Past Lectures
Information for
Past Lectures
2019-2020
Gender: But that is what the church has always taught!
Myroslaw Tataryn
The Paradox of Pleasure: Jean Vanier and the Growth of L'Arche
Carolyn Whitney-Brown
You've Come A Long Way Baby! Or Have You?
Sheila Ager
The God Beat: Writing About Religion in the 21st Century
Michael Enright
Religion and Nationalism Refuse to Die: So now what?
David Seljak
CANCELLED
2018-2019
Determinism and Optimism: Architecture for Social Transformation
Janna Levitt
Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues...
Sr. Helen Prejean
Illuminating Justice: The Ethical Imagination of The Saint John's Bible
Jonathan Homrighausen
Beyond the Altar: Canadian Women Religious Confront Patriarchal Power in the Roman Catholic Church
Christine Gervais
Sacred Inheritance: Accounting for all Our Relations in Treaties
Heidi Kiiwetinepinesiik Stark
David Wells
2017-2018
Dead Man Walking: The Journey Continues...
Sr. Helen Prejean
CANCELLED
Organic Architecture And The Indigenous Worldview
Douglas Cardinal
Communicating The Church In The Age Of Francis
Austen Ivereigh
The Artist As Preacher: Sacred Art And The Eye Of The Beholder
Fr. Eric Hollas, Osb
Writing The Bible: From 7th Century Northumberland To 21st Century Minnesota
Lisa Fagin Davis
Dorothy Day: An Intimate Portrait Of My Grandmother
Kate Hennessy
Science And Faith In Harmony: "The Heavens Declare The Glory Of GOD"
Anton M. Koekemoer
2016-2017
Uncomfortable Pews: Canada's Christians And The Making Of Confederation, 1867
Mark McGowan
Bugs In The Bible: An Intertextual Approach
Fr. Michael Patella
52 Minutes Of Silence: Finding Words For The Inexpressible
Mary Hynes
Integration, Transformation And Reconciliation: TRC Calls To Action And Laudato Si'
Priscilla Solomon
Shane Claiborne
David Mulroney
Families, Love, And Justice: The Vision Of Pope Francis
Julie Hanlon Rubio
2015-2016
First Nations and Canada: Seeking True Reconciliation
John Borrows
Leah Gazan
Niigaan Sinclair
Identity as Performance: You're Given a Script, but You Can Switch It (Maybe)
Lawrence Hill
Laudato si’: A New Call for Catholic Social Action
Margaret S. Archer
Samantha Nutt
Breaking the Cycle of Violence and Creating Deeply Caring Communities
Barbara Coloroso
Kevin Tierney
Faith as an Option: the 21st Century Religious and Spiritual Scene
Dr. Charles Taylor
2014-2015
Bishop Donald Bolen
Women in the Christian Tradition: Where Theology and Spirituality Meet
Elizabeth Dreyer
Death with Dignity: Encountering Patients as Whole Persons
Dr. Hazel Markwell
Dr. Donna Ward
Stay Awake!: Remembering how central contemplation is to the life of the church and the world
Laurence Freeman
P. Whitney Lackenbauer
For the sake of the earth, let’s deal with our collective malaise
Bruce K. Alexander
A new messenger and new media: what Pope Francis is teaching us
David Gibson
Encountering Disability: More than a Problem
Tanya Titchkosky
Rod Michalko
2013-2014
Rethinking Catholicity in an Evolving World
Ilia Delio
Sacred and profane: the challenges of reporting on religion
Catherine Pepinster
Quality vs Cost in healthcare delivery – where is the balance?
Panel Discussion
Faithful Disagreement: an opportunity for rediscovery in Catholic education
Graham McDonough
The Just Society: Just a Slogan?
Paul Litt
Thoughts on Agency, Utopia and Property in Contemporary Architectural and Urban Theory
George Baird
A journey of hope through faith, tolerance and courage
Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish
El Salvador — Passion for God and Compassion for the Other
Martha Zechmeister
The Common Good: Does Catholic education have a role?
