26th Annual Homeschool Conference & Curricula Fair

Mrs. Laura M. Berquist founded Mother of Divine Grace School, an accredited distance learning school now serving more than 6300 students. Inaugurated in 1995 with 75 students, MODG now offers various levels of programs for students, summer classes for students and parents and workshops for parents throughout the year. Mrs. Berquist founded the school after writing Designing Your Own Classical Curriculum. The response to her book convinced her that there were many other mothers, like her, who wanted to provide a Catholic Classical education for their children. The mission of Mother of Divine Grace school is to help Catholic parents educate their children in a living Catholic culture. Based on the philosophy of education articulated in The Method and Division of the Sciences, but adapted to younger students, Mrs. Berquist developed a classical curriculum for grades K-12. That curriculum has since been enhanced with online classes, teacher support and many years of experience.

Mrs. Berquist is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula, CA. She home schooled her six children for 25 years. All six graduated from Thomas Aquinas College, four have earned advanced degrees and five of her children are married. She has 16 grandchildren.

Keynote Talk:

"Back to Basics: Pray, Hope and Don’t Worry"

There are two basic foundations on which homeschooling rests. First, God gave us our children as talents from Him, to be returned to Him with interest. As that is the case, we know exactly what our mission as parents is. Second, He gave us the tools we need to do that through the sacrament of matrimony. Marriage is ordered to the procreation and education of children, so God gives us the grace we need for their education. As Familiaris Consortio teaches: “..parents have been appointed by God himself as the first and principal educators of their children and … their right is completely inalienable.” Therefore, we can have confidence in God’s help and rest in His call. Homeschooling is a call to form our children directly, confidently, in His love, ordered to Him and to His Church. Nothing is more important. As parents we are teaching all the time, and our teaching is woven into the whole of our family life. Generosity, responsibility, problem solving skills, honesty, integrity, and intellectual rigor are naturally taught in the homeschooling family that centers itself on Christ. Most of us acknowledge that, but we worry about two things: the last item listed, intellectual rigor, and the ongoing effort required. In this talk we will explore the basics of homeschooling, those natural goods of teaching at home and the real intellectual formation we are all capable of giving.  We will look at ways to both minimize and embrace the effort needed. We will talk about confidence in God. 

Second Talk: 

"A Blessing of Homeschooling"

One of the greatest goods of homeschooling is the opportunity to spend time with our children, and in our time together, to form them in the truth, teach them about objective reality and grow together so as to become best friends. All of this happens when we talk to our children. Just having them home isn’t enough. We have to work on our relationships. Obedience is no good without their hearts. Real, deep, personal and objective conversation is the way to get the hearts of your children, and to form them in the truth you have been given. This is a gift of homeschooling, a reason, in itself, to keep going, as well as a great and abiding joy. 

Jenny Bales is a Catholic Homeschool Consultant whose mission is to encourage and equip homeschool moms to grow in confidence and homeschool with joy! She has homeschooled her own 4 children for the past 17 years, including graduating two of her students who were homeschooled K-12. Her Heart of a Mother: Catholic Homeschooling Support business helps families with affordable, practical, and individualized guidance to find homeschooling solutions

that honor God’s unique design for each family. When Jenny is not homeschooling her two remaining students or talking about homeschooling, she is likely to be found coordinating homeschool gatherings in her North Texas community, devouring detective novels, completing jigsaw puzzles, or watching college football, usually while drinking tea. You can connect with Jenny and find all of the support options she offers at www.heartofamother.net

Talks:

"Press On: Persevering with Joy in the Challenges of Homeschooling"

Hard work and perseverance are required to homeschool successfully long-term, but how do we maintain our determination (and our sanity), much less homeschool with joy? Jenny will encourage us to pause and reflect on our priorities in this challenging vocation and provide practical strategies to stay motivated through God’s grace on this journey!

Second Talk:

"Have No Fear! - Homeschool High School with Confidence!"

Learn all the nitty gritty details about how to homeschool your teens and love doing it! The high school years can be some of the best years with the right preparation and perspective. Jenny will share lessons she learned from graduating her first two students and answer all of the most commonly asked questions about homeschooling high school!

