Zoom Conference

Honorary Speakers

Fr. John Vandenakker was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1985. Since then he has belonged to a new community of priests known as the Companions of the Cross. Some of his previous assignments include:
Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology / Spiritual Director, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, MI (2012 – present)

Pastor of Queen of Peace parish, Houston, TX (2008-12)
Assistant Professor of Theology, Dominican College, Ottawa, ON (2000-2008)
Moderator of the Companions of the Cross (1997-2000)
Pastor of St. Maurice parish, Ottawa, ON (1993-1997)

Other parish & community assignments & teaching (St. Paul University, Ottawa, ON + St. Augustine Seminary, Toronto, ON)

Fr. John lives in residence with his fellow Companions of the Cross priests and seminarians at Visitation House, Detroit (in the former P.I.M.E. Residence & Office). On Sundays he assists with Masses at various AoD parishes.

Fr. Roger Vandenakker Before joining the Companions of the Cross as a founding member in the summer of 1984 he was completing his B.A. in Religious Studies at St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto. Having been born and raised in Ottawa, he attended St. Pius X High School, and was a student of Fr. Bob Bedard. He was closely associated with him throughout his high school years as a member of the St. Pius X charismatic prayer group which he oversaw. He began meeting with Fr. Bob and three other young men in the summer of 1984 after having returned to Ottawa to enter the seminary, having discerned a call to the priesthood the previous summer.

At that time the purpose of this group was simply to provide mutual support in their common vocation to the priesthood through weekly meetings involving common charismatic prayer and personal sharing and fellowship. By the following May, 1985 it became clear to them that the Lord wanted to establish a new community of priests, as a real brotherhood with a common life, spirituality and mission. At present, he is the General Superior of the Companions of the Cross.