Category Archives: Luncheon Speaker

May 7, 2026 – Fr. David Tomaszycki presenting Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen: On the Demonic

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Reverend Dave Tomaszycki
Priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and Pastor of St. Peter’s in Mount Clemens Michigan

Fr. Dave Tomaszycki is a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit. While Fr. Tomaszycki was studying at Ave Maria University and discerning the priesthood, he became a huge fan of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen in 2009 through reading Sheen’s Life of Christ. From that point onward, Fr. Tomaszycki couldn’t get enough Sheen. In 2016, Fr. Tomaszycki was ordained a priest. He has served at a number of parishes within the Archdiocese of Detroit, he has served as the secretary to the Archbishop of Detroit, and he currently serves as the pastor of St. Peter’s in Mount Clemens, Michigan.

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WHEN
May 7, 2026
Networking & Fellowship begin at 11:00 a.m.
Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.
Program begins at noon
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092

Special Note: Copies of Fr. Tomaszycki’s book Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen On the Demonic will be available to purchase.  

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June 5, 2026 – Dr. Kathryn LaFontana – “Catholic Women’s Colleges Negotiating an Identity for the Future”

 SAVE THE DATE

The First Friday Club of Cleveland
Featuring

Kathryn LaFontana, PhD
Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs & Provost

Dr. Kathryn LaFontana is a seasoned academic leader in her 30th year in Catholic higher education, with expertise in mission-focused strategic planning, new program development, data-informed decision-making, and innovative instructional technology solutions. She came to Ursuline in 2017 from The College of New Rochelle, where she served in academic leadership roles over her six-year tenure.  Widely published in academic journals, the former Sacred Heart University psychology professor has more than two dozen peer-reviewed presentations and publications and is the 2024 recipient of the Collegium Visionary Award. She has a doctorate in social psychology from the University of Connecticut.

Presenting
Catholic Women’s Colleges
Negotiating an Identity for the Future   

WHEN
Thursday, June 6, 2026
Networking & Fellowship 11:00 a.m.
Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092

 

January 8, 2026 – Theology: Called to Mission with Miguel Chavez

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Theology: Called to Mission

featuring

Miguel Chavez

Senior Vice President, Mission & Ministry, Sisters of Charity Health System

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As senior vice president of mission & ministry, Miguel Chavez oversees continuing integration of the philosophy and values of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine into the daily operations of the Sisters of Charity Health System and all of its operating units in Ohio and South Carolina. His areas of responsibility include mission formation; leadership development; ethics; pastoral care; palliative care; and diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.

Chavez previously served as director of the Office of Missionary Discipleship for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. There, he was responsible for visioning, planning, creating and implementing programs and supportive processes that promote a culture of missionary discipleship in the diocese. He held this role from 2020 to 2022. He served from 2004 to 2020 at Walsh University in the positions of vice president for mission implementation, director of campus ministry, assistant director of campus ministry. He has also been an adjunct professor of theology at Walsh University since 2007. 

Since joining the Sisters of Charity Health System in July 2022, Chavez oversees efforts to ensure the decisions, policies and programs of the health system and its family of ministries across Ohio and South Carolina are consistent with the mission, philosophy, faith obligations and values of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine, as well as the elements of Catholic identity and the social teachings of the Catholic Church.

Chavez holds a master’s degree in business administration, master’s degree in theology, bachelor’s degree in theology and bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry – all from Walsh University.

WHEN
Thursday, January 8, 2026

Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.;  We invite you to arrive any time after 11:00 a.m. for mingling & fellowship!
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)

Register here

or access the registration page using bit.ly/FFCCJan2026

November 6, 2025 – The Military Chaplaincy Presented by Bishop Neal J. Buckon

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The Military Chaplaincy  and the Soldiers Served
with Highlights of Military Chaplains Heros currently being considered for canonization, Fr. Emil Kapaun and Fr. Vincent Capodanno

Presented by
Bishop Neal J. Buckon
Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA

Bishop Neal James Buckon, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, is the son of John and Rita Buckon, and is the second of their seven children. He graduated from Gesu Elementary School and Cathedral Latin High School. Bishop Buckon holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from John Carroll University in Cleveland, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Cleveland State University, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Borromeo College of Ohio. Bishop Buckon also received a Masters of Divinity Degree and a Master of Arts Degree in Church History from Saint Mary’s Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio. Following his graduate theological studies he was ordained a priest in May 1995 for the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio and assigned to Saint Margaret Mary Church in South Euclid, Ohio.

