Larry Richards

A gifted and captivating speaker, preacher, retreat master and author, Father Larry Richards holds the answer to some of life’s most profound questions. He speaks from experience as a pastor of an inner city parish, a high school chaplain, a counselor and evangelist. Fr. Larry Richards has directed hundreds of Retreats, Parish Missions and Conferences for young and old alike. His inspirational talks and presentations, always authentic and enthusiastic, have changed the hearts, minds, and lives of millions of listeners worldwide. He continues to accept invitations for speaking engagements all over the United States and in Canada and has recently traveled abroad to continue his mission of evangelization. Father Larry Richards was born on March 26, 1960, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He entered St. Mark High School Seminary, Erie, Pennsylvania, at the age of 17. After high school, Father Larry attended the college Seminary at Gannon University and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mental Health Counseling in 1983. Continuing his studies at the Major Seminary at St. Vincent in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Father Larry Richards received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1987. He will soon conclude his studies and be awarded a Master of Arts degree in Liturgy from the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana. Ordained to the priesthood on April 21, 1989 for the Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, Father Larry Richards has served as Pastor of St. Joseph Church/Bread of Life Community, also in Erie, since July 1, 2002. In addition, Father is the founder of the DME (Divine Mercy Encounter) Retreat Program for the Diocese of ErieOn August 30, 2004, in the midst of his many commitments to his parishioners, to the TEC community, and to traveling around the United States for Parish Missions, Retreats, and Conferences, Father Larry founded and is president of “The Reason For Our Hope Foundation,” a non-profit organization dedicated to ‘spreading the Good News’ by educating others about Jesus Christ and the Catholic faith through CDs and DVDs, as well as promoting Catholic speakers who are effective instruments of evangelization. In turn, the foundation will support charities that strive to make real the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has recorded many talks on all aspects of the Catholic Faith for individual and small-group instruction, all of which are available on The Reason for Our Hope website. Since the inception of the Foundation, Father Larry has also recorded CDs and DVDs entitled “The Truth”, “Confession”, “The Mass Explained”, “Knowing God’s Will”, “Prayer”, “Livingin the Holy Spirit”, “Be a Man”, and “What More Could He Do For You”. Father Larry’s live presentation of “What More Could He Do For You?”, a dramatic explanation of the Passion of Jesus, is riveting; the DVD of this presentation is, without a doubt, the most moving re-enactment of the Passion one can view.Father Larry Richards also hosts a radio show called “Changed Forever with Father Larry Richards”. It can be heard nationwide on Relevant Radio on Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT, and Sundays at 11:00 a.m. ET/10:00a.m. CT.