CTK Faith Formation

After serving at Marist School for almost 20 years, Bishop Joel Konzen, SM, was appointed auxiliary bishop of Atlanta in 2018. In his talk "Catholic Leadership in a Secular Culture,” he looks at hazards that could befall the Church - and how Catholic leaders will help to define the way forward. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, April 14, 2026. 

Fr. Jared answers questions about dating and relationships: setting standards, dating apps, and more. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their March 2026 Discipleship Night.

Fr. Jared has already prepared hundreds of couples for marriage. In that time, he's seen common pitfalls lots of couples experience. Presented to the 20/30Something at their March 2026 Discipleship Night, Fr. Jared offers advice to couples - dating, engaged, or married - on strengthening their relationships, and to singles interested in marriage.

  Do you want to hear God’s voice, but aren't sure how to? The truth is that everyone is equipped to hear and know God’s voice, and He is constantly speaking words that He longs for you to hear. In this talk, Thomas Clements, president of Zenith Ministries, shares stories of how God speaks and what you can do to help yourself better hear Him. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, January 13, 2026. 

Do you feel like life is too hectic? Like you're never really refreshed or rejuvenated? Do you want to understand what keeping the Sabbath holy really means?  Learn how to receive the gift of the Sabbath and live it well! CTK's former parochial vicar Fr. Joe Wagner, now pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Carrollton and chaplain for the University of West Georgia Catholic Center, discusses the Sabbath and why it is a day set aside for intentionally worshipping and being present to God. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, November 11, 2025. 

Discover how Natural Family Planning integrates Catholic teaching with science-based methods. Whether you’re exploring NFP for yourself or just want to learn more about this respectful and science-based approach to family planning, this talk covers it. A Q&A follows at the end. Presented by Gabby Stiehle, FNP-C, to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, October 14, 2025.

Is mental health compatible with faith? Aren't we just supposed to pray about our challenges or talk to a priest? If we talk to a licensed professional, are we walking away from God? Andrea Paiva, licensed professional counselor and national certified counselor, dispels those concerns in a discussion on hope and healing at the intersection of Christianity and psychology.

Just about everyone has fallen into a lull in their prayer life. How do you then restart? Fr Michael Silloway, pastor of All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody, presents "Behold I Make All Things New: Beginning Again," a presentation on how to re-enter prayer, sacraments, and a relationship with God after lukewarmness in prayer or a fall to temptation. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, August 12, 2025.

A panel discussion about how prayer works in different vocations, featuring Pierce Benefield, a lay person who is currently dating; Sarah Rocko, a candidate for consecrated virginity; and Johnathon and Jessica Kelso, a couple with five children who run The Porter Gate, a nonprofit working to meet the needs of the poor. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, Saturday, August 2, 2025.

Katie Weiss is the founder and Executive Director of Behold Visio Divina, a ministry devoted to teaching to pray with art and sacred scripture. Similar to lecto divina, using scripture to guide prayer, visio divina uses art to guide meditation. Katie explains how this is done and gives examples. (We encourage you to pause the audio when she says to pray during the exercises!). Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, Saturday, August 2, 2025. 

Fr. Jared Kleinwaechter kicks off the 20/30Somethings' 2025 Annual Retreat with an introduction to prayer. Wev’e heard and been taught prayer for as long as we can remember, but just like with athletes, sometimes we forget the fundamentals. Fr. Jared explains how prayer works and what to do when it feels like it’s not working. Presented Saturday, August 2, 2025. 

Our own Bishop John Trần discusses the history and role of the bishop and his experience living in that God-given ministry. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Discipleship Night on June 10, 2025.

Drew Mirolli shares the journey of his conversion to the Catholic Church and the unexpected ways God used interdenominational dialogue, Marian theology, and moments of surrender to reveal His love. From wrestling with trust during trials to discovering Mary’s Jewish roots and her role in evangelization, Drew explores how faith is less about having the right answers and more about being accompanied into deeper relationship with the Father. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, May 13, 2025.

