Imperial Valley Catholic Conference

Harrison Trubitt

Harrison Trubitt is a dynamic and enthusiastic youth worker.  He currently serves as the Director of Religious Education at St. Thérèse of Carmel Catholic Church in San Diego and has spent the last eleven years working and walking with thousands of adults and students in diverse and varied catechetical ministries and roles across California.  Additionally, Harrison has had the opportunity to partner with Life Teen – creating and developing youth ministry content and resources, as well as getting to coach and consult with parishes all over the country.  Specializing in experiential and relational ministry, Harrison strives to use innovative and creative strategy to offer opportunity for communities to grow in faith and fellowship.  Harrison enjoys the simple things in life: sunrises, sailboats, tall trees, long walks, warm laundry, and good company.

Rafael Quevedo

Rafael Quevedo: Lives in San Diego with his wife and 2 kids and two kids) has been involved in youth ministry for 10+ years is an MDiv student at The Franciscan School of Theology. He currently is the youth and young adult minister at Guardian Angels Parish. 

Viviana Morales

Viviana Morales is the Coordinator for Youth and Young Adults at St. Michael’s in Poway, CA. She comes from a large Catholic family and is a graduate from Cathedral Catholic High School. She is dedicated to serving the Church and loves working with young people! When she is not working at St. Michael’s, you can find her at Disneyland!

Dr. Victor Carmona

Posterior a sus estudios universitarios, Víctor Carmona trabajó con inmigrantes y comunidades fronterizas durante seis años formativos. Esas experiencias lo llamaron a lidiar con sus implicaciones a través de estudios de posgrado en teología moral en la Universidad de Notre Dame y enseñando en la Escuela Oblata de Teología en San Antonio, Texas. En la Universidad de San Diego, el Dr. Carmona involucra a sus estudiantes a través de cursos de espiritualidad y ética teológica, que incluyen espiritualidad y lucha, catolicismo latino, pensamiento social católico y realidad y fe: inmigración a través de la lente de la sociología y la teología. En el espíritu de acompañamiento, disfruta acompañar a los estudiantes para nutrir su capacidad de pensar críticamente sobre su espiritualidad, fe y valores a medida que disciernen el tipo de vida y las comunidades que aspiran crear.

Noreen McInnes

Dr. Noreen M. McInnes, is a Catholic wife, mother, and grandmother. She earned an MA in Theology with a concentration in Liturgy from the University of Notre Dame and a Doctor of Ministry in Liturgical Catechesis from the Catholic University of America. Since 2014 Noreen has served as the Director of Liturgy & Spirituality for the Diocese of San Diego. She has a passion for liturgy and takes great joy in sharing it with others. She is the author of “Keep at It, Riley! Accompanying my Father through Death into Life.

Yamin Chehin

Yamin Chehin L.Ac; Dip O.M es capacitadora y facilitadora de Concilio y doctora en Medicina China. Su trabajo está basado en propiciar las herramientas necesarias para que la persona y/o grupo se pongan en contacto con el potencial curativo que llevan dentro de sí. En la última década, Yamin ha facilitado Concilios en inglés y en español (su idioma natal) para grupos de mujeres, jóvenes de alto riesgo y organizaciones con y sin fines de lucro.

Dr. Lee Williams

Lee Williams, PhD, is a licensed Marital and Family Therapist and director of the Marital and Family Therapy Program at the University of San Diego. He has also published several books and is a frequent speaker in the areas of premarital counseling, couples with religious differences, and family therapy training. Dr. Williams volunteered for 19 years with the Department of Veterans Affairs providing couple therapy to veterans and their partners. He and his wife live in Escondido, California.

Gerardo Rojas

Gerardo Rojas es el Director del Instituto Diocesano en la Diócesis de San Diego. Tiene una Maestría en Teología de la Universidad de Notre Dame. Se ha desempeñado como director en las áreas de Formación de Fe, Ministerio Juvenil, Ministerio Hispano y Ministerio Diocesano de Jóvenes. Es instructor permanente del Instituto Diocesano de la Diócesis de San Diego. Gerardo creció en Valle de Bravo, Edo. De México, y ha vivido en Bonn, Alemania y Roma Italia. Su amor por la cultura y los idiomas solo es comparable con las obras de C.S. Lewis y J.R.R. Tolkien. Como admirador de toda la vida de San Francisco de Asís, le apasiona explicar los misterios de la fe católica para inspirar una sensación de asombro que hará surgir una atracción irresistible por Jesucristo. Está casado y tiene tres hijas.

