Curran Center for American Catholic Studies
The Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies advances knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of American Catholicism within the academy and the church, and with the broader religious community and the general public.
Our threefold mission is to:
- Educate rising generations of religiously-informed citizens
- Foster ecumenical, inter-religious, and interdisciplinary engagement with Catholic thought and practice
- Promote informed and compassionate analysis of the critical religious and social issues of our time.
15th Anniversary Celebration Postponed
With regret, we have decided to postpone the 15th Anniversary Celebration of the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies, which had been scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 4. Given the public health crisis of COVID-19 in New York, across the nation, and around the world, we have all been forced to take drastic measures to protect the health and well-being of the Fordham community and our wider communities. We plan to reschedule our celebration and will be back in touch as soon as we can with an update. In the meantime, we thank you for your support of the Curran Center, and wish you and your family safety and good health.
In 2001, university president Rev. Joseph O'Hare, SJ, approached Rev. Mark Massa, SJ, about forming a center for the study of American Catholicism. In the following months, Fr. Massa set to work developing Fr. O'Hare's vision, in hopes of establishing a nationally-recognized hub for the study of American Catholic history, identity, and practice.
In 2004, John and Connie Curran expressed to Fr. Massa their interest in endowing the center, and the Francis and Ann Curran Center for American Catholic Studies, named in honor of John's parents, was born. Dedicated to advancing the Jesuit Catholic educational mission of the university, the Curran Center is a hub for many different types of events and programs, including public lectures, faculty seminars, major scholarly conferences, and an undergraduate concentration that, in the words of our students, shapes the way Fordham students "see and engage the world."
Stay tuned for an announcement of our upcoming events for the 2020-21 academic year!
A Look Back: Past Event Highlight
Jazz is Love: The Life & Music of Mary Lou Williams
Presented and performed by Deanna Witkowski
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
5:30PM, Butler Commons, Duane Library, Rose Hill Campus
The Sexual Dynamics of Modern Catholicism
Presented by Robert Orsi (Northwestern University)
Tuesday, March 3, 2020
5:30PM, Tognino Hall, Duane Library, Rose Hill Campus