The Newman Forum takes an adult approach to catechesis. Rather than being passive recipients of spoon-fed knowledge, we invite you to actively wrestle with the themes. Each gathering will feature a scholar offering a short insightful presentation. Then it will be your turn to let those ideas churn in you, and explore how the Spirit is cheering, challenging, supporting, asking, even demanding, us together – or you uniquely – to respond and co-create the future.
Inspired by our patron, Blessed John Henry Newman, we believe that together, guided by the light of the Holy Spirit, our minds can begin to unravel deep and profound mysteries of God to guide our earthly journey.
We invite everyone to come to the Newman Forum. Great, funny, perhaps life-changing things can happen when we as a community gather in and with Christ to grow in faith, hope, and love.
If you have feedback or ideas and suggestions for future Forum events, please contact Fr. Paul.
2018-2019 Schedule
SING OUT! a vocal workshop for shy and not-so-shy singers with Cal’s emerita Director of Choirs - 10/28/18 - Dr. Marika Kuzma
Focus on FOCUS - 11/4/18 - Rachel Michaud
2017-2018 Schedule
Catholic Charities: Transforming Lives Tour - 9/10/17
Holy Mud: The Inner Spirituality of our Concrete Chapel - Dan Cawthon - 9/16/17
Mercy in Action: The Social Teachings of Pope Francis - Fr. Thomas Massaro, SJ - 10/15
We Stand Together in Christ: A Catholic/Lutheran Perspective on the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation - Fr. Thomas Bonacci, CP - 11/19/17
2016-2017 Schedule
Welcoming Refugees in the Year of Mercy: Organizing a Refugee Ministry Team at Holy Spirit/Newman - Catholic Charities of the East Bay - 9/18/16
Rays of Hope: Meeting Israeli and Palestinian Peace Makers - Seema Dajani and Judy Gussmann - 10/16/16
Saint Teresa of Kolkata and the Joy of the Gospel - Br. Charles Hilken, FSC - 11/20/16
Faith in+forms Art informs Faith- Chris & Randy Dixon - 12/18/16
On the Mass - Fr. George Fitzgerald, CSP - 2/19/17
2015-2016 Schedule
Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home - Miguel Altieri & Fritjof Capra - 9/27/15
Laudato Si’: On Care for our Common Home - Betsy Reifsnider - 10/18/15
Toward a Spirituality of Work - Fr. Tom Massaro, SJ - 11/15/15
Optimal Performance on Exams: Conquering Test Anxiety - Neil Fiore - 12/3/15
The Advent Spirituality of Mary - Fr. Frank DeSiano, CSP - 12/6/15
Berkeley Catholic Worker: Serving East Bay’s Neediest - JC Orton - 2/21/16
Vatican II, Berkeley and Beyond: The First Half Century of the Oakland Diocese, 1962-2012 - Bishop John Cummins - 3/13/16
Race in America: A Perspective from an Asian Feminist Theologian’s intercultural Praxis - Boyung Lee - 4/17/16
Catholic Charities - 5/15/16
2014-2015 Schedule
Revolution in Church Teaching: The Vatican II Decree on the Jews - John Connelly - 9/21/14
Back to the Future at Vatican II: How the Council of Jerusalem in Luke/Acts illuminates the Church in Our Time - Sally Vance-Trembath - 9/28/14
Truthful Witness: Prophetic Jesus, the Prophetic Church - Jean Molesky Poz - 10/5/14
Catholics in the Public Square: The Landscape since Vatican II - Fr. Tom Massaro, SJ - 11/9/14