Café Catholica
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Café Catholica Lite: November 20, 2025The second Café Catholica Lite of this fall will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at St. Thomas Aquinas from 7:00–8:45 pm. Our speaker will be Michael Gormley, Mission Evangelist for Paradisus Dei, presenting his talk: “The Sheer Joy of Evangelizing: How to Win Souls Without Losing Yours.”
Michael will share how evangelization, rather than being burdensome or intimidating, is meant to be a source of joy that flows naturally from our love for Christ. He will explore practical ways to share the Gospel with others while staying rooted in prayer, peace, and a balanced spiritual life. The night will include lite snacks, the talk, Q&A, and communal prayer.About Michael Gormley:
Michael has been leading evangelization and ministry efforts for the past 17 years, both as a full-time parish staff member and as a speaker and consultant for parishes, dioceses, and Catholic campus ministries. He has his Undergraduate Degrees in both Philosophy and Theology and a Masters in Theology and Christian Ministry, from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
He currently serves as the Mission Evangelist for Paradisus Dei, a ministry dedicated to helping men, couples, and families discover the superabundance of God. Michael is also the founder and creative director of LayEvangelist.com, the co-host to two successful Catholic podcasts: Catching Foxes and Every Knee Shall Bow. He is married to his college sweetheart, Shannon, and they have 4 amazing children and get 3 hours of sleep a night, which is fine by him.
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Café Lite: Speaker Bios & Recordings
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Michelle Miller, MS, LPC
Michelle Miller is a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Luz de Luz Counseling, where she provides a safe, faith-centered, and trauma-informed space for healing and growth. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of St. Thomas and has experience serving individuals, couples, and families in both private practice and Catholic settings. Michelle and her husband, Darnell, are parishioners at St. Matthew the Evangelist Catholic Church in Houston and cherish time with family, prayer, and daily walks. Beyond her work she loves journaling, praying the rosary, going on daily walks and spending time with family over cafecito and pan dulce.
September 18, Talk Recording:
"You are not what hurt you"
Resources for Mental Health:
Scroll down and look for Resources Titled "Resources for Cafe Catholica Lite Talk on 9/18"
Worksheets — Luz de Luz
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Michael Gormley, Mission Evangelist for Paradisus Dei
Michael has been leading evangelization and ministry efforts for the past 17 years, both as a full-time parish staff member and as a speaker and consultant for parishes, dioceses, and Catholic campus ministries. He has his Undergraduate Degrees in both Philosophy and Theology and a Masters in Theology and Christian Ministry, from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.
He currently serves as the Mission Evangelist for Paradisus Dei, a ministry dedicated to helping men, couples, and families discover the superabundance of God. Michael is also the founder and creative director of LayEvangelist.com, the co-host to two successful Catholic podcasts: Catching Foxes and Every Knee Shall Bow. He is married to his college sweetheart, Shannon, and they have 4 amazing children and get 3 hours of sleep a night, which is fine by him.
Come see Michael on our upcoming Café Catholica Lite event at St. Thomas Aquinas on November 20, 2025!
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Upcoming Events
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Become a Sponsor for Café Catholica Lite 25-26
Please consider advertising your ministry or business with us at Café Catholica. We are anticipating between 40-80 young adults to attend each session. Café Catholica Lite 2025-2026 events will be held in various parishes and locations throughout the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The event will run from 7:00 pm to 8:45pm. The highest time for foot traffic will be before the talk from 7:00-7:30pm.
If you are interested in sponsoring one or more of our events, we encourage you to register with the link below.2024-2025 Café Catholica dates:
Date Deadline for Sponsor Registration September 18, 2025:
St. Anthony of Padua, Woodlands
September 11, 2025November 20, 2025:
St. Thomas Aquinas, Sugar land
November 13, 2025January 29, 2026:
Holy Family Parish Life Center, Galveston
January 22, 2026March 5, 2026:
St. Faustina, Fulshear
February 26, 2026May 21, 2026:
May Queen, Friendswood
May 14, 2026Table Information:
Organizations are responsible for bringing their own linens and table decorations. Setup is available starting at 6:30 pm each night, and all sponsors must be cleaned up by 9:15 pm. The time for the young adults to visit the sponsors will be from 7:00‑7:30 pm. In addition to having a table at the event, we ask that organizations also still provide a graphic and web site to be posted on social media and on the Web site at: www.archgh.org/cafecatholica.
Graphics:
Graphics can be submitted as square (1080x1080 pixels) or portrait (1080x608 pixels). Graphics must be uploaded as you register (JPG, PNG, etc.). Please no PDF files. All graphics need to be uploaded by the deadline (listed above).
All ads and table displays are subject to approval by the YACM office and venue staff. All Café Sponsors must register online by the deadline for each event. Please send all graphics to [email protected].Thank you for supporting young adult ministry
in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston!
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Thank you to our Cafe Catholica Summer Sponsors for 2025!
Adore Ministries
Begin Again Counseling & Consulting, PLLC
Cathedral High School
Catholic Beer Club
Catholic International University
Catholic Life Mindset Coaching
Catholic Sports
Concert for Life
Christian Renewal Center
Emmaus Spirituality Center
Archdiocesan Development Office
Gratia Plena Counseling
Guadalupe Radio Network (KSHJ AM1430)
Houston Office of Vocations
Jesuits USA, Central and Southern Province
Loving Choice Catholic Pregnancy Help Center
Luz de Luz Counseling, PLLC
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Miles 4 Matthew
Maximilian Kolbe Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order
Office of Communications - Texas Catholic Herald
Office of Evangelization and Catechesis
Office of Pro-Life Activities
Office of Vocations
Office of Worship
Renew FertilityCare
Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
SPIRITUS Ministries
The Houston Coalition for Life
The How To Foundation
Young Catholic Professionals
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Support Café CatholicaCafe Catholica is run 100% through sponsors and donations from young adults like you! Please consider supporting Cafe Catholica to help make sure these events continue. Click below or text the keyword CAFE25 to the number x41444.
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Café Connect Groups
We invite all young adults (ages 18-39) to sign up for a Café Connect Discussion Group. These groups will meet in person once a week during the month of July in conjunction with the main Café Catholica program. We will have more than 20 groups available, so young adults can sign up for a time/location that works with their schedule. You do not have to attend the Monday night programs to join a Connect group. Registration will open in June 2025.
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Café Connect Facilitator 2026
Sign-UpsAre you interested in helping make the Café Connect groups possible to more young adults? Are you a leader of a young adult ministry and want to host a group at your parish? Then, please join us as a Café Connect Facilitator!
Café Connect Facilitators are young adults who volunteer to help lead the discussions for the Café Connect groups. In order to become a facilitator you must:
- Commit to attending one of the training sessions offered online.
- Commit to leading 4 Café Connect sessions in July.
- Discussion Guides will be provided in advance.
- Each Café Connect group will include 3-10 young adult participants.
- Facilitators can choose their date/time/location.
- The day of the week/time should stay consistent for all 4 weeks.
- Plan to recruit young adults to attend their Connect group.
We ask all facilitators to work in pairs. If you know someone who could be your co-facilitator, please let us know. If you don’t have anyone in mind, we can help pair you with another facilitator.
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Volunteer for Café Catholica 2026!
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Café Catholica would not possible without caring, generous young adults (like you) who are willing to give of their time and talent to help. If you are interested in serving in 2026 on either the Café Catholica planning team or as a Café Connect Facilitator, please let us know!
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