Oftentimes at Mass, you'll see a deacon helping out, even giving the homily. They can be married with a family and usually have their own full-time job elsewhere. So what exactly is the role of a deacon? Our own Deacon Sam Fraundorf presents on where a deacon fits in the responsibilities of clerics and laity, as well as his own path to becoming one. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, April 22, 2025.

How did the early Christian Church progress from the controversies, persecutions, and key leaders of the first centuries? They had no precedent to go off of, no manual on how to start a religion. An examination shows a complex evolution of the Church as early Christians attempted to make sense of their faith after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Dr. Keith Pacholl, professor of history at the University of West Georgia, presents on the formation of the early Church! Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, March 11, 2025.

You can know your purpose and live it out. Yes, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation about the human person permeating our society, and this makes discerning and living out your purpose difficult; however, you have everything you need right now to accomplish this. Thomas Clements, president of Zenith Ministries, shares what this entails to help you discover your purpose so that you can start living it today. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, February 25, 2025. 

Tithing is more than just about giving money to the Church. It's about making a gift of ourselves to God out of gratitude for His many blessings. Fr. Jared speaks about how to make a gift of yourself to God through your time, talent, and treasure. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Discipleship Night, January 7, 2025.

Love and Responsibility is considered one the great works of Western civilization, alongside The Iliad and Dante’s Divine Comedy. Written by Karol Wojtyla, Pope St. John Paul II, it serves as the philosophical foundation for Theology of the Body, addressing key questions about attraction, relationships, and chastity. This is the second in a two-part series, presented by Joey Martineck, Director of Respect Life Ministry, at the 20/30s Discipleship Night, November 19, 2024. 

Love and Responsibility is considered one the greatest works of Western civilization, alongside The Iliad and Dante’s Divine Comedy. Written by Karol Wojtyla, Pope St. John Paul II, it serves as the philosophical foundation for Theology of the Body, addressing key questions about attraction, relationships, and chastity. Join Joey Martineck, Director of Respect Life Ministry, for a two-part series exploring Love and Responsibility as a transformative teaching. Presented to the 20/30Somethings Minsitry at their Discipleship Night, October 15, 2024.  

How do we approach "social justice" as Catholics? Kathleen Loesel, a member of our young adult community (and our former coordinator!), will present on social justice from a Catholic perspective, including the seven themes of Catholic Social Teaching; a focus on our call as priest, prophet, king; and practical actions we can take. 

How often do we face the battle of our hearts saying one thing but our heads saying another? We need both emotion and logic in life and in our relationship with God. Ellie Dodd explains mindset shifts and practical steps to bridge that gap in order to love God better and to do His will as laypeople.

Just like the world around us shapes who we are, so too did the 1st century world inform how Jesus lived. Dr. Keith Pacholl helps us understand who Jesus was by explaining how the 1st century world influenced how he lived: the government, the customs, cultural differences, and more. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, August 3, 2024.

Inspired by Foreigner's classic love song, Fr. Jared Kleinwaechter wades through all of the different ideas and explanations of love to define what love actually is. He explains four different kinds of love that come from God. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, August 3, 2024.

The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith. With such power, it makes sense that there are miracles attributed to it. Cynthia Alvarado talks about some of the marvels connected to the Blessed Sacrament. She is completing her classes from Franciscan University on the Theology of the Eucharist. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, June 13, 2024.  

We’ve all heard of UFOs and the question "do aliens or other extraterrestrial life forms exist?" How should we as Catholics view these questions? What if they are, in fact, out there and one day we encounter them? Dr. Paul Thigpen, Ph.D., author of “Extraterrestrial Intelligence and the Catholic Faith: Are We Alone in the Universe with God and the Angels” comes to discuss these pressing questions. Dr. Thigpen is an acclaimed international speaker, award-winning journalist, and best-selling author with a doctorate in Historical Theology. He was appointed to the National Advisory Council by the USCCB, and has been on talk shows like Pints with Aquinas. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, May 14, 2024.

