News

The Hank Center in the News

Highlights from the 2025 Annual Cardinal Bernardin Lecture

The Hank Center was delighted to welcome Most Rev. Mark J. Seitz, Bishop of El Paso and Chairman of the USCCB Committee on Migration, to deliver the annual Cardinal Bernardin Common Cause lecture. Watch the lecture, read the published version in Commonweal Magazine, or read the accompanying interview between Bishop Seitz, Dominic Preziosi and Kenneth L. Woodward.

Hank Center Publications

Dr. Joe Vukov featured on the AMDG Podcast

The Hank Center's Associate Director, Dr. Joe Vukov was recently interviewed in AMDG: A Jesuit podcast, discussing his new book, Staying Human in an Era of Artificial Intelligence.

Listen to the podcast here, or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out Joe's new book here.

Congratulations, Joe!

The Hank Center in the News

Highlights from The Way Forward 2025

The 2025 Way Forward Conference, co-organized by the Hank Center and hosted at Fordham University, saw eighty-eight Catholics leaders come together to discuss Pope Francis’ 2020 encyclical Fratelli tutti. View the Vatican News media coverage of the event, as well as a special messages from participants for Pope Francis.

Spring 2025 Event Calendar

Check here for information about all of our Spring 2025 events and to access our events calendar for the semester! Click on individual events to access their landing pages.

Sam Sawyer Event Video: Now Available

Second Annual Jesuit Lecture: Video Now Available

Journeys of Dignity Lecture 2: “St. John Paul II and Pope Francis on Migration”

February 14, 2025
12:00pm – 1:00 pm
Zoom Only
The Hank Center proudly cosponsored Journeys of Dignity: A Lecture series on Migration through the Lens of Catholic Social Teaching and Jesuit Education.
Speaker: Jarek Mikuczewski, S.J., PhD
Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics
Stritch School of Medicine

Journeys of Dignity Lecture 1: “Education and Migration: A Double Helix of Loyola’s Spiritual DNA” | Video now available

January 15, 2025
Zoom Only
The Hank Center was proud to cosponsor Journeys of Dignity: A Lecture series on Migration through the Lens of Catholic Social Teaching and Jesuit Education.
Speakers: Michael Canaris, PhD, Institute for Pastoral Studies
Aleja Sastoque Luna, MA, Campus Ministry

The event video is now available.

The Way Forward 2025 | Fratelli tutti: Cultivating the Politics of Communion and Compassion

Fordham University, NYC
March 12–14, 2025

This year’s meeting, Fratelli tutti: Cultivating the Politics of Communion and Compassion brings together a select group of Cardinals, other Bishops, scholars, public-facing Catholics, and journalists to focus on Pope Francis’ encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, its specific themes of social friendship and a “better kind of politics,” and the reception of these themes in the Catholic Church in the U.S.

Philip Metres: Seeking Refuge, Writing Home

Philip Metres: Seeking Refuge, Writing Home

2024 Annual Cardinal Bernardin Lecture featuring Papal Nuncio, Cardinal Christophe Pierre

April 11, 2024 at 7pm
McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall, LSC
This lecture, named after Joseph Bernardin, Cardinal Archbishop of Chicago from 1982 to 1996, for his influential work toward Church reform after the Second Vatican Council through his Catholic Common Ground Initiative. Bernardin further sought to address social issues, especially in developing his “Seamless Garment Ethic of Life" He also worked toward ecumenism and interfaith dialogue throughout his life. This year’s Bernardin Lecturer was Cardinal Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. His lecture entitled, "Pope Francis: Discernment and the Dialectic of Mercy," explored the transformative power of grace and learning the language of mercy through dialectical encounters.
This event was free and open to the public. Video available using the link above.

Synodal Conversation with Cardinal Cupich

January 23, 2024 at 4pm
4th Floor Information Commons, LSC
Cardinal Cupich visits Loyola to join the student community in the next stage of the Synodal Conversation. The theme of the synod is: “For a synodal church: Communion, participation, mission” and Cardinal Cupich will join his voice in reflecting on the instrumentum laboris that will help shape the agenda for the final convening in fall 2024. The foundational question of the working document remains: what are “the characteristic signs of a synodal church?” This gathering is cosponsored by CCIH, the Office of Mission Integration, and Campus Ministry.

