Rosa Mystica's Speaker Biographies

Biographies of Guest Speakers: A to E

Sondra Abrahams

Sondra Abrahams was a thirty-year old mother in 1970 when she was pronounced legally dead. She was shown Heaven, Purgatory and Hell. Sondra witnessed a vision of the horrors of abortion and euthanasia which were to come, and startling visions of what is still to come in our time.

Alan Ames

The Lord God has been speaking and appearing in visions to Alan since February of 1994.
Now Alan is gifted with all the gifts of The Holy Spirit in ways that are very evident, especially through the healing sessions following his talks.

Al Barbarino

Al Barbarino is a lay-Apostolate Franciscan of the Padre Pio Shelter, NY and a member of The Knights of Columbus, who sings for the poor and the homeless, as well as for the war victims of Croatia and Bosnia. He has sung throughout the United States and other countries. Al is also an evangelist for the Catholic faith, and is a tireless witness for Jesus.

Alix fils-Aime

The Arise Jerusalem Ministry is a Catholic organization based in Honesdale, PA. The main goal of the AJA is to propagate the devotion to the mother of God under the title of Our Lady of All Graces. The ministry was begun by Alix fils-Aime, Deacon Mark S. Jennings and Msg. John Esseff.

Anne of Ireland

"Anne," a wife and mother of six, reveals her journey to the Heart of Jesus. The messages she hears in her heart, that she believes are from Jesus and Mary, reveal the tender, solicitous love that Our Savior has for each one of us.

Fr. Donald Calloway, M.I.C.

A convert to Catholicism, Fr. Calloway is a member of the Congregation of Marians of the Immaculate Conception. Before his conversion he lived for wine, women and song. He was in jail three times, kicked out of a foreign country and institutionalized twice. At age twenty he read a book about Medjugorje that radically changed his life. After becoming Catholic he joined his community and studied for ten years to be a priest. He has earned several degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville and Dominican House of studies in Washington, DC. Fr. Calloway is currently the House Superior of the Marian House of Studies in Steubenville, Ohio.

Fr. John Campoli, IV

In 1981, Fr. John Campoli founded "His Love Ministries," an International Intercessory Prayer Ministry dedicated to bringing people to a deeper understanding of the love that God has for them.

Fr. Syril Doss, SVD

Fr. Doss is the Co-Director of Divine Word Retreat Center in Hyderabad, India, where he has a TV Ministry. Father has special gifts of Preaching and Healing.

Olive Dawson

Olive Dawson, originally from Dublin, offers words of love that Our Lady wishes to give. Since 1988, Our Lady under the name of “The Merciful Madonna,” has been appearing to a visionary in Dublin. This visionary has been instructed by Our Lady to present a book of messages with love to all her children in the world. This book has been printed with Ecclesiastical Permission. Under Our Lady’s instruction the visionary is to remain hidden.
Olive Dawson was chosen by Our Lady for the mission of spreading Her words of love. Since 1999, Olive has been given a special grace. She lives only on the Eucharist, needs neither food nor water, requires very little sleep, and has boundless energy.

Ned Dougherty

Ned Dougherty was a successful nightclub owner and lived life in the fast lane. All that changed when he had a near-death experience resulting from a heart attack. During his near-death experience, Ned received visions of the future which were published six months before the September 11th terrorist attack. The prophecy: "A major terrorist attack may befall New York City or Washington, DC, severly impacting the way we live in the United States." He has had other visions of events effecting Long Island.

Biographies of Guest Speakers: F to P

Anthony Fuina

On February 18, 1997, Anthony Fuina was diagnosed as having a large tumor in his colon. Thus began an amazing story of his walk with Padre Pio. Shortly after his first surgery, as he was driving his car on Long Island, Anthony stopped to pick up a hitchhiker, something he had never done before. As the man sat in his car, he thanked and blessed him for the ride. Then he told Anthony that he sensed he was worried over a sickness he had. The man placed his hand on Anthony and gave him a sense of peace. He had never seen this man before. Later that night his daughter gave him a holy card with a picture of Padre Pio on it and he immediately recognized him as the man he gave a ride to. He was later cured of his cancer. Anthony calls Padre Pio his success. He says he never left my side through many ordeals. His "cure" is Padre Pio and he wants to share his witness with everyone. He has even donated the" apparition car" to The Rosa Mystica House of Prayer for others to see. More information.

Janie Garza

Janie Garza is an internationally know visionary and a documented stigmatist from Austin, TX. On May 31, 1955, she received her first locution from the Blessed Virgin Mary asking that her message given by Our Lady of All Nations at Amsterdam, Holland, be spread throughout the world.

Franciscan Friars
of the Renewal

The community of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal was begun in 1987 by eight Capuchin friars under the leadership of Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR, and became an Association of the Faithful in the Diocese of New York in 1990. In 1999 they were established as a religious congregation by John Cardinal O’Connor.
The Friars lives revolve around the three fundamental pillars of prayer, fraternity and apostolic service that are rooted in the gospel and exemplified in the life of St. Francis.
Their mission is to serve the poor, most especially the homeless, and the evangelization of the church at parish missions and retreats.

