969. He has been preaching with CFCA since 1994.
He has served as pastor, hospital chaplain, retreat director and teacher at secondary and collegiate levels.
Father Fischer currently serves as a chaplain at a retirement home.
Father Gerald Flater is a priest of the United States Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He was ordained in 1957 and then received his licentiate in sacred theology from Catholic University a year later. He began preaching with CFCA in 1998 through Isaiah Parish Missions.
During his years as a priest, Father Flater has served as a chaplain and pastor.
Currently Father Flater serves as a mission speaker for his community.
"'Missionaries In Today's World – Oblates are called to involve themselves more fully in promoting the mission of the laity in the Church and in the world.' What better reason for preaching for CFCA?"
— Rev. Flater
Father Cyrus Gallagher is a priest of the Capuchin-Franciscan Province of Mid-America. He was ordained a priest in 1965. He has been preaching for CFCA since 2008.
His ministries have included teaching, preaching parish missions, preaching retreats, and he served as a pastor of an inner-city Hispanic parish.
“The Gospel of Jesus Christ includes the words: ‘What you do to my little ones you do to me.’ CFCA embodies and proclaims positive options to live the Gospel.”
— Rev. Gallagher
Father Pat Geary is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa. Father Geary was ordained in 1956 and began preaching for CFCA in 2011.
Father Geary served as a pastor and campus minister in the Archdiocese of Dubuque. He has traveled extensively throughout Latin America, Europe and Africa.
Father Geary is retired, but continues to give retreats and during the winter months he assists at Holy Cross Parish in Mesa, Arizona.
Father John Graden is a priest of the United States Province of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. He was ordained a priest in 1976. Father Graden was one of the first preachers for CFCA and began preaching for CFCA in 1991.
His ministries have included teaching high school biology and religion, working in parishes, serving as vocations and formation director for his province and as director of Word Consultants.
He is currently the director of DeSales Resources and Ministries, and preaches parish missions as part of this ministry.
"I preach for CFCA because I have no doubt that as a follower of Jesus, I ought to be doing whatever I am able to do to be of help to those who are poor. CFCA does what I cannot do: finds the poor and their families, cares for them, and enables them for the future with great dignity. Preaching is what I can do best."
— Rev. Graden
Father Vincent Haselhorst is a priest in the Diocese of Belleville, Ill. He was ordained in 1957. Father Haselhorst has been preaching with CFCA since 2000.
For six years, Father Haselhorst lived in Guatemala serving as a director of the Belleville Diocesan Mission and pastor of Our Lord of Esquipulas Parish in El Progreso, Guatemala. Since he has returned from Guatemala, Father Haselhorst has served as a pastor. He has also assisted in the creation of sister parish relationships for 30 parishes in the Belleville Diocese with parishes in Jalapa, Guatemala.
Father Haselhorst is retired from active ministry and has been a member of the CFCA board since 2002.
Read more about Father Haselhorst in The Messenger, the newspaper of the Belleville Diocese.
“I preach for CFCA because I consider it a privilege and a blessing to have the opportunity to make a direct, positive impact on the lives of thousands of families.”
— Rev. Haselhorst
Father Bob Hasenkamp is a priest of the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. He was ordained in 1963. He has been associated with CFCA since 1998 and began preaching for CFCA in 2008.
Father Hasenkamp served in parishes, both large and small, for 45 years.
He retired in 2009 to have more time to work with the poor.
“I have seen the good work being done with families and I am happy to be involved now in this community of compassion for the poor.”
— Rev. Hasenkamp
Father Peter Hereley is a priest of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great. He was ordained in 1963. He was one of the first preachers for CFCA, beginning his service as a messenger of hope in 1991.
During his years of ministry, Father Hereley served as a pastor and a campus minister and worked in radio and television. He also served in Jerusalem for several years at the Dominican school for the study of Scripture and archaeology, L’ Ècole Biblique.
Father Jeffrey Kirch is a priest of the Cincinnati Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. He was ordained in 2004. He has been preaching for CFCA since 2008.
Father Kirch is currently serving as assistant professor of religion at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. He also serves on the Provincial Council of the Cincinnati Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood.
“Preaching for CFCA is an effective way to help people understand what it means to be committed to the Gospel.”
