Raised in Italian/Irish neighborhood in Providence, RI, Marcellino D’Ambrosio never thought about being anything else but Catholic. But like other Catholic teens, his faith was the last place he looked for fulfillment. Following in the footsteps of his parents, both professional performers in their single years, Marcellino set his sights on stardom, playing bass guitar in several popular rock bands by the time he was 16.
The father of five and a business owner, Marcellino brings to his teaching a practical, down-to-earth, and humorous perspective that makes his words easy to understand and enjoyable to hear. He is a world renowned commentator on Catholic issues having appeared on Fox News' "Geraldo Rivera At Large" and The O'Reilly Factor. His book The Guide to the Passion, answering 100 questions about Mel Gibson's film, hit #6 on the New York Times best-sellers list with over a million copies sold. He appears frequently on a variety of Catholic TV and radio networks where he is known as "Dr. Italy."
Nine years of graduate teaching and hundreds of published articles provide Marcellino with an uncommon wealth of knowledge on a variety of spiritual and theological topics. But his uncanny ability to make profound subjects understandable and relevant to everyday life makes him the perfect speaker for a wide range of events:
Parish Missions and ConferencesConvocations for Clergy and Catholic
Educators Men's and Women's Conferences
A Few of his Many Topics:
The New Evangelization and the Year of Faith Why Be Catholic?
Getting More out of the Mass
Catholic Marriage and Family: a prophetic witness
At that time he encountered a group of Catholics whose Christian life was an exciting adventure, an adventure worth living for.
So he laid his bass guitar aside and embarked on a road that led to a Ph.D. in historical theology from the Catholic University of America. His doctoral dissertation, written under the direction of the renowned Jesuit theologian, Avery Cardinal Dulles, focused on one of the theological lights of the Second Vatican Council, Henri Cardinal de Lubac, and his recovery of biblical interpretation of the early Church fathers. Dr. D’Ambrosio’s teaching has covered a broad range of subjects from historical, dogmatic, and sacramental theology to evangelization, ecumenism, and Vatican II. Yet throughout his academic career, Dr. D’Ambrosio always remained deeply involved in pastoral work, especially teen evangelization and Hispanic ministry, assuring that his teaching remained relevant to the challenges of everyday life. His writing has been published in the international journal Communio, Abingdon’s Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation, the Tablet, Catholic Digest, Our Sunday Visitor, and Catholic News Service’s syndicated column "Faith Alive." His popular book, Exploring the Catholic Church and video course by the same name (known as Touching Jesus through the Church in the USA) have been used in hundreds of parishes all throughout the English speaking world. The Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions about the Passion of the Christ, of which he is co-author and co-editor, may prove to be the fastest-selling Catholic book of all time with over a million copies sold in less than three months.
SPEECH TOPICS
Why Be Catholic?
Marcellino shares the reasons for his commitment to the Catholic Church.
Getting More Out of Mass
Explains the multiple ways Christ is present in the Mass and how to tap the life-changing power he offers us.
Who Needs Confession?
Demonstrates that confession is not an unpleasant burden but a liberating gift.
Do Catholics Worship Mary?
The biblical basis for Catholic devotion to Mary and the saints.
Why So Many Rituals?
The commonsense and biblical basis for the Catholic use of liturgy and sacraments.
Are Catholics Born Again?
Baptism: what does it mean?
What does it have to do with a personal decision to make Jesus your Lord and Savior?
Are Catholics Spirit-filled?
The role of confirmation in empowering us with the gifts and joy of the Holy Spirit.
What Difference Does Faith Make?
Marcellino shows the startling difference the Catholic faith can make in one's life by sharing a bit of his own story.
The Passion: The Drama of Redemption
Why did Jesus have to die?
The Church-Help or Hindrance?
Why the Church exists and why it is indispensable.
Heaven, Hell and Purgatory -
Catholic teaching on the end of the world, Jesus' return, heaven, hell, and purgatory.
Healing, Suffering, and the Anointing of the Sick
What this sacrament has to teach us about God's healing power and the meaning of suffering.
Why Do We Need Priests?
The truth about the sacrament of holy orders.
Marriage, Sex, and the Catholic Church
Explores the tough questions, including divorce and contraception.
Seven Deadly Sins -
Virtues, vices, sin, and the role of conscience.
The Culture of Life vs. the Culture of Death
The Catholic respect for the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.
Eucharistic Adoration
Its meaning and value plus concrete suggestions on how to make the most of your time before the Blessed Sacrament.
Personal Prayer-Pathway to Joy
How to deepen your personal intimacy with Christ through a life of daily prayer that even busy people can manage.
Parenting as a Means to Holiness
How can we become holy, not despite but through our parenting?
