Noted Capuchin Speaker Coming to St. Thomas Aquinas, Storrs

Noted Capuchin Speaker Coming to St. Thomas Aquinas

St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel at the University of Connecticut will host an Aquinas Lecture by Fr. John Rathschmidt, O.F.M. Cap., on Monday evening, October 24 at 7:30 PM. Titled “A 21st Century Spirituality,” it will take place at the Aquinas Student Center, 46 North Eagleville Road on the Storrs Campus. His presentation is free, and the public is cordially invited to share the insights of this leading expert on spirituality and the religious experience of the young. Fr. Rathschmidt plans to discuss the impact of contemporary technology and social media on how young people relate to one another and search for deeper meaning in their lives, as well as what the enduring richness of the Gospel message can bring to that exploration.

Fr. Rathschmidt earned his Master’s of Theology degree in Spirituality from the Weston School of Theology, and his Ph.D. in Historical Theology from Fordham University. For more than three decades, he served as director of the Formation for Capuchin Friars of New York and New England, and is now the co-director of the Preaching Team for the Capuchin Franciscans. He also serves on the Capuchin Franciscan Leadership Council.

During his many years in Boston, he drew on his training at the National Multi-Cultural Institute in Washington to work with the strategy team of the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, a group of civic and religious leaders who work together across religious, racial, ethnic, class and neighborhood lines for justice in such areas as health care, youth safety and eldercare.

A renowned speaker and preacher, he frequently addresses parish and regional gatherings, and receives many invitations to conduct workshops, parish missions, days of recollection and retreats. He has spoken in more than 60 dioceses, and delivered the keynote address at several major conferences, including the East Coast Conference on Religious Education, the Hofinger Catechetical Conference and the Chicago Religious Education Conference.

With Gaynell Cronin, he has created more than 50 videos for children and co-authored the books Rituals for the Home and Parish (Paulist Press 1996), The Blessing Candles (St. Anthony Press, 2000) and Nurturing Today’s Children (Ligouri Press, 2002). Their most recent book, Doorways to Holiness, was published by Paulist Press in 2006. For six years he was a regular columnist for the Episcopal Church’s publication, FaithWorks. He recently started a blog with commentary on the scripture readings from the mass of the day, on the saint of the day or on that day’s feast: http://brjackspreachingministry.blogspot.com/

His presentation will be followed by an open discussion, and some of his books and videos will be available for purchase.