Seton Hall University announced on Mar. 10 that the Center for Catholic Studies will host the Spring 2026 Toth–Lonergan Lecture, to be delivered by Visiting Toth–Lonergan Professor Jonathan Heaps, Ph.D. The lecture, titled “Finding a Path in the Dark: Lonergan’s Guidance for Getting Oriented in a Disorienting World,” will take place from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in University Center Meeting Room 206.
The event aims to address how Bernard Lonergan’s philosophical framework can help individuals cultivate clarity and responsible judgment during times of uncertainty and rapid change. The lecture will be recorded and made available later on the University and Center YouTube channels. Registration is required for attendance.
Heaps’ talk will explore Lonergan’s approach to understanding, decision-making, and moral action when outcomes are unclear. The presentation will focus on habits such as attentiveness, intelligence, reasonableness, and responsibility as ways to support both personal growth and community well-being.
The Toth–Lonergan Lecture series is organized semi-annually by the Center for Catholic Studies to connect the Catholic intellectual tradition with contemporary issues across various disciplines. These lectures are intended for a broad audience including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests.
Jonathan Heaps serves as director of the Bernard Lonergan Institute at Seton Hall University and holds the Visiting Toth–Lonergan Professorship for Spring 2026. His academic work centers on questions of meaning and moral discernment within the Catholic tradition.
The Toth/Lonergan Endowed Professorship was established by the Center for Catholic Studies to honor Bernard Lonergan—recognized as one of the foremost Catholic thinkers of the twentieth century—and Deacon William Toth. The professorship supports Seton Hall’s mission by encouraging dialogue between faith and contemporary fields through research and public programming.
Seton Hall’s Center for Catholic Studies was founded in 1997 to promote ongoing dialogue between Catholic thought and modern culture through scholarly initiatives and interdisciplinary collaboration.
