Meet Us!
Rev. Niall O'Riodan
Pastor
Fr. Niall O'Riordan grew up in Dublin, Ireland. He practiced veterinary medicine for seven years following in his father's footsteps.
His vocation to the priesthood came through a deep devotion to St. Joseph the Worker. Father Niall entered the seminary of Work of Jesus the High Priest (O)SS) in Rome in June of 2010 and was ordained December 8, 2017.
Today he serves as pastor at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church in Portland
Mack Alano
Identity
I spent so many years placing my identity in accomplishments and relationships, and God has been slowly teaching me to live as His beloved daughter instead of someone who has to earn her worth. I pray that every woman who comes to this retreat leaves with the clarity, breath, and confidence to know she is deeply loved by the Father. Because God writes our stories in such personal ways, I carry mine into everyday life as a coffee obsessed wife, mama, and photographer who quotes The Office more than I should and loves hearing people’s stories, because every heart is an adventure!
Maria Holmes
Prayer & Intimacy with God
I am a Catholic wife and mother whose deepest identity is found in being a beloved daughter of the King and a faithful friend of Jesus. My heart is rooted in prayer and shaped by years of service in the Air Force, in the classroom, in youth ministry, and now at Christ the King Parish, and through it all I have learned that Jesus loves to meet us with His mercy, healing, and transforming love. When I am not ministering, I can often be found reading with a cup of coffee, Bible journaling, or singing as I continue to grow in listening to the Holy Spirit and helping others recognize the Father’s gaze upon their lives.
Lori John
Forgiveness
By God’s grace I have been a lifelong Catholic, but it was only through childhood wounds and unexpected challenges in my marriage that I began to truly discover what my faith meant and how deeply I needed it. As a single mother of four, the Lord has led me on a beautiful journey of identity, forgiveness, and healing as I grow into the woman He created me to be. I look forward to sharing my experiences through teaching and prayer ministry so that other women may also find healing and a closer relationship with our loving Father.
Carmen Orozco
Healing
My journey began with a longing to grow in ministry and find answers after a deep season of emptiness and hurt. Through a Pastoral and Leadership certification, I realized I had been a light Catholic who did not truly know Jesus as my beloved Father, and He has since led me through the Encounter School of Ministry and many healing processes where His love and mercy continue to surprise me. I pray for guidance from the Lord on how He desires to encounter each woman in her own journey, and through my healing He has made me a better mother, wife, daughter, sister, and now a soon to be grandmother by His fatherly love.
Rachel Swansen
Coordinator of Prayer & Environment
My healing journey began three years ago when my husband started praying to the Blessed Mother on my behalf, and Mary gently led me into the arms of my Savior. Through a powerful healing night at our parish and my first year at Encounter, Jesus rewrote my story and helped me know myself as a beloved daughter of the Father who is worthy, loved, and deeply valued. I am honored to serve as a prayer warrior for this retreat and to pray for the healing He longs to bring to each heart.