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Previous Sessions
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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 MonitorOct. 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 TrentonOct. 19, 2017 The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony—Sacraments of Service Fr. Jim Grogan
Administrator, The Church of the Nativity, Fair Haven, NJOct. 26, 2017 The Sacraments of Penance and Anointing of the Sick—Sacraments of Healing Fr. Jason Parzynski
Chaplain, Notre Dame High School, Lawrenceville, NJSessions for the Fall 2016 Series included:
Sept. 22 Understanding the Papal Document Amoris Laetitia Jordan Miller, Ph.D.
Teacher of Theology, Seton Hall UniversitySept. 29 The Virtue of Misericordia: Learning to be Les Misérables Jean Valjean in a Javert World Dr. Justin Anderson
Ethics Professor, Seton Hall UniversityOct. 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 UniversityOct. 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 RoomThe 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 HallSt. 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 RoomA 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 HallThe 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 RoomSt. 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. AnthonyApril 7 How the Bible Came to Be Fr. Garry Koch
Pastor, St. Benedict's Church, Holmdel
Columnist for The MonitorApril 14 Jesus the Jew Jordan Miller, Ph.D.
Teacher of Theology, Seton Hall UniversityApril 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 CultureJordan Miller, Ph.D.
Teacher of Theology,
Seton Hall UniversityOct. 29 Couple's Day – Church's Day
Basic Teaching on Marriage, Sacramental Preparation, Annulment, and DivorceMsgr. Thomas N. Gervasio, M.A., M.Div.
Pastor, Our Lady of Sorrows - St. Anthony Parish
Vicar General, Diocese of TrentonNov. 5 Pope in a Storm
Another Look at Humane Vitae of Blessed Paul VIPeg Hensler
Associate Director, Dept. of Youth, Marriage and Family Life;
Program Coordinator, Marriage Ministries and NFP, Diocese of TrentonNov. 12 Moral Challenges in Medical Science
The Catholic Response to Advances in Medical Technology and ResearchSteven Bozza, M.A.
Director, Respect Life Office
Archdiocese of PhiladelphiaNov. 19 Catholic and LGBT—Compatible? To Be Determined