• Seton Hall University
• Center for Catholic Studies

At the heart of a Catholic university is a community of scholars who are not only experts in their respective fields, but who also bring a deep commitment to integrating faith and reason into their teaching and research. These faculty members see their role as more than simply imparting knowledge – they are mentors and guides, helping students cultivate the intellectual, moral, and spiritual faculties needed to lead lives of purpose and meaning.

The mission and identity of a Catholic university is fundamentally rooted in and shaped by its faculty. Through their teaching, scholarship, and mentorship, the faculty members are the primary conduits for transmitting the Catholic Intellectual Tradition to students. They are responsible for creating a campus environment and classroom culture infused with a Catholic worldview, forming students to think creatively and foster a lifelong love of learning that seeks all that is True, Beautiful, and Good.

The Center seeks to accompany faculty through the following programs:

Faculty Summer Seminars

Since 1998, the Center for Catholic Studies has co-sponsored Faculty Summer Seminars with the Center for Vocation and Servant Leadership. These seminars aim to engage Seton Hall faculty in interdisciplinary dialogue on issues of humanistic and religious importance.
Read more about Faculty Summer Seminars »
Access Faculty Seminar Publications »

Faculty Retreats

Held in a serene, contemplative setting, this annual retreat provides an opportunity for educators to step away from the demands of the classroom and immerse themselves in a journey of spiritual renewal and academic exploration. Through a blend of prayer, reflection, and scholarly discourse, participants are invited to rediscover the interconnectedness of their vocation as educators. Faculty examine the intersection of their academic disciplines with a Catholic worldview and cultivate practices of contemplation and discernment that can enrich their teaching and their own spiritual lives. Far more than a mere professional development event, the faculty retreat nourishes the mind, heart, and spirit.

Annual Humanities Colloquium

The Humanities Colloquium serves as a vital forum for faculty members to come together and deepen their understanding of the significance and value of a liberal arts education. This regular gathering allows professors across various disciplines - from English and history to theology, philosophy, and the arts - to engage in rich discussions and exchange insights about the core purpose and benefits of the humanities. More than just imparting specialized knowledge, the humanities colloquium emphasizes how this educational approach prepares learners to grapple with complex, nuanced questions, to communicate effectively, and to approach problems from multiple perspectives. By fostering this shared appreciation for the humanistic tradition, the colloquium empowers faculty to make a cohesive, compelling case for the humanities' indispensable role within the academy and beyond. In an era when some question the practical use of such disciplines, these discussions equip professors with the knowledge and confidence to champion the humanities as an essential component of a truly transformative college experience - one that transcends narrow vocational training to produce engaged, adaptable, and ethically-minded citizens.

Praxis Program on the Advanced Seminar on Mission

In Spring 2013, the Center for Vocation and Servant Leadership (CVSL) initiated the Praxis Program of the Advanced Seminar on Mission, co-sponsored with the Center for Catholic Studies (CCS), and the Bernard J. Lonergan Institute. The Praxis Program is an advanced faculty development program designed to foster personal, professional, organizational and institutional development for faculty and administrators at Seton Hall, who are graduates of two previous mission seminars. It was designed to answer the participants’ question: how do I apply the learnings of the Advanced Seminar on Mission to my disciplines/professions in light of the mission of Seton Hall University?

The program's purpose is to engage faculty and administrators in a process of peer mentoring and curricular/co-curricular support designed to apply the mission of the University to their respective disciplines and departments, through a method which connects the disciplines to each other, to an integrated understanding of knowledge, and to the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.