Your Invited
Sign Up Today!

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   

Register Today

WHEN
Thursday, March 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

Register Today

You’re Invited
Sign Up Today!

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

Featuring

Fr. Joseph Brankatelli, Administrator
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish

Fr. Brankatelli was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland in 2008.  During his first assignment at Holy Family Parish in Parma, he encountered an Ohio National Guard soldier who had spent time in Iraq – this prompted a discernment of a call to become a military chaplain.  In 2011, with Bishop Lennon’s support, Fr. Brankatelli applied and was accepted into the Military Chaplaincy.   He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 where he was stationed at Bagram Airfield. From here he traveled to various remote bases to celebrate mass, the sacraments and minister to the soldiers serving in Afghanistan.  Following his tour in Afghanistan, Fr. Brankatelli was sent to Arlington National Cemetery for the next two years.  He was then sent to Fort Carson, Colorado where he served with Infantry soldiers who were sent to Eastern Europe to support NATO allies.  His final assignment was Fort Riley, Kansas, after which Fr. Brankatelli returned to Cleveland and resumed his work as a parish priest.  Fr. Brankatelli is currently the Administrator of Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in South Euclid. 

Register Today

WHEN
Thursday, November 6, 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)

Register Here

Join us on Thursday, October 2, to:

Learn about one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilization! 

Present in Palestine in around 1050, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem is a lay religious Order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. Its 13,500 members include Professed Friars and others who have made the promise of obedience. The other Knights and Dames are lay members, devoted to the exercise of Christian virtue and charity. What distinguishes the Knights and Dames of Malta is their commitment to reaching their spiritual perfection within the Church and to expending their energies serving the poor and the sick.

The Order of Malta remains true to its inspiring principles, summarized in the motto “Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum”, nurturing, witnessing and protecting the Faith and assistance to the poor and the suffering, which become reality through the voluntary work carried out by Dames and Knights in humanitarian assistance and medical and social activities. Today the Order carries out these activities in over 120 countries.

Hear from Dr. Niki McGowan about the Order of Malta, American Association, and its newest affiliate, the Cleveland Area! Dr. McGowan is the Area Chair, Cleveland Area for the American Association, Order of Malta.

Register Today

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

You’re Invited
Sign Up Today!

Featuring

Mr. Mike Wisnor, President
Incarnate Word Academy

Moderating a Panel on Classical Catholic Education

Register Today

WHEN
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.

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

Register Here

You’re Invited
Sign Up Today!

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/) 

Register Today

WHEN
Thursday, July 31, 2025
Buffet Opens at 11:30 a.m.;  We invite you to arrive any time after 11:00 a.m. for networking & fellowship!
Program Concludes at 1:00 p.m.

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

Register Here

You’re Invited
Sign Up Today!

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.

Register Today

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