Exploring thought & culture in light of the Incarnation
Center for Catholic Studies
About the Center for Catholic Studies
The University of St. Thomas Center for Catholic Studies engages students, faculty and the universal Church in a Christ-centered exploration of 2,000 years of thought and culture to find deeper understanding of the common good in the contemporary world.
As part of the founding program of the Catholic studies movement in Catholic higher education, the Center, in collaboration with the Department of Catholic Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences, is internationally recognized for its distinctly integrated, interdisciplinary approach to academic work.
Today, we are a trusted partner for national Catholic organizations, including Catholic dioceses, schools, and health care systems throughout the U.S., as well as our international partners such as the Holy See's Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and Catholic universities in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
Partnerships, Institutes and Academic Journal
The Center cultivates dialogue around various topics to promote the unity of knowledge and a deeper integration of the whole of life—all informed by the reality of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
Habiger Institute
Offers a range of servant leadership and professional development that help St. Thomas students build the fortitude required to be a faithful, ethical leader in a complex world.
John A. Ryan Institute
Provides research, seminars and curriculum development, and other activities, to help business faculty, students and practitioners develop a deeper integration of Catholic social teaching and business—or, faith and work.
Murphy Institute
Brings 2,000 years of Catholic cultural expression and intellectual dialogue to bear on law and public policy through graduate scholar opportunities, public forums, research and CLE programming.
Logos Journal
Presents subscribers with rigorous, interdisciplinary exploration of the beauty, truth and vitality of Catholicism.
[The] perfection of the Intellect, which is the result of Education … is the clear, calm, accurate vision and comprehension of all things, as far as the finite mind can embrace them, each in its place, and with its own characteristics upon it.
Idea of a University, St. John Henry Newman
Discovering Christ is all, and in all
Catholic intellectual exploration, real-world preparation
We believe that a Catholic life well-lived requires an integrated intellectual life. The Center works closely with our degree-granting department to create transformational interdisciplinary undergraduate and graduate academic opportunities.
The Standard Bearer
St. Thomas Catholic Studies: A History
Influenced by St. John Henry Newman, Dr. Don Briel, founding Center of Catholic Studies director, began Catholic studies with faculty colleagues in 1993 to help address growing academic fragmentation in secular and Catholic universities.
Leadership
Karen S. Laird
Associate Director of the Center for Catholic Studies
Nancy Sannerud
Program Manager
Get in touch
Looking for a contact at the Center for Catholic Studies, our institutes or our journal?
Advisory Board
Emery Koenig, Board Chair
Ann Bares
John F. Boyle
Fr. Chris Collins
Andy Herring
Fr. Spencer Howe
Gene Jones
John Kelly
Justina Kopp
Paul Kuhrmeyer
Joseph Lahti
Katie Lahti
Stefanie Lenway
Fr. Ryan Lewis
Fr. Luke Meyer
Michael J. Naughton
Jonathan Reyes
Brian Sattler
Mark Stansbury-O'Donnell
Marcie Stokman
Rob Vischer
Kelley Warner
Thomas Winkels
Come pray with us
Albertus Magnus Chapel in Sitzmann Hall
Visit our beautiful Albertus Magnus Chapel in Sitzmann Hall located at the corner of Summit and Cleveland avenues in St. Paul.
Academic Year Schedule
Mass – Monday through Thursday at 5:05 p.m.
Eucharistic Adoration – Monday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Catholic Studies 30th Anniversary Celebration
Thursday, September 21 and Saturday, September 23, 2023
Save the dates! Catholic Studies is celebrating 30 years of exploration of the impact of the Incarnation on human thought and culture.
Contact Information
Have a general question? Please feel free to reach out if you want to learn more about St. Thomas Catholic Studies.
Tel: (651) 962-5700
Email: amserdar@stthomas.edu
Mailing Address
Department of Catholic Studies
Mail 55-S
2115 Summit Ave
St. Paul, MN 55105-1096
Campus Location
2055 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN
On the corner of Summit and Cleveland avenues