John J. Stapleton
2012-2013
Patient Safety: A panel discussion on providing safe and effective healthcare in a hospital setting
Dr. Bob Wickett
Don Shilton
Bruce Lauckner
Educating the Whole Person: Our Hopes for Catholic Education
Thomas Cardinal Collins
The Arab Awakening: Islam and the New Middle East
Tariq Ramadan
Nostra Aetate — the fruits of Vatican II for Christian-Jewish relations
Rabbi David Rosen
Henri Nouwen, Genius Born of Anguish - Exploring a book of IDEAS
Michael W. Higgins
Kevin Burns
Vatican II: The Battle for Meaning
Massimo Faggioli
A Catholic Journey: Paul Martin Sr., Religion, and Politics
Greg Donaghy
Elizabeth Johnson
Human Rights and Church-State Relations: the new challenges
Kristin Henrard
A pilgrim people, a human journey: theological perspectives on migration and Eucharist
Daniel G. Groody
2011-2012
Patient Safety: A panel discussion on providing safe and effective healthcare in a hospital setting
One Earth, many religions: The spiritual quest for a sustainable and just future
Dr. Heather Eaton
The Call to Nonviolence in a Violent World: What does the Catholic Social Tradition Offer?
Kathleen Maas Weigert
Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral: Urbanism, Phenomenology and the Sacred
Michael Madden
Response to Post-Conflict Northern Uganda's Social Suffering
Rosalind I. J. Hackett
Yves Y. Pelletier
2010-2011
Mary Jo Leddy
Bishop Remi De Roo
Gregory Baum
Dorothy Day: A Saint for Today
Robert Ellsberg
The Contested Legacy of John F. Kennedy on the Role of Religion in Politics
Shaun Casey
Never Wear Red Nail Polish When Visiting Your Conservative Muslim Mother
Zarqa Nawaz
2009-2010
Muted and Mailgned Voices: Public Justice and the Canadian Churches
Joe Gunn
Where Are We? Responsibility, Spirituality, and Place in a Global Age
Vincent Miller
Lecture 3: Faith in the Fragments: the God[!] Who Wasn't There
Peter C. Erb
Lecture 2: The Old Agnosticism and the New Church: Making Sense of the Senseless
Peter C. Erb
Lecture 1: The New Atheism and the Old Church: A Failing Apologetics
Peter C. Erb
Canadian Multiculturalism: Global Anzieties, Local Realities
Will Kymlicka
Religious Feedom At a Crossroads: Multiculturalism or Pluralism
Lori G. Beaman
2008-2009
Celebrating the Life and Work of Jean Vanier
Carolyn Whitney-Brown
Lecture #3: A Response to Evil
David Seljak
David Seljak
Lecture #1: Understanding Evil
David Seljak
Evangelizing and the Commitment to Social Justice
Bishop Claude Champagne
Refusing Fulton Sheen: The Challenge of Religion on Canadian Television
Mark G. McGowan
Justice in the 21st Century: Reconciling Dialogue
Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz
Serving the Common Good: Ethics-Based Civics Education and Public Service
Noel Kinsella
2007-2008
Jidwa:doh - "Let's Become Again": Indigenous Health Care and the Healing of a Nation
Dawn Martin-Hill
Rethinking the Bottom Line: International Business and Poverty
Frederick Bird
Empowering Women: A Sound Investment
Louise Frechette
Myroslaw Tataryn
Losing the Arctic? The Role of the North in Canada's Future
Ken Coates
Is Canada the Experiment that Worked?
