Speaker Series April 2008!
Thanks to all those who helped make another great Speaker Series! Check out information about the speakers and topics:
April 3 @ Kildare's: "Getting Engaged in Community Service,"
Kirsten Lodal, co-founder of National Student Partnership
 Kirsten Lodal co-founded National Student Partnerships in 1998 as a sophomore at Yale University and has devoted the last nine years to guiding the development and expansion of NSP's innovative program model. Since its founding, NSP has graduated more than 3,000 student volunteer advocates who have collectively served over 20,000 low-income families. At present, the organization operates student-driven resource centers in 12 communities nationwide. Under Lodal's leadership, the organization is executing a sustainability plan focused on strengthening NSP's current infrastructure and growing its local impact with the goal of positioning the organization to enter its next replication stage by 2009. Lodal is a frequent public speaker on such topics as social entrepreneurship, program evaluation, and civic engagement; her audiences in the last year have ranged from students at Harvard Business School to members of the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. Lodal is also committed to strengthening the non-profit sector as a whole and actively serves on several Boards, coaches leaders of emerging social ventures, and participates in numerous policy working groups; in 2006, she was proud to serve as a delegate to the first ever Non-Profit Congress. Along with NSP Co-Founder Brian Kreiter, Kirsten was the 2004 recipient of the Jefferson Award for Public Service, recognized with the Samuel S. Beard Award for Greatest Public Service by an Individual 35 or Under. Lodal was recently named by the Washingtonian magazine as one of Washington’s “40 Under 40” and in the May 2007 “Power” edition of Washington Life magazine as “What’s Next in DC.” She holds an executive management certificate from Columbia Business School's Institute for Not-for-Profit Management.
[Read Kirsten Lodal's complete bio]
Back to Series Summary
April 10 @ St. Mary of the Assumption Parish: "Theology and South Park: A spiritual look at a pop culture phenomena,"
Dr. S. Joel Garver, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at LaSalle University
 Dr. Garver's primary academic interest is philosophical theology in service to the church.
Philosophical theology is a kind of combination of systematic theology, historical theology, and biblical theology, bringing the tools and perspectives of philosophy to bear upon issues of faith, particularly in terms of meta-issues of how our assumptions (in terms of ontology, epistemology, and so on) affect and shape theology and where they fit in the unfolding history of theological thought.
Moreover, [Dr. Garver sees] this interest as one that is best nurtured in the context of a liturgical piety rooted in the word and sacraments, in conversation with the wider traditions of the Christian church of all ages.
Excerpted (above) from Dr. Garver's web site.
For more detailed information on teaching and publications, consult his complete curriculum vitae. A selection of writings is also available.
[Read Sacra Doctina: a blog by S. Joel Garver
Visit Stephen. Joel Garver's web site]
Back to Series Summary
April 17 @ Kildare's: "Images of God & Praying Your Day,"
Rev. Ray Donaldson SJ, teacher and chaplain at Gesu School
Fr. Ray Donaldson, S.J. is currently the Chaplain and the Advanced Math teacher at Gesu School in North Philadelphia, an independent Catholic School elementary school. He is also a pastoral minister at Old Saint Joseph’s Church.
Before entering the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits) in 1995, Fr. Ray earned his B.S.E.E in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland College Park and worked as an engineer for a number of years. Fr. Ray holds an M.A. from Loyola University Chicago and an M.Div. from Weston Jesuit School of Theology.
In his TOT presentation, Fr. Ray will explore different images of God and the impact these images have on our prayer. He will also lead us in an experience of the Examen, a popular Jesuit method of prayer that helps us discover the movement of God in our daily lives.
[Read more about the Gesu School]
Back to Series Summary
April 24 @ Kildare's: Live Performance and spiritual discussion
with the band Remnant 11
Remnant 11 is the messianic fusion band proud to be bringing walls of sound to the Philadelphia area since 2005. The five versatile members have coined the term "Messianic Fusion" to describe their unique sound. Messianic Fusion combines Biblical and Messianic Jewish lyrics with musical styles that cut across cultures, eras, and genres, creating a unique interpretation of rock music. R11 is dedicated to delivering an electrifying live show. Bass guitar and pulsing drums work the groove while a mix of acoustic and electric guitars provide the melody. The keyboard's synthesized layers add a nice sheen to the sound bringing it together for the vocalists. Remnant11 plays for purpose of glorifying the Creator of music, as well as bringing inspiration to audiences where ever they play. The band has played numerous spots in the Philadelphia area as well as the Messiah National Conference in Grantham, PA.
[Find out more about Remnant Eleven]
Back to Series Summary
|
