Medjugorje Youth Festival
Mladifest USA 2025
Meet the Inspiring Speakers
Below you’ll find a brief introduction to each of them. Stay tuned to learn more about the incredible insights they will give.
- Fr. Danko Perutina, OFM
Fr. Danko Perutina, OFM was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1970. He received the Franciscan habit in 1992 and after novitiate, completed Theology studies in Zagreb, Croatia. Fr. Danko was ordained a priest in Norval, Canada in 1999. In 2005, he received his master’s degree in Mariology from the Pontifical Faculty of Theology Marianum in Rome.
In the Franciscan Order of Hercegovina, he has served as assistant Novice Master and Master of Postulants; he has been a member of the “Council for Education and Training”; and associate pastor of St. James in Medjugorje, from 2007 to 2013. Fr. Danko currently serves as the Guardian and pastor of the Franciscan Monastery and Parish of St. Peter and Paul in Mostar, Bosnia-Hercegovina.
In addition to those duties, Fr. Danko is also the President of the Mir Medjugorje Information Center (in Medjugorje) and has been entrusted with starting Medjugorje Information Centers throughout the world. He established Medjugorje Information Centers for the following languages: Spanish, German, English, Czech, Chinese, French, Italian and Ukrainian. Additional Medjugorje Information Centers are being planned as well, for Portuguese and Arabic speaking people. The purpose of these Centers is to carry the messages of Medjugorje to the ends of the earth. Fr. Danko is a tireless servant of the Queen of Peace and has given his life in the service of the Gospel.
- Mother Adela Galindo
Born in Nicaragua and later moved to the United States, Mother Adela Galindo has a master’s degree in theology and is a Doctor of Philosophy, Theology, and Leadership (honoris causa), and a two Doctor of Humane Letters (honoris causa). She is the Foundress and Mother General of the bilingual religious family Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary: founding the Religious Sisters in 1990, the lay branch Apostles of the Pierced Hearts in 2000; and the Religious Brothers and Priests in 2018. As of September, she has founded 17 convents in 10 dioceses in the United States, Rome, Paraguay, and Poland. Mother Adela is a faithful daughter of the Church, and a spiritual daughter of St. John Paul II. Since the first moment he appeared on the balcony in St. Peter’s, she experienced a profound communion of hearts that moved her to proclaim, “At last I found the heart that I have been looking for!” Since then, she has dedicated herself not only to studying the Magisterium of St. John Paul II, but also instilling it within all the members of her spiritual family, making a great commitment to teach his legacy and to keep it alive, a mission that she herself has carried out through all her evangelization and formation ministry. Mother Adela has been an untiring evangelizer worldwide by preaching at national and international conferences, evangelizing through social media, leading pilgrimages, and works of solidarity, especially in the Holy Land, for which she was named a Dame of the Holy Sepulcher. She has received many recognitions such as the St Vincent de Paul Award and others, for her outstanding dedication and zeal to build a civilization of love, life, truth, and solidarity to extend the reign of the Pierced Hearts.
- Fr. Antonio Musa
Fr. Antonio was baptized and raised at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Franciscan Parish in Široki Brijeg, only 20 miles from Medjugor,je, where he visited many times during his childhood. In high school, Fr. Antonio joined a Franciscan Youth group led by local Franciscan priests. Their influence and the example of St. Francis inspired his religious vocation. After graduating from High School in 2011, he joined Franciscans in Herzegovina. During the first few years of initial formation, he spent in Mostar, Ljubuški, and Zagreb, and eventually, he was sent to Chicago. He was ordained to the priesthood in Chicago on the Feast day of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 2018. Ever since, he has served at St. Jerome Croatian Parish in Chicago. He currently attends Aquinas Institute in St. Louis, pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Preaching degree. Fr. Antonio’s vocation and ministry are deeply marked by the presence of the Queen of Peace, whose call he is trying to answer every day.
- Ann Vucic
Ann Vucic is a dynamic Catholic speaker, author, and tireless advocate for spiritual renewal. Born near famed pilgrimage site, Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ann’s life was profoundly transformed by an encounter with God in Medjugorje in her youth. This pivotal experience ignited a lifelong passion to help others encounter God on their own journeys of faith and conversion.
With degrees in theology, psychology, and social work, Ann blends academic knowledge with spiritual wisdom and compelling storytelling, to passionately engage in evangelization. For more than 30 years, she has led pilgrimages to Medjugorje, organized Catholic retreats, and shared her testimony and spiritual insights with audiences world-wide. Her ministry has led her to various platforms, including radio, television, print, social media and live appearance. Ann’s testimony inspires audiences to embrace Medjugorje’s profound message of conversion, hope and love.