Michael Adams
Facing our Ecological Reality: Ecological Crises as Issues of Faith and Justice
Stephen Bede Scharper
The Creative City: The Future of Christian Urbanism
John Bentley Mays
It's Tough Being God These Days
Michael W. Higgins
2006-2007
Space, Place and Difference: A New Ethics of Politics at the World Social Forum
Janet Conway
HIV/AIDS from a Canadian Catholic Perspective
Katherine Rouleau
The Apocalypse of John: A Great Book of Hope
Archbishop Thomas C. Collins
Ethnic Diversity and Christian Unity
David Seljak
Adele Reinhartz
Bridging the Gap: Reaching Beyond Our Differences
Most Rev. V. James Weisgerber
Bridging the Gap: Reaching Beyond Our Differences
Rev. V. James Weisgerber, DD, Archbishop of Winnipeg
Risk, Gratitude, and Love: A Christian Feminist Ethic of Risk
Cynthia S.W. Crysdale
James Loney
Religion and Alienation: A Theological Reading of Sociology (2nd Edition)
Gregory Baum
Globalization and Catholic social thought: Present Crisis, Future Hope
William F. Ryan
2005-2006
Public or Private? The Impact of the Supreme Court Decision on Healthcare Delivery
Kevin Smith, PhD
Many Churches / Many Faiths / One Planet
Douglas John Hall, PhD
Hans-Christof Graf von Sponeck
Workers, the Church, and Central America's Switzerland
Dana Sawchuk, PhD
Muslim/Christian Relations after 9/11
Gregory Baum, PhD
Learning Justice, Compassion and Hope-Filled Action
Sr. Pat Murray, IBVM
The Greater Good: Enacting Personal Values to Build Community
Eva Kmiecic
Stalking the Holy: In Pursuit of Saint-Making
Michael W. Higgins, PhD
Bugs on the Headlights: The Aboriginal Experience of Christianity
The Very Rev. Dr. Stan McKay
Art, Fame, and the Problem of Authenticity: Vincent van Gogh and Us
Dr. Modris Eksteins
2004-2005
Poverty and Violence in Chiapas
Bishop Don Samuel Ruiz
Beyond Borders: Diversity as Moral and Spiritual Resource
Marilyn Legge, Ph.D.
Lessons from Iraq - Rescheduled to March 3, 2006
Hans-Christof Graf von Sponeck
Many Churches / Many Faiths / One Planet - Defered to March 24, 2006
Douglas John Hall, PhD
Healthcare and Canadian Values
Roy Romanow
Doctors Without Borders: Humanitarian Aid in a Turbulent Time
Dan Bortolotti
Rev. Jim Profit, S.J.
Spirituality and Reason: A Strange and Potent Mixture
Dr. Michael W. Higgins
Christian Canada No More? The New Religious Landscape
Paul Bramadat, Ph.D.
God's Household: A Call to Action
Sallie McFague, Ph.D.
God's Household: Christianity, Economics, and Planetary Living
Sallie McFague, Ph.D.
Janet Somerville
2003-2004
Lt. General(Ret.) Romeo Dallaire
Sr. Miriam Martin, P.B.B.M., Ph.D.
Christopher T. Burris, Ph.D.
The Spiral Staircase: My Climb Out of Darkness
Karen Armstrong
Growing Up in a School of Love
Fr. Joseph G. Schner, S.J., Ph.D., C.Psyc.
Plurality and Difference in an Unstable World
Fr. Robert Schreiter, C.P.P.S., Ph.D.
Understanding “Terrorists” and “Martyrs”: Personal Encounters with Religious Militants
Cynthia Mahmood, Ph.D.
The Birth of a Catholic University: St Jerome’s and the Kingsdale Years
Fr. James A. Wahl, C.R., Ph.D.
Living the Interface between Faith and Politics
Preston Manning
Kathleen Roberts Skerrett, Ph.D.
Lorraine I. Ferguson
Holiness and Spirituality: Are they Mutually Exclusive?
Rabbi Dow Marmur
The Word From Rome: The Next Pope and the Future of the Church
John L. Allen Jr.
