Past Events
Fall 2025
Building A House of Living Stones
Essays in Honor of Joseph Chinnici, OFM, Friar and Historian
Thursday, September 4, 2025, 5:00 PM
Ministry Center
Dwelling with Dignity: Catholic Social Teaching and Homelessness
Speaker: Prof. Suzanne Mulligan, University of Notre Dame
Thursday, September 25, 2025, 5:00 PM
Ministry Center
Catholicism at a Crossroads
Author: Maureen K. Day
Thursday, October 23, 2025, 5:00 PM
Ministry Center
Lessons and Carols: A Festival of Word and Song to Prepare for Christmas
Friday, December 5, 2025, 7:30 PM
Saturday, December 6, 2025, 2:00 PM
Founders Chapel
Spring 2026
Fall 2023
Slavery and the Catholic Church
Speaker: Fr. Chris Kellerman, SJ
Thursday, November 9, 2023, 5:00 PM
Ministry Center
Lessons and Carols: A Festival of Word and Song to Prepare for Christmas
Saturday, December 2, 2023, 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 3, 2023, 2:00 PM
Founders Chapel
Fall 2022
Seminar on Amoris Laetitia: Pope Francis on the Call to Love
Speakers: Emily Reimer-Barry, Theology and Religious Studies Professor, University of San Diego
Aaron Bianco, Theology and Religious Studies Professor, University of San Diego
Co-sponsored by the Department of Theology and Religious Studies
Wednesday, September 14, 2022, 12:30 PM
Ministry Center
Towards an Inclusive Economy: Catholic Social Thought on Wealth Inequality
Speaker: Charles M.A. Clark, Professor of Economics, St. John's University
Thursday, September 29, 2022, 4:00 PM
Ministry Center
Book Launch - Street Scriptures: Between God and Hip-Hop
Author: Alejandro Nava
Monday, October 10, 2022, 4:00 PM
Ministry Center
Filipino and Vietnamese Martyrs and Saints
Speakers: Christian Santa Maria, Director of University Ministry, University of San Diego
Fr. Christopher Nguyen, SJ, Director of Newman Center Catholic Community at UCSD
Tuesday, October 25, 2022, 4:00 PM
Ministry Center
The Solidarity of Suffering: Ita Ford and the Challenges of Liberatory Accompaniment
Speaker: Marian Mollin, Professor of History, Virginia Tech
Thursday, December 1, 2022, 4:00 PM
Ministry Center
Lessons and Carols: A Festival of Word and Song to Prepare for Christmas
Saturday, December 3, 2022, 7:30 PM
Sunday, December 4, 2022, 2:00 PM
Founders Chapel
Spring 2023
Equal to Us: The Church Responds to Racism
Speaker: Archbishop Shelton Fabre, Archbishop of Louisville in Kentucky and Chair of the United States Catholic Bishops Conference AD Hoc Committee Against Racism
Monday, February 6, 2023, 4:00 PM
Ministry Center
The Witness Of Black Catholics in the U.S. South: Past and Present
Thursday, April 27, 2023, 6:00 PM
Ministry Center
Presentations by:
- Regina Dixon-Reeves, Vice Provost and Director of the Center for Inclusion and Diversity
- V. Dozier, Associate Professor, Education Librarian/Coordinator of Graduate Programs, Copley Library
- Lisa Nunn, Professor, Sociology and Director for Educational Excellence
- Mark Peters, Director for Mission
- Karen Teel, Professor, Theology and Religious Studies
- Mike Williams, Professor, Political Science & International Relations and Director of Changemaker Hub
Fall 2021
Book Launch - American Catholicism Transformed
Author: Dr. Joseph P. Chinnici, OFM
Tuesday, September 21, 2021, 4:00 P.M.
Ministry Center
Our Lady of Guadalupe and Race in the Catholic Church Today
Humanity's Urgent Challenges Series
By: Dr. Nichole M. Flores, University of Virginia
Thursday, September 23, 2021, 12:30 P.M.
Ministry Center
Peace and Nonviolence and the Catholic Church Today
Humanity's Urgent Challenges Series
By: Marie Dennis, PAX Christi International
Thursday, September 30, 2021, 12:30 P.M.