Robert Gil and his wife, Rosie, were homeschooling pioneers. They started the first homeschool organization in Louisiana back in 1981.  In 1993, they started the first Catholic homeschool organization in Alabama with Mother Angelica after having relocated with their eight children. Now, Robert is involved with his eight adult children in the homeschooling of his forty-seven grandchildren. After Robert’s wife, Rosie, passed away in 2010, the Bishop of Birmingham, AL, authorized a book to be written on Rosie’s life and writings, "See You in Heaven".  Bishop Baker, several priests, and many others were interested in opening the cause for her canonization. Since then, Mr. Gil has been invited to speak across the USA and Canada. His message covers many important topics concerning the traditional role for Catholic mothers, fathers, and children and the importance of homeschooling, but especially on how to live life as an adventure with a “Happy Family!”

First Talk:

 "The Home: the Most Important Place in the World"

He will also introduce his wife, Rosie, and her interesting and fulfilling life as a stay-at-home mom and why some say Rosie is a saint?

Second Talk:

"Restoring a Catholic Culture Through The Traditional Mother and Homeschooling!"

How to make homeschooling easier and more enjoyable for everyone, especially mom! You won’t want to miss this!

Christine Merriman is a wife, mom of two, and the creator of "Christine In Action"—an apostolate dedicated to making the Catholic Faith fun and memorable through music. With a BFA and a background in the fashion industry, she felt called to serve the Church in 2018, spending a year as a youth minister and four years as a First Communion Coordinator for the Diocese of San Bernardino. During COVID, she launched Christine In Action, using music and videos to bring catechesis to life for families. She earned a Child Development Certification in 2022, further equipping her to create engaging faith formation resources for families and children of varying developmental stages.

Talk:

"Little Actions, Big Impact" A Catholic Parent’s Guide to Homeschooling with Special Needs

Every child is uniquely created by God and called to holiness. As Catholic parents, we are the first and most important teachers of our children, guiding them in faith and learning—no matter their abilities. This talk provides insight, encouragement, and practical strategies for homeschooling children with diverse learning needs, along with faith-based resources to support their growth. Discover how music, play, and multi-sensory catechesis can make learning engaging, accessible, and deeply rooted in faith. With trust in God and a few simple adjustments, you can create a joyful, grace-filled learning environment at home.

Laurie Shepardson is a homeschooling, rosary praying, grace seeking, wanna be saint. She loves to share about her faith, family, and failures in between. She is passionate about trying, and sometimes succeeding, to do small things with great love. Laurie is a wife to Ken and mom to 11, ages 27 down to 5. She has homeschooled for the past 23 years. She loves to share and help new people along on their journey.

Talk:

"Intro to Homeschooling"

“Is it legal?” “How do you do it?” “What about socialization?” Laurie will navigate through the ins and outs of homeschooling in the state of California. They will discuss the importance of knowing your own reasons for educating your children at home.

Fr. Ron Clark was appointed as the Administrator of St. Dorothy in July of 2019. He grew up in the local area where he attended both St. Frances of Rome Elementary School in Azusa and Damien High School in La Verne. He was an active parishioner at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Monrovia where he was the Youth Director and also in charge of the Confirmation Program. After a life as a Superintendent in a construction company, a number of years as a private investigator and while raising a son who graduated from Bishop Amat High School he discerned a call to the priesthood. He attended St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo where he earned a both a Masters of Divinity and a Masters in Spirituality and was ordained in 2017. Fr. Ron completed his internship at St. Andrews in Pasadena and was an Associate Pastor at Our Lady of the Assumption in Claremont. He is now not only a priest but a proud father and grandfather. 

Talk:

 “Helping Our Children Be Present As We Pray The Mass”

Sometimes our children have a difficult time focussing during the Mass. We have the responsibility and opportunity to introduce them to the God of all creation. We will explore how we might help our young ones recognize the beauty of The Mass.

Fr Charles 'Gino' Galley

Parochial Vicar of Saint Andrew Newman Center in Riverside, CA

Being one of six children, Fr. Gino was homeschooled from K-12 in his small family home in Rialto, CA. He was raised Protestant by his father and experienced a radical conversion as a teenager that led him to join the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil of 2005, and later to become a priest for the Diocese of San Bernardino. Some enthusiastic hobbies of his includes theme parks, juggling, and astronomy.

Talk:

"Beyond the Books: Sanctifying the Struggles of Homeschooling"

Based on his personal experience, Fr. Gino offers dynamic encouragement for families navigating the real-life challenges of homeschooling. His talk addresses common struggles: feeling different from others, facing skepticism, juggling time and responsibilities, avoiding unhealthy comparisons to others, and feelings of not doing things well enough; while highlighting how each difficulty is a divine invitation to deeper humility, surrender, and grace-fueled greatness.