The Symposium panel at the University Club

After returning from a pandemic-induced hiatus last year at The Hope Club, the Providence Symposium, presented by the Portsmouth Institute for Faith and Culture, returned in full swing to its previous venue at the University Club on January 19. The symposium offered a timely panel discussion on “Evangelization in a Post-Christian America.” It brought to the table four distinguished speakers whose interaction was facilitated by Dr. James Keating, Associate Professor of Theology at Providence College and longtime friend of the Institute. Dr. Keating said, “Although the crisis of faith has always been in the background of any preliminary discussions of this Symposium, this year they decided to face the topic head on.”

Stephen Bullivant and James Keating

Executive Director Chris Fisher described his view of the Portsmouth Institute as being “a bridge between the Abbey and the world.” Others embrace it as one of the three tentpoles of the campus, along with the monastery and the Portsmouth Abbey School. Mr. Fisher said that today’s Christians live in a challenging world but there is cause for optimism and hope, especially for those who are “lifelong learners” such as the supporters of the Institute.

The panelists for the Symposium included Dr. Stephen Bullivant, Director of the Benedict XVI Centre for Religion and Society and Professor of Theology and the Sociology of Religion at St. Mary’s University in London; Stephen P. White, Executive Director of The Catholic Project at The Catholic University of America and a Catholic Studies Fellow from the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C.; Sister Josemaria Pence, O.P., Principal of St. Pius V School in Providence; and Benjamin Kelly, Regional Director for Rhode Island and the Greater Boston Area of FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students).

Dr. Bullivant began by saying that in the U.K., “We look to FOCUS as a real ideal for evangelizing young people,” and went on to explain the category of “nones” which has begun appearing on questionnaires and surveys. It refers to people who will check the “no religion” box when asked about religious affiliation, a number that has been steadily on the rise. “It’s going to keep on going up for a while,” he said, “but not forever,” echoing Mr. Fisher’s hope and optimism. Dr. Bullivant’s term for these religious “nones” also happens to be the title of his latest book, Nonverts: The Making of Ex-Christian America (Oxford University Press, 2022). In a sense, they can be thought of as converts, but having gone from some religion to having none.

Stephen White

Paraphrasing a favorite quote from Pope St. John Paul II, Mr. White began his response by saying, “Be not afraid; put out into the deep.” He recalled the first time he ever saw the late pope, in Rome during World Youth Day which was a component of “the heady days of the Jubilee Year, 2000.” There was talk that August of “the new springtime,” certainly a time of optimism and hope for Mr. White and his young fellow pilgrims. However, the tragedy of 9/11 was soon to follow, as well as the U.S. clergy sexual abuse scandal which saw headlines splashed across international front pages during Eastertide 2002. “Where is that new springtime now?” he and his friends asked. He, too, sees the latest numbers representing religious disaffiliation growing.

Mr. White continued, “As the Church gets smaller, it gets poorer. It puts tremendous pressure on our bishops; which institutions need to be closed down?” While Dr. Bullivant cites the many closed churches, as many as 2/3, in Pittsburgh where he had just visited, Mr. White spoke of a similar situation in Baltimore, the oldest diocese in the U.S. Everyone, everywhere, is adjusting to a new reality regarding their parishes, schools and communities. In desperation some ask, “Why be Catholic? Why evangelize in the first place?” He sees the answer in the late pope’s quote, given at the turn of the millennium, seen by many as a time of arrival. But an admonition to not fear, to put out into the deep, is given at a time of departure.

Sr. Josemaria Pence

As a principal, Sister Josemaria focused her remarks on education and warned that while the sisters built hospitals and schools, only the latter are left. The hospitals have been lost. “But we can’t lose the schools,” she emphasized, “because there are so many opportunities to be afforded the students: intellectual, emotional, athletic, as well as matters of the heart.” Their formation is different at different levels and one goal is to “preserve innocence, to help them to be children.” Answering her own question of, “What should occur in our schools?” she replied, “We have to preach Christ. The faith formation of our teachers is important. There is so much good going on at our school, so keep on supporting your Catholic schools.”

Ben Kelly

Closing out the panel discussion, Mr. Kelly explained that he oversees seven FOCUS groups on college campuses out of 200 across the country. He shared personal episodes from his own college days when FOCUS missionaries went to students on their own turf, joining them, for example, at informal pick-up games and other activities. One particular missionary named Mike, now Fr. Mike, became a special mentor to Mr. Kelly, especially after his girlfriend died the summer after his freshman year. In grief, he took the fall semester off but remembers the deep fraternal love shown to him by Mike and others when they drove seven hours to the funeral and back. Mr. Kelly said that he felt the love that Mike had for him that summer, even though he was convinced that God didn’t love him at the time. Mr. Kelly warned the audience about their houses becoming too much like castles, impenetrable perhaps, ‘siloed’ even. He suggested they ask themselves, “How am I going to be on mission in my life?” In terms of evangelizing, he concluded by saying, “It’s the power of our time, of our invitation that will start to turn the tide, the willingness to get into their lives.” He cited St. Mother Teresa who famously told people, “Go find your own Calcutta!”

The panel then fielded questions from the audience after which everyone mingled at a reception where the conversations continued. It was a welcome return for the Symposium and an evening refreshing for our hope and faith.