Who we Are

Katie Fitzner

Volunteer 1996 to present

I was working with Mark Andreas at Harmony Media. He talked about the publication and I volunteered to do the layout in exchange for dinner. I have had many wonderful evenings working with Mark and Ruth on the publication and original website. I watched their family grow in size and spirituality. My life has also grown. I’m now married to a wonderful man whom converted the Catholic faith, and I have two beautiful little girls. I have enjoyed my time working on the Domestic Church. I hope to continue for many years to come. We are members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Vancouver Washington.

Mark & Ruth Andreas

Mark and Ruth have been married since Oct of 1993 and have 6 children. They currently reside in South Dakota and home-school their children.

Mark & Ruth founded St. Joseph’s Center in January of 1995 and have been sponsoring Marriage retreats since 1996. The underlying themes of these retreats have been centered around the Family as “Domestic Church”.
The “Theology of the Body” by Pope John Paul II has also been the hallmark of these retreats, in an effort to help people recognize their role as “Domestic Church” the family at home and to re-establish the home as a sacred refuge. Their retreats are not intended to mirror “Marriage Encounter”, but always centered on teaching the family to “Be who you are” and witnessing to the Sacrament of Marriage in the world.

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers

Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers is a powerful and passionate evangelist and preacher whose no-nonsense, hands-on approach to living the Catholic faith will challenge and inspire you!

He is the Founder and Director of Aurem Cordis, a Christian evangelization and apologetics organization dedicated to the dissemination and promotion of Catholic values, principles, and teaching in complete faithfulness and total submission to Holy Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium. The goal of his apostolate is to bring as many people as possible to a deeper love of Christ and the Gospel by sharing the truth of the Catholic faith in love.

As one of the most sought-after speakers in the Church today, Deacon Harold is active in giving lectures, retreats, and seminars in parishes, workshops, and at numerous conferences across the nation and around the world. He has appeared in Envoy and The Domestic Church magazines, and on many national and international radio programs, including Catholic Answers Live, Catholic Connection, Kresta in the Afternoon, the Drew Mariani Show, Searching the Word and Catholic Bookmarks. He is a regular contributor to the Relevant Radio Network and has been featured on the Eternal Word Television Network’s Life on the Rock, EWTN Live, EWTN Bookmark, and hosts the EWTN series, “Behold the Man: Spirituality for Men”, “Made in His Image: Family Life Today” and “Christ the Servant: The Vocation of Deacons.”

Deacon Burke-Sivers holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame, and a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from the University of Dallas. Deacon Harold is a Benedictine Oblate of Mt. Angel Abbey, an associate member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, a member of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, and a consultation team member for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops National Directory for Catechesis.

Deacon Harold is featured on The Greatest Commandments: A 40-Week Spiritual Journey for Married Couples, a vibrant marriage enrichment program rooted in Biblical values designed to help husbands and wives know God better, trust Him fully, and love Him completely throughout the journey of married life.

He is also the President of Servant Enterprises, a non-profit organization that hosts an international institute for Catholic male spirituality, coordinates dynamic speaking tours and life-changing retreats, and develops products and services that support family life.

Most importantly, Deacon Harold is married to his wife Colleen and they have four beautiful children.

For more information or to access Deacon Harold’s numerous publications, extensive audio and video media library, and his online store, please visit the Aurem Cordis website:
www.deaconharold.com