Child & Youth Protection Catholic Leadership Conference 2026
Child & Youth Protection Catholic Leadership Conference 2026
The Child Youth Protection Catholic Leadership Conference 2026 is the premier event for Diocesan Victims Assistance Coordinators and Safe Environment Coordinators. Join us for a transformative experience featuring expert speakers, insightful sessions, and networking opportunities that will advance your leadership skills and deepen your impact on child and youth protection.
Join Us
MAY 10-13, 2026 at
Sheraton Phoenix Downtown
Traveling to Phoenix
3.8 Miles to the Conference location
37.2 Miles to the Conference location
Phoenix offers various transportation options for getting around the city.
-
Rideshare services like Waymo, and Uber provide convenient options, while Valley Metro serves as the main bus station at 3rd St & Taylor St.
-
Car rental services are available at the Airport.
-
Phoenix Light Rail and Amtrak train station in Maricopa offer efficient public transit solutions.
Conference Agenda
Sunday
5:00 p.m. Mass will be available
6:00 p.m. Welcome Reception
Monday
Daily Mass at 7 a.m.
Breakfast at 8 a.m.
Speakers:
Welcome Address from Bishop Dolan -- Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix
USCCB Welcome and Update
-
Bishop Knestout -- Chariman for the USCCB Committee for the Protection of Childand and Young People
-
Deacpn Bernie Nojadera - Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection
USCCB National Review Board Update
James Bogner -- USCCB National Review Board Chairman
Dr. John Lambert and Dr. Anna Pecoraro Church Hurt
Fr. Matt Lowry The Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person: An Integrated Approach to Healing
Tuesday
No Morning Mass/ There will be an evening Mass
Breakfast 7 a.m.
Speakers:
USCCB updates/ Organization Updates
Rachel Mitchel, Maricopa County Attorney HX of the Diocese of Phoenix and Maricopa County Attorney Office
Joseph Hinrichsen, Bureau Chief Sex Crime Division, East Valley Mandatory Reporting
Mike Landeck Modern Technologies in Child Protection: Risks, Opportunities, and Responsibilities
Rodrigo Valdiva Diocesan Bankruptcies
The presentation will examine clergy sexual abuse and institutional responses, citing the John Jay Study and CARA Reports. Historically, the Church sought to limit liability and avoid scandal, but legislative reforms have expanded statutes of limitations. Case resolutions have included individual settlements, bundled agreements, or Chapter 11 bankruptcy when resources were insufficient. Chapter 11 enables continued operation while settling debts and managing assets through complex diocesan and canonical structures. The process involves
legal and financial professionals, trustees, and creditor committees, with mediation focused on asset valuation, case severity, and fair compensation. Final resolutions create court-approved plans, victim compensation trusts, and funds for future claims
5:00pm -- Mass and Event Dinner at AZ Science Center
Wednesday
Daily Mass at 7 a.m.
Sisters of Life (Loving oneself)
Dcn. Ed Shoener Catholic Mental Health Ministry
ENDS at noon
"Church hurt" describes the spiritual, emotional, and cognitive trauma from negative, abusive, or unfair experiences in religious settings or by religious figures. The session reviews literature, explores causes and predisposing factors, and discusses healing through integrated therapeutic approaches (Psychodynamic, Cognitive-Behavioral, and Accelerated Resolution Therapy) within a Christian anthropology. Techniques include replacing trauma-linked emotions with positive imagery, inner healing prayer, the Jesus Prayer, combating negative thoughts (Logismoi), and insights from Desert Fathers and Mothers. Participants engage in small interdisciplinary teams to analyze anonymized case vignettes across medical, psychotherapeutic, and worship contexts, with opportunities for confidential mutual prayer ministry.
Learn more about frameworks that honor both psychological science and the rich spiritual traditions of our clients.
Responding to the Mental Health Crisis with the Love of Christ and Hope
Predators increasingly rely on sophisticated technologies, including anonymous marketplaces on the dark web, encrypted communication channels, and AI-driven tools that help them hide, target individuals, and exploit vulnerability. The first half of this talk demonstrates and explains how these technologies function in modern exploitation. It also examines how AI can inadvertently steer victims away from help by reinforcing isolation, amplifying misinformation, or misdirecting searches for support.
The second half of the session focuses on how these same technologies can be used to protect our organizations. We explore how encryption, AI, and practical cybersecurity practices can strengthen the safety of the organizations and professionals who support women and children. By the end of the session, participants will understand how to turn these emerging technologies from potential risks into responsible, purposeful tools that advance child safety.
