Meet Your Ambassadors of Hope

Michael O’Rourke, married 16 years & father of 9, boils over with enthusiasm for the Faith. Raised as a cradle Catholic, he started to slip away from the practice of Catholicism while attending a Catholic university. Prompted by his girlfriend (who later became his wife), he began to reconsider truths of the faith.

In 2001, the O’Rourke family attended a Holy Family Fest at the Apostolate for Family Consecration’s Catholic Familyland. The embers of Michael’s faith were stoked into a fire as he learned the 4- Points, which are a summary of the Gospel message and the very meaning of life. By God’s grace, Michael saw that the 4-Points provide a simple and effective way to understand the basics of the faith and the potential role of each person to change the course of human history for the better. His insightful talk “Message of Hope” focuses on these life-changing 4-points and inspires everyone not only to live them, but also to share them with the world! 

Jerome “Jerry” Coniker, founded the Apostolate for Family Consecration together with his late wife, Gwen.  Since the 1960’s, the Conikers became increasingly concerned with the erosion of the Christian values all around them.  For several years they tried to wake up people to this incredible, insidious movement that was threatening family life.  In the Holy Year of 1975, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, they founded the Apostolate for Family Consecration.  The Apostolate for Family Consecration is an international association seeking to simultaneously sanctify family and parish life by nourishing families in the Truths of the Catholic Faith through the Eucharistic, Marian and family-centered spirit of Pope John Paul II.   Jerry Coniker is a consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Family.  On September 3, 1999, the "Daily Catholic" numbered Jerry and Gwen as among the "Top 100 Catholics of the 20th Century."