HAMBURG, N.Y. – As part of the Celebration of the Feast of St. Francis activities, Hilbert College presents Fr. Dan Horan, OFM as guest lecture on Monday, October 1, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. in Bogel Hall 101.
In this lecture, How to “Prophet” From the Franciscan Tradition: Solidarity and Christian Living in the 21st Century, Fr. Dan Horan will explore what we can take away from our Franciscan heritage in terms of Christian living in the 21st Century, as well as how we might become prophets after the example of St. Francis of Assisi.
A professor, lecturer, and the author of numerous articles and books, including Dating God: Live and Love in the Way of St. Francis, Daniel P. Horan, OFM is a Franciscan friar of Holy Name Province. Fr. Dan previously taught in the department of religious studies at Siena College and was a visiting professor in the department of theology at St. Bonaventure University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the International Thomas Merton Society. A graduate of St. Bonaventure University (B.A. Theology) and the Washington Theological Union (M.A. Systematic Theology and M.Div.), he is currently completing a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology at Boston College.
The St. Francis Week activities officially kick off September 28 with a blessing of the animals at 1 p.m. outdoors near the statue of St. Francis at the back of Bogel Hall (rain location will be St. Clare’s Chapel in Bogel). In honor of St. Francis’ love for all creatures, Deacon Dennis Conroy, who assists in Hilbert’s Office of Campus Ministry, will conduct the blessing. After the blessing, animals will receive pet treats and pet owners will be served ice cream.
On October 4, the Feast of St. Francis, the Hilbert community will participate in a peace walk at 12:30 p.m. starting in the William E. Swan Auditorium and then follow a path to designated outdoor stations around campus. Each location will highlight a peace-related occurrence in the life of St. Francis and offer students, faculty and staff a reflection point to ponder as they continue the walk.
The week concludes October 5 with a service project from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Buffalo’s Vive La Casa, the largest refugee shelter in the United States. Hilbert volunteers will sort donations, clean the facility, help out in the kitchen pantry and provide other assistance as needed.
All events are free and open to the public, excluding the service project which is for the Hilbert community only. More information about Hilbert’s St. Francis Week activities is available by contacting Barbara Bonanno, director of campus ministry and mission integration, at 926-8924 or e-mail bonanno@hilbert.edu