Andalusia in Andalucía: An International Conference on Flannery O'Connor

Universidad Loyola Andalucía, in conjunction with the Hank Center, will be hosting a conference on the American writer Flannery O'Connor in Seville, Spain in June 2017.

Pope Francis' Urbi et Orbi address

On March 27, 2020, Pope Francis gave this address to the world during an extraordinary Urbi et Orbi blessing.

COVID-19 Update

An update on upcoming Hank Center events with regard to COVID-19. Please watch for more updates.

Spiritual and Cultural Pilgrimage to Spain

This summer, follow in the footsteps of St. Ignatius of Loyola under the leadership of Fr. Mark Bosco, S.J., Dr. Natasha Ritsma, Curator of the Loyola University Museum of Art, and Kathleen Beaulieu, Board Member of the Loyola University Museum of Art.

What Loyola’s Final Four Run Can Teach Us about Catholic Schools and Sports by Michael P. Murphy

America Magazine publishes insightful commentary by Hank Center Director, Michael P. Murphy.

JESUITICAL: a podcast for young Catholics

In collaboration with America Magazine, and co-sponsored by Catholic Studies and the Jesuit Community, the Hank Center proudly presents Jesuitical, a podcast from America Media.

In Stride with St. Ignatius: A Weeklong Pilgrimage to Sanctuaries and Cities in Spain

May 10-17, 2020
POSTPONED
Faculty, staff, and alumni of Loyola University Chicago are invited to join Father D. Scott Hendrickson, S.J., on a Spain pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Ignatius. As part of the University’s 150th anniversary in 2020 and celebrating 150 years of Ignatian heritage, the institution draws from the rich spiritual and pedagogical tradition established by St. Ignatius and his first companions. In places of great historical and religious significance, such as Loyola, Arántzazu, Xavier, Montserrat, and Manresa, and in the nearby cities—Bilbao, San Sebastián, Pamplona, Zaragoza, and Barcelona—we will have the chance to explore and learn more about the life and legacy of St. Ignatius and gain an appreciation for our role as faculty, staff, and alumni of Loyola University Chicago in embracing and carrying forth the Ignatian mission and vision.

Habemus Papam +5

Marking the fifth anniversary of the election of the first Jesuit Pope, CCIH welcomes Massimo Faggioli, Professor of Theology and Religious Studies at Villanova University who will provide the keynote.

Research Fellowship Applications Now Available

Applications Due March 1, 2020.
Research fellowship of $2000 available to declared Catholic Studies minors. Completed applications must be submitted online through Loyola Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (LUROP). Awards will be announced on April 15. For more information about this research fellowship or the Catholic Studies Minor, email Dr. Michael P. Murphy at mmurphy23@luc.edu.

Remembering Pope Benedict

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, a leading theologian of the 20th century and the first pope to resign from office in nearly 600 years, died on December 31st at the age of 95. The Hank Center has compiled some of the remembrances of Pope Benedict which focus not only on his life, but also his legacy.

America Magazine Welcomes Hank Center Alumnus: Angelo Jesus Canta

America Magazine Welcomes Hank Center Alumnus: Angelo Jesus Canta

Evangelical Fundamentalism and the Catholic Right: Dr. Michael Murphy, Dr. Miguel Díaz, and many others respond

Commentary on Fr. Antonio Spadaro, S.J. and Marcelo Figueroa's article, “Evangelical Fundamentalism and Catholic Integralism,” from the Hank Center and other leading theologians.

Hank Center Fall 2017 Events Calendar

Hank Center Fall 2017 Events Calendar

America Magazine Welcomes Hank Center Alumnus: Angelo Jesus Canta

This past week, America Magazine welcomed the latest O'Hare Fellows to its team. Among the three college graduates selected for this highly competitive program was Loyola University Chicago and the Hank Center's own Angelo Jesus Canta (pictured right).

Thank You and Farewell, Fr. Bosco

After 14 years at Loyola and 5 years as Hank Center director, Fr. Mark Bosco steps down and joins Georgetown University as Mission and Ministry VP.

Reformation Symposium Speakers Featured on NPR

The Hank Center's Featured Speakers, Aana Marie Vigen, Susan Ross, and Craig Muller, with Fr. Don Senior and David Goa, recently spoke on NPR about the Protestant Reformation’s 500th anniversary and the Hank Center's upcoming Symposium.