— Rev. Kirch
Father Arthur Kirwin is a priest of the Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres. He was ordained in 1984. Father Kirwin has been preaching for CFCA since 2001.
Father Kirwin taught in Zambia for two years and has served domestically in hospital, prison and parish ministry.
Father Kirwin currently serves as prior of the Dominican community in Houston, Texas, and as a prison chaplain in the Archdiocese of Houston.
“I work for CFCA because I have found the whole community of CFCA (sponsored children and elderly and their families, CFCA staff in the field and in Kansas City, and the preachers) to be just that: a community which incarnates the CFCA motto: Offering hope. Restoring Dignity. Worldwide.”
— Rev. Kirwin
Father George Knab is a priest of the United States Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He was ordained a priest in 1967. He has been preaching with CFCA since 2003.
Father Knab has served as a school and hospital chaplain and pastor and has preached for Isaiah Ministries.
Currently, Father Knab preaches parish missions.
“The one-on-one connection contributes to the ongoing transformation of the sponsor while providing the sponsored person with a personal experience of God’s love and providence.”
— Rev. Knab
Father Peter Kohler is a priest of the Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. He was ordained in 1968. He has been preaching on behalf of CFCA since 1994.
Father Kohler has served as a missionary on the island of Madagascar. Father Kohler has also served in many different capacities including mission outreach and awareness, parish administration, and vocation and formation. He has a special love for ministries that work with the poor.
Currently, Father Kohler is in charge of his order’s pre-novitiate formation program in Washington, D.C. Father Kohler has been preaching for CFCA since 1994.
“I find doing CFCA presentations very rewarding from several points of view. Naturally helping the young and elderly is a wonderful experience. But also I continuously meet so many good, loving and caring people. At the end of a long weekend I find myself energized.”
— Rev. Kohler
Father 'Rick' LaBrecque is a priest of the Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina. Father LaBrecque was ordained in 1967 and began serving as a CFCA preacher in 2011.
Father LaBrecque has served as a pastor at inner-city parishes in New York and Massachusetts, the U.S. side of the Texas-Mexico border and in South Carolina. He has also organized mission trips for parishioners to Honduras.
Father LaBrecque is retired. In addition to working as a CFCA preacher, Father LaBrecque serves as needed in the Diocese of Charleston.
Father Mark Lane is a priest of the Oratorians of St. Philip Neri and currently resides in Brooklyn, N.Y. He was ordained in 1983. He has been preaching on behalf of CFCA since 2010.
Father Lane has served as a parochial minister in Sydney, Australia, and as a writer, illustrator, and designer for the Archdiocese of Sydney. He joined the Brooklyn Oratory in 1990 and has served as a pastor in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Father Donald MacKinnon is a priest of the Denver Province of the Redemptorists. He was ordained in 1959. He has been preaching for CFCA since June 2007.
Father MacKinnon has visited the Redemptorist missions in Southeast Asia, the Philippines and Nigeria. Domestically, he has worked with the people of San Francisco's Hunters Point housing projects and in the fields with migrant workers.
Father MacKinnon is semi-retired, and continuing to pastor the people of the Kmhmú-Laotian Pastoral Center in Richmond, California. In addition to his pastoral duties he volunteers with Bay Area organizations serving immigrants and the working poor.
“CFCA sees potential in people who are easily shunned. Didn’t Christ do the same? The sponsored children and aging are my inspiration.”
— Rev. MacKinnon
Father Bill Martin is a priest in the Archdiocese of New York. He was ordained in 1963. He has been preaching for CFCA since 1996.
Father Martin has served as a prison chaplain, parish administrator, teacher and spent 13 years as an Air Force chaplain.
Father Martin is currently retired from active ministry.
"'Who, in your opinion, made himself neighbor to the man who had fallen among thieves? The one who treated him with compassion.’ CFCA has the charism of enabling me to do that and inviting others to do the same.”
— Rev. Martin
Father Richard Mauthe is a priest in the Diocese of Green Bay in Wisconsin. He was ordained in 1958. He has been preaching for CFCA since 2001.
Father Mauthe served as a Newman Center chaplain and pastor. He is the first recipient of the John Henry Cardinal Newman Award by the National Association of Diocesan Youth Directors of Campus ministry.