2002-2003
God and the Gun: Religion and Violence in Ireland
Danine Farquharson, Ph.D.
Separate Schools/Separate Communities? Pluralism and Education in Canada
Lois Sweet
Plurality and Difference in an Unstable World
Fr. Robert Schreiter, C.PP.S., Ph.D.
The Ten Commandments: A Theology for Business Leaders
John Dalla Costa, M.Div.
Enthusiasm for Truth: The St. Jerome's Story
Kenneth McLaughlin, Ph.D.
Justice and Compassion in Canadian Health Reform
Dr. Nuala Kenny, O.C., M.D.
In Defence of Nonconformity: Liberal Arts in the 21st Century
Dr. Terry Downey, President, St. Mary’s College, Calgary
On Carrying a Scandal Biblically
Fr. Ron Rolheiser, Ph.D.
Rev. Ed Hampson, Ph.D.
Public Life and Faith in Canada
The Rt. Hon. Joe Clark
2001-2002
Restless Gods: The Renaissance of Religion in Canada
Reginald W. Bibby, PhD
Power and Peril: The Perils of Writing about the Power of the Church
Douglas R. Letson, PhD
Reading the Bible: Hope and History
Lee Cormie, PhD
Beyond Words: The Language of the Feminine Spirit
Lucinda Vardey
Song: A Celebration of Community
The 9:30 Choir
Becoming Human: Living for Others
Jean Vanier
Transforming Taboos: Reflections on the Teaching of Sexuality
Dr. Peter Naus, Associate Professor Emeritus, St. Jerome’s University
Sr. Kathleen Keating, SSJ, PhD
Senator Douglas Roche O.C.
Coming Out of the Closet: Religion in Public Affairs
Richard Gwyn
Following the Cosmos in a Consumer Society: Where Faith and Ecology Meet
Stephen Scharper, PhD
2000-2001
The Incarnation: Challenges for Sexuality and Spirituality
Cristina Vanin, PhD
Christianity and the Family: Ancient Challenge, Modern Crisis
Rosemary Radford Ruether PhD
Sr. Eva Solomon, CSJ
When Worlds Collide: Faith vs. Popular Culture
Kathy Shaidle
The Road to Peace: Living the Life of Radical Non-violence
Fr. John Dear, S.J.
The Father Norm Choate Distinguished Graduate Award Presentation
Special Guest Speaker: Father Norm Choate, C.R.
Claude Ryan
More Five on the Floor: Blue Grass Gospel Music
Performance by "Five on the Floor"
José Casanova, PhD
1999-2000
The Next Pope: the Papacy in the New Millennium
John Willkins, Editor, The Tablet
Parenting and Power: An Analytic Story About Power and Powerlessness.
Dr. Kieran Bonner
The Jewish World of Jesus: The Evidence of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Dr. Elizabeth Schuller, O.S.U.
Betrayed Trust: Sex, Violence and the Christian Church
Dr. Nancy Nason-Clark
Music that Makes a Difference: The Consort Caritatis
Dr. Howard Dyck
The Information Revolution and the Public Good: The University's Role in Building a Civic Society
Prof. David Johnston, President, University of Waterloo
Spirit-Filled Leadership: Considerations for Catholic Institutions
Most Reverend Paul-André Durocher
Ignatian Spirituality and the Ecological Crisis: The Spirituality of Simple Living
Fr. Philip D. Shano, S.J
Storage/Retrieval: Human Possibilities and Limits in the Information Age
Dr. Mark Kingwell
1998-1999
Catholic Education: A Venerable Tradition with New Challenges
Monika K. Hellwig, LL.B., Ph.D.
Culture, Spirituality, and Economic Development: Opening a Dialogue
Fr. William Ryan, S.J., Ph.D.
Free Software: The Gnu Project
Richard Stallman
Five on the Floor and Shifting for the Lord: the Blue Grass Gospel Tradition
Performance by "Five on the Floor"
Lecture by Jim Reimer, Ph.D.