Video Available | Preventing Unjust War: A Catholic Argument for Selective Conscientious Objection

Why does humankind continue to be plagued by war?
With the example of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at hand, Loyola sociologist of religion Fr. Paddy Gilger, SJ, engaged author Roger Bergman in a lively discussion of what the Catholic intellectual heritage can contribute to this perennial problem.
May 25, 2022
12:00-1:30 PM CT
Zoom Forum

Lured: The Curse of Swans

This play portrays three Irish women coming to terms with the death of Paddy, their husband and father, familial estrangement, and struggles for senses of personal authenticity. Written by Terry Boyle (Department of English) and directed by Becca Holloway.
April 11-13th
8:00 p.m.
Mullady Theatre, Mertz Hall

Honoring the Class of 2020

Congratulations to the senior Catholic Studies Minors and the whole Class of 2020!

2017 Catholic Imagination Conference

The Hank Center is co-sponsoring a conference that will explore the role that Catholic writers play—and the role they will continue to play—in American culture and in the life of the church. Showcasing works that integrate the Catholic vision into the wider world, this forum is for scholars, writers, editors, publishers, critics, and all lovers of great writing.

A Week with Dan Berrigan, SJ

Learn more about the Hank Center's exciting week-long commemoration of Dan Berrigan, activist Jesuit priest and his commitment to practicing a faith that does justice.

Conversations on the Catholic Imagination

Videos from the superb panels at the Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination Conference in May-- including an hour-long conversation with Martin Scorsese-- are now available here.

In Conversation: Hank Center Connects | Micheal O'Siadhail on the Birth of Modernity

In this short segment of a larger interview, Micheal O'Siadhail, acclaimed author of the groundbreaking poetry collection The Five Quintets, discusses the challenges and benefits of interspersing scientific and theological quotations to communicate a sense of the epoch of modernity.

Lunch with the Saints

This event featured speakers Father Jerome Overbeck, Dr. Michael P. Murphy, and artist David Csiscko. Discussion, hosted lunch, and gallery walk through the Saint Exhibit followed.
Friday, November 1st
11:30 AM-1:00 PM
Loyola University Museum of Art (LUMA)
820 N Michigan Avenue (Water Tower Campus)

Highlights of the Third Biennial Catholic Imagination Conference

View a video retrospective on the 2019 Catholic Imagination Conference

Video Available | The 2021 Saint John Henry Newman Lecture: Dr. Jennifer Frey

Jennifer Frey, Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of South Carolina, offers the 2021 Newman Lecture, which invites scholars to recount their own discovery of the Catholic intellectual tradition in light of their ongoing research and thought. Professor Frey, a convert to Catholicism, shared part of her spiritual autobiography-- with special attention to Augustine, Aquinas, and John Paul II-- and provide observations on dynamic relationship between faith and culture.
March 25, 2021, 4:00 PM CDT
Zoom Forum

VIDEO AVAILABLE | Everything is Connected: Reflections on "Home" on the 5th Anniversary of Laudato Si'

May 21, 4:00 PM CDT
Online
This event was free and open to the public. Registration required.

Video Available| Race, Justice, and Catholicism

A conversation hosted by the Lumen Christi Institute and cosponsored by the Hank Center, featuring distinguished legal scholars Herschella Conyers, Vincent Rougeau, and Eduardo Peñalver.
Monday, June 22, 5:00 PM CDT

Videos Available | A Prophet is Not Known in Her Town: Conversations on Visionary Women

Sr. Carol Zinn, SSJ, Ph.D., offered the keynote address for this special two-day symposium.
September 24 & 25, 2020

Video Available | Fratelli Tutti: A Conversation Addressing Pope Francis’s New Encyclical on Human Solidarity and its Socio-Political Implications for the United States

During a time when our nation experienced an unprecedented health and socio-political crisis, a nationally recognized panel of voices explored the teaching of this encyclical on human solidarity and drew some concrete implications for this pivotal moment in our nation’s history. With M. Shawn Copeland, John Gehring, Carmen Nanko-Fernández, and Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv.
October 16, 2020, 12:00 - 1:30 PM

Conversations on the Catholic Imagination

A public voices archive featuring writers, poets, playwrights, and more. Recorded at the 2019 Catholic Imagination Conference.