In May 1975 he was recognized as a Distinguished Military Graduate and appointed as a Regular Army Officer and served in both the Infantry and Transportation Branches of the United States Army. After serving on active duty for seven years, he resigned his commission, traveled the world (visiting over one hundred countries), and entered into the ministry. While a Co-sponsored Seminarian, he served in the United States Army Reserve as a Chaplain Candidate and was subsequently accessioned into the United States Army Chaplain Corps in 1996.
His previous Infantry assignments include serving as Rifle Platoon Leader and Weapons Platoon Leader with the 1st Battalion, 46th Infantry, 1st Armor Division, Erlangen, Germany; and Battalion S4 and Company Commander with the 3rd Battalion, 19th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia. His Transportation Corps assignments include serving in Mannheim Germany as a Platoon Leader and Company Operations Officer with the 28th Transportation Battalion, and as a Platoon Leader and Transportation Officer in the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the Allied Command Europe, Mobile Force (Land) (AMFL) (including deployments to Denmark, England, and Norway). His Chaplain assignments include serving as the 2nd Psychological Operations Group Chaplain in Cleveland, Ohio (including a deployment to Bosnia); the Division Artillery (DIVARTY) Chaplain for the 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Georgia; the Army Central Command – Saudi Arabia (ARCENT-SA) Chaplain in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; the Division Engineer (DIVENG) Chaplain for the 1st Armored Division, Giessen, Germany; the Engineer Brigade Chaplain and Senior Catholic Priest for Task Force Baghdad, Iraq (OIF-1); the Deputy Garrison Chaplain in Heidelberg, Germany; the Garrison Chaplain of the Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill, Oklahoma; the Chaplain for Catholic Ministry, Multi National Corps – Iraq (MNC-I); and the 18th MEDCOM Command Chaplain in Yongsan, Korea. He served his last assignment as the Eighth United States Army (EUSA) Chaplain for Current Operations and Catholic Chaplain in Yongsan, Korea. He retired from the Army on 31 December 2010.  He was ordained a bishop on 22 February 2011 for the Archdiocese for the Military Services.

His awards include the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), the Parachutist Badge, and the Ranger Tab (RC 11-74).

Bishop Buckon is a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus. He is a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the Catholic War Veterans, and the Association of the United States Army (AUSA).  Bishop Buckon was inducted into the United States Army Reserve Officer’s Training Corps National Hall of Fame at Fort Knox, Kentucky on 10 June 2016.

Listen to the podcast preview of this talk
THANK YOU to AM-1260 The Rock and Deacon Jim Armstrong for including our First Friday speakers as part of the Wisdom from the Rock podcast!

WHEN
Thursday, November 6, 2025

Doors open at 11:00 a.m. – Networking & Fellowship
Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m. 
Program begins at 12:00 noon
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)

Register Here

October 2, 2025, The Order of Malta: A Legacy of Service, with Nicolle C. McGowan, MD, DM


Register now for our October luncheon!

The Order of Malta: A Legacy of Service

An Ancient Order with a Modern Impact

with Dr. Nicolle McGowan, Area Chair

Join us for a brief history of the Order of Malta to learn the many ways in which this over 900-year-old Order continues to serve the poor and the sick today!

About our speaker:

After earning her Bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University in Connecticut, Niki fulfilled her life-long dream by becoming a Medical Doctor at the University of Toledo College of Medicine. She completed her Residency training in Adult Psychiatry at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and went on to a Fellowship in Medical Psychiatry. After the birth of her daughter, Niki chose to step away from clinical practice to focus on family life while continuing her commitment to service. She, along with her husband, was invested into the Order of Malta in 2013. In 2019, she joined the Board of Trustees for the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation, and in 2024, she was named Area Chair for the Cleveland Area of the American Association of the Order of Malta. Niki was incredibly blessed to have met her husband, Thom, while they were students together at Fairfield University. They have been married for 29 years, and have two amazing children- Abigail, who derailed her mother’s brilliant medical career and is a Law Student at Washington University in St Louis, and Tommy, who joins her there as an undergraduate Sophomore.

