2014 SPECIAL GUESTS

PAST SPECIAL GUESTS

Leah Darrow

Leah Darrow is a speaker that challenges her international audiences to live their lives in accordance with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She speaks on topics which include modesty, chastity, mercy, conversion, and human dignity.

Leah first gained international attention with her debut on the reality television show, America’s Next Top Model. As one of the 14 finalists, Leah’s foray into the world of modeling aired in late September of 2004. Following her time on the reality show, Leah continued to work in the world of modeling making appearances in many national and international publications. As she neared completion on what was to be her last photo shoot, Leah had an experience that set her life on a different course. Realizing her profession placed her in situations in which she was not truly comfortable, Leah left the modeling industry and has devoted herself to speaking about Gospel of Jesus Christ and helping people find their love, acceptance and beauty in Him.

Leah is especially inspired to share her message on modesty, dignity, mercy, chastity, and conversion. Her goal is to add value to the faith and life of her audiences and to help them find lasting happiness. She does this by encouraging them to find happiness that rests in the infinite world rather than in the temporalities of life. Leah emphasizes that the temporal world sells a kind of happiness that is driven by possessions, beauty, and money and points out that these things can never bring true satisfaction. She also enjoys speaking to women about the many gifts, talents and abilities they have to offer and endeavors to teach them how to embrace their God-given dignity through being classy, fabulous, and faithful.

Before her premier in America’s Next Top Model, Leah earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Missouri St. Louis. Today, she is furthering her education by working toward her MA in Theology at the Augustine Institute in Denver, Colorado. Her full-time work as an apologist and speaker for Catholic Answers from 2010-2013 has given Leah the opportunity to bring her experiences in education, fashion, and reality television to audiences around the world.

In addition to her modeling and public speaking endeavors, Leah has been given the chance to appear on many radio and television programs to discuss the topics of faith and culture. She has also had the chance to participate in a United Nations panel discussion in July of 2011 on behalf of international youth. Recent opportunities have placed Leah in front of an audience of 15,000 youth in Manila during her Real Love Revolution tour at the World Trade center in the Philippines. She has also given the keynote address for more than 6,000 college students at the national FOCUS conference, SEEK2013, which was held at Walt Disney World.

Leah strives to do her part in the call for a New Evangelization by speaking to audiences at events, schools, retreats, and parishes. She shares her love for The Gospel by relating real-life stories, personal experiences, inspiration, and a little down-to-earth sarcasm. She hopes to help her audiences understand the importance of purity, chastity, modesty, and living happy and fulfilling lives by following Jesus Christ.

Fr. Damir Stojic SDB

Norval’s very own Salesian priest and student chaplain at the University of Zagreb. Beloved by students across Croatia he will come home to address youths who are like him, children of Croatian immigrants.

Fr. Damir Stojić is a salesian priest born in 1973 in Toronto, Canada, as the youngest, third son of Croatian emigres.

After having graduated from a salesian high school in Canada he begins psychology studies and after a summer in Croatia he decides to join the Croatian salesian province where he begins his theology studies at the university of Zagreb. He completed catechetical internships in Split and in Sondria, Italy. In 2002 he completes his theology studies and is ordained as a priest. He went on to work as the associate pastor at the “Duh Sveti” and “Sveta Mati Slobode” parishes at Jarun in Zagreb. In 2004. he went on to graduate studies in moral theology in Washington, DC, at the Catholic University of America where he received his master’s degree on the topic of “Principles of Catholic social teaching on the rights of minorities”. During his studies he was the pastor at the Croatian Catholic mission St. Blaise in Washington, DC, as well as the student chaplain at the University of America. He returned to Croatia once again in 2007 where he was decreed by the Archbishop of Zagreb, Josip Bozanić, to be the student chaplain at the University of Zagreb. He is a member of the youth ministry commission of the conference of Croatian Catholic bishops as well as a member of the Croatian salesian province. He promotes the “Theology of the Body” based on the writings of Bl. John Paul II. by hosting forums, lectures, seminars, retreats across Croatia and abroad. Aside from being the student chaplain he also fulfills his regular pastoral duties at the “Sv. Mati Slobode” church in Zagreb.

One of fr. Damir's talks at the inaugural "Mladifest 2013", June 8, 2013, Norval, Ontario, Canada.

Tanya Granic Allen

Tanya Granic Allen is a Canadian writer (Croatian/Maltese background), commentator, and spokeswoman.

Primarily focusing on issues affecting women and the family, Tanya also provides commentary on Canadian and American politics and current affairs.

She has over 20 years experience in politics at the local, national and international level

Tanya Granic Allen resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband and children.

Fr. Frank Kelly, SDB

Fr. Frank Kelly, SDB, was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. In 1954, Fr. Frank came to the Salesians as an aspirant in West Haverstraw, N.Y. After his novitiate year in Newton, N.J., he made his first profession in 1959. Fr. Kelly did his post-novitiate formation at Don Bosco College, Newton, Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J., and Hope Haven in Marrero, LA. Fr. Frank made his perpetual profession at Newton in 1965. Fr. Kelly was formed as a Salesian priest at the Josephinum in Columbus. After ordination in 1971, Fr. Kelly was among the first DRAs at Salesian High School, New Rochelle, N.Y., and Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. Fr. Frank was assistant pastor at St. Anthony Parish in Elizabeth. He served on the Marian Shrine retreat team. He was director of Salesian Junior Seminary in Goshen, N.Y., from 1983-1986. In 1986, Fr. Kelly brought his deep spirituality and hearty laugh to the Salesian community in Etobicoke, Ont. While in the Toronto area, Fr. Frank has served as director of the Salesian community and pastor of St. Benedict Parish. From 2000 to 2006, Fr. Kelly was vice provincial for the Canadian vice province. At present, Fr. Kelly lives with the Salesian community in Etobicoke, where he serves as a priest and spiritual guide.

Youth choir "KAIROS"

“KAIROS” is the youth choir at our Croatian Franciscan Centre in Norval, Ontario. The choir was born out of the first Mladifest (2013) where they sang together with our guests from Croatia, Božja Pobjeda. Their name come from the theme of the Mladifest: "Now is the time of salvation" -2 Cor 6:2 and in biblical Greek it loosely means "THE RIGHT MOMENT". After Mladifest 2013, they continued to gather for practices and continually improved their skills and repertoire. In the fall of 2013 they began to sing the newly instituted Sunday evening bilingual mass at Norval. They also tour playing masses at Croatian parishes in promotion of Mladifest. The enthusiastic youth who founded the choir consist of a mix of newly arrived youth from Bosna & Hercegovina who brought with them their experience and talents from back home, together with Canadian born Croatians they bring a new life and heighten the experience of God at every liturgy they play at. It is their hope to start a trend of forming youth choirs in other Croatian parishes because the talent is certainly there. If you are in the Toronto area you are more than welcome to join them either to stay with them or learn from them so that you can start a similar choir in your own parish. KAIROS is proud to be the musical heartbeat of Mladifest 2014 and looks forward to seeing YOU there!

Mystery/Surprise Guests...

Some unannounced guests might show by. Are they big stars or not so well known? Don't even bother guessing, you'll just see them when you see them! :)