Convention Speakers

CONVENTION SPEAKERS

KCCA 2025 CONVENTION - SPEAKERS

FRIDAY, JULY 18th 2025 - DAY OF REFLECTION SPEAKERS

Bishop James Maria Wainaina Kung’u

Bishop James Maria Wainaina is the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, Kenya. He was appointed bishop of Murang’a on 4th April 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI. Bishop Maria Wainaina was born on 23rd December 1956, at Ngenya, Diocese of Nyeri, Nyeri County, Kenya. He studied philosophy at the St. Augustine Major Seminary in Mabanga, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bungoma from 1978 until 1980. He then studied Theology at the St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Nairobi, in the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi from 1980 until 1984. He studied at the Pontifical University of Saint Anselm in Padua, Italy from 1996, graduating in 2001 with a Licentiate of Sacred Theology.

Bishop Maria Wainana was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Nyeri on 15th December 1984. On 5th December 2002, he was incardinated priest of Nyahururu Catholic Diocese, Kenya.
He served in several roles as priest including as:

Professor of St. Paul Minor Seminary in Nyeri from 1984 until 1986.
Financial Administrator for the Archdiocese of Nyeri from 1984 until 1986.
Professor of Liturgy at Christ the King Seminary from 2002 until 2003.
Rector of Christ the King Major Seminary in Nyeri from 2003 until 2009.

On 4th April 2009, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him as Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Murang’a. He was consecrated and installed at the grounds of Murang’a Catholic Cathedral, in Murang’a by John Cardinal Njue who was the Archbishop of Nairobi assisted by Archbishop Peter Joseph Kairo, who was the Archbishop of Nyeri and Bishop Luigi Paiaro, who was the Bishop of Nyahururu. He serves there as the Local Ordinary since then. https://catholicdioceseofmuranga.org/

Joe Heschmeyer

Joe Heschmeyer is a staff apologist with Catholic Answers, a lay apostolate that defends and explains the Catholic faith. A popular author, speaker,
blogger and podcaster, he joined the apostolate in March 2021 after three years as an instructor at Holy Family School of Faith in Overland park, Kansas. He’s also the author of Who Am I, Lord? Finding Your Identity in Christ and Pope Peter: Defending the Church’s Most Distinctive Doctrine in a Time of Crisis. He blogs at ShamelessPopery.com, and hosts his podcast “Shameless Popery”. He is a regular contributor to Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Answers Focus, and Catholic magazine. He enjoys speaking (and debating) on a wide range of issues, including the papacy, the beliefs of the earliest Christians, the Eucharist and sacramental theology, and pro-life issues.

Joe has a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C., after earning a Bachelor’s degree in History from Topeka’s Washburn University, and is a former practicing Attorney in Washington, D.C. Joe is a former seminarian for the Archdiocese of Kansas City; he holds a philosophy degree from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, and a theology degree from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
Joe lives in the Kansas City area with his wife Anna and their two children Stella and James. He enjoys reading, listening to podcasts, and tormenting his loved ones with terrible puns.

Fr. James Burasa, C.S.C

Fr. (Dr.) James Burasa is an ordained Roman Catholic priest of the Congregation of Holy
Cross, having entered priestly ministry in 1995. He is widely recognized for his dynamic presence as a conference and retreat speaker, and is particularly known for his spiritual outreach to the sick and afflicted, a ministry he carries out with deep compassion and devotion. Fr. Burasa's academic journey reflects both depth and distinction. He began his education at Ibuga Primary School in Kasese, Uganda, before attending St. Leo’s College, Kyegobe, in Fort Portal for his secondary and advanced-level education. He earned a
Bachelor of Philosophy from the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, graduating Magna cum Laude Probatus. He continued his theological studies with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology at the Jesuit School of Theology, Hekima College in Nairobi, attaining Second Class Honours, Upper Division.
He holds a Licentiate in Sacred Theology with a specialization in Dogmatic Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (Magna cum Laude), and a PhD in Sacred Theology (Dogmatic/Systematic Theology) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi (Summa cum Laude).

His pastoral work spans several decades and regions. He began his ministry as Assistant Parish Priest at St. Jude Thaddeus’ Parish in Kyarusozi, Uganda (1995–1996), before serving
as Parish Priest at Holy Cross Parish in Dandora, Nairobi (1996–2000). From 2003 to 2012, he was the Superior of the Congregation of Holy Cross, District of East Africa. He also served as a lecturer at Tangaza University College in Nairobi between 2017 and 2018.
Since 2018, Fr. Burasa has been serving once again at St. Jude Thaddeus’ Parish in Kyarusozi, Uganda, now as Parish Priest. His ministry continues to inspire both the faithful and fellow clergy. In recognition of his pastoral, academic, and humanitarian contributions, Fr. Burasa was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities (Honoris Causa) by King’s College in
Pennsylvania, USA.

