Faculty Retreat Explores the Irreplaceable Dignity of the Human Person

Seton Hall University faculty gathered June 11–12 at San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch, New Jersey, for the annual Faculty Summer Retreat hosted by the Center for Catholic Studies.

Grounded in the 2026–27 Catholic Intellectual Tradition theme, “Irreplaceable: The Dignity of the Human Person,” the retreat invited participants to reflect on the dignity, unique identity and vocation of every person, and to consider how that vision informs teaching, scholarship, leadership and service at Seton Hall.

The oceanfront setting created space for prayer, rest, shared meals, Mass, fellowship and sustained reflection with colleagues. The full program brought together perspectives from theology, law, international relations, social work and service learning, demonstrating how the Catholic understanding of the human person can illuminate a wide range of contemporary questions. For the full program, click here.

Thursday’s sessions moved from theological foundations to contemporary applications. Michael Maloney, Ph.D., of the Department of Religion, opened the retreat with a presentation on the Catholic view of the human person. Paula Franzese, J.D., Peter W. Rodino professor of Law at Seton Hall Law, examined human dignity and immigration, while Roger Alfani, Ph.D., of University Core, explored human dignity and refugees. Amanda Cavanagh, director of DOVE Mission, offered a session on service and encounter. The day continued with evening Mass, presided over by Father Gerry Buonopane, Ph.D., followed by Session Four, a roundtable on insights from the small groups and practical applications, dinner and fellowship.

Friday’s schedule included breakfast, morning prayer, leisure and quiet time and a reading and discussion of Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical on safeguarding the human person in the age of artificial intelligence, with opening comments by Kelly A. Shea, Ph.D.; Nancy Enright, Ph.D.; and Jose Lopez, Ph.D. Faculty considered human dignity, vocation and the educational mission at a moment when technological and cultural changes are raising fundamental questions about what it means to be human. The retreat concluded with a closing activity, announcements, lunch and departure.

Patrick Manning, Ph.D., director of the Center for Catholic Studies had this to say,

In his new encyclical, Pope Leo warns that ‘when human dignity is threatened by new forms of dehumanization, ours is the pressing duty to remain profoundly human.’ This year’s faculty retreat provided us with the opportunity not only to reflect on current threats to human dignity but also to reclaim our humanity through life-giving conversations, fellowship and rest against the backdrop of natural beauty. Participants left restored and encouraged, and we look forward to carrying these conversations about human dignity into the new academic year.

Mary Balkun, Ph.D., professor of English and director of Faculty Development, reflected on the retreat’s timeliness and its spirit of renewal,

This year’s Faculty Summer Retreat was especially meaningful for several reasons. The theme could not have been more appropriate given our current political environment, and it was a blessing to be able to spend two days with colleagues, in a beautiful and peaceful location, thinking about the value of the human person. Pope Leo XIV’s new encyclical ran as an underlying theme throughout the two days, a touchstone to which we kept returning. The whole experience was uplifting and life affirming. I’m already looking forward to next year!

Beyond the formal sessions, the retreat offered the kind of unhurried collegial space that faculty often find difficult to protect during the academic year. With time for leisure, quiet reflection, shared meals, Mass, fellowship and conversation by the shore, participants were able to step away from daily responsibilities and reconnect with colleagues across disciplines.

The Faculty Summer Retreat is offered free of charge to Seton Hall faculty and is part of the Center for Catholic Studies’ ongoing support for faculty formation and the University’s Catholic mission. Through opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue, prayer, rest, and reflection, the retreat helps faculty engage the Catholic Intellectual Tradition and carry its insights into their teaching, scholarship, and service. Faculty interested in future retreats are encouraged to watch for next year’s invitation from the Center for Catholic Studies.

Categories: Faith and Service