Our Speakers

Keynote Speaker: Anne Trufant

Anne Trufant weaves music, humor, and common life experiences together to bring faith to life. A wife, mother of 7, speaker, and musician, Anne has been a retreat leader both in the US and abroad. Originally from Louisiana, Anne received her Master's in social work at LSU and helped found Hosana House, a home for unwed mothers in Baton Rouge, LA. (Anne was privileged to work with Mother Teresa, who later took over Hosana House.)

For the last 30 years, Anne and her husband, David, have lived in Brevard, NC. They own and direct Camp Kahdalea for girls and Camp Chosatonga for boys - incredible places of faith, adventure, and friendship in the mountains of western North Carolina.

Keynote Speaker: Maria Vargo

Maria Vargo is a Catholic singer/songwriter, actress, producer, director and speaker. She is the President and Artistic Director of G.K. Chesterton Entertainment. Recent projects include “The Last Days” starring Jonathan Roumie as Jesus and Maria as the Blessed Mother. Maria performed the role of St. Faustina in a one-woman show that toured the US and Canada.

Guest Speaker: Kelly Wahlquist

Kelly Wahlquist is the founder of WINE: Women In the New Evangelization, Director for the Archbishop Flynn Catechetical Institute, and contributing writer for Catholicmom.com. Her book Created to Relate: God’s Design for Peace & Joy encourages and inspires women to live fully their beautiful God-given gifts for building relationships. She is the creator and editor of Walk in Her Sandals: Experiencing Christ’s Passion through the Eyes of Women; Gaze Upon Jesus: Experiencing Christ’s Childhood through the Eyes of Women; Called by Name: 365 Daily Devotions for Catholic Women: and Wisdom from Women in Scripture. Kelly leads an annual pilgrimage with Teresa Tomeo called “WINE & Shrine, A Women’s Pilgrimage through Italy.”