Information on important sites during the conference
Various sites during the Conference
- Visit Phoenix Trip PlannerYou create your schedulePhoenix
- St. Mary's BasilicaSee SchedulePhoenix
- Arizona Science Center6:00 p.m. Tuesday May 12, 2026Phoenix
Get to Know The Speakers
Deacon Bernie Nojadera has served as the Executive Director of the Secretariat for Child and Youth Protection at the USCCB since 2011. Formerly, he served as Director of the Office for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults with the Diocese of San Jose, California, from 2002-2011. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Joseph College, Mountain View, California; a Master of Social Work degree specializing in health and mental health services from San Jose State University; and a Master of Arts in Theology from St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, Menlo Park, California. He has been a member of the San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the County of Santa Clara Interfaith Clergy Task Force on the Prevention of Elder Abuse, and the County of Santa Clara Task Force on Suicide Prevention. He enjoys offering national/international workshops/training on safe environment/victim accompaniment, safeguarding, HRO (high reliability organization) principles, and topics on leadership and communication. He is married and has two adult children.
James Bogner is a retired Senior Executive Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with over 38 years of law enforcement experience both at the municipal and Federal levels. During his FBI career, he served as the Chief of the FBI’s Internal Affairs/Adjudication and Inspection Units, and as the Special Agent-in-Charge of FBI offices in the Midwest over Nebraska and Iowa. He later served as the first Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement in the newly established Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in Nebraska and Iowa.
He is a graduate of the FBI’s National Executive Institute. His post-Masters work included studies in Public Policy Analysis. He has also served as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He has served on several local, state and national boards and councils.
He is the Chair of the Archbishop of Omaha's Advisory Review Board and his Ministerial Misconduct Board. He is also the Chair of the Missionary Society of St. Columban's United States Review Board. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Bogner served on the National Review Board for the past four years before being named as Chair in 2024.
Most Reverend Barry C. Knestout is the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of Richmond. Appointed by Pope Francis on December 5, 2017, he was installed January 12, 2018, at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Richmond. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Washington by Cardinal James A. Hickey on June 24, 1989. Father Knestout served as a parochial vicar at two parishes in the Archdiocese of Washington, until 1994, when he was named priest-secretary to Cardinal Hickey and continued to serve in that capacity until His Eminence’s death in 2004. It was during his tenure with Cardinal Hickey that in 1999 he received the Papal Honor of Chaplain to His Holiness, Pope John Paul II, with the title of Monsignor.
In October 2006 Monsignor Knestout was named Secretary for Pastoral Ministry and Social Concerns and was appointed Moderator of the Curia and Vicar for Administration of the Archdiocese of Washington in April 2007. Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Washington and Titular Bishop of Leavenworth on Nov. 18, 2008. His Episcopal Ordination took place on Dec. 29, 2008, selecting “Christ Our Hope” as his episcopal motto.
Bishop Knestout has served on several national Catholic boards and committees. In November 2023 Bishop Knestout assumed the duties of Chair for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee for the Protection of Children and Young People. He also serves on the Episcopal Advisory Committee for the Catholic Leadership Roundtable Board, the Seminary Board of Directors at Mount St. Mary Seminary and is Chairman of the Seminary Finance Board. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Holy Family of Bethlehem Hospital Foundation.
Previously, Bishop Knestout served as regional chairman for the bishops of Region IV and was a member of the USCCB Subcommittee on the Church in Africa, and Subcommittee on African American Affairs. He served as the Episcopal Moderator for the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference (DFMC) until 2024.
Bishop Knestout is a Fourth-Degree member of the Knights of Columbus; a member of the Order of Malta; and of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
Mr. John Lambert is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice as a psychotherapist for the past 50 years and as an addictions counselor for the past 28. He enjoys providing workshops and supervising Registered Social Work and Mental Health Interns. Since 2018, he loves serving the Diocese of St Petersburg as its Victim Assistance Coordinator. Integrating prayer into his practice has been his professional life's work.
Dr. Anna Pecoraro is a licensed clinical psychologist and registered nurse. She earned her doctorate at the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in addictions at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She practices as a psychotherapist, focusing on sexual addictions and betrayal trauma and teaches at Divine Mercy University, in the Masters in Psychology Program.
.jpg)
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell is a career prosecutor with an unwavering commitment to finding justice for those whose safety and well-being has been violated.
