Speaker Series
Speaker Series
St. Monica Academy’s Speaker Series Aims to Foster a Vibrant, Intellectual Community
Upcoming Speaker Series Events: 2023-2024
October 12
Forgiveness and Flourishing |
Presented by Mr. Chris Kaczor
November 9
How to be an Anti-Feminist |
Presented by Peachy Keenan
January 11
Sacred Dirt: Stories from the
Catholic History of the Southwest |
Presented by Skyler Reidy
February 15
Your Marriage Tells A Story |
Presented by Colin and Melissa Brady
Recommended Resources
March 14
American History |
Presented by Mr. Martin Boles
May 9
Apologetics |
Presented by Mr. Joe Freymann
Click Here to Listen
February Speaker Series Event
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“I have now attended three Speaker Series talks. All have been informative and interesting. It is time well spent, and I look forward to the next one.”
– Mr. Robert De Pietro, long-time St. Monica Academy benefactor
The inspiration for the Speaker Series came midway through the 2016 school year, a few months after St. Monica Academy moved from Pasadena to its new campus at Holy Redeemer Church in Montrose. Then high school teachers Mr. O’Donnell and Mr. Selmeczy realized that the new campus offered a venue and opportunity to host educational talks for the St. Monica community.
“The talks are entertaining and enriching,” says Mr. Selmeczy. “You will enjoy them, and you will leave more deeply in love with the classical education than when you arrived.”
Increased interest in firmly establishing the Speaker Series within the community led to a formal inauguration at the start of the 2018 school year.
The Speaker Series will include talks designed to help parents with the formation of their children as well as academic talks on history, politics, religion, literature, and more. The talks are open to the public.
“The aim of the Series,” says Mr. Selmeczy, “is to foster the vibrant, intellectual community around St. Monica Academy.”
St. Monica Academy Speaker Series Videos
Here is a sampling of past St. Monica Academy Speaker Series titles and presenters
“A Love Story as Told by a Vietnamese Political Refugee”|
Presented by Dr. John Tran | May 2023
“What Really Happened During the Crucifixion?”|
Presented by Mr. Chris Plance | March 2023
An Evening of Sacred Art|
Presented by Dr. Brandon Cook | February 2023
“What is CRT and How Should Catholics Respond To It?”|
Presented by Dr. Ed Feser | January 2023
Copernicus, Bruno, Galileo, and the “Martyrs of Science”|
Presented by Mr. Soli Ghandhi | November 2022
Cancelling Consumerism: Cultivating a Healthy Attitude Towards Material Things|
Presented by Julia Boles | October 2022
Why Do Catholics Do That? The Aplogetics of Catholic Practices|
Presented by Joseph Freymann | May 2022
Combating Calumnies in U.S. History Part 3|
Presented by Martin Boles | March 2022
Critical Race Theory for Parents and Patriots|
Presented by Khushro Ghandhi | January 2022
Liturgical Living in the Home|
Presented by Kendra Tierney | December 2021
Beauty: A Catholic Aesthetic Examing Aquinas on Beauty and Exploring How the Transcendentals Affect Art through the Ages|
Presented by Soli Ghandhi | November 2021
Friendship: St. Monica Academy’s Theme for the Year|
Presented by Dr. Scott Roniger | October 2021
Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday|
Presented by Mrs. Noelle Mering | May 2020
The Quadrivium – the Mathematical Arts|
Presented by Thomas Quackenbush | April 2020
Truth, Love and Friendship: The Path from Wonder to Wisdom|
Presented by Dr. Alex Lessard | March 2020
The Passions of Scientists: How to Understand Data, Bias, Media, and Truth|
Presented by Dr. Jorge Nieva | February 2020
How to Understand and Defend Marriage and Family|
Presented by Fr. Sebastian Walshe | November 2019
Can an Ancient Greek Help you Parent Today?|
Presented by Nicole Tittmann | September 2019
Parental Authority: Embracing your role as Author of Your Family Story|
Presented by Jim and Kendra Tierney | May 2019
Why is Literature at the Foundation?|
Presented by Christine Halpin | March 2019
The Crusades: The Christian “Just War” or Just Another European Aggression?|
Presented by Michael Grumbine | January 2019
Secrets of Parenting from a Mother of 18|
Presented by Rosa Pich | December 2018
Should Criminals Be Cured or Punished:
C.S. Lewis on Crime and Punishment|
Presented by Dr. Joseph Bessette | November 2018
Building a Family Culture: Countering Today’s Culture|
Presented by Martin Boles | October 2018
Is Piety Extinct?|
Presented by Daniel Selmeczy | September 2018