Why Catholic Education?: An Outsider Ponders the Uniqueness of the Catholic Tradition
Peter Erb, Ph.D.
Heretic Blood: The Many Loves of Thomas Merton
Michael Higgins, Ph.D.
Ecology, Justice and the Sacred: Ecotheology, Ecofeminism and Education
Heather Eaton, Ph.D.
Sr. Helen Prejean, C.S.J.
"Not Allowed?" Faith and Ethics in the Work Place
Fr. Mark Miller, C.SS.R., Ph.D.
1997-1998
Encountering God: Scripture and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola
Bishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J.
Jesus: At the Heart of the Struggle to be Church
Margaret Brennan, I.H.M.
Catholic Education at the Millennium: Memories, Murmurings, and the Mission
Clare Fitzgerald, SSND
1996-1997
Psalms of the Children: Their Songs and Laments
Dr. Ursula Anderson, M.D., D.P.H., D.C.H, M.R.C.S., F.A.A.P.
Holiness, Wholeness, and Authentic Spirituality for Today
Fr. Mark Curtis
Whither the Catholic Church? Pre-Millenial Dreams
Michael Fahey, S.J.
1995-1996
Women and the Church of the 90s
Janet Fulgenzi, O.P.
Minding our Morals – Bridging the Gap Between the Sacred and the Secular
Maureen Dunne
Windows on the Landscape: Catholics Taking Television Seriously
John Pugente, S.J.
Looking Bach-ward: Performance and Commentary
Bach Kantate Singers, Alfred Kunz, Artisitic Director
Living our Mission - Issues in Catholic Education
Msgr. Dennis Murphy
Creativity and the Catholic Context
Ann Copeland
Sexual Politics vs. Papal Politics - Never the Twain Shall Meet
Michael Higgins
Catholicism at the Dawn of a New Century: Two Visions of Church Struggling to Emerge
Thomas Fox
1994-1995
Catholic Education: A Call to Personal and Social Transformation
Ted Schmidt
Catholic Education: The Next Generation
Len Altilia, S.J.
Fire on the Earth: Christian Commitment in a Divided World
Dean Brackley, S.J.
Katherine Zappone
Carolyn Sharp
1993-1994
The Reality of Nicaragua Today
Fr. Miguel D’Escoto
Politics as Art: A Christian Perspective
Dr. Terrence Downey
Alexandra Caverly-Lowery
Passion and Faith: the Gospel Imperative to Risk
Fr. Gregory HJumbert
Birth and War: Why Do We Tell Stories
Carolyn Whitney-Brown
1992-1993
Margaret Hebblethwaite
Liberated to Become God: The Mystical Path of St. John of the Cross
Dr. Richard Hardy
The Catholic Church and the Environment
Fr. Sean McDonagh
Sounding the Sacred: Reflections on Sound and Spirit
Tim Wilson
Margaret Visser
1991-1992
Women’s Voices in the Catholic Mosaic: Design for a New Creation
Mary T. Malone
Panel Discussion on Centesimus Annus
Paul Hansen
Terry Downey
Canadian Social Teaching: An Innovative Tradition
Sr. Frances Ryan, O.S.U.
Paul VI: The First Modern Pope
Peter Hebblethwaite
Rosmary Houghton
Nancy Schwoyer
1990-1991
Synod on the Formation of Priests: A Personal Reflection
Dr. Douglas Letson
Albert Nolan, O.P.
Gérard Pelletier
Cardinal Newman: A Century of Influence
Dr. Michael Higgins
1989-1990
1988-1989
Holiness - the Call to Radical Living
Donald Nicholl
Teaching and Learning:Authority in the Roman Catholic Church Today
Margaret O’Gara
Robert F. Drinan, S.J
1987-1988
Sr. Joan Chittister
Dom Laurence Freeman
Ordination of Women, The Anglican Church and the Ecumenical Challenge
Sr. Benedetta
Sexuality - From Law and Biology to Love and Person
Dr. Jack Dominian
1986-1987
Anglicans and Roman Catholics: Future Directions
Fr. Jean-Marie Tillard, O.P.
