ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. – Fr. Dan Riley, O.F.M., will lead upcoming discussions on Thomas Merton during programs at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, and at noon Wednesday, Feb. 18, at St. Bonaventure University.
The program, titled, “Learning to Love … From Racism to Romance: Finding Our Way From Our Head to Our Heart,” is the latest lecture in the Thomas Merton Lecture Series, which is sponsored by the Franciscan Heritage Council.
The hour-long discussions led by Fr. Dan will focus on some of Merton’s writings and the audience will then be asked to reflect upon themselves in light of the writings. The programs will be held in the Thomas Merton Center (University Ministries).
Fr. Dan, a 1964 graduate of St. Bonaventure, is guardian of Holy Peace Friary at Mt. Irenaeus and a member of the Franciscan Heritage Council.
Merton (1915-1968) taught English at what was then St. Bonaventure College over a period of three semesters: fall 1940, spring 1941 and fall 1941. He had been visiting the area since the summer of 1938 with his friend Robert Lax, a native of Olean and classmate of Merton’s at Columbia University.
Merton authored more than 70 books that include poetry, personal journals, collections of letters, social criticism and writings on peace, justice and ecumenism.
This event is free and open to the public.
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About the University: St. Bonaventure is in the top 25 percent of institutions in U.S. News & World Report’s 2009 ranking of Northern universities that offer master’s degrees. It has a history of accomplishment and service that extends back 150 years. At the heart of St. Bonaventure University is the Franciscan affirmation of the dignity and worth of the entire created order. Fundamental to this vision is an awareness that it is within relationships and community that individuals discover and develop their potential.