On February 3, 2022, SBI hosted Prof. Chris Baglow, the Director of the Science and Religion Initiative at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, for a talk titled “Extraterrestrial Life and Catholic Theology.” Prof. Baglow’s fascinating talk drew upon the thought of classical and modern theologians to propose some possibilities for what Christians might expect to discover if the universe is inhabited by other species who, like Homo sapiens, are created in the divine image. He tentatively proposed that if there are other rational species in the universe, the Son of God will become incarnate as one of them in a way that is similar to how he became incarnate in the man Jesus Christ. The talk was followed by a lively question and answer session. Watch the full talk below and see photos from the event.
Sung Vespers: Lecture, Discussion, and Vespers Service "San Zeno"
Part of the Harvard Catholic Forum Sacred Music Series (In-Person and Livestreamed)
Presented by the Harvard Catholic Forum and St. Paul’s Choir School
Co-Sponsored by the Saint Benedict Institute
Sunday March 6; Lecture at 2:30 PM, Service at 3:30 PM EST
Livestream on HCF YouTube Channel
St. Paul’s Parish, Upper Church, Harvard Square
The Saint Paul’s Choir of men and Boys performs a polyphonic setting of psalms, hymns, and readings within a Sunday Vespers service. Music from North Italy, including Monteverdi’s renowned Dixit Dominus, evokes Verona’s Basilica of San Zeno Maggiore, an important inspiration for our setting in St. Paul’s Church, which will soon celebrate its hundredth anniversary.
In the lecture and discussion before the Vespers service, Professor Thomas Kelly, along with James Kennerly, FRCO, examines the history, context, and structure of vespers within the Church’s cycle of prayer, the use and importance of musical settings in a vespers service, the historical and ecclesial context of the music chosen, and the place of sung vespers in contemporary Catholic worship.
The St. Paul’s Choir of Men and Boys is associated with the St. Paul’s Choir School, founded in 1963 by Dr. Theodore Marier, the only Catholic boys’ choir school in the United States. The Boys’ Choir sings during term time at daily and Sunday Masses, and at a weekly Choral Vespers. The Choir has toured and performed throughout North America and Europe and made numerous recordings.
James Kennerly is Director of Music at the St. Paul’s Choir School and at St. Paul’s Harvard Square. Rooted in the English choir school tradition, he is an internationally known organist, vocalist, and director. Educated at Cambridge University, Mr. Kennerly was Organ Scholar at Jesus College and later at St. Paul’s Cathedral London. He has frequently given solo organ concerts throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Thomas Forrest Kelly is Morton B. Knafel Research Professor of Music at Harvard, where he was named a Harvard College Professor in recognition of his teaching and served as Chair of the Music Department. An internationally recognized authority on medieval and early modern music, and on the performance of music in historical settings, he has lectured widely throughout the U.S. and Europe. Among numerous books and articles for both scholarly and general audiences: Capturing Music. The Story of Notation (Norton,2014); The Practice of Medieval Music (Ashgate Variorum, 2010); and First Nights: Five Musical Premieres, (Yale, 2000). Professor Kelly received his PhD from Harvard, as well as diplomas from the Schola Cantorum in Paris and the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Recovering Biblical Love from Emotionalism and Eroticism
The Daniel Harrington S.J. Memorial Lecture (In-Person and on Zoom)
Professor Jon D. Levenson, Harvard Divinity School
Presented by: The Harvard Catholic Forum
Co-Sponsored by: The Saint Benedict Institute, St. Peter’s Parish, Catholic Parishes of Arlington, and the Lumen Christi Institute
Wednesday, March 9, 7:30 PM EDT
DiGiovanni Hall, St. Paul's Harvard Square Campus
29 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge MA
One of the best known but least understood obligations in the Hebrew Bible is the commandment to love God. Among the misconceptions that prevent a good understanding of it are the tendency to think of the sexual as the highest form of love and the related assumption that love is primarily an affect. This lecture will seek to place the commandment in its ancient Near Eastern context and briefly to illuminate its complications and ramifications in the Hebrew Bible, with the aid of instructive examples from rabbinic tradition and human relations more generally. The goal will be to recover a concept that relates humankind’s love of God to God’s own love and that moves beyond such simplistic dichotomies as love versus law, affection versus action, and universalism versus particularism.
