Fifth Annual Khatib Lecture In Comparative Religion Announced

March 05, 2013

PATCHOGUE AND BROOKLYN, N.Y. March 6, 2013 St. Josephs College (SJC) is pleased to announce The Dr. Reza Khatib and Georgianna Clifford Khatib Chair in Comparative Religion Fifth Annual Lecture featuring Rev. Msgr. John J. Strynkowski, Ph.D., rector, Cathedral Basilica of St. James. His talk, "The Search for Christian Unity: A Fading Dream or a Potent Reality? will be presented on Wednesday, March 20 at 12:30 p.m. on the Brooklyn Campus and on Tuesday, April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the McGann Conference Room on the Long Island Campus. Both lectures are free and open to the public.

"Msgr. Strynkowski has served as theological adviser for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has worked extensively with theologians of other faiths and has been a participant in Catholic dialogues with Anglican, Methodist and Orthodox churches, said Dr. Thomas Petriano, SJC professor in the Department of Religious Studies. "Based on his broad and varied experience in inter-Christian dialogue, I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to learn about his insights on the issues that divide and unite contemporary Christians.

Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Brooklyn in 1963, Msgr. John Strynkowski has served as a parochial vicar, official of the Vaticans Secretariat of State and then the Congregation for Bishops, professor of theology and rector at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception (Huntington, New York), pastor, and executive director of the Secretariat for Doctrine and Pastoral Practices at the USCCB. He is currently Rector of St. James Cathedral Basilica in Downtown Brooklyn and Vicar for Higher Education. Msgr. Strynkowski obtained a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1972. He has published numerous articles, has given many priests retreats and has spoken at numerous conferences on ecclesiology, ministry and spirituality.  

Funded by Dr. Reza Khatib and Mrs. Georgianna Clifford Khatib 52, the chairs purpose is to promote interfaith dialogue, with the study of Islam being an integral part of the initiative. Each spring, through the generosity of Dr. and Mrs. Khatib, the College hosts a noted scholar who lectures, leads faculty discussions and teaches a course to students from both campuses.

For more information about The Dr. Reza and Georgianna Clifford Khatib Chair in Comparative Religion, please call 718.940.5584 for Brooklyn, 631.687.2667 for Long Island or visit www.sjny.edu.