Exploring the impact of the Incarnation on human thought and culture
Center for Catholic Studies
About the Center for Catholic Studies
The Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas engages students, faculty and the universal Church in a Christ-centered exploration of more than 2,000 years of thought and culture.
In collaboration with the Department of Catholic Studies, the Center is internationally recognized for its distinctly integrated, interdisciplinary approach to faith and reason.
Part of the oldest and largest programs in the Catholic Studies movement, the Center for Catholic Studies is a trusted partner for Catholic organizations across the country and around the world.
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 director of the Center for Catholic Studies, began Catholic Studies with faculty colleagues in 1993 to address growing academic fragmentation in Catholic universities and to seek a unity of knowledge and the complementarity of faith and reason.
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
John F. Boyle
Fr. Chris Collins
Andy Herring
Fr. Spencer Howe
Gene Jones
John Kelly
Justina Kopp
Paul Kuhrmeyer
Joseph Lahti
Katie Lahti
Bill Lentsch
Bill Malkowiak
Fr. Luke Meyer
Michael J. Naughton
Jonathan Reyes
Brian Sattler
Marcie Stokman
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
Come along with us as Catholic Studies celebrates 30 years!
Contact Information
Please reach out to learn more about Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas.
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