Online Pre-Cana Presenters
featured in Living Our Faith in Love
The presenters of our online Pre-Cana are experts in their fields. They were selected for this course because they are relatable and engaging, all with a heartfelt desire to encourage meaningful conversations as you prepare to be married.
Claudio Mora
Claudio Mora is a devoted Catholic leader. Having earned his Ministry Degree from Oblate School of Theology, his Master of Religious Education from Felician University, and his Bachelor of Religious Education from Cloverdale College, Claudio has a passion for deepening his faith and understanding of Catholic theology.
Claudio has served the Church in various leadership roles, including years serving as the Director of Family Life at the Diocese of Dallas, Texas as well as the Executive Director of Cultural Diversity and Outreach at the Archdiocese of Washington.
Kyle and Dr. Danielle Koestner
Kyle and Danielle Koestner have been married since 2005 and have six children. They both serve on the Boards for both BOMA USA and FEMM Health.
Kyle is an engineer with over 25 years experience in the automotive industry.
Dr. Danielle Koestner is a Family Medicine OB physician who did full-scope family medicine with deliveries for 10 years in an underserved community. She works with the FEMM Health Medical Education Team, along with the Billings Ovulation Team.
Drew and Terri Lyke
Andrew and Terri Lyke are retired ministry consultants and pioneers in Catholic marriage ministry.
The mission of their ministry has been to strengthen the institution of marriage in the African-American community. The focus of that work has been in marriage education, spiritual formation, and ongoing social support through outreach from faith-based communities.
Read More about the Lykes
The Lykes were married in 1975 and began their life in marriage ministry in 1981 when they, with other couples and priests began Marriage Ministry for the Black Community in the Archdiocese of Chicago. They designed the Arusi Retreat in 1994 and have presented the weekend program in dioceses across the United States and in the Caribbean. They served as advisors to the USCCB committee on Marriage and Family. From 1999 to 2009, Andrew served the Archdiocese of Chicago as the Coordinator of Marriage Ministry. In that role he was the principal writer of In The Spirit of Cana—Guidelines for Pastoral Outreach to Christian Marriage: Formation, Preparation, Celebration, and Continuing Education. In 2011, he was rehired as the Director of the Office for Black Catholics, a role in which he served until 2015.
In 2016, Andrew & Terri hosted the National Black Catholic Marriage & Family Symposium in Chicago. Since retiring from full-time ministry, they have done virtual webinars and collaborations on various ministry projects related to marriage and family life, Catholic anti-racist activism, and Black Catholic empowerment. Parents to two adults, they are “Nana and Papa” to six grand-blessings.
Chris and Jessie Wiegand
Chris and Jessie Wiegand were married in 1996. They are the parents of five creative, kind, and hard-working kids and the devoted grandparents of a growing number of adorable babies. As devoted servants of Christ, they’ve served in a variety of ministries to couples, families, and youth, and they’ve accompanied several couples through marriage prep using Prepare Enrich.
Professionally, Chris works as a Weld Auditor at Stellantis, a Detroit-area automotive manufacturer, and Jessie is the Director of Marketing & Creative for The Marriage Group. They’re enjoying this season of life as they continue to cultivate meaningful relationships with each other, their kids, and their community while continuing to ask God, “What’s next?”
Tom and Marcy Renken
Tom & Marcy Renken share a remarkable journey of love and faith. They’ve weathered life’s storms together and emerged stronger than ever, and now they help others to do the same.
Tom & Marcy have six children, and are active members in their home parish. They are dedicated to the principles of a Christ-centered marriage, and that has been the driving force behind their ministry, Celebrate Marriage, and their service as marriage mentors.
Learn more about Tom & Marcy Renken here: https://celebratemarriageministry.com/
Dustin and Bethany Riechmann
Dustin and Bethany Riechmann have been married nearly 20 years and are raising three energetic kids. Authors of the book, 15-Minute Marriage Makeover, they are also the founders of Engaged Marriage; a site devoted to helping other married couples live a life they love, especially when they feel too busy to make it happen. They are regularly featured experts on a variety of media outlets and marriage-building programs reaching around the world.
The Riechmanns are deeply devoted Catholics who serve in a variety of ministries throughout the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois. Dustin and Bethany are also promoters of Natural Family Planning, sharing their experiences with engaged couples through the Pre-Cana and FOCCUS programs within their Diocese.
Jay and Laura Laffoon
Michigan native Jay Laffoon has earned degrees in Biblical Literature and Music. His wife, Laura, grew up in Georgia and holds a degree in Social Ministries. Both Jay and Laura previously served on staff at Youth for Christ.
They recently served on staff at Mt. Pleasant Community Church, coordinating their Marriage and Family Care ministry. The Laffoons are part of an exclusive group of certified instructors for Dynamic Communications International.
Together, Jay and Laura have authored numerous books. They live in Michigan, where they raised two children and founded Celebrate Ministries, Inc. in 1995.
We’ve been blessed to work with many presenters since our course launched in 2009. Thank you to the following faithful friends who’ve shared their expertise with our couples over the years.
Michelle Shepley
Michelle Shepley is a Community Bank President and Senior Mortgage Sales Manager at a regional midwest bank. She holds a degree in Marketing and Design and has been married for over 30 years.
Mrs. Shepley has a lifetime of finance experience, beginning in the early 1980s with her family-run business. Raised in a Catholic family and active within her parish today, Michelle has volunteered her time and expertise by conducting Financial Literacy courses.
Dr. Patricia Cooney Hathaway
Dr. Patricia Cooney Hathaway is a professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, teaching in the areas of spirituality and theology. She earned a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies as well has a Ph.D in Systematic Theology, Spirituality, Human and Spiritual Development, both from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C.
Tom Hathaway
Judge Thomas Hathaway was elected to the Third Judicial Circuit Court in November of 2016 and is assigned to the Criminal Division. He practiced as a trial attorney for over 30 years of a national law practice in a wide range of constitutional, employment, corporate, business, and admiralty matters.
Judge Hathaway is a graduate of Detroit Catholic Central High School, the College of the Holy Cross, and Vanderbilt University School of Law.
He is married to Dr. Patricia Cooney-Hathaway and they have two adult children.