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KEYNOTE SpeakerA gifted and captivating speaker, preacher, retreat master and author, Father Larry Richards holds the answer to some of life’s most profound questions. He speaks from experience as a pastor of an inner city parish, a high school chaplain, a counselor and evangelist. Fr. Larry Richards has directed hundreds of Retreats, Parish Missions and Conferences for young and old alike. His inspirational talks and presentations, always authentic and enthusiastic, have changed the hearts, minds, and lives of millions of listeners worldwide. He continues to accept invitations for speaking engagements all over the world.
Father Larry Richards was born on March 26, 1960, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He entered St. Mark High School Seminary, Erie, Pennsylvania, at the age of 17. After high school, Father Larry attended the college Seminary at Gannon University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling in 1983.
Continuing his studies at the Major Seminary at St. Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Father Larry Richards received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1987. He studied for a Master of Arts degree in Liturgy from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana.
Ordained to the priesthood on April 21, 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, Father Larry Richards has served as Pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community, also in Erie, since July 1, 2002. In addition, Father is the spiritual director and founder of DME (Divine Mercy Encounter) Retreat Program in the Diocese of Erie.
On August 30, 2004, in the midst of his many commitments to his parishioners, to the TEC community, and to traveling around the United States for Parish Missions, Retreats, and Conferences, Father Larry founded and is president of “The Reason For Our Hope Foundation,” a non-profit organization dedicated to ‘spreading the Good News’ by educating others about Jesus Christ and the Catholic faith through CDs and DVDs, as well as promoting Catholic speakers who are effective instruments of evangelization. In turn, the foundation will support charities that strive to make real the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He has recorded many talks on all aspects of the Catholic Faith for individual and small-group instruction, all of which are available on The Reason for Our Hope website at www.TheReasonForOurHope.com. Since the inception of the Foundation, Father Larry has also recorded CDs and DVDs entitled “The Truth”, “Confession”, “The Mass Explained”, “Knowing God’s Will”, “Prayer”, “Living in the Holy Spirit”, “Be a Man”, and “What More Could He Do For You”. Father Larry’s live presentation of “What More Could He Do For You?”, a dramatic explanation of the Passion of Jesus, is riveting; the DVD of this presentation is, without a doubt, the most moving re-enactment of the Passion one can view. Father Larry adds to the list of available presentations on a regular basis. These CDs and DVDs may also be secured on the foundation website at www.TheReasonForOurHope.com.
Father Larry’s first book, “Be a Man! Becoming the Man God Created You To Be” was published by Ignatius Press in October of 2009, and was the #1 best seller by Ignatius Press in 2010. Father Larry’s second book, “Surrender! The Life-Changing Power of Doing God’s Will” was published by Our Sunday Visitor in September of 2011. In 2014, a Catholic Men’s Bible, NABRE, with introduction and instructions by Fr. Larry was published by Our Sunday Visitor.
A Scripture Desk Calendar entitled “No Bible, No Breakfast! No Bible, No Bed!” containing both morning and evening Scripture passages and encouraging words from Fr. Larry, was published by The Word Among Us in 2014.
Father hosts the EWTN internet radio show called “The Reason For Our Hope” on Mondays and Fridays at 1:00 p.m. (EST), and the EWTN radio show called “Father Knows Best” on Mondays and Fridays at 4:00 a.m. (EST), and previously was a favorite on the EWTN radio show called “Open Line” on Thursdays from 2015 thru 2020.
