Cabrini University’s Catholic Lecture Series continues this spring, as Campus Ministry invites students, faculty, and staff of all faiths to discuss religion and spirituality in contemporary contexts with each other and a series of guest lecturers. The series will be presented both virtually and in the Bruckmann Memorial Chapel of Saint Joseph on campus, where all members of the Cabrini community are welcome to pray, worship, or contemplate—regardless of faith.
The lecture series begins at 9am on Friday, January 14, with “Mission Integration in a Pluralistic World,” an all-day professional development session for faculty and staff, featuring Tracey Lamont, PhD, Assistant Professor, Religious Education and Young Adult Ministry at Loyola University New Orleans. Subsequent lectures in February, March, and April will be open to all students, faculty, and staff.
“The idea is to bring people who are Catholic to campus so that people who may not be [Catholic] can engage in some healthy discussion,” said Guilherme Lopes, Director of Campus Ministry, acknowledging that many people may need to work on their own personal relationship with the Catholic Church. “The whole concept of the series is relationship mending. For those who are atheist or agnostic, they are welcome, too. It might feel awkward for them, but we want them to have a space to think.”
The Catholic Lecture Series is supported by a grant from the Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education, a charitable organization formed in 1967 to support Catholic education throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
The first lecture open to Cabrini students comes at 4pm on Wednesday, February 9, as Victoria Weekley, Program Coordinator, Salesian Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, explores “Bringing Friendship Back,” a discussion about maintaining healthy relationships.
The series’ final two installments include, “Made for Mission,” a discussion with graphic designer Ryan O’Hara on Wednesday, March 9; and “Braving the Thin Places: Celtic Wisdom to Create a Space for Grace,” an exploration of faith in the context of Irish culture with Julianne Stanz on Wednesday, April 6. Read more details on the lecture series, including speaker bios, on the Campus Ministry website.
Lopes said that the series helps to illustrate how the study of faith and religion can have a variety of career applications beyond traditional paths within the church.
“I want our community to see that you can live whatever faith that you practice through whatever you do,” he said.
Campus Ministry welcomes feedback from the community regarding the Catholic Lecture Series, including suggested guest speakers and recommended topics for discussion.