Many (understandably) assume "consecrated life" means becoming a nun, but there are many other ways to consecrate your life to God outside of the convent,  for both men and women. Sarah Rocko, Coordinator for Women’s Discernment at the Archdiocese of Atlanta, speaks on discerning consecrated life and the numerous options available. Presented to the 20/30Somethings Ministry at their Discipleship Night, March 12, 2024.

An audio guide for praying the Marian Stations of the Cross, produced by the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta, GA.   Narration: Kate Curran and Ian Goldsmith Production: Ian Goldsmith Music: Kate Curran | www.katecurranmusic.net    00:10 - Station I: Jesus is Condemned to Death 02:06 - Station II: Jesus Carries His Cross 04:02 - Station III: Jesus Falls for the First Time 06:12 - Station IV: Jesus Meets His Afflicted Mother 08:07 - Station V: Jesus is Helped by Simon Cyrene 09:55 - Station VI: Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus 11:38 - Station VII: Jesus Falls the Second Time 13:20 - Station VIII: Jesus Meets the Holy Women of Jerusalem 15:10 - Station IX: Jesus Falls the Third Time 16:56 - Station X: Jesus is Stripped of His Garments 18:33 - Station XI: Jesus is Nailed to the Cross 20:33 - Station XII: Jesus Dies on the Cross 23:28 - Station XIII: Jesus is Taken Down from the Cross 25:35 - Station XIV: Jesus is Laid in His Tomb 27:21 - The Conclusion, with the Resurrection in Mind    

Many young adults are looking to get married. But even those who are engaged often don't fully understand it as one of the seven sacraments. For some, it's just a checkbox on to-do list of life. Fr. Juan Pablo Durán LC discusses 'The Forgotten Sacrament of Marriage: an explanation for young adults looking for love' on what exactly the sacrament is. Presented to the 20/30Somethings ministry at their Discipleship Night, February 13, 2024.

In our often chaotic lives there can seem to be little time for anything else. While many are not called to missionary life, we still admire what they do and there is much we can learn from those who are. Ellie Dodd, a missionary with Damascus Missions, speaks on how to incorporate that missionary life into our own busy day-to-day life. Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship night, January 9, 2024.

We all strive to be more holy in our daily lives. Often, we are told to do that without any practical steps or advice, and that’s not helpful! Our local seminarian Eric Baylot provides these practical practices we can do to become more holy in our everyday life. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Discipleship Night, November 14, 2023.

Our own Fr. Joe Wagner gives the keynote to our 2023 annual retreat on why we should choose joy when there seems to be so much wrong in the world. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, October 14, 2023.

Joey Martineck, Respect Life Director at the Archdiocese of Atlanta, gives a breakout talk on how one chooses joy in their career, telling his personal story of choosing joy in finding his current career and how it often isn’t easy - as he had more than one stop along the way. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, October 14, 2023.

CTK parishioners Colleen and David O’Shaugnessey give a breakout talk on how to choose joy in finding your vocation in life, as they have in marriage and children. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, October 14, 2023.

Fr. Branson Hipp, chaplain at the Georgia Tech Catholic Center, gives a breakout talk on how joy in recreation works, when it's beneficial for you, and when it's not. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, October 14, 2023.

Peter Attridge, a practicing marriage and family therapist north of Atlanta, gives a breakout talk on the important connection of joy and mental health, including how joy is more sustainable than happiness. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Annual Retreat, October 14, 2023.

As we get older, our relationship with our parents naturally changes. While they are still our parents and always will be, there is a different dynamic than when we were younger. Fr Juan Pablo Durán LC explains both the scriptural basis for honoring your parents, even as you get older, and practical ways this can be done. Presented to the 20/30Somethings ministry at their Discipleship Night, September 12, 2023.

