Institute for Communication and Religion

During the final Sheen series, the youngest participant, Seamus Jude Logue, delivered a moving presentation. The 10-year-old homeschooled student, who had attended the entire series with great interest and was inspired to do his own research, shared a short presentation on the influence of Sheen’s childhood and Irish heritage on his ministry and legacy. 

The Fall Lunch Series celebrating Fulton Sheen wrapped up on October 22 at the Turro Seminary Library at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, featuring Gregory Y. Glazov, D.Phil. As a scripture scholar, Professor Glazov, Chair of the Department of Biblical Studies, closed the series by exploring the biblical roots of Sheen’s thought and preaching, and what it means to read his work through the lens of sacred Scripture, and vice versa

The Fulton Sheen Fall Series continued on October 15, 2026, at the Turro Seminary Library at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, featuring Joseph Rice, Ph.D. As a philosopher specializing in the personalism of John Paul II, Professor Rice engaged Sheen’s engagement with the modern world, his diagnosis of its spiritual crisis, and his vision of the human person as the antidote.

On October 8, Monsignor Gerard McCarren led discussions as part of the Fall Lunch Series celebrating Fulton Sheen at the Turro Seminary Library at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. The weekly series, which wrapped up on October 22, was meant to study and reflect anew on Sheen’s extraordinary life. McCarren, Rector/Dean and Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, engaged participants in a discussion of the important role the Sacraments played in the ministry of Fulton Sheen.

The Fulton Sheen Fall Series continued on October 1, 2026, at the Turro Seminary Library at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, featuring Jon Radwan, Ph.D. Professor Radwan, director of the Institute for Communication and Religion (ICR) in the College of Human Development, Culture and Media CHDCM, illuminated what made Sheen such a singularly effective and innovative communicator on radio, television, and in the public square. Dr. Radwan described Sheen as an ideal Christian communicator who devoted himself fully to God and neighbor, giving millions of Americans spiritual direction and inspiration to face 20th-century challenges together.

The Fall Lunch Series celebrating Fulton Sheen kicked off on September 24, 2026, at the Turro Seminary Library at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. This weekly series, held on Thursdays through October 2026, is meant to study and reflect anew on Sheen’s extraordinary life. At the debut series, Father Dominic Ciriaco, a homilist and director of the Lilly Endowment Hospitality grant, reflected on Sheen’s preaching, its craft, theological depth, and continuing power to form and inspire.

Saints and holy ones who were "communications experts" and what you can learn from them

Saints and holy ones as communications experts? For sure, there are many of them! Today we look at some 20th-century courageous Catholic communicators and what we can learn from them in our digital culture. Jon Radwan, Ph.D., Director of the Institute for Communication and Religion, and Associate Professor of Communication in the College of Human Development, Culture, and Media at Seton Hall University, Dr. Dianne Traflet, J.D., S.T.D., Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Administration, and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University and Colette Liddy, adjunct in the Department of Communication, Media and the Arts share insights about holy ones who innovatively responded to the signs of their times in transmitting the faith:  Servant of God Dorothy Day, Saint Oscar Romero, Saint Titus Brandsma, Venerable Fulton Sheen and Blessed Manuel Lozano Garrido. 

This podcast was produced as a project in Seton Hall University’s Teaching, Learning and Technology Center’s Summer Podcast Workshop Series. It was recorded in the University’s new Innovation Hub, a campus-wide destination for hands-on discovery, immersive learning and high-quality content creation. 

This episode features a discussion on I Corinthians 12 with Patrick Manning, Ph.D., student Liam J. Davis ’27, with host Bernie Wagenblast.

ICR Director Jon Radwan speaks with professor, journalist, and author Anthony DePalma about his new book On This Ground: Hardship and Hope at the Toughest Prep School in America.

For Contemplative Community Week 2025 ICR Director Jon Radwan interviewed Dr. Pradeep Deshpande (Professor Emeritus, University of Louisville) and Dr. A.D. Amar (Professor, SHU Stillman School of Business) on “Meditation and The Bhagavad Gita." Listen and learn about how spiritual wisdom can guide physical practices.