Monica and Carlos Salazar

Hi, we’re Carlos & Monica and thanks be to God, we’ve been married for over 6 years now. We serve our Youth and Young Adult community at St. John of the Cross Parish in Lemon Grove. Before, we served the young people of Our Lady of Guadalupe Chula Vista for nearly 10 years. Monica and I have had the blessing of working with Confirmation Candidates, RCIA, Marriage Encounter, Praise and Worship, as well as led retreats at various parishes in our diocese. A few fun facts, we love coffee, Marvel, and tacos, but most importantly, God!

Fray Moises Gutiérrez, OFM, PhD

Fray Moises Gutierrez, OFM es un fraile Franciscano de la Provincia del Sagrado Corazón. Actualmente, es profesor en el Programa de Doctorado en Liderazgo Interdisciplinario en la Universidad Creighton in Omaha, NE. Fray Moises es originario de León, México pero por los últimos 30 años ha vivido y hecho ministerio en varios países. Él fue el director de Desarrollo para la Orden franciscana en Roma, Italia. También fue profesor en la Escuela de Teología Franciscana en San Diego, CA. Fray Moises ha hecho ministerio intercultural por muchos años y también ha estado en el campo de la educación por más de la mitad de su vida. De hecho, ha ensenado en todos los niveles de educación: de kindergarten hasta doctorado.
Dios me ha bendecido de muchas oportunidades de caminar con gente de muchas culturas, etnicidades, y áreas profesionales durante los últimos 30 años. Cada una de esas experiencias y cada una de esas personas con las que he caminado me han ayudado a ser la persona que hoy soy. Una estrofa de un poema de Pablo Neruda expresa mi visión ministerial y de vivir: “Voy por el mundo cada vez más alegre: cada ciudad me da nueva vida” y yo agrego: voy por el mundo cada vez más alegre: cada personal que conozco me da nueva vida, cada experiencia que tengo me da nueva vida, cada perspectiva me da nueva vida, cada manera de ver al mundo me da nueva vida.

Gaby Peña

Gaby Peña, M.A., is a Master Catechist for the Diocese of San Diego. She has over 40 years experience in catechesis and has held various leadership roles at the parish level. Her educational background is in finance, theology, misiology and is currently undertaking another Master’s degree in Sacred Scripture.

Leticia Oseguera

Superintendent for Schools, Diocese of San Diego

Annalisa Burgos

Principal, Sacred Heart Brawley

Angela Valencia

Con más de dos décadas de experiencia en los Ministerios catequético, familiar y litúrgico a nivel parroquial, escolar y diocesano, Angela Valencia ha sido presentadora en numerosos eventos parroquiales y diocesanos tanto en inglés como en español. Obtuvo su licenciatura en Administración de Empresas del Instituto Tecnológico de Nogales, México, y su maestría en Teología Pastoral de la Universidad de Santa Clara, California, así como también un Certificado de Estudios Avanzados en Ministerios Hispanos de la Escuela Jesuita de Teología en Berkeley, California. La Sra. Valencia obtuvo además los Certificados de Administración Pastoral, Cuidado Pastoral y el del Instituto Bíblico Católico de la Universidad Loyola Marymount en Los Angeles, California. Angela Valencia es actualmente la representante de ventas del sur de California para Pflaum Publishing Group.

María de Lourdes Valencia

María de Lourdes Valencia was born in Mexico City. She and her husband have four children. With their support, she earned a concurrent MDiv and MTS in 2021 from the Franciscan School of Theology at USD. Since 2010, María has worked in the Diocesan Office for Life, Peace and Justice where she currently serves as Associate Director of Culture of Life. Her primary mission is to promote the Culture of Life from conception to natural death through education, prayer, public policy and pastoral care. She equips, empowers and encourages parish leaders to continue with this mission by offering the Tessera in Culture of Life, which is a certificate offered by the Diocesan Institute and taught by María.

