The National Catholic Prayer Breakfast (NCPB) was established in 2004 in response to Saint John Paul II’s call for a New Evangelization. Each year, over 1,500 people gather in our nation’s capital to pray for our country. In 2020, the event was held virtually due to the COVID pandemic. An impressive list of speakers highlights a program that attracts lay and religious leaders, national figures, Catholic apostolates, and guests from various sectors and backgrounds. The event is non-partisan, and anyone is welcome to attend. Several side events are offered each year to further enhance the spirit of the gathering.
2025 HOST COMMITTEE
| Maria Sophia Aquirre, Catholic International University |
| Scott Bloch, Thomas More College |
| Mary Ellen Bork |
| Sr. Dede Byrne, Mother Superior of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts |
| Jeff Cavins |
| Alessandro DiSanto, Hallow |
| George Harne, Christendom College |
| Mary Hasson, Ethics & Public Policy Center |
| The Honorable French Hill |
| Russell Hittinger, Institute for Human Ecology |
| The Honorable Dan Lipinski |
| Steve Minnis, Benedictine College |
| Rev. Dave Pivonka, TOR, Franciscan University of Steubenville |
| JJ Sanford, University of Dallas |
| Nina Shea, Hudson Institute’s Center for Religious Freedom |
| Rev. Charles Sikorsky, Divine Mercy University |
| Carter Snead, University of Notre Dame Law School |
| William Thierfelder, Belmont Abbey College |
| Kyle Washut, Wyoming Catholic College |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| Joseph Cella – (Founder and Director) Principal, The Pontifex Group |
| Maureen Ferguson – (Director) Commissioner, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom |
| Arina Grossu – (Director) Founder and Principal, Areté Global Consulting, LLC |
| Jacqueline Halbig von Schleppenbach – (Director) Principal, Sovereign Global Solutions, LLC |
| Leonard Leo – (President) Co-Chairman, The Federalist Society |
| John Meyer – (Director) Executive Director, Church Properties Initiative, Notre Dame Law School |
| Mark Randall – (Director & Event Chairman) Executive Director, The Pontifical North American College |
| Tim Saccoccia – (Treasurer) Assistant Supreme Secretary and VP for Public Policy, Knights of Columbus |
| William Saunders – (Director) Law Fellow and Director of the Program in Human Rights, Institute for Human Ecology, Catholic University of America |
FOUNDERS CIRCLE
| Ambassador Jim Nicholson |
| Ambassador Thomas Melady* |
| Austin Ruse |
| Bill Saunders |
| Bowie Kuhn* |
| Frank Hanna |
| Gerry Giblin |
| Jacqueline Halbig von Schleppenbach |
| Joseph Cella |
| Leonard Leo |
| Mary Ellen Bork |
| Pat Cipollone |
| Rev. Richard John Neuhaus* |
| Senator Rick Santorum |
*deceased
(Affiliations listed are for identification purposes only.)