Conversations with the Nesti Center for Faith and Culture

A Call to Political Responsibility from the Catholic Bishops of the United States

Julian Ohizu, Director of Timewise Medical Services, is an alumnus of the Master of Arts in Faith and Culture program with the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (stthom.edu/cfc). He joined the M.A. in Faith in Culture program to understand American culture when he moved to the U.S. from Nigeria. He and Bridget Richardson, with the Nesti CFC, discuss how the program changed and continues to shape his life.

Fr. Binh Quach, CSSp, director of the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (CFC -https://www.stthom.edu/cfc), and Bridget Richardson, Assistant Director of Ecumenical and Pastoral Initiatives with the Nesti CFC, discuss how to pursue the path to holiness. Fr. Binh shares how we can discover our true selves and stop imposing ourselves on others.

Pierre Cannings, Assistant Pastor at Living Word Fellowship Church in Houston (https://www.lwfellowshipchurch.org/), shares with Bridget Richardson, with the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (https://www.stthom.edu/cfc), the complexities and challenges of preaching to an empty church. He talks about the shared energy of preaching to church members when they are present and how preaching during the pandemic has been a humbling experience.

Dr. Richard Ludwick, President of University of St. Thomas-Houston (UST), Curtis W. Huff, Chairman of the Board at UST, and Bridget Richardson, with the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture at UST, discuss the importance of community during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr. Ludwick and Curtis share how their leadership teams are working together and finding new ways of connecting during the pandemic. They also talk about engagement at UST and the “can do” attitude of the community.

Deacon Bob Hesse, Adjunct Professor at University of St. Thomas-Houston, Retired Vice Chairman and Faculty for the Institute of Spirituality and Health, and Co-founder and President of Contemplative Network (http://www.contemplative.net/), joins Bridget Richardson, with the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (https://www.stthom.edu/cfc), to discuss the effects of prayer on the brain. Deacon Bob tells about his research in the study of near-death experiences and how they relate to mystical experiences. He also talks about the dynamic nature of science.

Johnie Jones, Executive Pastor at Community of Faith in Hockley, TX (https://www.cof.church/), joins Bridget Richardson, with the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (https://www.stthom.edu/cfc), to talk about the value of staying engaged with your church community during the Covid-19 pandemic. Johnie talks about leadership and vulnerability and how he is learning to practice what he tells his team. They discuss how Community of Faith is keeping church members engaged and counseling them through digital means.    https://www.youtube.com/communityoffaith

Brian Greene, President & CEO of Houston Food Bank, (https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/), joins Bridget Richardson, with the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (https://www.stthom.edu/cfc), to discuss how the Houston Food Bank has continued to serve the community during the pandemic. Brian shares how changes in the supply chain affect the food bank and how volunteers and team members are adapting. He also shares insight about food and income securities. The two briefly discuss their love for their alma mater, University of Tennessee – Knoxville.

Fr. Donald Nesti, CSSp, founder of the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (CFC), talks with Dr. Don Frohlich, professor of biology at University of St. Thomas-Houston, and Bridget Richardson, with the Nesti CFC, about “Laudato Si,” Pope Francis’ Encyclical Letter on the care for our common home. Fr. Nesti and Dr. Frohlich discuss the power of nature and our human stewardship.

Dr. Stuart Squires, Associate Director of the Nesti Center for Faith & Culture (CFC - https://www.stthom.edu/cfc) and Associate Professor of Theology at University of St. Thomas – Houston, and Dr. Andrew Staron, theologian and instructor at Regis University in Denver, Colorado (https://www.regis.edu), share with Bridget Richardson, with the Nesti CFC, about the Doctor of Grace, St. Augustine of Hippo. They discuss how St. Augustine chose to live out his last days before death and how we can use St. Augustine as an example for evaluating our lives during this time of pandemic.