Koren A. Ruiz

Koren Ruiz has been involved in ministry for the past 20 years, mostly with youth and music. He has been a stewardship consultant for the past decade and is now president of his own consulting firm, which focuses mainly on implementing the concept of stewardship with the Latino community in the Catholic Church. Koren and his wife Jessica are choir directors at Ascension Catholic Church in Portland Oregon, as well as published composers, artists, and workshop presenters with Oregon Catholic Press. Koren currently serves as the Director for Hispanic Initiatives for OCP and holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration, and another one in Organizational Psychology from Western Oregon University; he also possesses a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Portland.

Dr. Victor Carmona

After college, Victor Carmona worked with immigrants and border communities for six formative years. Those experiences called him to grapple with their implications through graduate studies in moral theology at the University of Notre Dame and by teaching at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. At the University of San Diego, Dr. Carmona engages his students through courses in spirituality and theological ethics, including Spirituality and Struggle, Latinx Catholicism, Catholic Social Thought, and Fact and Faith: Immigration through the Lens of Sociology and Theology. In the spirit of accompaniment, he enjoys accompanying students to nurture their ability to think critically about their spirituality, faith, and values as they discern the kind of life and communities they aspire to create.

Claudia Drachenberg

Claudia Drachenberg ha servido a la Diócesis de San Diego como Formadora de Catequistas y Ministros Litúrgicos desde el 2015. Recibió la formación para diáconos junto a su esposo del 2012 al 2016, y ahora está en proceso de obtener una maestría en Teología del Instituto Augustine. Claudia es Coordinadora de Bautismos en la Parroquia del Sagrado Corazón en Coronado.

Brian & Gloria Wong

Recibieron el Sacramento de Matrimonio hace 31 años y tienen dos hijas adultas, Brianah Y Summer. Brian es maestro en Calexico High School. Gloria es Coordinadora de Catequesis en la parroquia San Antonio de Padua. En familia promueven el ministerio de Vida y Espiritualidad Familiar. Forman parejas para matrimonio y son instructores de Planificación Familiar Natural.

Bobby Ehnow, PhD

Bobby is Director of the Office for Life, Peace and Justice at the Diocese of San Diego. He holds a PhD in Leadership Studies and Non-profit Management from the University of San Diego (2018). Bobby’s dissertation research centered on restorative justice theory and practice, prisoner re-entry and reintegration, and formerly incarcerated adults in higher education. Bobby is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College (2002). He also holds a Master in Public Administration (MPA) from the University of Oklahoma (1996), and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Villanova University (1987). He is an adjunct faculty member at San Diego State University’s School of Public Affairs and at Santa Clara University’s College of Arts and Sciences. He is an informed practitioner and researcher with a unique perspective as a formerly incarcerated person, retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, and community leader. He is married to his best friend, Colette, and together they have four children: Brendan, Caitlin, Kelly, and Eric. He is a parishioner at Sacred Heart Coronado.

Gerardo Rojas

Gerardo Rojas is the Director of the Diocesan Institute in the Diocese of San Diego.  He has a Master’s degree in Theology from the University of Notre Dame.  He has served as director in the areas of Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, and Diocesan Youth Ministry.  He is an ongoing instructor for the Diocesan Institute at the Diocese of San Diego.  Gerardo grew up in Valle de Bravo, Edo. De Mexico, and has lived in Bonn, Germany and Rome Italy.   His love for culture and languages is only rivaled by the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.   As a lifelong admirer of St. Francis of Assisi, he is passionate about explaining the mysteries of the catholic faith to inspire a sense of awe that will spring up an irresistible attraction to Jesus Christ.  He is married and has three daughters. 

