Fr. Larry R. Richards
Father Lawrence R. Richards, also known as Father Larry, (born March 26, 1960) is a speaker, Catholic priest, retreat master, and author. He is currently the pastor at Saint Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community and the Founder of The Reason for Our Hope Foundation, both in Erie, Pennsylvania.[1]
Early life and education[edit]
A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Father Larry attended St. Mark Seminary in Erie, Pennsylvania while attending college at Gannon University. He graduated from Gannon University with a Bachelor of Science in Mental Health in 1983. Fr. Larry continued his studies at the major seminary in St. Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, where he received his Masters of Divinity in 1987. [2] [3]
Priesthood[edit]
On April 21, 1989 Fr. Larry was ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of Erie and celebrated his 25th Anniversary in 2014.{[4]}} After his ordination, Fr. Larry was appointed the parochial vicar at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Erie, Pennsylvania. Later, he served in the same capacity at St. Bernard Parish in Bradford, Pennsylvania and St. Luke Parish in Erie. He was the campus minister for the University Pittsburgh at Bradford and at Penn State Behrend in Erie. For 10 years Fr. Larry taught at Cathedral Preparatory School in Erie and became a moderator at the Bread of Life Community. In 2002, the Bread of Life Community merged with St. Joseph Church in Erie and became St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community. Fr. Larry continues to be the Pastor of Saint Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community. [5] His pastorate is noted for practicing Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration.[6]
The Reason for Our Hope Foundation[edit]
Fr. Larry founded The Reason for Our Hope Foundation on August 30, 2004[7], in answer to 1 Peter 3:15: “Always be ready to given an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” The purpose of the Foundation is to fulfill the command of Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The mission [8] of the Foundation is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Church through various multi-media resources and to make available Catholic speakers who are effective instruments of this evangelization. Father Larry conducts Parish Missions throughout the United States and Canada, and speaks at Conferences and retreats. Fr. Larry has recorded many talks on various aspects of the Catholic Faith for individual and small-group based instruction, and has written two books. His talks and books have been distributed worldwide.
Fr. Larry’s ministry has an online presence and be found on social media sites such as Blogspot, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Google +, and Pinterest, where he posts his daily Scripture verses, updates on speaking engagements, and other information.
The Foundation also has resources from other Catholic speakers including Robert Rogers, Susan Yurkiewicz, Sonja Corbitt, Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers, and Monsignor James Peterson.
Career as inspirational speaker[edit]
Richards is a popular speaker in the Catholic Men's men's movement, known for spreading the Gospel by means of recorded talks.[9][10][11] He conducts Parish Missions throughout the United States and Canada, and speaks at Conferences and retreats.[12] His conferences, talks, books, and recordings are sponsored by The Reason for Our Hope Foundation, which he founded.[11]
Books[edit]
His first book entitled Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You to Be, was published by Ignatius Press in October of 2009.[13] The book is popular among Catholic men.[14]
His second book Surrender! The Life Changing Power of Doing God’s Will, was published by Our Sunday Visitor in September of 2011.[15]
Speaker[edit]
Fr. Larry has recorded the following talks [16]:
The Truth (2005) Confession (2005) Be a Man! (2010) Surrender! (2012) Mass Explained (2005) What More Could He Do For You? (2016) Knowing God’s Will (2016) Prayer (2009) Living in the Holy Spirit (2007) Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled (2011) The Family (2012) It is Mercy I Desire (2015) Knowing Jesus and His Church (2016) Parish Mission (2011)
TEC and DME Programs[edit]
In March, 1996, Fr. Larry brought the nationally known “Teens Encounter Christ” (TEC) conference to the Erie Diocese.[17] TEC was a weekend retreat to challenge attendees to encounter Christ through the message of Divine Mercy. In the beginning the retreat traveled around the Diocese, but in the early 2000’s found a permanent home at St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community, Fr. Larry’s home Parish. In 2012, Fr. Larry started the “Divine Mercy Encounter” (DME) program which continues to be held four times a year. [18]
References[edit]
- ↑ http://thereasonforourhope.org/aboutfrlarry/
- ↑ Faithful Servants; August 2014; Erie Diocese
- ↑ http://thereasonforourhope.org/aboutfrlarry/
- ↑ http://www.erienewsnow.com/story/25355024/erie-priests-in-rome-for-canonization
- ↑ Faithful Servants; August 2014; Erie Diocese
- ↑ Massing, Dana (16 June 2012). "Perpetual adoration helps faith grow in Erie". McClatchy - Tribune. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ↑ http://www.eriercd.org/pdf/FL93.pdf
- ↑ http://thereasonforourhope.org/foundationinformation/
- ↑ Hammel, Ambria (15 April 2014). "Conference calls men to holiness first, then their household". The Catholic Sun. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ↑ Hoyland, Christa (13 September 2003). "Headline: Faith in Action; Conference aims to expand faiths". The Courier-Journal (Louisville). Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Hanneman, Joseph (7 May 2015). ""Created for Greatness": The Emerging Catholic Men's Movement". Catholic World Report. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ↑ "Pa. pastor to conduct mission at Nashua church". Manchester Union Leader. 11 August 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ↑ Socks, Pete (5 September 2013). "Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You to Be (book review in reputable blog)". Patheos. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
- ↑ Beattie, Trent (4 January 2017). "Dallas Cowboys Exec — a Devotee of St. John Paul II — Celebrates Silver Jubilee". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
- ↑ https://www.osv.com/OSVNewsweekly/Faith/Article/TabId/720/ArtMID/13628/ArticleID/13639/Surrender-The-Life-Changing-Power-of-Doing-Gods-Will.aspx
- ↑ http://thereasonforourhope.org/product-category/dvd/
- ↑ http://www.eriercd.org/pdf/FL313b.pdf
- ↑ http://divinemercyencounter.com/
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