Videos Available | Catholic Higher Education in Light of Catholic Social Thought

View videos of the events in our series based on the book Catholic Higher Education in Light of Catholic Social Thought: Critical-Constructive Essays

Gema Kloppe-Santamaría Named a 2020 Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation Distinguished Scholar

Congratulations to Gema Kloppe-Santamaría, Assistant Professor of History and a past recipient of a Hank Center research grant, on being named a 2020 Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation Distinguished Scholar for her research project In the Name of Christ: Religious Violence and Its Legitimacy in Mexico (1920-2020). She spoke on her research on Wednesday, March 17, at 5:15 PM EDT/ 4:15 CDT.

Poetry Corner

2016 Teilhard Fellow, Irish poet, John F. Deane, introduces and reads new poetry in this most enjoyable and edifying 30-minute piece. John reads and reflects from his home in County Leitrim in the middle west of Ireland. His new memoir, Song of the Goldfinch is also out from Veritas Press. John is a gift, a poet of rare insight and talent whose work is of the very best of this age-- or any other.

Flannery: The Storied Life of the Writer from Georgia

An award winning film by Elizabeth Coffman and Mark Bosco, SJ. Production of this film was supported by the Hank Center and it premiered at the 2019 Catholic Imagination Conference. It premiered on PBS American Masters on March 23 (check local listings).

Video Available| The Origins of Mass Incarceration: The Courts and the 1960s Criminal Procedure Revolution?

A conversation with Judge Stephanos Bibas and Emeritus Professor William Pizzi, moderated by Cook County Judge Tom Donnelly. This event is part of the Catholic Criminal Justice Reform Network, a new initiative of the Lumen Christi Institute co-sponsored by the Hank Center and many other partners.
April 8, 2021, 7:00 PM CDT
Zoom Forum

Video Available| Loyola’s CATH 296 Students Sponsor Virtual Gala for RISE: Refugees In Schools Everywhere

Zoom Forum
All Are Welcome
This event included:
Remarks by Ann Strandoo of RISE
Interviews with student refugees, both here and abroad
Remarks from Fr. James Martin, SJ
A performance by the International Orchestra of Refugees (founded and directed by Loyola graduate Sebastian Agignoae)
An Examen prayer led by Jesuit Scholastics.
Thursday, April 22, 2021
4:00 - 5:15 PM CDT

VIDEO AVAILABLE | Spirit and the Machine: Catholic Responses to an Increasingly Artificial World

An interdisciplinary conversation with Fr. Phillip Larrey (Pontifical Lateran University), Ann Skeet (Santa Clara University), and John W. Farrell (journalist) on Artificial intelligence (AI), one of the most important technologies in the world today-- but also one rife with serious spiritual, social and ethical questions.
May 12, 2021, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM CDT
Zoom Forum

VIDEO AVAILABLE | A Better Way to Work: Pope Francis, the Care Economy, and the Future of Work

In the aftermath of the global pandemic, the economic value of care reemerges as what it has always been: a matter of human dignity and justice. Re-prioritizing care requires new mindsets--from building a world that is socially and environmentally just, to reevaluating the meaning of decent work in contemporary life, to developing feasible economic and public policies that place care of people and care of environment at the center of life. We were honored to host a dialogue about these crucial questions.
June 22, 2021, 11:30 AM CDT
Zoom Forum

VIDEO AVAILABLE | Conversations on the Catholic Imagination: Why Dante Matters Today

Marking the 700th anniversary of Dante’s death—and his enduring influence on the Catholic imagination in theology, art, politics, and culture. Part of our series of Conversations on the Catholic Imagination. Featuring Fr. Stephen Gregg (Our Lady of Dallas Cistercian Abbey), Angela Alaimo O’Donnell (Fordham University), Randy Boyagoda (University of Toronto), and Paul Mariani (Boston College, retired).
September 9, 2021, 4:00-5:30 PM CDT
Zoom Forum

VIDEO AVAILABLE | Catholicism in Dialogue: Conversations on Racial Justice

An ecumenical and interfaith conversation exploring racial justice in Judaism, Islam, Catholicism, and Baha’i. Featuring Pastor Chris Harris (Bright Star Church Chicago), Omer M. Mozaffar (LUC), Steve Sarowitz (Baha'i Faith), and Rabbi Michal Woll (Congregation Shir Hadash). This thought-provoking event is part of our series on Catholicism in Dialogue.
September 22, 2021, 4:00-5:30 PM CDT
Zoom Forum

15 Years at the Hank Center!

Last year we recognized and celebrated 15 amazing years and the generous support the Hank Center for the Catholic Intellectual Heritage has received. Throughout the year we will had several events and initiatives to mark this important milestone.

