About the Program
The Diocese of Bridgeport, Sacred Heart University, and the St. John Paul II Center for Communications are thrilled to offer “The Literary Catholic,” a groundbreaking program dedicated to exploring life-changing stories from centuries of Catholic literature.
This innovative initiative aims to connect participants to God, inspire their faith, and ignite their imagination through Catholic literary works’ profound beauty and depth.
In the July 2024 Letter of the Holy Father on the Role of Literature in Formation, Pope Francis writes, “Literature teaches us patience in trying to understand others, humility in approaching complex situations, meekness in our judgment of individuals and sensitivity to our human condition.
We step out of ourselves to enter into their lives, we sympathize with their struggles and desires, we see things through their eyes, and eventually, we become companions on their journey. We are caught up in the lives of the fruit seller, the prostitute, the orphaned child, the bricklayer’s wife, the old crone who still believes she will someday find her prince charming. We can do this with empathy and at times with tenderness and understanding.” “How can we fail to reflect on the words left us by the poet Paul Celan: ‘Those who truly learn to see, draw close to what is unseen.’”
“The Literary Catholic” features a series of moderated discussions led by esteemed experts from Sacred Heart University’s Departments of Catholic Studies and Languages and Literature. These engaging talks will delve into notable works of Catholic literature, beginning with Evelyn Waugh’s masterpiece, Brideshead Revisited. A Diocesan-wide read of Brideshead Revisited marks the inaugural discussion of the series, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of faith through literature.
Program Highlights
Moderated Discussions: Each episode, introduced by Bishop Frank Caggiano, features in-depth conversations led by scholars such as Dr. Peter Sinclair, Dr. June-Ann Greeley, and Dr. Brent Little, alongside renowned moderators William Baker and Rafael Pi Roman.
Building Community: Accompanying the discussions, the “How to Get Started” guide assists parishes in forming reading groups, fostering small groups to explore and share Catholic literature. This reading guide is also helpful.
Diocese-wide Read: We encourage individuals and parish groups to read Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. The SHU Department of Languages and Literature has created this unique reading guide for Brideshead Revisited..
Online Resources: The program’s content will be accessible online, providing a valuable resource for parish groups, schools, and individuals throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport and beyond.
Program Hosts
William Baker
Dr. Baker directs the Bernard L. Schwartz Center for Media, Public Policy & Education at Fordham University. He is a Distinguished Professor of media & entertainment at IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain, and President Emeritus of WNET-Thirteen, New York’s public television station.
Baker has received 7 Emmy Awards and 2 Columbia DuPont Journalism Awards, and he was honored in 2016 by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for his work in the performing arts.
He is the executive producer of theatrical films and PBS documentaries, including The Face: Jesus in Art and Picturing Mary, and co-author of seven books.
Rafael Pi Roman
An acclaimed journalist with extensive experience in public affairs and political news, Rafael Pi Roman has been a key figure at Thirteen/WNET since 1992. His Emmy award-winning work includes hosting and producing numerous programs, including “New York Voices” and “New Jersey Capitol Report.” Pi Roman’s deep understanding of media and engaging interviewing style make him an ideal moderator for “The Literary Catholic.”
