Center for Catholic Studies

What We Do

Catholic Studies is an interdisciplinary inquiry into the intellectual tradition, history, and culture — both "high" and popular — of the Catholic Christian tradition.

The Center for Catholic Studies at Fairfield University exists to sponsor four related sets of activities. They are:

To establish and administer an undergraduate interdisciplinary minor program in Catholic Studies.
To work to support the academic component of "mission and identity" education and programming on campus.
To promote an understanding and appreciation of the Catholic intellectual tradition on campus.
To establish programming for, and outreach to, the local community — especially but not exclusively the local Catholic community.

Queer Bodies, Queer God | Commonweal in Conversation

Understanding Gender, Sex, and Sexuality in Catholicism. Presented by Craig A. Ford Jr., PhD

Commonweal in Conversation: A Virtual Seminar

A Conversational overview of the questions about gender and Catholicism with leading voices from Commonwel magazine.

2024 Bellarmine Lecture

Presented by Rev. Kevin O'Brien, S.J. Featuring Students from the Fairfield Bellarmine Class of 2025.

Watch past events

The 23rd Annual Anne Drummey O’Callaghan Lecture on Women in the Church
“Dignity and Agency: Catholic Social Teaching and the Lives of Women”
Meghan Clark, PhD | St. John’s University
Wednesday, Oct. 4 | 5 p.m.
BCC Dogwood Room

The 30th Annual Christopher F. Mooney, S.J., Lecture in Theology, Religion & Society
“The American Catholic Experience: Lessons From Spaces in Creative Tension”
Hosffman Ospino, PhD | Boston College
Wednesday, Oct. 25 | 5:30 p.m.
BCC Dogwood Room

The 2023 Catholicism and the Arts Lecture
“We Are the Now of the Church: Young Adults, the Global Synod, and the Arts”
Maureen O’Connell, PhD | LaSalle University
Becky McIntyre | Community Artist
Wednesday, Nov. 15 | 5 p.m.
Dolan School of Business Event Hall

The 2023 Bellarmine Lecture
“Forging Hope, Reforging Democracy: A Contribution of Jesuit Universities to the Future”
Rev. Matt Carnes, S.J.
Georgetown University
Wednesday, Feb. 15 | 7:30 p.m.
BCC Dogwood Room

The 17th Annual Lecture in Jewish/Christian Engagement
Co-sponsored with the Bennett Center for Judaic Studies
“Antisemitism and the Alt-Right: A Challenge to Jewish-Christian Relations”
Rev. Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, PhD, Center for Christian-Jewish Learning | Boston College
Wednesday, March 22 | 7:30 p.m.
Kelley Presentation Room

The 16th Annual Commonweal Lecture
“Beyond Polarization: The Grace of Self-Doubt”
Paul Lakeland, PhD, Center for Catholic Studies
Fairfield University
Wednesday, April 19 | 7:30 p.m.
Dolan School of Business Event Hall