Darleen Gorski

Darleen Gorski has an important calling to the Ministry for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. She travels and speaks about how to help them reach Heaven. Darleen has many interesting personal experiences to tell people in her talks.

Fr. Amedeo Guida

Father Guida is currently serving as a pastor in the Syracuse, New York Roman Catholic Diocese. He has been educated in Rome and has spent 18 of his 23 years as a priest in the ministry of “Deliverance and Healing.” Fr. Guida has traveled extensively to bring the healing and love of God to all.

Emma de Guzman

Emma de Guzman and Sol Gaviola founded the La Pieta Prayer Group in Kingston, Ontario with the help of Lisa Eltanal in December of 1991.

Fr. Irudaya Raj Illuri

Fr. Illuri is the Assistant Pastor of the Church of St. Rita, Gouldsboro, PA, in the Diocese of Scranton, PA. He has been celebrating Holy Mass (with permission) and leading Devotions, such as First Saturday, at the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer.

Fr. Charles Mangano

Fr. Charles is a young charismatic priest who is currently the pastor of the "Church of the Cure Ars" in Merrick, NY. During his early years as a priest he began to integrate his love of music into his priestly ministry. "Through my music, I hope to bring people closer to God."

Det. Steven McDonald

Detective Steven McDonald of the New York City Police Department was shot in the line of duty and paralyzed from the neck down. Confined to a wheelchair and breathing machine, he forgave his teenage assailant. In his testimony, Steven says, "I often tell people that the only thing worse than a bullet in my spine would be to revenge in my heart. Such an attitude would have extended my tragic injury into my soul, hurting my wife, son, and others even more. It is bad enough that the physical effects are permanent, but at least I can choose to prevent spiritual injury."At the baptism of my son Connor, I told everyone I forgave the young teen who shot me. I wanted to free myself of all the negative, destructive emotions that this act of violence awoke in me and be free to love my wife and child."Steven says, "Before my injury I had not been very committed to my faith. The shooting changed that. I feel closer to heaven today in a way I never knew before, and it makes me very happy. I know it may be hard to understand, but I would rather be like this, than go on living like I was before."

Fr. Bill McCarthy, MSA

Fr. Bill McCarthy, ordained a priest in Rome, has been serving the Lord in parishes and the Archdiocese of Hartford and is now a member of the Holy Apostles Community in Cromwell, CT.
As priest, he has been curate, pastor and spiritual leader in the Ecumenical, Cursillo, Charismatic, Marriage Encounter and Koinonia movements within the Church.
As teacher, he has taught religion in two Catholic High Schools and is now teaching Scripture and spirituality in both the retreat center and novitiate of his community.
As evangelist, he has been active in Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship and Aglow as speaker and spiritual director.
Fr. Bill has been giving parish missions for more than 20 years and spoken at over 300 parishes throughout the United States. He has a special gift for showing God's love for each person. Through his teachings, love acceptance and joyful encouragement, his missions are healing and inspiring.
Fr. Bill is co-founder an co-director with Sr. Bernadette Sheldon of "My Father's House" Spiritual Life and Retreat Center, a large Christian resort.
Fr. Bill was Spiritual Director at Holy Apostles Seminar and now serves on the Provincial Council. His time is occupied in giving retreats, counseling, spiritual direction and is the author of many Catholic books, including Listening to God, A walk Through the New Catechism, and God Bless America.

Father John Paret, SJ

Father John Paret, SJ, is the former director of Auriesville, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Martyrs, from 1991-1996. Prior to his coming to live in the Mohawk Valley, Fr. Paret, a man of many talents, labored intensively in Pastoral fields, being Pastor of such places as San Ignacio of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nativity Parish of New York City and St. Ignatius Church, Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

Dr. Thomas W. Petrisko

Dr. Thomas Petrisko lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is married with six children. Dr. Petrisko has been the President of Pittsburgh Center for Peace for eight years. He is the founder and president of Saint Andrew's Publishing and The Father of All Mankind Apostolate. In addition, Dr. Petrisko is the Editor and Publisher of the Queen of Peace Newspaper with a worldwide circulation of over 10 million papers in six languages. He is the author of 17 books, including best sellers:
Call of the Ages, The Sorrow, The Sacrifice and the Triumph, The Fatima Prophecies, Inside Heaven and Hell, Inside Purgatory, The Illumination of All Consciences, and three books on God, Our Father.

Biographies on Guest Speakers: Q to Z

Mary Reilly

Mary Shelia Reilly is an ordinary person who is a wife, mother, artist and shopkeeper.
In July of 2001, while praying the rosary at Our Lady’s Shrine at St. Mary’s of the Lake in Skaneateles, New York, Mary was graced with an apparition of Jesus and Our Lady.
Mary has also had apparitions of Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Anthony of Padua, Saint Therese of the Child Jesus and Mother Theresa of Calcutta.
Our Blessed Mother and Our Lord Jesus have requested that these messages of love and mercy be shared with all mankind. Our Lord has promised special graces to all those who read his words of love and mercy.