Brother Moises Gutierrez, OFM, PhD

Br. Moises Gutierrez, OFM is a Franciscan from the Province of the Sacred Heart. He is currently a professor in the Doctoral Program in Interdisciplinary Leadership at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. He is originally from Guanajuato, Mexico, but he has spent the last 30 years living and ministering in various countries. He was the development director for the Franciscans in Rome, Italy. He was also a professor in the Franciscan School of Theology in San Diego. He has been in the field of education for many years. In fact, he has taught at all levels of education: from kindergarten to doctoral programs and everything in between.
God has blessed me with many opportunities to walk with many people from all sorts of cultures, ethnicities, and backgrounds during the last 30 years. Every single experience I have had and every single person I have walked with have helped me to become the person I am now. One stanza of a poem from Pablo Neruda expresses my approach to ministry and life in general: “I go around the world increasingly happy: each city gives me new life” and I add: I go around the world increasingly happy: each person I meet gives me new life, each experience I encounter gives me new life, each perspective/approach gives me new life, each worldview gives me new life.

Gaby Peña

Gaby Peña, M.A., es Formadora de Catequistas en la Diócesis de San Diego. Tiene más de 40 años de experiencia en catequesis y ha ocupado varios puestos de liderazgo a nivel parroquial. Su formación académica es en finanzas, teología, misionología y actualmente está cursando otra maestría en Sagrada Escritura.

Leticia Oseguera

Superintendent of Schools, Diocese of San Diego

Annalisa Burgos

Principal, Sacred Heart Brawley

María de Lourdes Valencia

María de Lourdes Valencia nació en la Ciudad de México. Ella y su esposo tienen cuatro hijos. Con su apoyo, ella obtuvo una maestría simultánea en Divinidad y Estudios Teológicos en 2021 de la Escuela Franciscana de Teología en USD. Desde 2010, María ha trabajado en la Oficina Diocesana de Vida, Paz y Justicia, donde actualmente se desempeña como Directora Asociada de la Cultura de la Vida. Su misión principal es promover la Cultura de la Vida desde la concepción hasta la muerte natural a través de la educación, la oración, la abogacía y el cuidado pastoral. Ella equipa, empodera y alienta a los líderes parroquiales para que continúen con esta misión ofreciéndoles el Tessera en la Cultura de la Vida, certificado ofrecido por el Instituto Diocesano e impartido por María misma. 

Angela Valencia

With more than two decades experience in catechetical, family and liturgical ministries at the parish, school and diocesan levels, Angela Valencia has spoken at numerous parish and diocesan events in both English and Spanish. She earned a BA from the Instituto Tecnológico de Nogales, Mexico, a MA in Pastoral Theology from the University of Santa Clara, California, as well as an Advanced Studies Certificate in Hispanic Ministries from the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, California. Ms. Valencia also earned the Pastoral Administration, Pastoral Care and Catholic Bible Institute Certificates from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California. Angela Valencia is currently the Southern California Sales Representative for Pflaum Publishing Group.

José Martinez

Jose Martinez is a devoted husband, father of four, teacher, illustrator, singer songwriter, and founder of Sacred Heart Narratives. He produced a self-titled EP, Sacred Heart Narratives, inspired by his home parish Sacred Heart Mission, Heber CA. He’s been a music minister for 17 years, now. Born and raised in the Imperial Valley, he hopes to evangelize Jesus’ teachings through his art, music, and podcast efforts! Viva Cristo Rey!

Koren Ruiz

Koren Ruiz ha estado involucrado en el ministerio Hispano durante los últimos 20 años, principalmente con los jóvenes y la música. Él ha sido consultor de Corresponsabilidad durante la última década y es presidente de su propia compañía de consultoría, la cual se enfoca principalmente en implementar el concepto de corresponsabilidad con la comunidad Latina en la Iglesia Católica. Koren y su esposa Jessica son directores de coro en la parroquia de Ascensión en Portland Oregon; también son compositores, artistas y presentadores de talleres con la Editora de Oregon Catholic Press (OCP). Koren actualmente sirve como Director de Iniciativas Hispanas para OCP y tiene una licenciatura en Administración de Empresas y otra en Psicología Organizacional de la Universidad Western Oregon; también posee una Maestría en Administración de Empresas de la Universidad de Portland.