A presentation for the Cathedral of Christ the King RCIA on the Trinity and Incarnation.

We know that Jesus was Jewish and our faith comes from Judaism, but our knowledge often ends there. Max Friedman, a member of our community and a convert from Judaism, discusses Judaism, the links between the Jewish and Catholic faiths, and, as a convert, the importance of RCIA! Presented to the 20/30Somethings at their Discipleship Night, August 8, 2023.

Many people have a desire or sense of Something, but find the scripture of the Church or any organized religion as repugnant or a major objection. Fr. Branson Hipp traces how we got to this point historically in the modern mentality and shows how we are called to live the Catholic faith with others when it is so foreign to their experience and doesn’t make sense. Presented to the 20/30Somethings ministry at their Discipleship Night, July 11, 2023.

Pope Benedict XVI proposes that the Song of Songs—the scripture with strikingly romantic imagery between two lovers—is the “essence of Biblical faith” (Deus Caritas Est, 10). Joey Martineck, director of Respect Life Ministry for the Archdiocese of Atlanta and co-writer of GARDEN: The Musical, dives into St. Pope John Paul II’s theology of the body in which he wrote extensively of the Song of Songs, explaining why the book is a favorite of saints and mystics and how we can make sense of it. Presented to the 20/30Somethings Ministry at their Discipleship Night, June 13, 2023.

In Church history, two of the most well known events are the Inquisitions and the Crusades. Santi Duran discusses these and common misconceptions that have aroused from them over time, such as the use of torture. Presented to the 20/30Somethings Ministry at their Discipleship Night, April 11, 2023.

A three-person panel helps us understand God’s plan for creating a family. They explain how we should view openness to life, NFP, and how contraceptives impact the female body. Panelists are Amanda Morley, BSN, RN, a cycle instructor for the Marquette Method NFP who works with Reproductive Health Medicine & Gynecology (RHM); Elizabeth Park, a PA at RHM; and Fr. Joe Wagner. Presented May 16, 2023, at 20/30Somethings Discipleship Night. 

A common Lenten practice is Stations of the Cross. While we know of them, we may not quite know their background. Jake Hegarty comes to discuss the history and purpose of the Stations as we continue our Lenten journey and prepare for Easter. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Discipleship Night, March 14, 2023. 

Dale Brewer, LAPC is a professional counselor from Holy Family Counseling. He discusses navigating relationships and learning to live in love, both as a single person and when in a relationship with someone. Presented to the 20/30Somethings Ministry at their Discipleship Night, February 21, 2023.

How do you align your will with God's throughout this year? Fr. Rey Pineda, director of vocations for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, comes to talk about how every decision made, every day, is an opportunity to bring yourself closer to God's will. Presented at the 20/30Somethings Discipleship Night, January 17, 2023. 

This special evening combines readings from Sacred Scripture with performances of sacred seasonal music by the Cathedral choir, celebrating the Incarnation of Christ at Christmas and anticipating his return.

Peter Attridge is a Clinical Director and licensed therapist with Holy Family Counseling Center, a Catholic counseling center in Atlanta. He discusses the place of vulnerability in achieving long-lasting friendships. Presented at the 20/30Somethings annual retreat, October 15, 2022. 

Born and raised in a military family, Molly Clavenna frequently moved around growing up, making building relationships challenging. She discusses how you create boundaries in relationships during those times of transition. Presented at the 20/30Somethings annual retreat, October 15, 2022. 

Fr. Joe Wagner discusses Jesus' example of prayer, and how this is imperative for any kind of relationship with others. Presented at the 20/30Somethings annual retreat, October 15, 2022. 

Mary Gray has lived with other young adults for years, some of whom are not Catholic. She discusses how you practice your faith and interact with others who don’t share your same beliefs, followed by a panel discussion with other young adults in similar living situations. Presented at the 20/30Somethings annual retreat, October 15, 2022.