A Feminist Approach to Judaism
Rabbi Elyse Goldstein
Hon. David MacDonald, P.C. L.L.D
Tom Harper
1985-1986
Dr. Sheila Cassidy
The Theological Dimensions of the Resurrection
C. Kannengiesser, S.J.
Resurrection: Keystone of Third World Spirituality
Richard Hardy
To Know Him and the Power of His Resurrection
David Stanley, S.J. Read by Michael Higgins
Prof. Hunter Brown
Fr. Dan Donovan
A Diarist’s Record Impressions & Reflections - Nicaragua
Fr. Norman Choate, C.R.
The Spy in the Confessional: Graham Greene’s “The Human Factor”
Patrick Kelly
Greene’s Priest - A Sort of Rebel
Michael Higgins
The Challenge of Justice in the Canadian North
René Fumoleau, O.M.I
1984-1985
Rights and Responsibilities of the New Church
Frank Morrisey, O.M.I.
Theology in the Latin American Context
Juan Luis Segundo, S.J.
The Seven Mountains of Thomas Merton
Michael Mott
Mary Malone
Does the Church have a role to play in Canadain life?
Bishop Remi De Roo
Eric Gill: An Illustrated Portrait
Brocard Sewell, O. Carm
1983-1984
Peter Hebblethwaite
Women in the Canadian Catholic Church
Elisabeth Lacelle
Experience and Reflection: An Anglican Priest’s Journey
Rev. Elisabeth Kilbourn
Joanne Dewart
Current Challenges of the Christian Scientist
Dr. (Sister) Rosalie Bertell
Ministry Skills Part IIb: The Critical First years of Marriage
Prof. Ed Bader
Ministry Skills Part IIa: The Call to Leadership for the Laity
Sr. Pat Mansfield, SSND
The Exiled Writer and Christian Principles
Josef Ŝkovrecky
MInistry Skills Part I: Ministry and the Parish
Dr. John Melloh
Prayer, Protest and the Spirituality
Gordon Zahn
The Prodigal Son's Long Road Home: Merton's Mapping of the Route
Kenneth Russell
Thomas Merton as Spiritual Guide
Elena Malits, C.S.C
Arnold Pelly
Maureena Fritz
The Canadian Roots of Anti-Semitism
Alan T. Davies
The Layman and Catholic Intellectual Life
J.M. Cameron
The Christian and the Mentally Handicapped
Dr. Philomena Newberry
Fr. Sam Bianco
Brian Moore
Nicaragua: The Spiritual Challenge and the Challenge of Justice
Fr. Ernesto Cardenal
What’s it like to be a Catholic Psychiatrist
Dr. Murray McGovern
The Christian and the Addicted
Dr. Jim Anderson
Mr. Tom Penney
1982-1983
An Historical Overview of Canadian Anti-Semitism
Beyond Technology: The Ultimate Environment
Prof. Don Demarco
Ethics, Economy and Ecology: The Technology of Hope
Brian P. McGowan
Justice in the Canadian Context
Mary-Jo Leddy, N.D.S
The Christian in a Technological Society
Prof. F. A. Demarco
Justice and the Modern Encyclicals
Gregory Baum
Contemplation: Transformation of Consciousness
William Shannon
The Silent One and the Poetics of Unity. Merton’s Last Poem
Michael Higgins
Thomas Merton: A Monk For All Seasons
Deba Patnaik
Original Child Prophet: Merton and the Nuclear Menace
Donald Graystone
Robert Carty
Catholic Mennonite Dialogue: Liberation Theology -- It’s Biblical Roots and Modern Challenge
Professor John Yoder
Justice and Corporate Repsonsibility
Peter Oliphant