Jon D. Levenson is List Professor of Jewish Studies at Harvard Divinity School. His scholarship concentrates on the interpretation of the Jewish Bible over the centuries, on philosophical and theological issues in biblical studies, and on the relationship of Judaism and Christianity, both in antiquity and in modern times. Amonghis numerous books and dozens of articles are The Love of God: Divine Gift, Human Gratitude, and Mutual Faithfulness in Judaism (Princeton, 2016); Inheriting Abraham: The Legacy of the Patriarch in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam (Princeton, 2012); and Resurrection: The Power of God for Jews and Christians (with Kevin J. Madigan) (Yale, 2008). He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from Harvard, where he has taught since 1988.
Reflections from the Encounter Conference
In late December 2021, several SBI students attended the Encounter Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This three-day event was organized by Encounter Ministries, a charismatic Catholic ministry. It featured praise and worship, Mass, speakers, breakout sessions, Eucharistic Adoration, a healing service, fellowship, and more. Afterward, two students agreed to share some of their reflections on their experience at Encounter.
Describe your overall experience at Encounter.
Student 1: I had an amazing experience! All the speakers did amazing and I loved how they each had their own message and subject. I thought the three days was a perfect amount of time and I loved every single part of this conference.
Student 2: I realized how personally Christ loves me.
What did you enjoy about the conference?
Student 1: I enjoyed the speakers, the different options for the breakout sessions, and the prayer groups that were on the side.
Student 2: I enjoyed how they touched so many different areas of the faith through the Mass, prayer, talks, etc.
Was there any speaker that was particularly helpful or enjoyable? What will you take away from their talk?
Student 1: I really enjoyed Fr. Boniface Hicks's talk on learning to be little. He was discussing how sometimes we as humans want to take the thorns out of our lives. Fr. Boniface reminded us that God's grace is sufficient for all of us and he wants to love us with our thorns. This talk reminded me that I am loved by God no matter what my condition is and it's okay to go to God when we are in pain.
What was it like to be prayed over at the conference?
Student 1: I loved being prayed over because sometimes I find myself praying for the same things over and over for myself, so to receive prayer from someone who is just led by the Holy Spirit and not biased was extremely fruitful.
Student 2: Peaceful and beautiful. I'm comfortable with being prayed over from experiences in my past and most recently at Hope in Ignis meetings, so it wasn't uncomfortable to me, but I know it can be if it's new to people.
How did God reach you during this conference?
Student 1: In the last healing session when the prayer groups were on the side, I decided to go up again for a third time. I wasn't really expecting anything to happen. When it was my turn to go up and be prayed over, the two people who were going to pray told me to "just receive what God is giving you and don't try to pray with us or over us." That statement really helped me because in the past, I would usually overthink the prayer that was being said over me and I never actually "received" what was being prayed. In those moments, I fully felt like God came to me through the Holy Spirit and I felt this amazing sense of joy and peace. It wasn't words that I heard but it was this tangible internal feeling that God was holding me, everything was okay, and nothing else mattered.
Student 2: He reminded me of his unique and personal love for me, and that I can count on that always.
What will stick with you or what will change in your life after attending Encounter?
Student 1: As mentioned above, I truly felt like I was touched/baptized by the Holy Spirit in the last ten minutes of this conference. I want to live my life for God and for his Church. In whatever I am being called to after college, I know that it will include Christ and his Church.
Student 2: I do not need to be afraid as a baptized daughter of God, and I should use the boldness I have been given.
Why should others think about attending Encounter?
Student 1: No matter where you are in life, whether you are very confident in your faith or if you are a little lost right now, Encounter can be a blessing to anyone. It may plant a seed in you that you are unaware of until down the road. I would recommend it even if you are questioning the conference.
Student 2: It's a chance to tap into the gifts given to them in Baptism and hear the truth of the faith.
Saint Benedict Seminar: Courtship, Marriage, and Sex
In today's society, there is very little instruction about how to navigate the world of love and romance. Saint Benedict Institute co-founders Jack Mulder and Jared Ortiz invite current Hope College students to join them February 18 and 25, 2022, for a two-week Saint Benedict Seminar: “Courtship, Marriage, and Sex.” Jared Ortiz (Religion) and his wife Rhonda Ortiz (author) will lead the first seminar on courtship. Jack Mulder (Philosophy) and his wife Melissa Mulder (Spanish) will lead the second seminar on marriage and sex.
This seminar is open to current Hope College students only. Registration is required. Please use the links below to sign up for each lecture.