Ann is also a movie consultant and executive producer, currently collaborating on a major Hollywood film about Medjugorje, as well as several other exciting movie projects. These films, created in partnership with renowned Hollywood professionals, are poised to bring the message of faith, hope and spiritual renewal to audiences worldwide.
- Fr. Tim Anastos
Fr. Tim Anastos is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and the director and chaplain of the St. John Paul II Newman Center at the University of Illinois–Chicago. He serves as a eucharistic preacher for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Fr. Tim earned a bachelor’s degree in linguistics from the University of Illinois and a bachelor’s degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome. He releases Reel Homilies, one-minute reflections on the Sunday Mass readings through the lens of Church tradition, pop culture, and self-improvement with Spirit Juice Studios. Fr. Tim is the author of the book from Ave Maria Press: JESUS MAKE ME FULLY ALIVE: 30 Holy Hour
Reflections.
https://www.spiritjuice.org/reelhomilies/
https://www.instagram.com/spiritjuice/?hl=en
- Fr. Bob Ryan
Fr. Robert Ryan is a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago with a deep love for Jesus in the Eucharist and a lifelong devotion to Our Lady. Raised in Antioch, IL, he studied Advertising at Michigan State University and began his professional career in Sales and Marketing in Austin, TX. After returning to the Chicago area in 2012, his faith was reawakened through the quiet witness of his parents. In 2015, during a retreat at Mundelein Seminary, Fr. Ryan heard the Lord’s call to the priesthood. He entered formation at Mundelein, earning multiple degrees, including a Licentiate in Sacred Theology specializing in Dogmatic Theology. He was ordained in 2021 and began serving as Parochial Vicar at Saints Joseph and Francis Xavier Parish in Wilmette. In July 2025, he was named Pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood. Fr. Ryan is also active beyond his parish, serving as adjunct academic and formation faculty for Mundelein Seminary, co-director of the Eucharistic Revival and Pilgrimage in Chicago, and on the Vocations Office Leadership Team. Additionally, he served as the papal envoy for the relics of Blessed Carlo Acutis to the New World.
- Fr. Michael Keucher
Fr. Michael Keucher was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis on June 6, 2015. After two years as parochial vicar, in 2017 he became the pastor of two parishes in Shelbyville, Indiana, where he continues to serve today. Fr. Keucher began teaching at Marian University in 2018 and was appointed the dean of a deanery with 6 perpetual adoration chapels in that same year. He was appointed the Director of Vocations for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis in 2019 and continues to serve in that role with great joy. Fr. Keucher loves the priesthood, the Eucharist, and Our Lady with all his heart.
- Colleen & John Willard
International Catholic speakers, Colleen & John Willard, have given their heartfelt witness throughout the world after Colleen was healed of an inoperable brain tumor upon reception of the Holy Eucharist while on a pilgrimage in Medjugorje.
Their inspiring and captivating presentations of the fruits of suffering, the powerful intercession of Our Blessed Mother, and the True, Healing Presence of Jesus we are blessed to receive at every Mass we celebrate, has spiritually deepened the faith of many and given hope, even in the midst of our daily crosses.
John and Colleen have been invited guests on Relevant Radio, Ave Maria Radio, Hosts on Shalom World TV, and have been guest speakers at Marian Conferences, Parishes, Basilicas and Cathedrals both in the US and in Europe. They also have been blessed to speak at youth gatherings in Schools, Colleges & Universities and at Mladifest International Youth Festival in Medjugorje with more than 60,000 youth and over 700 priests in attendance along with many Bishops, Cardinals and the Vatican Papal Nuncio who attended this special annual event.
- Aaron & Naomi Tatro
Aaron Tatro was a cradle Catholic who drifted away from the faith during his years in the Navy. He had a reversion in November of 2015 during a pilgrimage to Medjugorje where Our Lord and Our Lady turned his life right-side-up. He soon realized the lifestyle he was living was not one that was leading him closer to God, but distancing himself from Him.
Upon his return home, his living arrangements with his girlfriend at the time soon changed, and he realized the more he prayed the Rosary, the voids in his life were also being filled. A door opened for him to begin a new job working for Totally Yours Pilgrimages where he drew deeper in his faith and Love of God and Our Blessed Mother. An unexpected encounter on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, led Aaron to meet a young woman, Naomi, whose own life had gone through challenges, especially in college where she now reflects on how Our Lady saved her own life, numerous times.
Aaron is a 2023 graduate from Franciscan University of Steubenville with a bachelors in Humanities and Catholic Culture and Naomi also received her Masters in Catholic Studies from Franciscan University. This beautiful couple continues to witness daily not only of their love and devotion in the Sacrament of Matrimony, but together, growing deeper in their faith, through their united devotion to Our Lord and Our Lady!
The interweaving of their stories, leading to the Sacrament of Matrimony, will touch and inspire you!
