MADISON — Nationally known journalist and speaker Teresa Tomeo is coming to St. Maria Goretti Parish in Madison for the third and final event of the “rEVOLution of Love” speaker series for teens and their parents on Sunday, April 3, at 6 p.m.
Sponsored by the Diocese of Madison, area parishes, and individual donors, the “rEVOLution of Love” series gives teens and parents relevant examples of how John Paul II’s Theology of the Body can be effectively lived out in today’s culture. The last event of the year focuses on how media influences people’s lives and how to navigate a media-saturated culture.
Veteran broadcast-journalist
Tomeo, a veteran broadcast-journalist with more than 20 years of experience as a radio and television reporter and anchor in the Detroit area, left the secular press after becoming increasingly disillusioned by sensationalism, violence, and bias within the industry. She is now an author, speaker, syndicated Catholic talk show host, and media consultant.
Tomeo’s daily morning radio program, Catholic Connection, is produced by Ave Maria Radio in Ann Arbor, Mich., and now heard on over 150 Catholic stations nationwide through the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network. Her talk show is also carried on Sirius/XM Satellite Radio.
She is also a columnist and special correspondent for the national Catholic newspaper, Our Sunday Visitor. She appears frequently on EWTN Catholic Television. She has also been featured on The O’Reilly Factor, Fox News, and most recently Fox & Friends discussing issues of faith and media awareness.
In 2008, Tomeo was chosen as one of 250 delegates from around the world to attend the Vatican Women’s Congress held in Rome marking the 20th Anniversary of John Paul the Second’s Letter entitled On the Dignity and Vocation of Women.
As a speaker Tomeo travels around the country addressing media awareness and activism, as well as sharing her reversion to the Catholic Church. Her first book, Noise — How Our Media Saturated Culture Dominates Lives and Dismantles Families, published by Ascension Press, is a Catholic bestseller. Her second book, Newsflash! My Surprising Journey from Secular Anchor to Media Evangelist, was published in 2008. She has also co-authored a series of best selling Catholic books called All Things Girl for tween girls focusing on modesty.
Timely topic for teens
Religious education directors and youth ministers at Christ the King Parish in McFarland and St. John the Baptist Parish in Jefferson have spearheaded the speaker series, now in its second year. They are particularly excited about this event because it features a national expert on a topic that is omnipresent in most teens’ lives.
“Young people live in a world that is dominated by technology, whether it’s 24 hour a day 1000 channel TV, iPods, social networking internet sites, or smart phones,” said Tiffany Topel, religious education director and youth minister at St. John the Baptist in Jefferson. “Our job is to help teens avoid the dangerous messages out there, while also using media effectively to help bring them to Christ.”
The Sunday, April 3, event runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at St. Maria Goretti Church, 5313 Flad Ave. There is no cost for the talk, although a freewill offering will be taken. Pizza and refreshments are provided, and registration is requested.
Questions can be directed to Andy Galvin at 608-821-4517 or Sarabeth Bowe at 608-838-9797.To register online, go to www.madisondiocese.org/youth
Plans for the 2011-2012 “rEVOLution of Love” series are already underway.