The Assumption Respect Life Apostolate will present the entire 44th annual Respect Life Convention on Saturday, November 14, from 9 a.m.—2:30 p.m. in the St. Marie Hall (Church Lower Level). You are invited to come for the day or just for part of the day. Lunch will be provided.
Reservations are required by November 11 to Linda Bergfeld at 314-843-6981 or [email protected]
Most Rev. Mark S. Rivituso, Auxiliary Bishop, Archdiocese of St. Louis
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Emcee Elizabeth Westhoff, Award-Winning Catholic Communications Professional
Cynthia Haehnel, Director of Respect Life, Family & Social Responsibility, Archdiocese of St. Louis
Gospel of life Speaker #1
David Bereit, Founder, 40 Days for Life
Awards Presentation & More!
Cardinal Carberry Award
Friend of Life Award
Meet the Sisters from Our Lady of Guadalupe Pro-Life Convent!
Lunch Break – 11:15 a. m. to 11:45 a.m. Afternoon Session – 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Gospel of Life Speaker #2
Dr. Patrick Yeung, Associate Professor at St. Louis University and Board Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist
Gospel of Life Speaker #3
Dr. James Sherley, Associate Scholar for the Charlotte Lozier Institute & Founder of Asymmetrex LLC
Youth & Young Adult Awards Presentation
Bishop McNicholas Award
Pro-Life Video Challenge
& More!
Final Prayer & Blessing
Speaker Bios:
Elizabeth Westhoff: Elizabeth Westhoff is known for her dedication to the faith along with her humor and wit. She is a strong believer that the Church should use every communications tool available in order to evangelize and share the beauty and truth of Catholicism. Elizabeth grew up in the Diocese of Belleville, IL. She attended Southern Illinois University, earning her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in English and American literature. Elizabeth has served as Press Secretary for Cardinal Burke. She is the recipient of the Catholic Press Association Awards: first place, best coverage of the Year of Mercy, the Catholic Press Association Award: first place, best newspaper story and photo package, best in-depth news/special reporting in a diocesan newspaper, the Catholic Academy of Communications Professionals: Gabriel Award for New Media Campaign of the Year, the Archdiocese of St. Louis Women’s Visionary Award, and the St. Louis Business Journal’s Thirty Under 30 Award. Elizabeth is also a regular guest and guest host on various Catholic radio networks, guest speaker for various Catholic and secular organizations, and former president and vice-president of the National Communications and Development Section for Catholic Charities USA. Elizabeth is a Daughter of St. Francis de Sales in the Association of St. Francis de Sales and a Dame of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
David Bereit: David Bereit is an experienced leader, an inspiring communicator, and strategic advisor to pro-life leaders and organizations around the world. Previously, David started and led the global 40 Days for Life movement through its first decade, mobilizing 750,000 volunteers in more than 700 cities across all 50 America states and dozens of nations, whose prayers and efforts have saved 14,643 children’s lives, brought 177 workers out of the abortion industry, and closed 96 abortion centers. David recently stepped away from his role as CEO of 40 Days for Life to pray and plan for a new ministry project, which will be announced soon. David is an internationally sought-after keynote speaker, and his presentations in more than 550 cities around the world have inspired audiences as large as 70,000 people. David’s work has been featured in nearly every major media outlet, including coverage on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, HBO, hundreds of radio programs, and over 100 newspapers, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, and USA Today. David has advised many of today’s most successful pro-life leaders, helping hundreds of organizations increase their life-saving impact, and raising more than $55 million for pro-life causes. David has been joyfully married to his best friend, Margaret, and live outside of Washington D.C.
Dr. Patrick Yeung: Patrick Yeung Jr. MD is a Board-Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (FACOG). He is an Associate Professor at Saint Louis University, and is Founder and Director of the SLUCare Center for Endometriosis and SLUCare Restorative Fertility Clinic. Dr. Yeung has always felt called to pursue academic medicine, and believes that changing paradigms requires research, publication and teaching. He is a member of the World Endometriosis Research Foundation (WERF), the American Academy of Fertility Care Professionals (AAFCP), and the International Institute for Restorative Reproductive Medicine (IIRRM). Dr. Yeung has authored multiple original, peer-reviewed publications and been invited to speak nationally and internationally, and has been voted one of Best Doctors annually since 2013. Dr. Yeung has a true heart for women with endometriosis associated infertility and pain, and tells patients that we are ‘all in this together.’ He and his wife Dorothy struggled with infertility and endometriosis for 4 years. Dr. Yeung tries to combine the best of optimal excision of endometriosis and adhesion prevention for patients he serves. He believes good ethics is good medicine, and has a passion for restorative surgery and cooperative medicine.
Dr. James L Sherley: James L. Sherley, MD, PhD graduated from Harvard College in 1980 with a BA degree in biology; and he completed joint MD and PhD degrees at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in 1988. After post-doctoral studies in cancer cell molecular biology at Princeton University, he joined the Fox Chase Cancer Center as a principal investigator in 1991. In 1998, he joined the faculty of the future Department of Biological Engineering at MIT, where he undertook research and teaching in the areas of cancer cell molecular biology, tissue stem cell bioengineering, toxicology, and environmental health science until moving to Boston Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) in 2007. As a Senior Member of BBRI’s research programs in Regenerative Biology and Cancer Biology, Dr. Sherley established an academic center for developing adult stem cell-based technologies for advancing cellular medicine. After leaving BBRI, in October 2013 he founded stem cell biotechnology development company Asymmetrex, LLC, which he now directs. Asymmetrex has the mission of advancing technologies for stem cell medicine. The company recently developed the first method for determining the dosage of therapeutic stem cell treatments. Dr. Sherley’s awards include 1993 Pew Biomedical Research Scholar, 2003 Ellison Medical Foundation Senior Scholar in Aging Research, and 2006 NIH Director’s Pioneer Award. Since 2016, he has served as an Associate Scholar of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the education and research institute of the Susan B. Anthony List.
Teen Track Speakers
Jacinta Florence: Jacinta Florence is from Oklahoma and grew up in a large Catholic family. After a profound conversion experience in college, her passion for building up a culture of life grew. Upon graduating from St. Gregory’s University, Jacinta moved to Philadelphia to serve as a pro-life and chastity speaker on the east coast. She then moved to Denver to attend the Augustine Institute where she now has her master’s in Leadership for the New Evangelization. Jacinta currently lives in St. Louis and is the Regional Coordinator for Students for Life of America for Arkansas and Missouri. When she’s not doing prolife work, Jacinta enjoys traveling, trying out new restaurants, and hanging out with friends.
Brian Westbrook: Brian Westbrook’s life changed after witnessing the near-death experience and miraculous recovery of his firstborn son in 2008. Brian went on to become the Founder and Executive Director of the Coalition for Life St. Louis conducting sidewalk counseling, community engagement, and pregnancy center services. Brian is also an innovative leader, sought after speaker, and strategic advisor to pro-life leaders around the country. Brian’s pro-life work has resulted in over 2,700 turnarounds at local abortion facilities and a dramatic reduction of abortions in St. Louis by 99.4%. Brian’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and CNN along with numerous articles and interviews in local publications and radio shows. Brian is married to his beautiful wife Marisa and currently lives in St. Louis with their 6 children.