The beautiful painting on our poster is used with permission from the artist, Ivanka Demchuk, a Ukrainian artist of modern icons and modern church design. To see more of her work visit: https://en.ivankademchuk.com.
The Collegium Institute invites you to apply for the Spring 2022 Catholic Humanism Fellowship. This program explores the Catholic intellectual tradition as a reality lived out in the pilgrimage of our life. Centering our reflection on the human person fully alive, we will take up consideration of how Catholicism can be understood through three ideas, dedicating one semester to each: the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. Our fourth semester will act as a capstone taking up different themes, topics, and persons. The first module of the Fellowship was held during the Fall 2021 semester.
Part II: The True
In the Spring ’22 semester of the Catholic Humanities Fellowship, we will explore the True. How does one come to be truthful? We will not only seek to understand how we come to know what is true, but also how we live out fidelity to the truth and service of the truth. Appreciating the fruitful relationship of faith and reason will be a major theme as a pathway to truth and to the right relationship with the source of all that is true. Along the way we will encounter short readings from the New Testament, Augustine, Catherine of Siena, John Henry Newman, Flannery O'Connor, and more!
The program welcomes a small cohort of student fellows each semester to participate in a six-session luncheon discussion series held in the Newman Center. The series culminates with a seventh session practicum based on our seminar discussions.
Schedule: The Fellowship will meet on the following Fridays from 12:45pm–1:45pm.
February 11: Quid veritas est? What is Truth and why does it matter?
February 18: Fides et Ratio: Starting with Faith or Starting with Doubt
February 25: Being True to Reality
March 18: Being True to Self
March 25: Being True to Others
April 1: Being True to God
April 8: Practicum
Location: In person at the Penn Newman Center (111 S 38th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104)
Readings: The reader is available online, here. Participants will also receive a physical copy of the reader in person at the seminar.
Application: The final application deadline was February 3. Please note that this program is open to current students at the University of Pennsylvania and other University City colleges.
Catholic Humanism Fellows
Joseph Wilbur
Joseph Wilbur (C’24) is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences studying Classical Studies and Religious Studies from the suburbs of Philadelphia. His interest in Collegium began when he attended the NSO Preceptorial during his freshman year. A varsity oarsman on the Penn rowing team, Joseph is an avid reader of Thomas Aquinas and is particularly interested in the intersection of faith and reason through history.
Emma Sondergaard Jensen
Emma (C’24) is a sophomore Philosophy major from Newton, Massachusetts. Emma is particularly interested in Late Antique philosophy and the writings of St. Augustine. She runs a weekly philosophy podcast, Emma-ism, and currently serves as the Artistic Director of Penn Ballet.
Henry McDaniel
Henry McDaniel (C’25) is a freshman at Penn from Philadelphia, PA studying History and Russian. He is involved with The Newman Center, Penn History Review, POLIS and Penn Jazz. He is looking forward to his time as a fellow with the Collegium Institute.
Nigel Newby
Nigel Newby (C’24) is a sophomore at Penn studying Computer Science in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. After being confirmed and received into the Church in June of 2020, he has enjoyed coming to Penn and having the opportunity to learn and grow in his faith alongside so many other young and devoted Catholics. He enjoys participating in the service ministries that are offered at the Newman Center and is deeply interested in how we, as Catholics, can participate in our society and workplaces in a way that glorifies God and adheres to the Truth.
Daniel Nguyen
Daniel (C’23) is a history major at Drexel University. The focal point of his study falls in the Middle Ages. However, his broad focus also applies to Church history where he enjoys analyzing the connection between politics and religion.
Lisa Eshleman
Lisa (C’22) is a senior at Penn studying Health and Societies and French. She is a convert to the Catholic faith and is an assistant teacher for RCIA. She loves to learn about the Church and theology, which is why she enjoyed this fellowship last semester. She works for Collegium and especially enjoys engaging with the Medical Humanities programming.
Sebastian Neri
Sebastian Neri (C’23) is a student of history and philosophy at the College of Arts and Sciences at Drexel University, focused on ancient history, classical antiquity, and the history of western philosophy. He was first introduced to the Collegium Institute through the Catholic Humanism seminar on the Good. Sebastian treasures Collegium as a forum for learning and discussion of important questions relating to the Catholic tradition and the life of faith in the modern world.
Michael Ruggiero
Michael Ruggiero (C’25) is originally from West Chester, PA and is a graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School. He is currently a freshman studying Economics at the University of Pennsylvania.
David Truluck
David is a 25 year old graduate student (C’22) in the school of Social Policy and Practice currently pursuing his masters degree in Social Work. He received his undergraduate degrees in Philosophy and Sociology. He is a Roman Catholic with a great love of the Bible, and a great devotion to the Virgin Mary and St Michael the Archangel.