The vast majority of the laity in the Catholic Church work and live in the public sector. We’re school teachers, police officers, and workers for non-religious organizations. We watch secular movies with our families, listen to music of all genres with our friends, and work alongside atheists, agnostics, and Christians of all denominations. We spend more time on screens than any generation before us and, on top of it all, we’re Catholic.
How does one live a holy, happy life in the public square?
I’m T.J. Burdick, and I’ve dedicated my life to answering that question in every aspect of my existence.
As a husband, & father of five children, my wife and I live our vocation of marriage to the highest form we are capable of.
As a teacher in our nation’s public schools, I imitate Jesus, the teacher par excellence, in the classroom.
As a writer, I’ve researched the depths of the Catholic faith, how technology affects spirituality and evangelization, and I’ve even created my own fictional metaphysical universe in the form of novels for middle-grade readers.
And finally, as both a missionary to foreign lands and in the digital world, I follow Christ’s command to “Go and make disciples of all people” through the development of online learning platforms and service to international on-site missions that serve the poor.
I am the editor of EpicPew. I’ve written 10+ books on the Catholic faith. My book, Detached: Put Your Phone in Its Place (OSV, 2018), won an award from the Catholic Press Association in the category of Popular Presentation of the Faith. I’ve also written articles for platforms such as Catholic Exchange, Ignitum Today, the Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology, and others.
I graduated in 2006 with a degree in Elementary Education and Spanish Language and Culture from Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. I completed my Master’s in the Art of Teaching in 2014 through Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I’ve been working as a teacher in our nation’s public schools since 2009, where I teach middle schoolers.
Speaking Topics (more available)
We are the First Saints of the Digital Age: Ever feel like the Saints from the past don’t really “get” our current struggles? Since the dawn of the tech boom, our minds, bodies, and souls have been exposed to more darkness through distraction than ever before. Let me teach you how to use your devices to shine through those shadows.
Raising Catholic Children: Recent statistics show that more young people are leaving the Church than any generation before us. This talk aims to help parents teach their children how to live, love, and keep the Catholic faith.
The Dumb Jock: How I Went from Semi-Pro Pagan to Professional Catholic Disciple: This is my reversion story. Growing up, I was blessed with a talent to play basketball. I build upon this foundation to rise to the semi-professional level and had my world shattered through multiple losses and despair. Basketball was my God. This talk takes how I went from a worldly lifestyle filled with sport, impure relationships and status to the true joy that can only be found through God’s mercy.
Discipline to Discipleship: How Sports Lead to a Greater Love for Christ: Basketball is filled with symbolism from the Divine: Three point plays and the Trinity, Shot-clocks and life spans, teamwork and community, training and formation, just to name a few. This talk brings the truth of sport to the forefront of an athlete's life. If you are a sports nut or know someone who is, this talk will redirect your current understanding of sports toward the God who created it for your salvation.
Catholic in the Public Square: The vast majority of lay Catholics work in the public sector. Sometimes, this creates a disconnect between who they are at work versus who they are at home and at Church. This talk builds a bridge between those worlds—a bridge that will empower the laity to become confident evangelizers.
The 12 Virtues of a Catholic Educator: Teachers and catechists can learn a lot from the Catholic teacher Saints. This talk is based on the works of St. John Baptist de La Salle, patron Saint of Catholic Education, and aims to teach teachers how to best educate the Catholic way.
Faith & Reason: As the world becomes more rooted in scientific logic, the Catholic evangelist today must understand the connection between faith and reason. This talk teaches Catholics how to join the two in both our individual spiritual journeys and our evangelistic efforts.
Mama’s Boy: To Love Your Wife through Loving Mary: St. Louis De Montfort talks about how Mary is the “safest, easiest, shortest and most perfect way of approaching Jesus.” In essence, Mary is the ultimate connector because she connected us with Jesus at the Nativity and she continues to connect the Church with the Divine as the co-mediatrix and spiritual mother of us all. This connection is also very present within the sacrament of marriage. In this talk, I guide men toward growing their love for Mary so as to better love their wives as a result.
The Theology of Work: Ever since the Garden of Eden, humans have been cursed (and blessed) with the requirement of work. This talk explains the Theology of Work and its importance to the Church. It explores the limits, psychological benefits, and the vocation of your current job. On top of that, it provides efficiency secrets and discernment tips regarding your call to serve God through your work.
Note: All of my talks can be delivered in either Spanish or English. I am also able to cater my talks to the needs of your audience.