Week 1 (February 18): “What Is Courtship?” with Jared and Rhonda Ortiz
Week 2 (February 25): “Sex and Theology of the Body” with Jack and Melissa Mulder
Immersion Trip: Saint Meinrad Archabbey
March 18-27, 2022
The life of the monks at Saint Meinrad Archabbey revolves around prayer and work for the love of God and neighbor. Located in the hills of rural southern Indiana, the monastery offers visitors a chance to experience a rhythm of life very different from our own. This immersion trip, sponsored by the Saint Benedict Institute, allows Hope students to enter into the rhythms of monastic life for a week, beginning with vigil prayers at 5:30 AM in the abbey church. The prayer is beautiful, the setting is tranquil, and the people are joyful. Please pray for the students who will attend this trip!
In Persona Christi Servi
On Saturday, January 8, 2022, seven men were ordained to the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Among them was our very own Brian Piecuch! We asked Brian to share a little bit about becoming a deacon. See what the Diocese of Grand Rapids has shared here.
Brian Piecuch (middle row, far right) with the six other men ordained to the diaconate on Saturday, January 8, 2022.
What made you decide to pursue ordination to the permanent diaconate?
There was a time in my life before becoming Catholic when I sensed a calling from God and was discerning whether to be ordained a Protestant minister. That desire went dormant after getting married, working overseas, and converting to the Catholic faith. However, after having the opportunity to talk to a married Catholic friend who had recently been accepted into a diaconal formation program, the Holy Spirit kindled anew the desire to serve as an ordained minister. At the time, we were living in a diocese that didn’t offer formation into the permanent diaconate, so it wasn’t until about five years after moving to Holland, when Bishop Walkowiak restored the diocesan formation program, that I was able to apply to join the program.
Brian and Bishop David Walkowiak during the Rite of Ordination
Describe how you were feeling at the ordination Mass. Did any part of the Rite of Ordination stand out to you? How was God present to you during this time?
I was filled with joy throughout the whole Mass. There were a number of things that stood out to me: kneeling before the bishop, placing my hands between his, and promising my obedience to him; lying prostrate on the floor while the litany of the saints was sung; receiving the Book of the Gospels from the bishop with the words, “Receive the Gospel of Christ whose herald you have become. Believe what you read, teach what you believe, and practice what you teach”; and making numerous promises, including the promise to “conform your way of life always to the example of Christ, of whose Body and Blood you are a minister at the altar.” Even the final blessing at the end of the Mass was awesome! “May God, who has called you to the service of others in his Church, give you great zeal for all, especially the afflicted and the poor. May he who has entrusted you with preaching the Gospel of Christ, help you, as you live according to his word, to be its sincere and fervent witnesses. May he, who has appointed you stewards of his mysteries, make you imitators of his Son, Jesus Christ, and ministers of unity and peace in the world.”
In regards to God’s presence, the joy I felt was certainly a special grace of the Holy Spirit. During the litany of the saints, I found myself focusing on the promise to conform my life to the example of Christ. I petitioned God for even greater clarity of knowledge of his will for my life and the grace to focus my words and actions completely on fulfilling that purpose.
Tell us a bit about the ministry of a deacon. What will you be doing to serve the Church?
Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles once wrote that “a Deacon is called to minister in persona Christi Servi – in the person of Christ the Servant. Ordination configures him to Jesus in his most humble form – as the Son of God who emptied himself to come among us in the form of a servant; as the Son of Man who came not to be served, but to serve.”
Brian Piecuch with his wife and children
Deacons are members of the clergy along with priests and bishops. A deacon’s ministry has three dimensions: liturgy, word, and service. At the liturgy, he assists the bishop and priests. At the Mass, the deacon proclaims the Gospel, may be invited to preach the homily, and assists at the altar. The deacon may also baptize, witness and bless marriages, preside at the Liturgy of the Hours, and preside at funeral liturgies, among many other duties. Living in the world, deacons are sent by the Church to be the presence of Christ to those in need.
Personally, I will continue my involvement in praying/live streaming Lauds every morning and helping with marriage preparation at the parish. I also will begin serving at different Masses each week and preaching roughly once a month. Other ministries will arise as the needs manifest themselves and time allows.
How are you most looking forward to serving as a deacon?
I like to preach, although homilies take a lot of preparation time and prayer (at least for me!), so I’m thankful I will have at least a month to prepare every time before preaching. Baptisms are beautiful, joyful times and will be fun. However, I think it will be at funerals where I will feel most useful, because of the opportunity to bring Christ’s love into the lives of people who are in deep pain and who are often far from him.
Brian and his wife Carmen have lived in Holland for twelve years. They have five children: Armand, Sofia, Cristina, Lucia, and Austin. Brian has worked as the Development Director and Program Coordinator for the Saint Benedict Institute for the last seven years. Many people are surprised to learn that Brian has a twin brother and several parishioners had a chance to meet him for the first time at the ordination!
