The Portsmouth Institute has announced that Robert P. George, McCormick Professor of Jurisprudence and Director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University, will give a talk to open the 2013 Portsmouth Institute on CATHOLICISM AND THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE on June 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM. The title of Professor George’s talk will be “Religious Liberty and the Human Good.”
Professor George joins other world class speakers such as Peter Steinfels, George Weigel, Roger Kimball and Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence at this year’s Institute. “We are humbled and gratified to have attracted such an outstanding collection of Catholic intellectuals to speak on this important subject at the beginning of Pope Francis’ pontificate, and we look forward to welcoming all who are interested in Catholic life to the beautiful shores of Narragansett Bay in early June,” said Portsmouth Institute director, James MacGuire ’70.
For more information or to register please go to www.portsmouthinstitute.org or contact Cindy Waterman at (401) 643-1244 or cwaterman@portsmouthabbey.org
The 2013 Portsmouth Institute: “Catholicisim and the American Experience”
Speakers for this fifth annual conference will include: George Weigel, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, papal biographer and author of many books on Catholicism, on “Catholics in an Unfamiliar America;” His Excellency, The Most Reverend Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence, on “Evangelization in a Secular Age;” former New York Times and Commonweal editor Peter Steinfels on “Catholic Identity Versus Catholic Leadership in a Secular America;” New Criterion editor Roger Kimball on, “Is There Such a Thing as Catholic Art?”; Casey Carter ‘84, on “The Faith in the Future Foundation: A New Paradigm in American Catholic Education;” Alex Mikulich ‘79, of Loyola University in New Orleans, on “Witnessing to Charity in Truth: Pope Benedict’s Call to Practice Integral Human Development;” and Jim Forest of The Catholic Worker, on “Servant of God Dorothy Day.”
“Last year’s elections underscored the critical juncture at which we have arrived in discussing the role of religion and religious liberty in our country’s public square,” commented Portsmouth Institute Director James MacGuire. “We think the time has come to explore the implications of this changed landscape for Catholics and Catholicism in America going forward.”
In addition to scholarly presentations, the Institute will feature a dramatic production based on the life and work of 19th-Century philosopher and theologian Orestes Brownson by Kevin O’Brien, founder of Theater of the Word and a frequent EWTN contributor. There will also be musical presentations by Troy Quinn http://www.troyquinn.com/# and the Portsmouth Institute orchestra, including works by Leonard Bernstein, Dave Brubeck, and Randall Thompson.
Past conferences have included The Catholic William F. Buckley (2009), Newman and the Intellectual Tradition (2010), The Catholic William Shakespeare? (2011), and Modern Science/Ancient Faith (2012).
Friends of these pages will find Portsmouth in June at its loveliest, so tell your friends and come to a convivial gathering for relaxation and stimulation.
The 2012 Portsmouth Institute: ” Modern Science, Ancient Faith
The Portsmouth Institute will be held June 22-24 on what has been called “the friendship of science and religion”. Speakers will include Abbot James Wiseman, O.S.B. of Catholic University, Dr. Kenneth Miller of Brown University, Dr. William Dembski ’78 of the Discovery Institute, Rev. Nicanor Austriaco of Providence College, and many others. There will be a dramatic production based on the life of Dom Stanley Jaki, O.S.B., and musical presentations of works by copland, Sibelius, Honegger and Samuel Barber. Go to www.portsmouthinstitute.org for the complete lineup and schedule and details on attending. It should be wonderful!
The 2011 Portsmouth Institute on “The Catholic Shakespeare?”
2011 Portsmouth Institute Announced: The 2011 Portsmouth Institute on “The Catholic Shakespeare?” has been set for June 10-12, 2011. Over the three-day event, scholars, actors, musicians, dancers and poets will explore the Christian and Catholic influences that helped mold the Bard’s universal genius. Speakers and performers of many kinds will present a wide variety of perspectives on the conference theme and, as always, there will be ample opportunity for reflection, fellowship, sightseeing, sports, recreation and prayer. Complete details will be announced shortly, but those wishing to register early or seeking further information can contact Cindy Waterman at (401) 643-1244 or at cwaterman@portsmouthabbey.org.
Newly-Created Monastic Renewal Program Office
Abbot Caedmon Holmes, O.S.B., and Board of Regents Chairman John “Mac” Regan ’68 are pleased to announce that David E. Moran, Class of 1971 and Mac’s predecessor on the Board, has been appointed director of a newly established Monastic Renewal Program Office, effective July 1, 2010. David will be full-time and a resident at Portsmouth.
The Monastic Renewal Program Office will spearhead activities that will deepen the hospitality program of the Monastery with the aim of sharing the Monastery’s gifts with the wider world, and will undertake an effort to effectively present the Monastery of St. Gregory the Great to individuals considering a vocation to the religious life.
This is a joint undertaking of the School and Monastery, and is a response to a Board retreat held in April to consider ways to further the Monastery as an institutional guide to the Portsmouth Abbey community and to deepen the Benedictine culture of the School.
David can be reached at dmoran@portsmouthabbey.org and also by phone at 401.643.1385.