Nexus: Conversations on the Catholic Intellectual Tradition

New Issue!
Nexus is a digital-age journal that amplifies and publishes scholarly dialogue taking place in the Hank Center.
With its focus on the critical and creative work of younger, emerging scholars, Volume III: Catholic Imaginations both honors and continues this work by exploring the Catholic Imagination, one expression and offspring of the Catholic intellectual tradition.
May these pieces, provided by the next generation of Catholic artists and scholars, stimulate insight and engender constructive, life-giving conversation.

Read More About Our Historic Event With Pope Francis

Interested in reading more about the 2022 event with Pope Francis? Below are two highlighted pieces, but all of the conversation surrounding this historic event can be seeing by clicking on the title above.
Pope Francis to meet with college students in virtual dialogue hosted by Chicago's Loyola University
By Brian Fraga
National Catholic Reporter
Pope Francis to speak with Loyola University of Chicago Students
Fox News 32 Chicago

Student Perspectives on Building Bridges North-South

Loyola students were excited to welcome Pope Francis! Please view our welcome message where students shared their hopes and dreams for the future. Video Available Here

Building Bridges Initiative

Loyola University Chicago had the honor of hosting Pope Francis for his historic visit with college students on February 24, 2022. Yet this was just the beginning of the Building Bridges Initiative. Click here to read more and learn how you can be involved in this ongoing initiative.

Honoring the season of Lent

Hank Center Director, Michael P. Murphy, recently spoke with Christine and Chip from WGN News Now about the 40 day adventure of Lent. The three talked about the intentionality of sacrifice and how also adding service can help create spiritual fulfillment during this time of year. You can watch the full conversation here.

Welcome and Protect: Jesuit Refugee Service's Response to the Ukraine Crisis

February 9, 2023
Video now available. We were pleased to welcome Jesuit Refugee Services staff members, Diana Haidemak, a legal counselor for JRS Romania, and Oleana Zinkevych, Ukrainian Team Coordinator. Diana and Oleana shared stories from their work providing support to refugees from Ukraine, as well as refugees from across other parts of the world.
This event was free & open to the public.
4:00-5:00 pm (with a Zoom Option)
McCormick Lounge, Coffey Hall, LSC

The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination - Videos available

May 25-27, 2023
La Civiltà Cattolica
Rome, Italy
Videos Available.
The Hank Center was excited to co-host a conference in May in Rome. The gathering brought together both critical readers and creative artists from North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and East Asia who self-identify as Catholic or pay homage to Catholicism as a formative dimension of their artistry.
The Hank Center's own Dr. Michael Murphy offered an inside look to this historic event recently in America Magazine. You can read that article here.
This conference was co-sponsored by The Office of Mission & Ministry at Georgetown University, La Civiltà Cattolica, The Hank Center, and The Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies at Fordham University.

Reading the Catholic Imagination

Reading the Catholic Imagination is back for its second summer! RCI is an online summer reading and discussion series for readers and writers to explore together the Catholic literary imagination in its myriad forms: in new work by self-professed Catholic writers; in the crossings and convergences of old and new work, religious and secular; and in our own habits of reading. Registration will run from May 30 - June 30, 2024. Please see the link for more details about session offerings!

Pope Francis' Address at the Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination

On May 27, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the participants in the conference organized by “La Civiltà Cattolica” with Georgetown University on the theme: “The Global Aesthetics of the Catholic Imagination”. The Pope’s address to those present at the meeting can be found by clicking on the title of this box.

Interview with Jason Blakely, Author of "Lost in Ideology"

Hank Center Director, Dr. Michael Murphy, sits down with Dr. Jason Blakely, political philosopher, Associate Professor of Political Science at Pepperdine University and author of the new book, "Lost in Ideology." Thirty minutes of rousing conversation about the themes that constitute Dr. Blakely’s timely, needed work.