Extraterrestrial Life and Catholic Theology
Thursday, February 3, 7:00 P.M.
Winants Auditorium, Graves Hall, 263 College Avenue, Holland, MI 49423
New methods in astronomy and new models in evolutionary biology have opened up new expectations that we humans may not be alone in the cosmos. How are Christian theologians to consider this in light of what God has revealed in the Incarnation of his Son in Christ? In this lecture, Prof. Chris Baglow, the Director of the Science and Religion Initiative at the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, will draw upon the thought of classical and modern theologians to propose some possibilities for what Christians might expect to discover if the universe is inhabited by other species who, like Homo sapiens, are created in the divine image.
This event is co-sponsored by the Hope College departments of Religion, Philosophy, and Physics.
Jared Ortiz on Advent
Recently, Dr. Jared Ortiz, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Saint Benedict Institute, spoke at a Hope College chapel service. He exhorted the students to allow God to transform them during this season. His talk begins seventeen minutes into the video.
Promoting Integral Human Development
Challenges and Opportunities for the Church and Catholic Organizations
December 15, 10:00—11:15 a.m.
This event is free and open to the public. It will be held online over Zoom.
This event is presented by the Lumen Christi Institute and the Catholic Research Economists Discussion Organization, and is cosponsored by the Saint Benedict Institute, Global Researchers Advancing Catholic Education, the International Office of Catholic Education, the International Federation of Catholic Universities, the World Organization of Former Students of Catholic Education, the World Union of Catholic Teachers, the International Catholic Child Bureau, the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame, America Media, the Harvard Catholic Forum, the Nova Forum, and the Saint Anselm Institute.
The concept of integral human development (IHD) is fundamental for the Catholic Church, and the role played by the Church in promoting IHD is essential to its mission. The term IHD emerged from Populorum Progressio, the encyclical on the development of people in which Pope Paul VI stated that “the development of peoples must be well rounded; it must foster the development of each man and of the whole man.” This webinar will feature a conversation on challenges and opportunities for the Church and Catholic organizations to promote IHD. This event will feature a presentation of the Global Report 2021 on Integral Human Development prepared by Quentin Wodon and soon to be available on the Global Catholic Education website, followed by a discussion with a panel of experts – Katherine Marshall, Patrizio Piraino, and Diana Filatova – and a question and answer session with participants.
#GivingTuesday 2021
November 30 is #GivingTuesday! Please consider making a gift to support our ministry at Hope College. Throughout the months of October and November we have shared several stories from our current students. They are beautiful accounts of community, prayer, worship, and intellectual and spiritual growth. When you give to the Saint Benedict Institute, your generosity will foster many new stories in the lives of students at Hope College in the years to come.
Check out our featured students below!
Welcome Back!
“The seats were full of students excited to see one another as the new school year began. We gathered together and worshipped and became one through the Body of Christ, all together on our campus, in our space. Welcome back, Hope College! The Lord has great plans in store for us.”
Praying in Song
“I enjoy playing for the on-campus Mass as a way to give back to the community that has given me so many of the parts of life that matter, like real friendships, a deeper relationship with the Lord, and my faith as a whole.”
Letting Go
“We must let go of the things on this earth and keep our focus on the things above. This fueled my purpose, and this is what Exodus 365 taught me. I am forever changed.”
Thomistic Circles Conference
Karlie: "Like a lot of students, I came into college thinking the only purpose of being here was to take the classes necessary to get a good job. But God has been gently redirecting me to see this as a unique time to think and learn about what is true, good, beautiful, and leads me to him, regardless of if it will help me get a particular job."
Kamaron: "I met amazing students who all sought to live faithfully and to grow in knowledge of heavenly things, and we had the opportunity to worship and pray with the Dominicans. During the retreat, the Holy Spirit fixed my eyes upon heavenly wisdom and the mysteries that God has given his Church to meditate on. I grew in my desire to know God more and to continually submit myself to him."
Student Stories: Thomistic Circles Conference
Last month, I traveled to Washington, D.C., with a fellow Hope student, Kamaron Wilcox, to attend a Thomistic Circles Conference and retreat at the Dominican house of studies. This event was hosted by the Thomistic Institute (TI), which is part of the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies and “exists to promote Catholic truth in our contemporary world by strengthening the intellectual formation of Christians at universities, in the Church, and in the wider public square.” Students, professors, and religious were invited to the conference to attend seminars and discuss the topic “virtue and divine grace.” The speakers, Professor Jacob Wood, Fr. Michael Sherwin, O.P., and Professor Angela Knobel, shared their interpretations of Aquinas’s work on infused and acquired virtue, a topic I was surprised to learn is quite nuanced and even divisive. Students attending the conference stayed at the Washington Retreat House run by the Franciscan Sisters of the Atonement. Aside from attending seminars, we joined the Dominican brothers for daily Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and a holy hour.
