Our Leadership
Episcopal Advisory Board
Most Reverend James F. Checchio, Bishop of Metuchen, NJ
Most Reverend Steven J. Lopes, Bishop, Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter
Executive Board and Founding Team
Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk, J.C.D., M.B.A.
Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk, JCD is a priest of the Diocese of Orange, California, a canon lawyer, and Co-founder and Spiritual Director of the Foundation of Prayer for Priests.
Ordained to the priesthood in 2005, Msgr. Doktorczyk worked in the grocery business and human resources prior to entering seminary, earning a Master of Business Administration from California State University, Long Beach, in 1998.
While in formation for the priesthood, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology in 2004 from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome and a Licenciate in Canon Law from the Pontifical Gregorian University, also in Rome, in 2007.
He served as parochial vicar at St. Joachim Church in Costa Mesa from 2007-2011 and concurrently as Adjutant Judicial Vicar. From 2011 to 2016 Msgr. Doktorczyk was an official at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Vatican City and Adjunct Spiritual Director at the Pontifical North American College, also in Rome.
In 2016, Msgr. Doktorczyk earned his doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He serves as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Orange, having completed his service to the Holy See at the end of 2016.
Kathleen Beckman, D.H.S.
Kathleen Beckman has served the Church for twenty-eight years as a Catholic evangelist, author, retreat leader, and media host. She has addressed laity, religious Sisters and Clergy in thirteen countries. Since 2010, Kathleen has served in her diocese as the administrator of deliverance ministry; and is a member of the diocesan exorcist’s team. She graduated from the Association of International Exorcists Course, “Liberation from Evil Spirits”, at Rome’s Pontifical Regina Apostolorum University in 2017, and was on faculty for the Pope Leo XIII Institute. Presently she is a faculty member for the Diocesan School of Evangelization.
In 2013, with encouragement of the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy, she, and Monsignor Stephen Doktorczyk, J.C.D. founded the Foundation of Prayer for Priests, a ministry to promote prayer, sacrifice, study and the offering of suffering for the holiness of all priests. Kathleen is a Dame of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. A wife, mother, she and her husband live in Orange, CA.
FR. CHARLES CORTINOVIS, S.T.L., J.D.
Father Charles Cortinovis is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington and is currently serving in the Holy See. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2009 and completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Father Cortinovis has served in various pastoral and administrative roles throughout the Archdiocese. Before entering seminary formation, he practiced environmental law, having earned degrees in Biochemistry and Environmental Science as well as a Juris Doctor. Since 2013, he is a founding board member of the Foundation of Prayer for Priests.
GABRIEL FERRUCCI, K.C., H.S.
Gabriel Ferrucci is a devout Catholic businessman and generous benefactor, with a long career spanning executive and board positions at various financial, educational, cultural, community, and Catholic institutions. A 1965 graduate of Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, Gabriel held executive positions at Raybestos Manhattan Inc. before acquiring and becoming president and chief executive officer of Keystone Engineering Company, a supplier for the aerospace industry. Gabriel has been invested into both the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre (2003) and the Order of Malta (2007). In 2009, Gabriel he received the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal, the most prestigious award that a layperson can receive from the Pope. He has especially demonstrated spiritual paternity of priests and seminarians through his generosity, not only for the temporal needs of seminaries, but for the spiritual formation of seminarians and priests. Gabriel and Maria, his wife of 57 years, have three children, six grandchildren, and live in Laguna Beach, California.
BOARD Members
Fr. Nick Schneider, S.L.D
Fr. Schneider is a priest of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota. Ordained to the priesthood in 2009, Fr. Schneider studied music performance at the University of Mary in Bismarck and Catholic humanities at Campion College in San Francisco before entering seminary. After completing undergraduate studies in theology at the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio, Fr. Schneider continued formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. While there, he earned a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology in 2008 from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas. After ordination to the priesthood, he continued his studies at the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm in Rome, completing a Licentiate and Doctorate in Sacred Liturgy. Currently, Fr. Schneider serves in his home diocese as Pastor of Christ the King Parish, Mandan, ND and Director of the diocesan Office of Worship.
Cynthia Hunt, M.D., T.O.C.
Dr. Cynthia Hunt is a physician with over 30 years of experience and Co-founder of JMJ Maternity Homes, a non-profit apostolate providing homeless pregnant women with shelter, resources and support services. Since receiving her medical degree from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine in 1984, she has achieved Board Certification in the areas of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry. Today, Dr. Hunt maintains a practice in Child/Adolescent and Adult Psychiatry, and also serves as President of the Fresno Guild of the Catholic Medical Association. Dr. Hunt has served bishops, priests and seminarians in various capacities, most recently as both psychiatric consultant to the Diocese of Fresno and Adjunct Faculty Member at St. Patrick's Seminary in Menlo Park, California and the Pope Leo XIII Institute. An accomplished pianist and Lay Carmelite for over 20 years, Dr. Hunt lives with her husband and family in Monterey, California.
MR. ALLAN SMITH
Allan Smith is the Editor of the book, "Cries of Jesus from the Cross: A Fulton Sheen Anthology" (www.sophiainstitute.org). He presently hosts the weekly ‘Your Life is Worth Living Program’ on Radio Maria Canada and FM 98.5 (CKWR). The Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen taught that the key to the renovation of the Catholic Church and the salvation of souls was to renew the priesthood. As an active member of the Serra Club, Allan is committed to working on initiatives that foster spiritual fatherhood towards priests and seminarians. He lectures at seminaries, university campuses, and Catholic conferences, and gives presentations in parishes on how to foster prayer for priests, seminarians, and vocations. The following two famous Archbishop Sheen quotes are ones that Allan lives by: “Unless souls are saved, nothing is saved.” and, “It is not only souls that have to be saved; it is society as well.” Allan Smith is the founder of the Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Mission Society of Canada and lives with his wife and family in Toronto, Canada. To learn more visit: www.bishopsheentoday.com and www.archbishopfultonjsheenmissionsocietyofcanada.org
Advisory Team
Most Reverend David D. Kagan, Bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota
Rt. Reverend Eugene J. Hayes, O. Praem., J.C.D. - St. Michael's Norbertine Abbey (Silverado, California)
Mgsr. John Esseff- IPF, Institute for Priestly Formation, Omaha, NE
Mgsr. Richard Soseman - Pastor, St. Mary, Peru and St. Valentine, Peru, Diocsese of Peoria, IL, Emeritus member of the Dicastery for the Clergy
Mother Judith Zuniga, O.C.D. - Superior General, Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles
Mother Dolores Marie, P.C.P.A., Abbess, Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, Hanceville, Alabama Monastery (EWTN)
Denise Marie Scalzo, O.F.S., L.G.C.H.S. - Lay Franciscan, Founding Member of the Franciscan Foundatino for the Holy Land and Foundation of Prayer for Priests
Marilyn Quirk, L.H.S. - Foundress of Magnificat, A Ministry to Catholic Women