Pennington, Matthew R.: - Father Matt Pennington has served the Diocese of Monterey in California since his ordination in 1988. During that period, he has been a pastor for four varied parish communities and has served as a homiletics professor for the Diocese of Monterey's Permanent Diaconate Program. He is currently the pastor of Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Community in San Luis Obispo, California. Father Matt is an enthusiastic preacher who believes in the transformative power of storytelling, music and ritual. He lectures in parishes and schools about liturgy and celebration, has presented at liturgical and catechetical conferences and has conducted parish missions throughout the United States. Father Matt Pennington possesses a Masters of Divinity from Saint John's Seminary in Camarillo, California and a Master of Arts and Letters in Liturgical Studies from Notre Dame University. He writes for Today's Liturgy magazine, published by Oregon Catholic Press.