Heart of Mary Womens Conference 2025
The beauty of our faith reaches deep into our heart and soul. For over 2000 years our church has preserved the ancient and the new, it is there that our church flourishes.
Speaker talks
Father Charbel Grbavac O.Praem
Fr. Charbel is a Norbertine Priest from St. Michael's Abbey in Orange County. Fr. Charbel grew up in Huntington Beach and attended University of California at Irvine and majored in Biology and Spanish. He also attended St. John's Seminary in Camarillo for two years where he earned a BA in Philosophy.
In 1998 Fr. Charbel entered St. Michael's Abbey and studied at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome where in 2004 he completed a Master's degree in Sacred Theology. Fr. Charbel was ordained a priest in 2006. For six years Fr. Charbel was the Abbot’s secretary and taught Biology and Religion at J Serra Catholic High School. He also work as s Dean of Students at Saint Michael’s College Preparatory High School. He was an Associate Pastor at the Norbertine parish of Saint Peter and Paul in Wilmington.
Fr. Charbel is currently an Associate Pastor at Mary Star of the Sea in San Pedro. He enjoys surfing, cycling, tennis, soccer and other sports
Father Andres Rivera
Father Andres served as Parochial Vicar here at Saint Peter and Saint Paul the past three years, he has recently been assigned to UCR Newmans center in Riverside. Although he was born into a Catholic household, he did not really embrace his faith until his senior year of high school when he and his family recommitted themselves to their faith. Over the course of 10 years, he volunteered at Saint Joseph Parish in Fontana and at other neighboring parishes before recognizing the call to the priesthood, he was ordained on May 28, 2022. Father Andres has been a blessing to us and we are thankful for his service and direction he has given us here at his first assignment as a Priest!
Amanda Valdes
Amanda Valdes serves as the schola director for grades K-5th at the Good Shepherd Academy in Pomona. She is a cantor for the Diocese of San Bernardino and regularly sings at her home parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul as well as other local Catholic Churches. Amanda also has a private voice studio where she teaches one on one voice lessons to aspiring singers.
In 2021, Amanda experienced a deeper conversion led by the true presence in the Holy Eucharist. Since this pivotal moment in her faith journey, she desires nothing more than to serve Christ by sharing the Gospel & the beauty of the faith with both Catholics and non-Catholics.
Through her primary vocation as wife and mother as well as any musical opportunity she has on the stage, Amanda sees every moment as a chance to evangelize. Although singing is her passion and first love, Amanda’s greatest joy is her husband and 2 children.
Amandas Instagram: highnotes_hailmarys
Official Conference T-shirt
Save the Date for HOM conference 2026
Saturday August 8, 2026
Send us a message if you have any conference questions
“Love everyone with deep love based on charity,…but form friendships only with those who can share virtuous things with you. The higher the virtues you share and exchange with others, the more perfect your friendship will be”