She leads one of the largest prosecutorial agencies in the country and, since she took over in 2022, has worked relentlessly to restore the trust of fellow law enforcement agencies and the community at large. During her more than 30 years with MCAO, she prosecuted the worst-of-the-worst as a child and sex crimes prosecutor, ran the Prosecution Integrity Unit overseeing ethical issues, and was appointed County Attorney in April of 2022. Voters chose her for the permanent job later that same year.
Throughout her career, Mitchell has advocated for strengthening state laws involving crimes against children and sexual assault, and has pushed for changes in the courtroom that will help comfort victims testifying in abuse cases. She regularly teaches on a variety of criminal justice topics and is a nationally recognized speaker on sex assault and child abuse prosecution.
As Maricopa County’s chief law enforcement officer, Rachel is a strong advocate for public safety, addressing emerging challenges like Organized Retail Crime, guns in the hands of kids, and the fentanyl crisis. She has works constantly to uphold the law and to prosecute those who jeopardize the safety and security of the people of Maricopa County.
When not fighting for justice in her community, Rachel plays percussion for her church orchestra. She is an Arizona native who received her law degree from Arizona State University and undergraduate degree from Grand Canyon University.
Deacon Shoener, along with Bishop John Dolan, is co-author of the books Responding to Suicide: A Pastoral Handbook for Catholic Leaders and When a Loved One Dies by Suicide (Ave Maria Press, Notre Dame, IN).
He, along with family and friends, founded “The Katie Foundation” after his daughter, Kathleen, died by suicide in 2016.
Katie’s obituary went viral because it spoke to the needs and concerns of people who live with mental illness.
Deacon Ed Shoener combats mental illness stigma within the Catholic Church by promoting compassion and guiding parishes/dioceses in establishing mental health ministries.
Since launching the International Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers in 2018, the organization has provided free resources to hundreds of parishes worldwide and to individuals and families seeking support, education, and community.
Fr. Matt Lowry was ordained in 2008 for the Diocese of Phoenix. He has been the Chaplain for Northern Arizona University since 2009. In 2022, he was also named Episcopal Vicar of the North region of the Diocese of Phoenix. Fr. Matt was trained in spiritual direction through the Institute of Priestly Formation and is currently finishing up a Master's in Counseling through Divine Mercy University.
Mike Landeck hacked his first computer in the late 1970s, back when hacking meant curious teenagers soldering together homemade machines instead of going to Friday-night football games. He later earned his Master of Social Work degree with a focus on family violence, where the intense trauma and rising acuity of his caseload eventually pushed him to shift careers. His transition into cybersecurity never dimmed his sense of service; instead, it gave him new tools for impact.
Mike has since applied his technical expertise to disrupting child trafficking networks and educating organizations on how routine technologies such as web tracking can inadvertently retraumatize survivors. After recovering from a life-threatening cervical spinal injury, he now focuses on a small number of mission-driven projects and mentors first-generation college students pursuing cybersecurity careers, continuing his commitment to protection, advocacy, and community.
St. Joseph the Protector Award
The Saint Joseph the Protector Award will honor one individual who has made a notable contribution to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Preference will be given to those employed by or contracted with their local (arch)diocese/eparchy in the area of Victim Assistance. While all nominees will be reviewed, priority will be given to individuals actively supporting abuse survivors and working to prevent abuse through safe environment initiatives within their diocese. All nominees will be featured in the conference program, and the Award will be presented during the Tuesday evening dinner event.
St. Maria Goretti Award
The Saint Maria Goretti Award will be given to one individual who has made a significant impact in support of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Priority will be given to someone who has been employed by or contracted with their local (arch)diocese/eparchy in the area of Safe Environment or Child Protection. All nominees will be considered but preference will be given to someone working on the front lines to support survivors of abuse and/or to prevent abuse through safe environment activities within their diocese. All nominees will be listed in the conference program and the Award will be presented during the Tuesday evening dinner event.
Scholarship Opportunities
Thank you to the USCCB Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions for once again providing scholarships to those serving in mission-funded dioceses and eparchies. Please contact Kevin Day, Director at kday@usccb.org by November 1, 2025, to be considered.
Our Sponsors
Welcome to our valued sponsors! Your support means the world to us, and we are excited to embark on this journey together. Thank you for being an essential part of our community. Let's create something amazing!
For inquiries from interested sponsors, please reach out to ocyp@dphx.org.
Diamond Sponsor
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Scholarship Sponsor
Copper Sponsor
Your Contacts
Anne Vargas-Leveriza, PhD
Director, Office of Protection and Empowerment
Maria Escarcega
Manager, Safe Environment Training
Mikki Galindo
Coordinator, Safe Environment Training
602-354-2395