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WHEN
Thursday, October 2, 2025

Doors open for Fellowship & Networking at 11:00
Luncheon Buffet begins at 11:30
Presentation begins at 11:55
and will wrap up by 1:00

WHERE
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary, Founders Room
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092

Register Here
Click HERE for a Free Preview

September 4, 2025 – Classical Catholic Education with Mike Wisnor

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A Panel on Classical Catholic Education

Moderator

 Mike Wisnor, President, Incarnate Word Academy

Panelists
Vincent DeLuca, Head of School,  St. Brendan
John Biernacki, Board Chair, St. Brendan
Jacob Halusker, Latin, Etymology & World Cultures Teacher, Incarnate Word Academy
 

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Date
Thursday, September 4, 2025

Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.;  We invite you to arrive any time after 11:00 a.m. for mingling & fellowship!
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

Location
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092

Click here to hear a podcast preview of this talk

Thank you, Deacon Jim Armstrong and AM-1260 The Rock.

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July 31, 2025 – The Moral Law: A Burden or a Key to our Happiness? with Fr. Joe Koopman

POST-EVENT UPDATE

Fr. Koopman  mentioned a podcast with Christopher West which went into the subject matter in more detail. The link is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFzdaGC93GQ


Reverend Joseph Koopman
Professor of Moral Theology, St. Mary Seminary
presenting
The Moral Law:  A Burden or a Key to Our Happiness

Rev. Joe Koopman, M.Div, M.A., S.T.D., graduated from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1996, after which he entered St. Mary Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland in 2001, and served as a newly ordained priest at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Parma. From 2005 to 2009, Fr. Koopman attended the Accademia Alfonsiana in Rome, Italy, where he received a license and doctorate in theology. Since 2009, he has been a professor of moral theology at St. Mary Seminary, along with serving as an advisor in moral theology and ethics for the Diocese of Cleveland and the Ohio Catholic Conference of Bishops. (https://tobinstitute.org/about-the-institute/meet-the-faculty/) 

click here to preview this talk!

Thank you to AM-1260 The Rock and Deacon Jim Armstrong for providing our preview podcasts.

Thursday, July 31, 2025

July 10, 2025 – Dr. Thomas Fielding, St. John the Evangelist Cathedral

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Singing with Understanding:

A Guide to the Church’s Instruction on Sacred Music
featuring

Dr. Thomas Fielding

Music Director, Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist

Organist and composer Thomas Fielding, DMus. (b. 1975) is director of music for the Cathedral of St John the Evangelist, Cleveland OH and is a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs’ School of Music where his principal teacher was Christopher Young. Previous studies were with Martin Jean and Robert A. Hobby. Fielding has taken first prize in the national Arthur Poister (Syracuse, NY) and San Marino (CA) performance competitions, has won several national composition prizes, has been the recipient of several full-tuition scholarship awards at IU and, as an undergraduate, won several music prizes offered by his alma mater Valparaiso University. He has played recitals throughout England and the Netherlands including two appearances at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. His scholarly work has been featured in The American Organist magazine. He has been commissioned by the Minneapolis AGO chapter to present a lecture-recital on the Esquisses Byzantines of Henry Mulet and he, along with Donna Walters, is co-authoring the book-biography of the composer. He was for four years the Dean of the Central North Carolina Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.

As an active and commissioned composer, Dr. Fielding’s works appear in the catalogues of many publishers. His works have been performed by soloists, choirs and orchestras throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Asia in addition to the 2016 American Guild of Organists national convention in Houston, TX. His compositions have also been broadcast on National Public Radio on both Weekend Edition and Pipedreams. His works appear in the catalogs of Choristers’ Guild, E. C. Schirmer, GIA and Selah. Additionally, Paraclete Press has released three works of his so far, with several more in their publication queue. The first commercial recording of his prize-winning piece “Behold the Dark and Bitter Night” has been released on the Gothic label.