Ministry Center
Climate Change and the Catholic Church Today
Humanity's Urgent Challenges Series
By: Dr. Erin Lothes, St. Elizabeth University
Thursday, October 7, 2021, 12:30 P.M.
Ministry Center
St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Diversity Saints Series
By: Dr. Michelle Jacob, University of Oregon
Tuesday, October 12, 2021, 4:00 P.M.
Ministry Center
Requiem - Remembering Those We Lost to Covid: Lament of Loss,
Celebration of Life
Tuesday, November 2, 2021, 5:00 P.M.
Founders Chapel
Homelessness and the Church
Humanity's Urgent Challenges Series (USD Homelessness Collective)
Special Panel: Deacon Jim F. Vargas, OFS President and CEO, Father Joe's Villages;
Dr. Laura Stivers, Dominican University; Dr. Odilka S. Santiago, USD
Co-sponsored by Theology and Religious Studies
Wednesday, November 3, 2021, 12:30 P.M.
Ministry Center
Black is Blessed: The Art of Laura James
Diversity Saints Series
By: Laura James, Artist and Illustrator
Tuesday, November 9, 2021, 4:00 P.M.
Ministry Center
Lessons and Carols: A Festival of Word and Song to Prepare for Christmas
Saturday, December 4, 2021, 7:30 P.M.
Sunday, December 5, 2021, 2:00 P.M.
Founders Chapel
Spring 2022
Book Launch - The Church of the Dead: The Epidemic of 1576 and the Birth of Christianity in the Americas
Author: Jennifer Scheper Hughes
Co-sponsored by Ethnic Studies, History, and the Academy of American Franciscan History
Wednesday, February 16, 2022, 4:00 P.M.
Mother Hill Reading Room (Copley Library)
Black Saints in Waiting
Diversity Saints Series
By: Rev. Kenneth Hamilton, SVD
Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 4:00 P.M.
Ministry Center
Video recording on our Youtube channel: Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture USD
Film Screening - A Place at the Table: African-Americans on the Path to Sainthood
Wednesday, February 23, 2022, 5:00 P.M.
UC Forum A
Future Saint? Mother Rosalie Hill: Who She Is and Why She Matters
Diversity Saints Series
By: Sr. Juliet Mousseau, RSCJ
Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 4:00 P.M.
Ministry Center
Video recording on our Youtube channel: Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture USD
Catholics and Politics
Humanity's Urgent Challenges Series
By: Michael Sean Winters
Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 4:00 P.M.
Ministry Center
Video recording on our Youtube channel: Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture USD
Mexican and Latinx Saints
Diversity Saints Series
By: Victor Carmona and Christie De La Gandara
Tuesday, April 26, 2022, 4:00 P.M.
Ministry Center
Video recording on our Youtube channel: Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture USD
A Hispanic Present and Future for Catholic Higher Education
in the United States
Switgall Lecture
By: Hosffman Ospino
Monday, May 2, 2022, 5:00 P.M.
Ministry Center
Video recording on our Youtube channel: Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture USD
n/a
Fall 2019
New Faculty Orientation: Mission and Ministry and Catholic Identity of USD - CCTC
August 20, 2019
Catholic News Roundup: The Immigration Crisis
Featuring Dr. Eileen Fry-Bowers
Wednesday, September 25, 2019
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Center for Educational Excellence
Rooted in Love: The Life and Death of Sister Dorothy Stang
Sister Nancy Murray’s Inspiring One-Woman Show
Tuesday, October 8, 2019, 7 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and Theology and Religious Studies
New Faculty Identity Seminar: Session 1
Teaching at a Catholic University
Satyan Devadoss, Mathematics
Debbie Finnochio, Chemistry
October 9, 2019, 11:15-1:15
Religion, Society, and the Market
The Legacy of Wilhelm Röpke
2019 Calihan Lecture and Novak Award Presentation
Speakers: Prof. Giuseppe Franco, Rev. Robert A. Sirico, Prof. Matt Zwolinski
Wednesday, October 9, 2019, 5 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Franciscan School of Theology, Center for Ethics, Economics, and Public Policy and Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture
Anna Marie Gallagher
Executive Director, Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. (CLINIC)
Tuesday, October 29, 2019, 5 p.m.
Ministry Center
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, Center for Educational Excellence, and School of Law
Sharing Our Gifts as Women: Towards a Participatory and Co-Responsible Church, Future of Faith Series
Monday, November 4, 2019, 6-9 p.m.
Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, Room A
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, School of Law, Theology and Religious Studies. Co-sponsored by Women Religious from the following Congregations, now serving in the diocese of San Diego: Franciscans (Rochester, MN), Franciscans (Clinton, IA), Community of Holy Spirit, Society of the Sacred Heart.
Jesuit Martyrs of El Salvador 30th Anniversary Celebration
Paying the Price: St. Oscar Romero and the Jesuit Martyrs
Gene Palumbo
Wednesday, November 13, 2019, 5 p.m.
Sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture
Lessons and Carols: A Festival of Word and Song to Prepare for Christmas
Dates: Saturday, December 7, 7:30pm and Sunday, December 8, 2:00 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Department of Music, and Mission and Ministry
New Faculty Identity Seminar: Session 2
Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Susie Babka, THRS
Turner Nevitt, Philosophy
December 11, 2019, 11:15-1:15
Spring 2020
Faculty Travel Immersion Seminar
The Roots of the Immigration Crisis from a Catholic Perspective
New York – San Francisco – San Diego
January 8-15, 2020
Sharing Our Gifts as Youth
Towards a Participatory and Co-Responsible Church
An Event for High School Youth
Sunday, January 26, 2020, 2-5 p.m.
Bishop Robert McElroy
Candidates, Consciences, and Faithful Voting
Thursday, February 6, 2020, 4 p.m.
Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
Sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture
New Faculty Identity Seminar: Session 3
Catholic Social Teaching
Emily Reimer-Barry, THRS
Jane Georges, Nursing
February 12, 2020, 11:15-1:15
Movie Screening: Dancing at the Vatican
Featured panel speakers: Charles Sabine and Ignacio Muñoz-Sanjuan, Ph.D.
February 19, 2020, 6:30 p.m.
Sponsors include: Harpst Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, Ionis, Genentech, Origami, Factor-H, USD International Center, USD Enhanced Student Faculty Interaction Fund, USD Humanities Center, USD History Department, USD Program in Latin American Studies, and USD Dept. of Communication Studies
The following events are postponed or cancelled as a preventive measure to reduce risk related to the COVID-19 virus. Visit the university’s COVID-19 website for the most current information for the USD community.
Postponed until fall 2020 (Rescheduled for Nov. 16, 2020)
Sharing Our Gifts Together:
Towards a Participatory and Co-Responsible Church
March 21, 2020
USD Ministry Center
Cancelled
The Reasoning of the Religious Mind
St. John Henry Newman on Faith and Reason
Mary Katherine Tillman, PhD
Monday, March 16, 2020, 6 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Humanities Center
Cancelled
A Dialogue on Faith and Science
Phillip Sloan, PhD and Greg Severn, PhD
Tuesday, March 17, 2020, 4 p.m.
Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the
Cancelled
New Faculty Identity Seminar: Session 4
Contemporary Church Issues
Victor Carmona, THRS
April 1, 2020, 11:15-1:15
Cancelled
Faculty Book Launch
Thomas Aquinas’s Quodibetal Questions
Turner Nevitt, PhD and Brian Davies, PhD
Wednesday, April 1, 2020, 5 p.m.
Humanities Center
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program, Department of Philosophy, and the Humanities Center
Postponed (Rescheduled for October 19, 2020)
Travel Seminar: Faculty Presentations
The Roots of the Immigration Crisis from a Catholic Perspective
Victor Carmona, Esteban del Rio, and David Miller
Tuesday, April 15, 2020, 12 p.m.
Postponed until Spring 2021
Switgall Lecture
A Catholic Action Plan for Reproductive Justice
Dr. Emily Reimer-Barry
Thursday, April 23, 2020, 6 p.m.
Sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture
August
New Faculty Orientation
Mission and Ministry and Catholic Identity of USD
Date: August 21, 2018
September
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar
Date: September 12, 2018
Faith and Intellectual Life Meeting
October
LOVE IS THE MEASURE: Photos of Dorothy Day by Vivian Cherry
Gallery Exhibition Opening – with guest speaker Kate Hennessy
Date: October 11, 2018
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, University Galleries
LOVE IS THE MEASURE: Speaker Series
Lecture: Cry of the Earth/Cry of the Poor:
Moral Implications of Climate Change
Veerabhadran Ramanathan, PhD and Martin Carbajo Nunez, OFM, SThD
Date: October 17, 2018
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Department of Environmental and Ocean Sciences, Franciscan School of Theology
Solidarity on Tap: Walking together toward a just, hospitable world
A simple gathering for socializing and social justice
Date: October 30, 2018
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture
Catholic News Roundup
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Center for Educational Excellence
November
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar
Date: November 14, 2018
Faith and Intellectual Life Meeting
December
Lessons and Carols: A Festival of Word and Song to Prepare for Christmas
Dates: Saturday, December 8, 7:30pm and Sunday, December 9, 2:00 p.m.
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Department of Music, and Mission and Ministry
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar
Date: December 12, 2018
January
Faculty Travel Immersion Seminar
China: Asian Church Rising: Chinese Catholic Culture – Past Achievements, Present Concerns and Future Challenges
Date: January 9-19, 2019
February
Catholic News Roundup
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Center for Educational Excellence
PEACE LECTURE
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
FILM SHOWING: Pope Francis: A Man of His Word, Wim Wenders
March
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar
Date: March 13, 2019
Faith and Intellectual Life Meeting
April
Travel Seminar I: Faculty Presentations
Travel Seminar II: Faculty Presentations
Announcement of Faculty Travel Immersion Seminar 2020
May
Faith and Intellectual Life Meeting
August
New Faculty Orientation
Mission and Ministry and Catholic Identity of USD
September
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar
Faith and Intellectual Life Meeting
Lecture: Dr. Ken Serbin, History
“Hidden No More”: Pope Francis' Historic Audience with the Huntington's Disease Community
Co-sponsored by the Department of History, the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, International Affairs, Program in Latin American Studies, and HDSA-San Diego
October
CCTC Conference
The Church Moves Towards Nonviolence? Just Peace, Just War in Dialogue
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
Lecture: Maria Stephan, United States Institute of Peace
The Nonviolent Option: The Power of Active Nonviolence
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
Building A Bridge: The Catholic Church and LGBTQ Community, A discussion on the new book by Fr. James Martin, SJ
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, LGBTQ@USD, University Ministry, Center for Inclusion and Diversity, United Front Multicultural Center, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, Women’s Center, Rainbow Educators, Women’s and Gender Studies Program
Lecture: Cardinal Turkson, Prefect, Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development
Christian Nonviolence and Just Peace
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice
Catholic News Roundup
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Center for Educational Excellence
Book Launch: Dr. Mary Doak, Theology and Religious Studies
Divine Harmony: Seeking Community in a Broken World
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies
November
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar
Faith and Intellectual Life Meeting
December
Lessons and Carols: A Festival of Word and Song to Prepare for Christmas
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, the Department of Music, and Mission and Ministry
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar
January
Faculty Travel Immersion Seminar
The Holy Land: Art, Architecture, Engineering, and Politics
February
Laura Slattery, Gubbio Project
Nouwen Conference
Co-sponsored by the Center for Christian Spirituality and the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture
Catholic News Roundup
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture and the Center for Educational Excellence
March
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar
Lecture: Bishop Fernand Cheri
Co-sponsored by the Center for Catholic Thought and Culture, Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness, and Social Action, Black Student Resource Center, University Ministry, Center for Christian Spirituality, and Center for Inclusion and Diversity
