Conference Talks, FSSJ August 2026 -- Catholicism in America, 250 Years

 The Priestly Fraternity of St Joseph held our annual conference in Laurel, MT - with the general theme of Catholicism in America for the 250th Anniversary of the USA.

The playlist of all the talks is [here]!

Monday: Fr Ryan Erlenbush, "The Catholic Influence on American Literature"

Tuesday: Fr Eric Andersen, "The Apostle of Alaska: The Martyrdom of Archbishop Seghers"

Wednesday: Fr Samuel Spiering, “Ecclesiastical Order in a Protestant Land: Canon Law in America”

Thursday: Fr Joseph Bergida, "Early Jesuit Missionaries in the New World: True sons of Ignatius and zealous evangelizers"

Friday: Fr Bart Stevens, "The Family that Prays Together: Fr Peyton and the Rosary"

Adult Faith Formation, August 11 -- Wisdom Literature, Session 1 -- Introduction and Life of Solomon

 We begin a new series on the Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament. In our first session, we discuss the themes and style of the so-called Wisdom Literature of the Old Testament.

August 9, Sunday Sermon - The Catholic Refutation of Antisemitism and Our Relation to the Jews

 From St Paul's Letter to the Romans,

"They are Israelites;

   theirs the adoption, the glory, the covenants,
   the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises;
   theirs the patriarchs, and from them,
   according to the flesh, is the Christ,
who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen."

We consider the teaching of the Second Vatican Council on the relation of the Church to the Jews, especially in the document Nostra aetate.  This is especially needed today because the main problem that the SSPX has with the Church and Vatican II is our relation to the Jews and the question of religious liberty. Furthermore, we see a troubling rise in antisemitism today, especially among traditional Catholics.

We discuss the ways in which the Jews remain the Chosen People, and also that all salvation only comes through Christ Jesus and the Catholic Church.

Listen online [here]!

Handout for FSSJ Talk on Catholic Literature

 Catholic Literature of the USA

The Catholic Influence on American Literature

Some Recommended Book Lists

Don’t read good books, or else you won’t have time for the great books!   (Fr Raymond Nyquist)

2026-08-03 The Catholic Influence on American Literature (FSSJ Conference on Catholicism in America at 250 years)

 In this talk, we consider why literature is important for all people and especially for Catholics. We then look to American Literature, Catholic Literature, and American Catholic Literature - focusing on such authors as Willa Cather, F Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Walker Percy, and Flannery O'Connor.

The handout of book recommendations is below, and Fr Ryan's series of courses on American Catholic Literature with many handouts can be found [here]!

Listen online [here]!