The TI retreat had a profound impact on me for several reasons. First, as a Biochemistry and Molecular Biology major, my studies thus far have been primarily focused on the natural sciences. I knew the Catholic Church had a beautiful intellectual tradition, but aside from some occasional reading and SBI events, I hadn’t had much exposure to it. The conference was a great opportunity to step out of my STEM bubble for a weekend, and I was absolutely captivated by the combination of faith and intellect. In fact, my experience at the retreat contributed to my decision to declare a second major in Christian History and Theology. Like a lot of students, I came into college thinking the only purpose of being here was to take the classes necessary to get a good job. But God has been gently redirecting me to see this as a unique time to think and learn about what is true, good, beautiful, and leads me to him, regardless of if it will help me get a particular job.
The second reason why the TI retreat meant so much to me was because it really deepened my relationship with God. Attending the Liturgy of the Hours, Mass, and a holy hour with the Dominicans was fantastic. It was a privilege to be able to devote so much time to prayer, especially surrounded by the admirable faith of the brothers and fellow students. I also grew a lot in trust of the Lord. Prior to the conference, I had never traveled alone, and I was understandably nervous. Yet, I felt called to go, so I put my trust in God and I went. The wonderful experience I had at the conference showed me that if the Lord is calling me to something, I can trust him to be with me in it.
Karlie Platz is a sophomore from Sand Lake, MI. She is double majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Religion.
I felt uncertain about going all the way to the Thomistic Institute (TI) in Washington, D.C., for a few reasons: I didn’t want to miss school, which takes a lot of time—a scarce resource. I’ve never been to D.C. before, so I didn’t really know what I was doing to get around. Above all, I have never made a trip like this, so the thought of going to a conference in a place I had never been before with a bunch of people I had never met was daunting. It seemed exciting, too. I would not have gone alone, but because another student, Karlie, wanted to go, I felt encouraged to make the trip. It was the right choice.
When we got to D.C., we were scrambling to try to find a place to go to Mass. The best we could do was to get to Mass about fifteen minutes late if we hustled and made no mistakes in catching all the right metros. God knew better than us, of course. When we just missed the metro we needed to take to get to the Catholic University of America (CUA), we looked at the website of St. Patrick’s Parish—a five minute walk from our location—and they had Mass in ten minutes! In God’s providence, our mistake ended up allowing us to make Mass with a few minutes to spare. So far, it was a great start to the weekend.
At the retreat, we were welcomed generously by the sisters and TI staff. Everyone was so kind, and many other students attending the conference were intrigued to learn that two STEM majors from a mostly unknown small college in Michigan that doesn’t have a TI chapter were attending a conference about philosophy and theology.
The talks by the guest speakers baffled me because the level of philosophy was far beyond my knowledge. However, this encouraged me and awakened a deep desire to dive into Thomistic philosophy and theology rather than discouraging me from seeking to grow in philosophical endeavors. I learned about disagreements among Thomists regarding the compatibility of the acquired and infused virtues. Another area of disagreement is whether the existence of acquired virtues within a person can in any way aid the development and growth in infused virtue. These topics fascinated me as I tried to wrap my head around what these speakers were sharing. I loved every second of it.
Karlie and I also had the opportunity to participate in the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass with the Dominicans at their house of studies. This gave the conference grounding in spirituality. I took what I had been learning and allowed it to transform the way I worshiped. Furthermore, God brought me closer to him through praying the Liturgy of the Hours in that large community of people. I often felt drawn to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament, pouring my heart out before the Lord. Jesus pulled me in toward him, and I found great peace in his presence. Having a Blessed Sacrament chapel in the same building I was staying at made a huge impact! At night I would often go down to the chapel by myself just to be with Jesus, and I felt truly at rest in his presence.
Overall, the conference and retreat were wonderful. I met amazing students who all sought to live faithfully and to grow in knowledge of heavenly things, and we had the opportunity to worship and pray with the Dominicans. During the retreat, the Holy Spirit fixed my eyes upon heavenly wisdom and the mysteries that God has given his Church to meditate on. I grew in my desire to know God more and to continually submit myself to him.
Kamaron Wilcox is a senior majoring in Physics and minoring in Mathematics. Kam enjoys altar serving at Mass and is a member of the diving team.