2008 Program Theme
• • • • •
If you're going through Hell,
keep on going
for there are angels everywhere
to help you through.

The Right Reverend Creighton L. Robertson
Bishop, Diocese of South Dakota
Bishop Robertson, consecrated in 1994, is the first Native American diocesan bishop of South Dakota.
In a welcome message on the diocese's Web site, Bishop Robertson says in part, "Our diocese has a rich history of ministering to the Native people of this land, who continue to contribute greatly to our common life. When the missionaries came to our part of the world and encountered the Native people, there began a great change in the native value systems. Some Native folks were able to retain old values and integrate them into a new way of life. So the old was combined with the new and a conversion to a new religion was then an easy extension of the the old shared life. For others, there was conflict, which was insurmountable, and there remained hostility and resistance to the missionaries and to the Christian message."

Roddy Gray
From coast to coast people have been enjoying the wit and humor of Roddy. He has been compared to a modern day Will Rogers or Lewis Grizzard. As one fan commented, "His thought provoking comments are wrapped delightfully in colorful ribbons of humor."
Life's joys and experiences:
Directed and hosted a cable television show for 3 years
Newspaper columnist for 7 years - "Ain't It the Truth"
Appeared in television commercials and movie "Gift of Love" starring Andy Griffith
Active in community theatre
Articles published in national magazines
Humorist and motivational speaker (Ponderings and Wonderings)
Assembling favorite columns for book publication

Father Jerry Kramer, O.P. is an Anglican Dominican Priest, presently serving as XIIIth Rector at the 163 year old Free Church of the Annunciation in New Orleans, Diocese of Louisiana. During Hurricane Katrina, and the levees’ collapse, Annunciation’s buildings took on 6’+ of water. His personal home, along with so many others in the parish, was destroyed by 8’ of water.
Initially working out of a barren parking once the water subsided and then four trailers, his primary ministry continues to be providing direct relief to the poor and homeless and working on New Orleans’ recovery.  More than 75,000 people have come through Annunciation’s parking lot for assistance in the wake of America’s worst natural disaster. Annunciation has also planted the Church of All Souls in the devastated Lower 9th Ward. Father Kramer’s ministry has been featured in such media outlets as Time Magazine, USA Today, PBS and the BBC.
Prior to serving at Annunciation, Father Kramer and his family – wife Stacy, sons John (16) and Blaise (9) and daughter Nina (10) – were missionaries in Tanzania, East Africa. There they planted and ministered at seven churches, started two schools, and worked with a local orphanage and AIDS hospice. He holds a degree in Thomistic Philosophy and Theology from the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX and is pursuing further post graduate studies in Biblical Literature at the University of St. Andrew’s, Scotland.