IHM Conference

Fr. Andrew Apostoli, CFR, is a member of the Community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen in 1967. He has been active in teaching, preaching retreats and parish missions, and in giving spiritual direction. He is an adjunct faculty member of Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Dunwoodie, Yonkers, New York. In his community, he has served as Community Servant and Novice Director. He was instrumental in 1988 in helping to found the Community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal. Currently, he is serving as a Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Canonization for Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen.

          Father Andrew has been active over the years producing different TV series for EWTN. He has also been giving talks on various spiritual topics, many of which are available as videos, DVDs, CDs, and tapes. He has written 8 books and 3 pamphlets.

Fr. Thomas Maximilian Longua was born in 1969 in New London, Connecticut.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Christendom College in 1992, and was St. Gregory’s Academy’s first dorm father during the 1993-94 school year in Elmhurst, PA.  He also taught at Seton High School in Manassas, VA.

            In 2000, Fr. Longua completed studies at Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Wallenpaupack, PA, and then earned his Master of Arts degree in church history from the Catholic University of America in 2002.  Father was ordained to the priesthood in the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter in 2003.

            Fr. Longua returned to St. Gregory’s Academy as Chaplain and Administrator from 2003 to 2009, where he also taught religion to the senior classes.  Currently, he is Chaplain of the Mater Dei Latin Mass Community in Dallas, Texas.

Mr. Joseph Pearce is a world-recognized biographer of modern Christian literary figures. He is the internationally acclaimed author of 14 books, which include bestsellers such as G.K. Chesterton: Wisdom and Innocence (Ignatius, 1997), Literary Converts (Ignatius, 2000), Tolkien: Man and Myth (Ignatius, 2001), Solzhenitsyn: A Soul in Exile (Baker Books, 2001), and Old Thunder: A Life of Hilaire Belloc (Ignatius, 2002). Pearce’s books have been published and translated into over eight languages.

          Mr. Pearce converted to the Catholic faith in 1989 as a result of “becoming friends” with several 20th-century literary figures he researched who had been Christians and, ultimately, converts to Catholicism—particularly G.K. Chesterton. As a younger man, Pearce was “extremely anti-Catholic” and even had opposed Pope John Paul II’s visits to England. His earlier viewpoint gradually shifted as he learned more about the writings and beliefs of the literary converts he would eventually profile.

          As Writer in Residence and professor of literature at Ave Maria University in Naples, Florida, since September 2001, Mr. Pearce also serves as Editor of the Saint Austin Review, a trans-Atlantic monthly cultural review. A native of Great Britain, he relocated to the United States in 2001 to serve at Ave Maria University. He is also contributing writer to a number of newspapers and magazines in the United Kingdom, U.S. and Canada.

          An accomplished tutor, teacher and speaker, Mr. Pearce has participated and lectured at a wide variety of international and literary events at major colleges and universities in the U.S., Britain, Europe and Canada. He is also a regular guest on national and international television and radio programs, and has served as consultant for film documentaries on J.R.R. Tolkien and Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Mrs. Virginia Seuffert, a native New Yorker and mother of twelve, currently resides in Illinois with her husband.

          While in New York, Mrs. Seuffert lectured, debated, and wrote a number of articles for the Pro-Life movement. After moving to Illinois, she became a founding member of the Network of Illinois Catholic Home Educators, helped establish the “Round Table” (a Catholic home school leadership discussion group), and became a founder and officer of the Catholic Home School Network of America.

          Mrs. Seuffert has appeared on EWTN, and has spoken at numerous Catholic family conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. She is the author of various articles on home education, particularly stressing the teaching of virtues and discipline. Mrs. Seuffert wrote the chapter on “Home Management” in Dr. Mary Kay Clark’s book, Catholic Home Schooling: A Parent’s Guide.

Captain Guy Gruters graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a degree in Engineering, and from Purdue University with an MS in Astronautical Engineering. He served in the USAF as a fighter pilot and retired from the USAF as a captain in 1973.

During the Vietnam War, Captain Gruters flew more than 400 combat missions as a Forward Air Controller. He was shot down twice, and after being captured the second time, he spent 5 years and 4 months as a prisoner of war in Communist prison camps, including the notorious "Hanoi Hilton."  Captain Gruters received two Silver Stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, one Bronze Star for Valor, two Purple Hearts, and over 20 air medals. Captain Gruters gives credit to his Catholic Faith for helping him through this extremely difficult time in his life. Two stories about his personal experiences during the Vietnam war appear in the book Misty.

Captain Gruters gives talks around the country to colleges and universities, ROTC units, and other military and civilian groups. His speaking engagements have included: the United States Air Force Academy, Virginia Military Institute, and the Franciscan University of Steubenville. His unique message, one full of faith and hope, is pro-military, pro-patriotic, and pro-God. Captain Guy Gruters and his wife, Sandy, have been married for over 45 years and have 7 children.