2015 SPECIAL GUESTS

SPECIAL GUESTS

PAUL J. KIM Speaker / Beatboxer / Inspirer

PAUL J. KIM
International Youth Speaker / Beatboxer / Comedian
www.PJKmusic.com
Paul J. Kim is an International youth speaker, vocalist, and beatboxer. He presents and performs full time, sharing his love of Jesus Christ and the New Evangelization via inspirational talks, music, and comedy. He has released two music albums entitled “The World Sings” (2013) and “Run Fly Fall” (2009), and has been a featured speaker & performer at the National Catholic Youth Conference, the Steubenville Summer Youth Conferences, and the Spirit in the City Festival in London, UK. The videos he has been featured in on YouTube have accumulated over a million views. His background includes an MA Degree in Marriage & Family Therapy (Hope International), a BA in Philosophy and Theology (Franciscan University), and over a decade of experience in youth ministry. In his free time, Paul enjoys long walks on the beach, making his wife laugh till she falls over, and talking to strangers in random accents.

SISTER RUŽICA DODIG

Sister Ružica Dodig is a member of the religious order of the Handmaids of Charity founded by Saint Maria Crocifissa Di Rosa from Italy. Having completed theology studies sister Ružica worked at a high school and through her work with young people she developed and interest in artistic expressions of youth through dance, play, song and drama. Recognizing talents among students as well as collaboration on original projects were among some of the goals of the expressive arts workshops she has held.

Sister Ružica continued to develop her artistic interests at the Academy of Arts in Italy where she graduated in Video, Sound, and Game Design. Considering her growing interest in the way music and pictures influence young people, she graduated with a degree in Graphic Design with a project on “Music Videos in Education and Promotion.”

She now works as an educator at the student residence Paula Di Rosa in Dubrovnik where she devotes special attention to the development of expression of young people through multimedia.

How does sister Ružica see the world? Through a pixel.

A pixel is the smallest unit of a picture.

It is wonderful living in the faith that we are all pixels in God’s beautiful picture.

What is necessary to see a pixel on a computer screen? Light.

We all need God’s light in order to recognize each other as unique gifts.

Sister Ružica on set for the theme song/video for the gathering of Croatian Catholic Youth in Dubrovnik which took place in April 2014.

Award winning rendition of "Happy", directed and edited by sister Ružica.

FR. DAMIR STOJIĆ 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.

fr. Damir's talks at "Mladifest 2014", 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.

BOŽJA POBJEDA

We are glad to be welcoming back
Bozja Pobjeda!
We were fortunate enough to have these young, inspirational youths at the FIRST Norval Mladifest, they shared their incredible music talents as well witnessed their faith.
Bozja Pobjeda (English Translation: “God’s Victory”) was founded by university students in 2007 in Croatia, and receives spiritual guidance from Father Damir Stojic. They organize various seminars, retreats, meetings and meet once a month for adoration and praise and worship. The vision of the community 's young people is to share their testimonies in hopes of transforming lives and showing them that Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

BOZJA POBJEDA WILL HAVE A CONCERT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC on Saturday JULY 4th , WHERE THEY WILL PLAY HILLSONG COVER SONGS.
Stay tuned for more updates.

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 2015 and looks forward to seeing YOU there!