WHAT?
Truth on Tap is our monthly speaker series hosted by Virtus, our Young Adult Ministry. Join us in Knight Hall the third Thursday of the month and enjoy community, refreshments, and a guest speaker presentation. Topics will cover faith, family, relationships, sports, school, careers, community, and theology. These evenings are free of charge with a suggested donation of $20/speaker. Young Adults, parents, siblings, and friends are invited attend!
WHO?
Thursday, January 22 |Dr. Chris Kaczor
Dr. Christopher Kaczor (rhymes with razor) is Professor of Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University, Honorary Professor at Bishop Barron's Word on Fire Institute, and the President of the Catholic Philosophical Association. He graduated from the Honors Program of Boston College and earned a Ph.D. four years later from the University of Notre Dame. A Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Kaczor did post-doctoral work as a Alexander von Humboldt German Chancellor Fellow at the University of Cologne. He was appointed a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life of Vatican City and William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. The winner of a Templeton Grant, he has written more than 100 scholarly articles and book chapters. An award winning author, the most recent of his twenty books it called, Is Belief Believable? Dr. Kaczor’s views have been in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post, National Review, NPR, BBC, EWTN, ABC, NBC, FOX, CBS, MSNBC, TEDx, and The Today Show. Learn more about Dr. Kaczor here.
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Thursday, February 19 | Emily Wilson Hussem
Emily Wilson Hussem is an author, speaker, YouTuber, wife and mom who shares her faith online and travels the world sharing her witness of faith at conferences and events across the globe. Emily lives in Southern California with her husband Daniël and their three glorious children. Learn more about Emily Wilson Hussem here.
Thursday, February 19 | Fr. Al Baca
Father Al Baca is a native of Southern California and grew up attending St. Columban Church in Garden Grove. He attended Cal State Fullerton, but chose to enter the seminary for the diocesan priesthood for the Diocese of Orange.
He was ordained in the Diocese of Orange in 1989, serving as parochial vicar in various parishes including St. Cecilia’s Church in Tustin and St. Columban Church in Garden Grove. He received his license in Ecumenism and Inter-religion from the Angelicum in Rome and then served as Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenism and Inter-religion for ten years. Father then was appointed as Director for Evangelization and Faith Formation and then appointed to work for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Washington, D.C., as the Director for Ecumenism and Inter-religion for the whole United States. Returning to California, he was appointed Director for Evangelization and Faith Formation for the Diocese of Orange.
Father also served as the first Contact Priest of the Diocese of Orange for Deliverance Ministries and Exorcism. He did this for four years.
As of July 1, 2022, Father Baca has been assigned to the parish of St. Anne in Seal Beach as a Senior Priest, assisting the priests of the parish. In July of 2023, he was appointed again as Episcopal Vicar for Ecumenism and Inter-religion for the Diocese of Orange. In May of 2024, Bishop Kevin Vann asked Father Baca to be the Secretary for the Pastoral Provision.
