Seton Hall to Celebrate New Book on the Eucharist and Honor Monsignor John Radano

Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology (ICSST) and Catholic Studies Program at Seton Hall University will host a lecture and book signing celebrating the publication of The Eucharist Among Christians: Ecumenical Perspectives on Thursday, January 28, 2027, in the Chapel of Christ the Good Shepherd, Lewis Hall, on the University's South Orange campus, at 3 p.m. The event will feature a presentation by the volume's editor, Father Joseph R. Laracy, S.T.D., and will honor the memory and legacy of the late Monsignor John A. Radano, Ph.D., P.A. (1938–2025), a distinguished Seton Hall scholar and internationally recognized leader in Christian ecumenism. A reception with refreshments and a book signing will follow.

Published in November 2026 by Pickwick Publications, a scholarly imprint of Wipf and Stock, The Eucharist Among Christians: Ecumenical Perspectives brings together leading scholars representing ten Christian traditions: Anabaptist/Mennonite, Anglican, Baptist, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist/Wesleyan, Oriental Orthodox, Pentecostal, Reformed and Roman Catholic. Each contributor presents the Eucharistic theology and practice of his or her respective tradition, examining historical, doctrinal, liturgical and spiritual dimensions. Rather than overlooking theological differences, the volume engages questions concerning the real presence of Christ, sacrifice, ordained ministry, communion and ecclesial identity while identifying opportunities for greater mutual understanding.

Featuring a foreword by Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the book seeks to serve students, clergy, scholars and lay readers interested in the Eucharist and the pursuit of Christian unity.

Father Laracy, a priest of the Archdiocese of Newark, is associate professor and chairman of the Department of Systematic Theology at Seton Hall's Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. He also teaches in the University's Catholic Studies Program, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, and Core Curriculum. He earned his doctorate in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and, during a 2026 research sabbatical, served as an academic visitor in the Faculty of Theology and Religion at the University of Oxford and a visiting research scholar at Blackfriars Hall. His interdisciplinary scholarship explores the relationship between Catholic theology, philosophy and the sciences. Through this edited volume, he seeks to encourage informed theological dialogue that respects the doctrinal integrity of each Christian tradition.

The event will pay special tribute to Monsignor John A. “Jack” Radano, whose lifelong dedication to Christian unity left an enduring legacy at Seton Hall and throughout the universal Church. Ordained for the Archdiocese of Newark in 1965, Monsignor Radano began his academic career at Seton Hall, eventually chairing the Department of Religious Studies. In 1984, he was appointed to the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, where he subsequently headed the Western Section and participated for more than two decades in international theological dialogues with Lutheran, Reformed, Baptist, Mennonite, Pentecostal and Evangelical Christians. He also served as a liaison to the World Council of Churches and authored important works on ecumenical dialogue. Following his return to New Jersey in 2008, he continued his teaching and scholarly contributions, including at Seton Hall.

He also worked closely with the Catholic Studies Program, organizing ecumenical lectures and inviting speakers every semester. His commitment to theological rigor, mutual respect and the pursuit of visible Christian unity exemplified the ecumenical vision of the Second Vatican Council. He remained active in ecumenical work until his death!

The lecture reflects the missions of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology and Catholic Studies Program. Founded in 1860, ICSST prepares candidates for the Catholic priesthood while providing theological and pastoral education for lay women and men, religious and others serving the Church. The Catholic Studies Program advances Seton Hall’s Catholic identity through interdisciplinary engagement with the Catholic intellectual tradition, bringing theology and philosophy into dialogue with history, literature, the arts, the sciences and contemporary culture. Together, these academic communities foster serious theological inquiry, scholarly exchange and meaningful engagement with the wider Christian world, contributing to the University’s commitment to faith, reason and the pursuit of truth.

The event is open to the public. Following the lecture, guests are invited to a reception in the Lewis Hall Refectory, where discounted copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing. Registration is requested by January 18, 2027. Participants may register through the University event page or RSVP by contacting Elizabeth Vacchiano at [email protected].

Categories: Faith and Service