AN EVENING OF
Sacred Art & Music
October 12th, 2025 | Bloomingdale, OH
THANK YOU FOR COMING
YOU ARE INVITED
The Apostolate for Family Consecration’s Board Members request the honor of your presence at our 50th Anniversary Gala.
October 12th, 2025 | Bloomingdale, OH
Thank you for attending the Gala
We appreciate your presence, and we thank you for your support of the Apostolate for Family Consecration®. Please enjoy this album of photos from the night, as well as the program recording. We hope to see you again soon.
Special Guests
Sister Deirdre Byrne
Surgeon & Active Missionary Sister
Sister Deirdre Byrne is double board-certified in family medicine and general surgery. A native of the Washington, D.C., area, Sister Deirdre (known to many as Sister Dede) is one of eight siblings, the youngest being Bishop William Byrne of the Springfield Diocese. After college, Sister Dede followed in her thoracic surgeon father’s footsteps and entered medical school at Georgetown University, where she eventually completed a surgical residency. During medical school in 1978, she joined the Army. While working in both missionary and military service in far ranging areas, she was led to the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts community. By 2000, the board-certified Dr. Byrne made her commitment to the Little Workers and began her novitiate training in earnest.
Sister Dede retired with the rank of Colonel from the United States Army in 2009 after 29 years of service in the military. Currently, she is the superior of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts house in Washington, D.C., where the sisters run a pro-bono physical therapy clinic, diabetic clinic, medical-surgery clinic and a front-line pro-life ministry that includes the Abortion Pill Reversal protocol.
Dr. Leisa Marie Carzon
Author, Reformer, & Leader
Dr. Leisa Marie Carzon is a blessed wife and mother, bestselling author, president & chairman of the board of The Heart of Christ medical clinic, and the director of Catholic School Leadership at Madonna University. She is also president of Plymouth Right to Life, CEO of Vox Vitae, and founder of the St. Thomas Aquinas Fund. As a former state director, she assembled and led CatholicVote’s largest & most successful nationwide group for rallying the 2020 prolife vote, and she continues to advance policy reform and America First legislative initiatives.
Her nationwide research indicating that Catholic school principals’ knowledge of and fidelity to Magisterial Church teaching positively correlated with the strength of their schools’ Catholic identity resulted in a new model of Catholic school leadership. Also a talented coloratura soprano, Dr. Carzon’s featured performances include opera and oratorio on both national and international stages.
Elizabeth Zelasko
50th Anniversary Commissioned Icon Artist
Elizabeth studied fine art at The School of Visual Arts in Manhattan before attending the Prosopon School of Iconology, where she trained in traditional Orthodox iconography. She later moved to Denver to complete her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, graduating as valedictorian.
Featured Artists
Amber Knorr
Amber Knorr Art
Amber Knorr was born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky. She studied Theology and Catechetics at Franciscan University of Steubenville before moving to Florence, Italy to pursue artistic training at the Sacred Art School. This figurative art school had a particular focus on Pope St. John Paul II’s “Theology of the Body” along with training artists in the Catholic tradition of Sacred Art. As an artist, Amber is interested in exploration of the human figure and the Christian faith. She hopes that through her art she may, “put people not only in touch, but in communion, in intimacy, with Jesus Christ.”
Geoff & Ruth Stricklin
New Jerusalem Studios
Ruth, a mural artist and designer, and her husband Geoff, a graduate of the Liturgical Institute, Mundelein, IL, founded New Jerusalem Studios in 2014 in response to a growing commitment to authentic liturgical renewal in the Catholic community. The mission of NJS is “to announce the Gospel of Jesus Christ through beautiful sacred art and design.” The Stricklins understand sacred art as a gateway to a sacramental encounter with Christ. Their work can be found in churches throughout America.
Trinitas Cellars
Wines Inspired by Faith
Trinitas Cellars was born in 2002 from the guiding belief of the Busch Family that with family, faith and perseverance, anything is possible. These values illuminated their path to success. Trinitas’ goal is to craft wine so compellingly delicious, that the joy it brings creates a window in time where worries melt away, virtues are celebrated, and life is savored.
Timothy Paul Schmalz
“The Pope’s Sculptor”
Timothy’s beautiful sculptures can be seen in Vatican Square, North American basilicas and cathedrals, and as far afield as South Africa, Spain, Ireland and England. His famous National Life Monument graces the Texas State Capitol.
Timothy states, “I am not interested in art for art’s sake but art for God’s sake. I am constantly striving to put an authentic face to our faith with art.”
Arasely Rios
Seraphym Designs
Arasely Rios, Founder and Creative Director of Seraphym Designs, utilizes only the best-quality beads, components and metals to create beautiful rosaries and jewelry. Each piece is handcrafted and uniquely designed for quality, longevity, and richness of color. She chooses color themes and metals that mimic the splendor of the earth, the strength of the divine and the sacred, and the boldness of the old world. She is also inspired to utilize the stones and medals described in the Bible. She brings them all together with beads that capture the life-giving qualities of light.
Giuseppe Di Gristina
Chef & Owner of Pastaio
Chef & Owner Giuseppe Di Gristina hails from Palermo, Sicily’s cultural capital rich in history, culture, art, music and, of course, food. Chef Di Gristina honors his Italian roots and family traditions with the simplicity of fresh, local ingredients.
Family brought Giuseppe from California back to Pittsburgh, and determination and unfavorable COVID circumstances brought him to Wintersville, Ohio. Pastaio, Giuseppe and Vincenza’s restaurant, was featured on America’s Best Restaurants in 2023. Previously, Giuseppe was named “Best Chef” twice and earned “Best Restaurant” for three years.
Musical Artists
Celia & Hannah Mergen
Event
Details
5:00–6:30pm
VIP Art & Music Cocktail Reception
Sacred Art Silent Auction
General Admission Appetizers & Social
6:30–7:30pm
VIP Dinner & Dessert
General Admission Sacred Art Silent Auction
7:30pm
Program
St. Joseph Conference Center
Apostolate for Family Consecration
Bloomingdale, OH
TRAVEL & LODGING
We are pleased to offer special rates for guests attending the 2025 Gala. Please mention the event to receive a discount.
Airport shuttle will be provided.
Will you be joining us for the Totus Tuus Family Conference℠, October 10–12? You are welcome to keep the same accommodations. Just let us know when you register.
NAVIGATION
~20 minutes from Franciscan University of Steubenville
~45 minutes from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Totus Tuus Family Conference℠
Consider joining us for our annual Totus Tuus Family Conference℠ preceding the Gala, Friday Oct. 10 – Sunday Oct. 12. It’s a weekend for the whole family to be renewed in the love of God and formed in Truth. Hear from speakers such as Dr. Ray Guarendi, Mario Enzler, Dr. Janet Smith, and more. Information and separate registration can be found here:
CONTACT
For questions about sponsoring a table at the 50th Anniversary Gala, contact:
Joan Clarke at 740-424-0121 or [email protected]
For other inquiries, contact:
Richard Urban at 740-567-7700 ext. 1125 or [email protected]
AN EVENING OF
Sacred Art & Music
Attend the 50th Anniversary Gala