The challenge for being Catholic in the 21st Century is to be informed and to maintain our faith with an open heart and mind. Meet the challenge! Thoughtful Thursdays is a series of presentations designed to enlighten the faithful and provide an opportunity for spiritual growth and development. The first year of Thoughtful Thursdays presentations Included a Fall series and a Spring series, and a Summer Movie series.
Sessions for the Fall of 2017 season included:
Sept 27, 2017 | The Sacraments & Scripture | Fr. Garry Koch Pastor, St. Benedict's Church Holmdel, NJ Columnist for The Monitor |
Oct. 5, 2017 | Holy Eucharist—Sacrament of Initiation | TBA |
Oct. 12, 2017 | The Sacraments of Baptism & Confirmation—Sacraments of Initiation | Josue Arriola Director of Evangelization and Family Life, Diocese of Trenton |
Oct. 19, 2017 | The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony—Sacraments of Service | Fr. Jim Grogan Administrator, The Church of the Nativity, Fair Haven, NJ |
Oct. 26, 2017 | The Sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick—Sacraments of Healing | Fr. Jason Parzynski Chaplain, Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, NJ |
Sessions for the Fall 2016 Series included:
Sept. 22 | Understanding the Papal Document Amoris Laetitia | Jordan Miller, Ph.D. Teacher of Theology, Seton Hall University |
Sept. 29 | The Virtue of Misericordia: Learning to be Les Misérables Jean Valjean in a Javert World | Dr. Justin Anderson Ethics Professor, Seton Hall University |
Oct. 6 | Mercy and Forgiveness | Fr. Gene (Fr. Eugene Savarimuthu, former OLS-SA Vicar, Pastor of Sacred Heart Church, India |
Oct. 13 | Pope Francis: Where is He Taking the Catholic Church—and Will He Get There? | Christopher M. Bellitto, Ph.D. Professor of History, Kean University |
Oct. 20 | Q/A Session: Questions About the Catholic Church that You Had But Never Asked | Panel of Speakers, including Fr. Eugene Savarimuthu (Fr. Gene), Deacon Kevin O'Boyle, Len Commini, and others. |
Movies in the Summer Series of 2016 included:
June 23 OLS Meeting Room |
The 13th Day In May of 1917, three poor shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal, are visited by the Blessed Virgin Mary and their lives are transformed. |
80 min. |
July 7 St. Anthony Church Hall |
St. Anthony A simple fiar seeking a quiet contemplative life only to be thrown into the limelight of holy celebrity when his hidden gifts come to light, not least of which are his great miracles. (Italian with English subtitles...but don't let that put you off!) |
95 min. |
July 21 OLS Meeting Room |
A Man for All Seasons Academy Award Winner! Paul Scofield portrays St. Thomas More, Chancellor of England, whose friendship with the King turns sour when State and Church collide. |
120 min. |
Aug. 14 St. Anthony Church Hall |
The Song of Bernadette Classic! Another Academy Award Winner! The simple French gift Bernadette Soubirous (Jennifer Jones) finds herself in a whirlwind of controversy when she reveals that "a lady" appears to her. The sleepy hamlet of Lourdes is thrust onto the world stage. |
156 min. |
Aug. 18 OLS Meeting Room |
St. Guiseppe Moscati Dr. Joseph Moscati has a promising future as professor at a prestigious medical school in Naples and husband of the girl he loves, but his faith in God and love of the poor set him on another course. The movie is a great blend of romance, comedy, and drama! (Italian with English subtitles ...but don't let that put you off!) |
177 min. |
Sessions for the Spring (2016) Series included:
Date | Topic | Presenter |
March 31 | Spiritual but not Religious Why be a Catholic? |
Denny Slavin, Deacon, Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony |
April 7 | How the Bible Came to Be | Fr. Garry Koch Pastor, St. Benedict's Church, Holmdel Columnist for The Monitor |
April 14 | Jesus the Jew | Jordan Miller, Ph.D. Teacher of Theology, Seton Hall University |
April 21 | Islam: Religion of Peace? | TBD |
April 28 | Forgive and Forget? The Christian Way? |
Jim Knipper Deacon, St. Paul's Church, Princeton, NJ |
Sessions for the Fall 2015 series included:
Date | Topic | Presenter |
---|---|---|
Oct. 22 | Marriage and Same-Sex Attraction A Clash of Church and Culture |
Jordan Miller, Ph.D. Teacher of Theology, Seton Hall University |
Oct. 29 | Couple's Day – Church's Day Basic Teaching on Marriage, Sacramental Preparation, Annulment, and Divorce |
Msgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, M.A., M.Div. Pastor, Our Lady of Sorrows - St. Anthony Parish Vicar General, Diocese of Trenton |
Nov. 5 | Pope in a Storm Another Look at Humane Vitae of Blessed Paul VI |
Peg Hensler Associate Director, Dept. of Youth, Marriage and Family Life; Program Coordinator, Marriage Ministries and NFP, Diocese of Trenton |
Nov. 12 | Moral Challenges in Medical Science The Catholic Response to Advances in Medical Technology and Research |
Steven Bozza, M.A. Director, Respect Life Office Archdiocese of Philadelphia |
Nov. 19 | Catholic and LGBT—Compatible? | To Be Determined |