Announcing the formation of The Siena Forum for Faith and Culture at The Church of Saint Catherine of Siena (411 East 68th Street, NYC). The Forum’s existence is the result of the leadership of Father Jordan Kelly, OP and myself, who feel deeply that The Siena Forum’s place in the life of the parish and NYC will offer opportunities for the serious engagement of faith and culture, and hopefully and God-willing, in the greater Church. The work of the Forum is rooted in the thinking of Pope Benedict XVI and the soon-to-be beatified Pope John Paul II, along with the intellectual tradition of Catholicism in general and the Order of Friars Preachers (the Dominican Order).
The Forum’s mission
The mission of The Siena Forum for Faith and Culture
seeks to critically examine and promote the rich diversity of the Catholic
faith and its practices that advance authentic human flourishing and its common
good. Our goal is to bridge the gap between faith and reason. The work of the
Forum is rooted in relationships among theology, art, culture, since,
education; the activities of the Forum include pastoral practice, leadership
development, talks, debates courses, seminars, publications, cultural events,
and exhibitions to help people integrate their faith in Jesus Christ as a
dynamic lived experience.
In the coming months and among others, Patrick Madrid and Mike Aquilina will be speaking at the Forum. Currently, the weekly gathering Communion and Liberation’s School of Community meet and organize periodic presentations.
“The Snow-Storm” comes to mind today. There’s a certain end-times (should we say a 19th century apocalypticism?) quality to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem that life and death are confronted, forward motion is reduced-if-not-halted the boundaries are indistinct. Looking out my window I see the barrenness of the landscape with only the evergreens providing color save for the woodpecker, the bluejay and the cardinals collecting their food at the feeder. The property lines aren’t present and movement is difficult either by foot, car, or train, and forget the airplane. The vivid white of the snow and ice is blinding. 