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WHEN
Thursday, July 10, 2025
(This presentation will take place on the second Thursday due to the July 4th Holiday.)

Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.;  we invite you to arrive any time after 11:00 a.m. for mingling & fellowship!
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092

Register Today

 

June 5, 2025, John Czarnetzky, Dean & CEO Ave Maria School of Law

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The First Friday Club of Cleveland invites you to our June luncheon featuring

John Czarnetzky
Dean & CEO, Ave Maria School of Law

Presenting

American Legal Education – The Catholic Solution

Dean Czarnetzky is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., 1982, Chemistry) and the University of Virginia (J.D., 1989).

Before law school, Dean Czarnetzky was an officer in the United States Army, where he served as an intelligence analyst, specializing in foreign chemical, biological and nuclear capabilities. After law school, he practiced bankruptcy and commercial law with Sidley & Austin in Chicago, and McGuire, Woods, Battle & Boothe in Richmond, Virginia.

Dean Czarnetzky joined the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1994, teaching courses in bankruptcy, corporate reorganizations, secured transactions, civil procedure, and  business associations. At “Ole Miss”, he was the five time winner of the “Outstanding Law School Professor”, and in 2016, he was the recipient of the Elsie M. Hood Award for the “outstanding professor at the University of Mississippi,” the highest honor awarded to faculty members at the University of Mississippi.

Dean Czarnetzky also serves as a legal adviser to the Holy See’s Mission to the United Nations, representing the Holy See in negotiations, including establishing the International Criminal Court and several international treaties, including one on the rights of persons with disabilities.

Dean Czarnetzky is a lay member of the Dominican Order and a third-degree Knight of Columbus.

Join us in June!

(This event was re-scheduled from the December 2024 weather cancellation.)

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WHEN
Thursday, June 5, 2025

Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.; we invite you to arrive any time after 11:00 a.m. for mingling & fellowship!
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092

Register Here

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The Council of Nicaea’s 1,700th Anniversary: An Occasion to Get to Know Eastern Christianity

Featuring

Fr. Andrij Hlabse, SJ

Fr. Andrij Hlabse, SJ

Fr. Andrij M. Hlabse, S.J., is a Ukrainian Greek-Catholic priest and a Jesuit.  He was born and raised in the Cleveland area, where there is a large Ukrainian community; his family practiced the Catholic faith in both the Byzantine and Latin Rites, “breathing with both lungs” as Pope Saint John Paul II encouraged.  A graduate of St. Ignatius High School, Fr. Andrij earned his bachelor’s degree in music performance and romance languages and literatures at the University of Notre Dame.  As an accomplished jazz saxophonist, he had the opportunity to play with nationally known performers. After entering the Society of Jesus in 2007, Fr. Andrij earned graduate degrees in philosophy from Fordham University, and in theology from the Gregorian University and the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. While living in the Eternal City for 6 years, Fr. Andrij served as director of the choir at the Church of the Gesù.  Fluent in multiple languages, he once served as a simultaneous translator for Pope Francis. Fr. Andrij has also studied in Ukraine, France, Poland, and Austria. His area of expertise is the early Church. He was ordained to the priesthood in the Ukrainian Byzantine Rite in 2018, and since 2021 has been engaged in Ph.D. studies in theology at the University of Notre Dame. Father is also active in ND’s growing relationship with the Ukrainian Catholic University and assists at a Ukrainian Catholic parish near South Bend. Fr. Andrij has facilitated opportunities for the ND community to worship in and learn more about the Byzantine Catholic rite. His parents Christina Hlabse and Dick Russ, the former TV news anchor and co-founder of Cleveland’s Catholic radio station, reside in Brecksville. He has two married younger brothers and 4 nephews and nieces.

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WHEN
Thursday, May 1, 2025

Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.
We invite you to arrive any time after
11:00 a.m. for mingling & fellowship!
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE
Borromeo/Saint Mary Seminary
28700 Euclid Avenue (map)
Wickliffe, Ohio 44092

Register Here

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