About the Pedro Arrupe S.J. Lecture Series

After 11 years as a forum for speakers on a variety of social justice topics, the Pedro Arrupe S.J. Lecture Series is undergoing a transformation.

Traditionally an opportunity for Saint Peter's Prep to sponsor a keynote address on a pressing matter of injustice, the Arrupe Lecture has hosted, among others, noted peace activist Dan Berrigan, S.J.; author Bernard Lefkowitz; death penalty activist Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ; Fr. Roy Bourgiose, founder of the School of America's Watch, and Marc Morial, former mayor of New Orleans and president of the National Urban League.

Now in its 12th year, the Arrupe Lecture is being transformed into a weeklong summit, meant to provide greater context, conversation, and understanding. "For some time now we've wanted to look deeper at the social issues that the Arrupe Lecture have addressed," said Ryan Heffernan, Director of Campus Ministry, whose office organizes the Arrupe Lecture Series. "A weeklong summit, which is how we've re-envisioned the Arrupe Series, offers the opportunity to provide a more meaningful context to an important issue.

The Arrupe Lecture Series, which begins on Monday, March 23, is a weeklong slate of events, both on and off-campus, that will invite the Prep community to examine the history of genocide and ethnic conflict in the 20th and 21st centuries. The activities and discussions, which include an Opening Mass celebrated by Ken Gavin, S.J., president of the Jesuit Refugee Services U.S.A., and a panel discussion with Holocaust survivors, will culminate in a keynote address by two individuals who fled persecution during the Rwandan genocide.

A panel of students and faculty members, representing many walks of Prep life, convened this year to carefully plan and structure the daily events of the Arrupe Series.

In addition, while past Arrupe Lecture keynotes have been presented in the evening, this year's keynote will take place in the morning, during a school-wide assembly, with a view towards increasing student participation. "Our students are active," explained Mr. Heffernan, "and placing something at night makes it difficult to attend, given the travel requirements, co-curricular and athletic demands, etc."

Past Speakers

1998 - Bernard Lefkowitz, author of New York Times bestseller Our Guys: The Glen Ridge Rape and The Secret Life of the Perfect Suburb

1999 - Rev. Daniel Berrigan, S.J., noted peace activist and poet

2000 - Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ, death penalty activist and author of Dead Man Walking

2001 - Rev. John Dear, S.J., noted peace activist

2002 - Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, retired bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit and founding president of Pax Christi USA

2003 - Rev. Drew Christiansen, S.J., editor of America magazine

2004 - Rabbi Asher Finkel, co-founder of the department of Jewish-Christian Studies at Seton Hall University

2005 - Jim Keady, co-director and founder of Educating for Justice

2006 - Fr. Roy Bourgiose, founder of the School of the America's Watch

2007 - Rev. Richard Ryscavage, S.J., director of Fairfield University's Center for Faith and Public Life

2008 - Marc H. Morial, president of the National Urban League and former two-term mayor of New Orleans

Contact

Mr. Ryan Heffernan, Director: Mr. Ryan Heffernan serves as the Director of Campus Ministry, overseeing the schools Jesuit identity and mission through its student retreats, service and justice initiatives, and pastoral and liturgical programs. He holds a bachelor's degree from Boston College and is studying for a master's degree at Fordham University and Saint Peter's College. He can be reached at (201) 547-6418 or heffernanr@spprep.org.

Mr. Erich Sekel, '98, Assistant Director: Mr. Erich Sekel is the Assistant Director of Campus Ministry, and is primarily responsible for the management of Prep's Christian Service program. He coordinates the school's service work and justice initiatives, and serves as Prep's liaison to the non-profit/service agency community. Mr. Sekel holds a bachelor's degree from Boston University and a master's degree from Seton Hall University. He can be reached at (201) 547-6457 or sekele@spprep.org.

Mr. Brendan Laracy, is the Campus Minister responsible for Prep's faith and fellowship initiatives. He coordinates our Christian Life Community (CLC) program and is responsible for the ongoing formation of the Eucharistic Ministers. Mr. Laracy holds a bachelor's degree from Rutgers University, where he was a member of the men's swim team. He can be reached at laracyb@spprep.org.

Ms. Cecillia Collins assists the Campus Ministry department in its administrative and managerial tasks. She can be reached at mailto:collinsc@spprep.org.

Mr. Jim Harrold heads up Prep's liturgical music group. He coordinates music for the school's Masses, working with student musicians and singers. Mr. Harrold also serves as music minister at OLC Parish, just a block away from Saint Peter's Prep, in historic Paulus Hook.