Fr. Dr. Anthony Parankimlil, VC

Fr. (Dr.) Shibu Sebastian VC, also known as Fr. Antony Parankimalil VC, is a distinguished Catholic priest of the Vincentian Congregation, Province, Kerala, India. He was ordained on December 28th, 2004. Fr. Antony comes from a family of ten children, with three brothers also serving as priests.
Fr. Antony’s academic Background include: Bachelor of Commerce, Diploma in Philosophy, Bachelor of Theology, Licentiate in Spiritual Theology, and a Doctorate in Spiritual Theology.
Ministry Experience include: Former positions include roles at Tabor Divine Retreat Centre (Mumbai, India), Vincentian Study House and Prayer House (Nairobi, Kenya), and Vincentian Retreat Centre (Thika, Nairobi); Held directorship roles at Divine Prayer Center (New Jersey, USA) and Carmel Divine Retreat Centre (Darlington, UK); Currently, Superior and Director at Vincentian Retreat Centre, Entebbe, Uganda, and in-charge of Outreach Ministries in Kigali, Rwanda; Lecturer at the University of Kisubi, Uganda; and engages in online preaching through the Divine UK YouTube Channel and has led spiritual seminars and retreats globally.
Publications:

"You Are Not Rejected"
"Why Turn to Jesus? An Invitation to Inner-healing"
"All Glory to Jesus"
"Christ is All"
"All Glory to Abba Father" (Music Album)
"The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy Album" (Kiswahili)

Contact Information: Divine Retreat Centre, Vincentian Congregation Cyeru, Kanzenze, Ntarama, P.O. Box 136, Bugesera, Rwanda Phone: +250790955588, +250790955599 Email: divineretreatcentre.kigali@gmail.com Website: www.vincentianpriest.org

Mr. George Ndegwa

Mr. George Ndegwa a lay catholic man, who is married, a father to five children and a grandfather of three grandchildren. George has been involved in Evangelization as a lay Catholic evangelist since 1989 in the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya. He a is a parishioner of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Parish in Ridgeways, located along Kiambu Road, Nairobi. George is a partner in the teaching/Prayer ministry with Fr. James Burasa whom he assists in this spiritual ministry. He is also a member of the Catholic Men Association (CMA) of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr. Anthony Muriithi

Dr. Anthony Muriithi Maina is a devoted Catholic, husband, and father of three wonderful children. Antony is the coordinator at St. Patrick’s Jumuiya in Jersey City, NJ. He is also the current vice chairperson of Pontifical Missionally Childhood (PMC) for - KCCA.
Anthony holds a PhD in Chemistry Education. He has worked as a scientist, chemist, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) mentor. He has experience
of being a Youth Minister from 2000 until 2004.

Paula Agondoa

Paula Agondoa has been an Administrator, a Lecturer at different Colleges including Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), and Contemplative Evangelizers of the Heart of Christ Major Seminary. Since 2016 she has been the Director of Public Participation and Civic Education in Kiambu County, Kenya. Paula has been a youth counselor over the years dealing on motivation, behavior change and drug abuse. She has also been a grief and loss counselor.

Paula has graduated in different fields, certificates, Diploma and Degrees. She holds a Diploma in Justice and Peace, and a Diploma in Business Administration from CUEA, plus a Diploma in Counseling Psychology from St. Paul University. She also holds a Bachelor of Commerce Management and a Bachelor of Commerce Marketing from CUEA, and a MBA in Strategic Management.

Paula has been a Trainer of the Choirs in the Archdiocese of Nairobi. She is a commissioned Catholic Women Associations (CWA) trainer in the Archdiocese of Nairobi, and is currently training in the Diocese of Spokane as well writing the Diocese of Spokane CWA training manual.

Nick Redd

Nick Redd is currently a Mission Supervisor at St. Paul Outreach.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Physical Education Teaching and Coaching at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. He has robust skill
set including, Youth Ministry, Pastoral Care, Theology, Religion, and Public Speaking. Nick has former experience of Coaching, NET Ministries and Self-Employment.

Nick Redd sees his mission as “to equip the church to walk in the power of
Holy Spirit and bring The Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. I believe that one of the greatest needs at this hour in The Church is a call to go deep into the heart of God.” Additionally, Nick says that he “help men step into
their #power, #authority and #kingdom by tipping the scales on vice and virtue; Working Genius - Galvanizing and Invention.”

Charles Mwaura

Charles Mwaura is a parishioner of St. Andrew Catholic Parish, and has experience of being a Campus Ministry Director at St. Pius X (SPX). Charles holds an MBA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which enhanced his analytical, problem-solving, and leadership skills. He has a diverse educational background, with a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Saint Louis University, and some studies in Aeronautical Science and Thomistic philosophy. Charles is passionate about serving the community and promoting positive changes around him, and he is always striving to find new ways to grow and develop his character and aspire to be a strong leader that empowers others to achieve their goals.

Along with is wife Samantha, son Judah, and daughter Gianna, Charles Strives to pursue the good, true, and beautiful, each day – embracing the teachings of Christ and cherishing the bonds of friendship that enrich his life. He is a Construction Project Manager and owner of a construction/remodeling business, as well as a co-owner of his family business – Seraphic Senior Living.