SPEAKERS

You come to Rise Up to be inspired in your faith. These are the people who have walked the path before you and are passing on their wisdom for living life to the full.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Father Dan Ramos, CC

Companions of the Cross Priest

Father Malachy, CFR

Priest with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Sister Mary Bethany, O.P.

Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville

Andrew Nobauer

Missionary

Megan Turland

CCO Missionary Alumni

Eric Chow

Archdiocese of Vancouver, Senior Director of Ministries & Outreach

Fr. Dan Ramos, CC

Companions of the Cross Priest

Father Dan is a priest with the Companions of the Cross who was ordained in 2023. Born and raised in Vancouver, BC, he first encountered the Companions of the Cross during his university years. He previously served at Saint Benedict Parish in Halifax and currently serves as Associate Pastor at Annunciation of the Lord Parish in Ottawa. Through his ministry, he seeks to share the joy of the Gospel and help others grow closer to Christ.

Father Malachy, CFR

Priest with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Born in Augusta, GA as the second child of eight, Father Malachy was raised in a devout Catholic family. After a tumultuous adolescence marked by addiction, he experienced a reversion to the faith in early college connected to a strong call to the priesthood. In 2008, he joined the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, professed solemn vows in 2014, and was ordained to the priesthood in May 2020. He has lived in friaries in NY, NJ, and Nicaragua, and served as a Eucharistic Preacher for the National Eucharistic Revival.

Sister Mary Bethany, O.P.

Dominican Sister of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville

Sister Mary Bethany Zeitler was born in California, grew up in Baltimore, and entered the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation in Nashville, Tennessee, four years after becoming Catholic. She made religious vows for all her life in 2010, and was one of the five Sisters from her community sent to serve the Archdiocese of Vancouver in 2011. During her time here, Sister has taught a variety of grade levels, as well as music and French, in two different Catholic elementary schools in the area.

Andrew Nobauer

CCO Missionary

Born in North Vancouver, Andrew grew up in Coquitlam, BC. As an adult, he encountered CCO and had his conversion a few weeks after Rise Up Quebec City. He worked for CCO for 15 years, has been married for 11 years, and is the father of four.

Megan Turland

CCO Missionary Alumni

A wife and mother of four, Megan served as a missionary with Catholic Christian Outreach for over a decade, seeking the renewal of the world through the evangelization and leadership development of university students. She now has the privilege of educating her children at home full time. Megan has a passion for helping others encounter Jesus through her writing and speaking.

Eric Chow

Archdiocese of Vancouver, Senior Director of Ministries & Outreach

Eric Chow serves the Archdiocese of Vancouver as Senior Director of the Ministries & Outreach Office and Director of Proclaim, leading teams and initiatives that strengthen evangelization and missionary discipleship across the Archdiocese. With more than twenty years in mission and leadership, Eric delights in his vocation as husband to Vanessa and father to Eva, Isabel, Sophie, Samuel, and Francis.

Ben Turland

CCO Missionary

Ben Turland serves as a CCO Missionary, helping bring the joy of the Gospel to young adults and university students.