Father Mauthe is retired from active ministry, but still provides substitute work during the summer in parishes that serve tourists in Door County, Wis.
Father Richard Maynard is a priest of the Diocese of Providence. He was ordained in 1956. He has been preaching for CFCA since 1999.
Father Maynard served in the Diocese of Providence missions in Brazil for eight years and served as a pastor in Rhode Island.
Father Maynard is currently retired from active ministry.
Msgr. John McClean is a priest of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Iowa. He was ordained in 1957. He began preaching for CFCA in 2003.
Msgr. McClean served as a teacher, principal and pastor during his years of active ministry.
In 2002, Msgr. McClean retired from active ministry, although he currently serves as the director of the Archdiocese of Dubuque’s Propagation of the Faith office.
“I enjoy enabling people to reach out and enrich another’s life. CFCA is very well-organized and very efficiently uses the gifts people entrust to this work.”
— Msgr. McClean
Father Jerry Morgan is a priest in the Diocese of Salina. He was ordained in 1962. He began his ministry with CFCA in 1995.
Father Morgan currently serves as treasurer for the Diocese of Salina.
Father James O’Toole is a priest of the Diocese of Fort Worth. He was ordained in 1964. He began working with CFCA in 2003.
Father O’Toole has served as a teacher and pastor. He spent 21 years as an Air Force chaplain serving in the United States, Pakistan, Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, he spent several months working in Calcutta, India, with the Missionaries of Charity home for the dying.
Father O’Toole is retired from active ministry, but continues to travel to Guatemala where he assists the pastoral staff at the parish of San Lucas Toliman, and he volunteers at CFCA's Hermano Pedro project.
Listen to Father O'Toole's recorded homily at St. Mark Catholic Church in Shoreline, Wash.
Father Roger Plante is a priest of the Province of Mary, Mother of the Americas of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette. He was ordained in 1961. He has been preaching for CFCA since 1996.
His ministries included being a pastor, headmaster of a school and organizing a food co-op for low-income people.
He currently keeps a schedule of light preaching and filling in for the different ministry needs of his community.
Father Michael Rieder is a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York. He was ordained in 1994. He has been preaching with CFCA since 2007.
Father Rieder has served as a high school chaplain and religion teacher. He has led numerous trips of parishioners and students to El Salvador and Guatemala.
Father Rieder is currently pastor of St. Therese of Lisieux Parish in Montauk, N.Y.
Father Thomas Singer is a priest of the United States Province of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. He was ordained in 1957. He has been preaching for CFCA since June 2007.
Father Singer has served in various roles in the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. During his time on the General Council and as Mission Secretary, Father Singer traveled extensively throughout Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
Father Singer is semi-retired, but he continues to serve as spiritual director for several people and conduct retreats.
"Of all the organizations I know, I believe CFCA is one of the most personal and effective in making a real difference in the lives of needy children and elderly. Plus, CFCA has a sterling record of stewardship."
— Rev. Singer
Father Stephen Smith is a priest of the Dominican Province of St. Martin de Porres. He was ordained in 1958. He began preaching for CFCA in 2002.
He was posted in Pakistan for 20 years, serving as a Vatican diplomat, pastor and program director for Catholic Relief Services. In the United States, he has served as a pastor.
Father Smith currently serves as vicar for priests in the Diocese of Raleigh, N.C.
Father Richard Tillman is a priest of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Mo. He was ordained in 1965 and has been preaching for CFCA since 2006.
Father Tillman has served as a pastor in rural, urban and suburban parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In his final pastoral assignment, he set up a ministry to Hispanics living on the south side of St. Louis.
He retired from active ministry in 2009.
Father Joseph Uecker is a priest of the Kansas City Province of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. Father Uecker was ordained in 1968 and has been preaching for CFCA since 2012.
Father Uecker has served as a teacher, pastor and member of the General Council for his religious community. Most recently Father Uecker was a pastor of a parish in Odessa, Texas.
Father Uecker is retired, but continues to serve where needed in the Diocese of San Angelo.
Father William Wangler is a priest of the Diocese of Buffalo. He was ordained in 1963. He has been preaching for CFCA since 2009.
Father Wangler served as a pastor, counselor, hospital chaplain and spiritual director.
He is currently retired from active ministry, but serves as a weekend substitute and does teacher training workshops for religious educators.