Ferdinand and Barbara Roccanti

Ferdinand was born in 1939 at Worchester, MA. He is blessed to be married to a very supportive wife, Barbara. Ferdinand hated going to school and was illiterate. In spite of this he became a millionaire. One day, his life was completely changed. From a millionaire to a poor blind painter, he suffered a rare disabling disease of myasthenia gravis coupled with the loss of ability to move his eyes, focus or have depth perception. Ferdinand lost all his material possessions; from his multimillion-dollar home and a wealthy life style, to being confined to a wheelchair. He had to follow Jesus' instructions for him to paint and he was instantly taught how to read. Ferdinand also has a great sense of humor and gives a wonderful witness.

Fr. Ed Roche, SOLT, Mexico

Fr. Ed Roche owes his vocation to the priesthood to Rosa Mystica. He has visited the original Rosa Mystica Apparition site in Montchiarri, Italy and is anxious to come to the Rosa Mystica House of Prayer in Edmeston, NY. Fr. Ed often speaks on the benefits of the rosary "The Holy Rosary: Good Things Old
and New."

Marty Rotella

Marty is a singer, composer and a producer in the music industry. He abandoned pop music for religious songs. He lost a lot of friends and upset some members of his own family. When he heard about our Blessed Mother's apparitions, he did research on the Church approved apparitions like Fatima, Lourdes, and Guadalupe. Upon learning more about the Blessed Mother, his love for her became deeper. Through the Blessed Mother, Marty found his way back to her son Jesus. His deep spiritual inspiration made him build a Christian Music Industry that is devoted to spreading the love of Jesus through inspirational songs.

Jack Marie Smith

Jack Marie Smith, by grace, has many gifts of the Spirit, particularly the gift of prophecy and healing. He continues to experience the mystical life and received a blessing and permission from the Most Reverend Bishop James C. Timlin, D.D., former Bishop of Scranton, to speak about his personal experiences with Jesus and Mary. Jack travels throughout the world, wherever he is called, bringing the message of love, mercy and the imminent return of Jesus, the just judge.

Father Stephen Valenta, O.F.M Conv.

A Conventual Franciscan, has spent over 45 years in pastoral care giving counsel and direction to thousands. He has been in radio and television ministry, served as a University chaplain, and founded Mount St. Francis Hermitage in Maine, NY. He also served as the English speaking confessor for the Vatican and was assigned to Assisi in Italy. He now operates out of Rensselaer, New York and promotes the devotion to the "Virgin of the Globe."

Char Vance

When life seems to be closing in on us, in a world that so often seems upside-down, there is one way to escape, and that is through humor. A great example of both healing and laughter is Char Vance, the television producer and comedian from New Orleans who has people rolling in the aisles. Char had been in the radio business when she suffered a horrendous accident. It looked like part of her leg would have to be amputated. During a trip to Medjugorie she had a startling vision of Jesus, a healing and a conversion to become a Catholic.

Wayne Weible

Wayne Weible is a former newspaper publisher and columnist who became interested
in the alleged apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Medjugorie. After visiting Medjugorie and believing in the events, Mr. Weible had a conversion to the Roman Catholic faith and has since authored six books on the phenomenon taking place there.

Fr. Joseph Whalen, M.S.

Fr. Joseph Whalen, a La Salette Missionary priest, is a champion of the sick, the elderly, families, drug addicts and alcoholics. Fr. Joseph has conducted many healing services worldwide and his St. Raphael Holy Healing Oil Ministry is international.

Fr. Owen Lally. C.P. and Yvonne Zeller

The House of Prayer Movement started in the United States in the late sixties. The Vatican Theologian Father Bernard Haring, Redemptorist, was one of its prime movers. Fr. Owen and Yvonne have both been core members in various Houses of Prayer since that time.
The restoration of the Church is in direct proportion to the spiritual revival of the interior lives of its members. A House of Prayer is a place where people come to experience directly, Jesus the Lord.
Fr. Owen and Yvonne have been blessed with the gift of mediating the grace of second conversion and healing for those who are open to it. They are certified spiritual directors having been trained at the Benedictine School for spiritual directors.
Before they entered the field of spiritual direction twenty-five years ago, Fr. Owen was a missionary in the Philippines and Yvonne, as a Religious Sister, was a missionary to the children of migrant workers of the Southwest. Yvonne now proclaims the Word of the Cross from a wheelchair, due to Polio, which took the use of her legs in 1954.
Their present apostolic goal is the renewal of religious communities and families throughout the world by means of the deep interior spiritual revival of the individual people who make up those communities. Jesus prayed for this the night he died for us. "Father, may they be one as you and I are one, that the world may know that you sent me." Jn 17:21