April
Travel Seminar I: Faculty Presentations
Travel Seminar II: Faculty Presentations
May
Announcement of Faculty Travel Immersion Seminar 2019: China
September
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar: Session 1
Teaching at a Catholic University
The Farmworkers’ Movement Through the Lens of Carlos LeGerrette
Gallery Exhibition Opening - with guest speaker Richard Ybarra
Co-Sponsored with University Galleries
Saint Mother Teresa: A Musical Celebration in Honor of Her Canonization
Co-sponsored with Department of Music, JustRead!, Changemaker Hub
Dr. Reyes Quezada Book Launch
Teaching and Supporting Migrant Children in Our Schools: A Culturally Proficient Approach
Co-sponsored with SOLES
October
Dr. Orlando Espin - Reception of the John Courtney Murray Award
Whose Faith? Whose Quest? Whose Understanding?: Theology in a Catholic University
Co-Sponsored with CAS
St. Francis and the Sultan: Two Friends of God Embrace
Co-Sponsored with University Ministry and the Franciscan School of Theology
Cesar Chavez and Voices from the Farmworkers’ Movement – Speaker Series
UFW and El Teatro Campesino – Evelyn Cruz
Co-Sponsored with University Galleries and Program in Latin American Studies
Christiana Peppard Lecture
Valuing Water: Aridity and the Ethics of Fresh Water in the 21st Century
Co-Sponsored with JustRead!, THRS and CCS
Cesar Chavez and Voices from the Farmworkers’ Movement – Speaker Series
Corridos y Resistencia: Music and the Farmworkers’ Struggle - Dr. Pepe Villarino, Ramón Chunky Sánchez y La Nueva Rondalla Amerindia
Co-Sponsored with University Galleries and Program in Latin American Studies
Cesar Chavez and Voices from the Farmworkers’ Movement – Speaker Series
Art, Culture, and Creativity in the Farmworkers’ Struggle - Maestro Victor Ochoa
Co-Sponsored with University Galleries and Program in Latin American Studies
Dr. Susie Babka Book Launch
Through the Dark Field: The Incarnation through an Aesthetics of Vulnerability
Co-Sponsored with THRS
November
Cesar Chavez and Voices from the Farmworkers’ Movement – Speaker Series
Filipino Workers and their Legacy - John Armington
Co-Sponsored with University Galleries and Program in Latin American Studies
Bishop Robert McElroy Lecture
Reclaiming Our National Politics
Co-Sponsored with Humanities Center and CAS
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar: Session 2
Catholic Social Teaching
Dialogue with Carlos LeGerrette
Co-Sponsored with University Galleries and Program in Latin American Studies
Cesar Chavez and Voices from the Farmworkers’ Movement – Speaker Series
Inter-ethnic Coalition Building: the UFW and UDW - Ken Seton-Msemaji
Co-Sponsored with University Galleries and Program in Latin American Studies
Archbishop Paul-Andre Durocher
What is Pope Francis Doing to the Church?: Ecology. Economy. Refugees. Women. Mercy. Laity. Priesthood. Marriage. the Curia.
Co-Sponsored with THRS and CCS
Faith & Intellectual Life Group Meeting
Co-Sponsored with Mission & Ministry
Dr. Cid Martinez Book Launch
The Neighborhood Has Its Own Rules: Latinos and African Americans in South Los Angeles
Co-Sponsored with Sociology
December
Catholic News Round-Up
Co-Sponsored by the Center for Educational Excellence
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar: Session 3
Catholic Intellectual Tradition
Lessons and Carols
A Festival of Word and Song to Prepare for Christmas
Co-Sponsored with Department of Music and Mission & Ministry
January
Faculty Travel Immersion Seminar
The Rise of the “Global South”: Catholic Social Teaching Along the Trail of Martyrs
Jan 8th – 16th Guatemala and El Salvador
February
Dr. Michelle Jacob Book Launch
Indian Pilgrims: Indigenous Journeys of Activism and Healing with Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
Fr. Garrett Galvin Book Launch
David’s Successors: Kingship in the Old Testament
Co-Sponsored with the Franciscan School of Theology
March
New Faculty Catholic Identity Seminar: Session 4
Catholic Teaching and the Core Curriculum
Timothy Johnson Lecture
No One Pours New Wine into Old Wine Skins: Reflections on The Life of Our Blessed Father Francis
Co-Sponsored with the Franciscan School of Theology
Kate Hennessy Lectures
Saved by Beauty: A Personal Look at Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker
Co-Sponsored with the Franciscan School of Theology
Synod on the Family - Dr. Reimer-Barry & Dr. Day
Synod on the Family: Recommendations, Process and Vision
Co-Sponsored with the Franciscan School of Theology
April
Angelus
Co-Sponsored with Department of Music
Catholic News Round-Up
Co-Sponsored with the Center for Educational Excellence
Film Showing: Silence
Co-Sponsored with University Ministry
A Holy Week Journey
Film showing
Faith & Intellectual Life Group Meeting – With President Harris
Co-Sponsored with Mission & Ministry
Faculty Travel Immersion Seminar I
Faculty Research Presentations
May
Faculty Travel Immersion Seminar II
Faculty Research Presentations