Dr. Michael Rota, Professor of Philosophy at the University of St. Thomas, presented research on current challenges in transmitting the Catholic faith and strategies for strengthening our children's faith in the home and in the Church.  In this talk, he unpacks some of the specific obstacles facing parents in this secular age, and offers some good news and practical tips for Catholic parents and parishes on keeping our children in the Church.

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Dr. Rota is currently writing a book for Ignatius Press on how Catholic parents can more effectively hand on a life of discipleship to their children and how parishes can support them in that mission. He is also the author of Taking Pascal's Wager: Faith, Evidence and the Abundant Life and Friends of God and Slaves of Men: Religion and Slavery, Past and Present.

Horror to suffering 

The inmoderate desire for pleasure

Sr. Leann shares how the Sacred Heart invites us to conversion, especially in the penitential season of Lent. To properly dispose our hearts to receiving God's graces, the spirit of self-denial enables us to fight against our tendancy towards self-love and align our wills with the Sacred Heart.

Men's Spiritual Exercises 2025, talk 3. On Dec 6.

From the Men's Spiritual Exercises 2025, Talk 1

Patron Saint of the Missions 

Human flourishing depends on leisure, understood correctly as resting in God. Dr. Michael Naughton deepened our understanding of leisure and how it requires a conversion of mind and attitude of the soul to receive. To assist us in this conversion, he grounds us in the philosophy of leisure and offers some practical tips for recovering our rest in God on Sundays.  

Fr. Patrick, PES, shared highlights of the inspiring lives of Saints Carlo Acutis and Pier Giorgio Frassati, showing how their everyday practice of heroic virtue points us to a higher vocation of holiness. 

On Saturday Sept 20, 2025