Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, rocked Hope College campus this past week with a series of inspiring talks, workshops, and simply with her joyful and evangelical presence.
Sr. Miriam Inspires Hope College
Gay and Christian: The Conversation Continues
The Gay and Christian Symposium was a riveting and moving event for everyone. The Saint Benedict Forum has three follow up events to keep the conversation going: Sr. Miriam James Heidland on Theology of the Body, a screening of the film Desire of the Everlasting Hills, and Pastor Adam Barr on Pastoral Approaches to Gay Christians...
Gay and Christian: Exploring Vocation, Friendship, and Celibacy
The Saint Benedict Forum is pleased to host an ecumenical symposium, "Gay and Christian: Exploring Friendship, Vocation, and Celibacy." Eve Tushnet, Wesley Hill, and Joshua Gonnerman will all be speaking at this timely event. The symposium is free and open to the public.
Calendar of Events 2015-2016
Dawn Eden on Chastity, Duncan Stroik on Architecture for the Poor, Anthony Esolen on the Liberal Arts, Spiritual Friendship authors on being gay and Christian, Sr. Miriam James Heidland on hope...check out our upcoming events.
Dr. Ortiz on the Journey Home (VIDEO)
Cradle Catholic and director of the Saint Benedict Forum, Jared Ortiz, tells the harrowing tale of how he drifted away from God in his youth and how God slowly drew him back through providential encounters with Muslims, Jews, a few Catholics, and reading a lot of books. Watch it here:
Have a Heart: Dr. Anthony Esolen on the Value of a Christian Liberal Arts Education (VIDEO)
Dr. Anthony Esolen of Providence College lectured on “Liberal Arts and the Christian College in a Post-Christian World.” Dr. Esolen spoke of the rare and precious gift that only a Christian liberal arts college can bestow - an education with a heart.
Duncan Stroik on Architecture for the Poor (VIDEO)
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On October 15, 2015, Duncan Stroik gave a fascinating lecture, entitled, "Architecture for the Poor." He asked: What sort of architecture is appropriate for the poor? Should the buildings we construct for the disenfranchised express their poverty through economical materials, humble proportions, and functionalist interiors? Do beautiful, ornate churches disregard those who struggle for basic comforts? A rousing, thirty-minute Q & A session followed Stroik's talk.
The event was co-sponsored by Hope College's Religion Department, the Art and Art History Department, Sociology and Social Work Department, Markets & Morality, and the Our Sunday Visitor Institute.
Duncan G. Stroik is a practicing architect, author, and Professor of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame. His built work includes the Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel in Santa Paula, California, the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Guadalupe in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and the Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Prof. Stroik is also the author of The Church Building as a Sacred Place: Beauty, Transcendence, and the Eternal, and edits the journal Sacred Architecture.
Dawn Eden Gives Hope to the Hurting (VIDEO)
On September 16, author and popular speaker, Dawn Eden, gave two talks on the campus of Hope College: "How Jesus’ Sacred Heart Healed My Memories" and "Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On"
Lecture on Pope Francis with Dr. Eduardo Echeverria
via Shutterstock, rights managed.
The Saint Benedict Forum was pleased to welcome our friend Dr. Eduardo Echeverria, Professor of Philosophy and Systematic Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary who spoke on the topic of "Pope Francis's Temptations: The Church in the Modern World" on Tuesday, September 29th, at Hope College in the Maas Conference Room (264 Columbia Ave). The event was co-sponsored by the Our Sunday Visitor Institute and the Religion Department.
The video of the talk will be available soon.
With Pope Francis's recent visit to the United States and Cuba, many have had an opportunity to learn more about this charismatic and yet humble pontiff. Nevertheless, the pope is often confusing to many groups of people. Many appreciate his concern for the environment, his clear opposition to the death penalty, and his devotion to the poor. Yet, he is also a persistent defender of the traditional family, the right to life at every stage, and religious liberty. Dr. Echeverria helped us understand what really animates Pope Francis and why he defies so many caricatures of the papacy and the Catholic Church.
Casting the Demons Out....of the Dorm Room
A blessing of dorm rooms? What’s that about...? Last year, the Saint Benedict Forum organized the first-ever blessing of dorm rooms on the campus of Hope College. The event was such a hit that it was brought back again this year. This year’s blessing of dorm rooms took place during the second week of school once students had time to settle in . . . and to give them an excuse to do some possibly needed housekeeping.
How I Fell Away from and Reverted to My Childhood Faith (AUDIO)
On July 8, Dr. Jared Ortiz was interviewed by Gus Lloyd on his show Seize the Day. He spoke on how he fell away from Catholicism and how God drew him back through books and people. The segment was broadcast on Sirius XM Radio's channel 129, the Catholic Channel. Listen to the interview here.
Thank You Our Sunday Visitor Institute!
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Last April, the Our Sunday Visitor Institute awarded the Saint Benedict Forum a matching grant. We are pleased to announce that the matching grant is complete! In three short months, we raised $22,000 and the Our Sunday Visitor Institute has matched it! We are grateful for the generous support of our work. It is a real blessing to have the encouragement of this fine Institute.
We are also grateful to all of our benefactors who made this opportunity a rousing success. You make our work possible. May God richly bless you!