Cande de Leon currently serves as the first Chief Advancement Officer for the National Eucharistic Congress corporation joining the team October 2022.

Prior to this role Cande served in Phoenix Arizona, as the first Executive Director of the Office of Mission Advancement for the Diocese of Phoenix. Coming on in 2016 he led a team committed to advancing the Mission of Christ through stewardship, evangelization, and discipleship formation.

Cande has a unique blend of business acumen and ministry experience with proven strategies in teaching mission advancement through capital campaigns, annual appeals and parish stewardship. Cande has received international recognition with several awards from the International Catholic Stewardship Council, and is often requested to give missions and workshops throughout the U.S. Catholic Church.

Cande served four years in the United States Marine Corps, graduated from Texas A&M Corpus Christi with a BBA, and earned a Master of Arts Degree with Holy Apostles Seminary and College in Theology for Sacred Scripture, and an MBA from Grantham University, Arkansa. Cande has been married to his wife Rosemary for 25 years and they have four daughters and a new son-in-law.

This is the de Leon family at their 25th anniversary celebratory mass!