Past Speakers

For centuries, Catholic education has enjoyed the challenges of forming minds and developing whole persons. Catholic higher education has thus associated knowledge with wisdom, and the search for truth with the pursuit of the good. Saint Xavier University's mission is to educate men and women to think critically and serve compassionately in support of the common good and dignity of life.

In "Higher Education as Partner in the Church's Mission" Archbishop Blase Cupich discussed the relationship between Catholic higher education and the Church, and their shared mission. The audience was invited to consider how the goals of Catholic higher education harmonize with the mission of the Church, and to reflect upon the direction of Catholic higher education in the twenty-first century.

In our fast-paced world, it is easy to place mercy in the front of our minds, but at the bottom of the "to-do" list. In "Mercy in the City" Kerry Weber discussed the active presence of mercy and compassion in everyday life, and offered wisdom on how to consciously live the corporal works of mercy even while juggling life's many responsibilities.

Weber's message was refreshing, positive and practical!

In "The Call to Compassion: Pope Francis and the Twenty-First Century Disciple" Jack Jezreel lead us to examine our role as Christian disciples in the twenty-first century, and the urge of Pope Francis to live out our faith in the modern world. This presentation combined Scripture, Catholic Social Teaching, theology and story to help us discover the link between faith and mission.

"In Quest of the Jewish Mary" presented Mary through the lens of historical research, Jewish-Christian dialogue, and feminist theology. Sr. Athans described how Mary has been depicted doctrinally and devotionally, and explored how Mary continues to serve as a focus of Christian spirituality and inter-faith dialogue.

"Education Requires Ingenuity: The Heritage of Catholic Higher Education” explored how the ingenuity of women religious (sisters) has furthered and continues to shape Catholic education generally, and the education of women more specifically.  Such ingenuity, she maintained, remains important -- especially within institutions of Catholic higher education like Saint Xavier.

"Faith and the Scientist" explored Vatican astronomer and planetary scientist Br. Consolmagno's conviction that a believer can be a scientist and scientists can be believers. His thesis: As both religion and science explore the universe, seeking to understand and interpret natural phenomena, they offer not oppositional but complementary approaches to reality.

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"Faith and Women: Why Women Mystics Still Matter" drew on Sr. Ruffing's research about St. Catherine of Siena and other medieval women mystics, and in the light of their experience, considered the many roles that lay women and women religious play in the Church -- past and present.

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"Vatican II and Its Consequences, Intended and Otherwise" offered Cardinal George's reflections on how the Council's decisions have shaped Catholic life over the past half century in ways foreseen and unforeseen by the Council Fathers during their deliberations.

In "Faith and the 'Francis Effect': What a New Pope Means for the Catholic Future," well-known Vatican observer and commentator John Allen Jr. reflected on the papacy six months after the election of Pope Francis. He also posed the question: What do the beginning months suggest about the future of the Church, globally and in the U.S.?

In "Vatican II: True Compass for the New Millennium," theologian Prof. Hahnenberg outlined significant and enduring aspects of the Second Vatican Council that prompted Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI to call it the "true compass" for the future.

In “Band of Sisters,” her just released documentary, filmmaker Fishman traced the lives and efforts of several women religious whose response to the Second Vatican Council led them to connect the call of the Gospel with work for justice in such areas as civil rights, peace-making, the women’s movement and human rights.

In “A Question of Habit,” her documentary film, Ortega Murphy, Ph.D. captured a variety popular, cultural images of women religious and commented on some of the factors behind those images’ belittlement and objectification of nuns that contrast sharply with sisters’ real  lives, ministries and contributions to church and society.

In “Experiencing Hildegard of Bingen: Medieval Nun, Doctor of the Church, Wisdom Figure for Our Times,” Avis Clendenen, Ph.D., and Jan Bickel, Ph.D., used narrative, visuals and music to celebrate Saint Hildegard, a medieval abbess, mystic, musician, theologian, healer, ecologist and church reformer whom the Vatican had just declared a Doctor of the Church, the fourth woman to be so designated.

In "I Was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me," Cardinal Mahony assessed current and proposed U.S. immigration policy in the light of Catholic social teaching and outlined the U.S. bishops’ proposals for comprehensive, compassionate immigration reform.

In "Misericordia: The Right to a Life Worth Living," Sr. Rosemary spoke of the inherent dignity of each person and the importance of helping each individual to realize his or her maximum potential, whatever developmental disabilities may be present.

In "Mercifulness Today: Catherine McAuley's Vision," McAuley scholar and biographer Sr. Sullivan highlighted the importance and purposes of education, especially of women, as reflected in the thought and practice of the founder of the Sisters of Mercy and the congregation she launched.

In "Beyond Death Panels: Ethical Issues in Care at the End of Life" physician and medical ethicist Dr. Sulmasy discussed the moral principles involved in decisions about continuing or ending medical interventions as a person approaches death. Co-sponsored by SXU's School of Nursing.

In "The Ethics of War: Two Perspectives," Mr. Cordaro and Fr. Barry examined questions of violence, suffering, use of force, justice and peacemaking in the context of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In "Sister Says: 'Be Adult Catholics,'" Sr. Waskowiak brought the perspective of mercy to the task of adult Catholics dealing with a host of contemporary and challenging issues in the Catholic Church and in society.

In "Can a University Be a Sacrament? Catholic Magic or Catholic Mysticism?," Rev. Foley explored how a Catholic university fosters an adult faith and spirituality in its students.

In "Where the Light Shines: Catholics in Chicago," Msgr. Velo shared inspiring stories of local Catholic and contemporary Catholicism, stories that exhibit and encourage abiding faith, encouraging hope, and neighborly love.

In "Bone of My Bone and Flesh of My Flesh: Uncovering the Beauty of the Stranger," Dr. McCormick, Professor of Religious Studies at Gonzaga University in Washington, considered the challenges of cultural and religious diversity and the importance of recognizing others as "bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh."

In "The Human Vocation and the Catholic University: Revisiting Gaudium et spes," Dr. Hilkert, Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, discussed the interrelatedness of all creation, the dignity and rights of women around the world, and the call to solidarity with the poor and marginalized.

In "Hungers of the Human Heart: A Catholic Poetic Perspective," Bishop Morneau, Auxiliary Bishop of Green Bay, poet, and popular speaker on spirituality addressed the human longings for intimacy, meaning and commitment.

Rynne's discussion, titled "War and Peace: Public Policy, Human Dignity, and the Common Good," examined how key principles of Catholic social teaching applied to matters of war, peace and justice could foster America's identity and reputation as a peaceable country.

Mullan's lecture, titled "The Vision Still has its Time: The UN, Catholic Social Teaching and Global Citizenship," focused on the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2000. The goals were designed to focus the world community's efforts on achieving significant improvements in people's lives by 2015. These included better health care and education and eliminating extreme hunger and poverty. Co-sponsored with the SXU Honors Program.