Damon and his amazing wife Melanie homeschool their 7 children (6 girls & 1 boy).
Together they teach and promote Natural Family Planning. Damon is the founder of New
Jersey Natural Family Planning Association (www.njnfp.org) and Joy Filled Marriage New
Jersey, providing training resources and support for engaged and married couples. Damon
keeps a full speaking schedule at national conferences, marriage seminars, high schools,
seminaries, and parish groups. Most importantly for this conference he is passionate about
homeschooling! You can read more about Damon at http://damonowens.com
Fr. Paul Sullivan was born New York, the 7th of 8 children of Gerald and Ellen Sullivan.
After a short career in the financial world, he discerned a call to the priesthood. Fr.
Sullivan received a Master of Arts in Philosophy and a Master of Divinity degree from
Saint Meinrad Seminary before being ordained a priest for a life of service in our
diocese on June 2nd 2007.
Becky Bowers-Greene is a proud convert to the Catholic faith, who speaks on a variety of
topics, including pro-life, human sexuality, marriage and family, Natural Family Planning,
authentic feminism, and parenting. But while she is a former college gymnast for the
University of Arizona and former private pilot in training, Becky’s most daring adventure
yet has been her recent leap into the homeschooling world, where she is attempting to
educate her two sons without obtaining a lobotomy. She is also a freelance writer with
published works in the areas of religion, parenting, health and wellness, and aviation,
and started her own blog site called reclaimingthewomb.com. When she’s not writing or
speaking, she’s joyfully and loudly living out her true vocation as wife to husband Steve
and mother to three children — ages 1 1/2 to 6 years old — who are sure to be the catalyst
that leads Becky either to Heaven or a padded room — which she’ll take if she can at least
go to the bathroom in peace.
Michael J. Rayes is a Catholic marriage and family expert. He recently finished a master's
degree program in professional counseling and plans to become a licensed marriage and family
therapist. Rayes has worked in charter, district, private, and diocesan schools as a teacher,
behavioral counselor, and even a computer-network administrator. Rayes and his wife have seven
children and 17 years of homeschooling experience. A life-long Catholic, Rayes is the author
of numerous articles on Catholic marriage and parenting as well as two books. You can learn
more from his web site at www.michaelrayes.com.
Kelly is a wife, mother, and homeschooler. She has been married to high school
sweetheart and husband for 23 years. Her 7 great kids, age 4 to 19, keep her on her toes
and on her knees praying. She is a former child therapist with background in education, and
has been homeschooling for 14 years. She is the author of the Summer Fit educational activity
book series. Kelly finds herself meandering through life in a large homeschooling family,
relying on their love, and God's grace and guidance to see her through.
Kris Forbes spent many years praying for patience and to be more holy. She ended up with
one husband and eight children who are helping her achieve her goals (although as they would
tell you she needs lots more practice). Kris has homeschooled grades K-8 and will embark on
the high school journey with her eldest next year. She is president of the Sacred Heart Home
Educators, a local support group and enjoys being active in politics and the prolife movement.
The child of a neat freak and efficiency expert, Kris will share her wisdom on how to
homeschool and run a tidy household.