Currents News Staff
On July 30 the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture announced its fall programming season, ‘A Celebration Of The Human Spirit,’ with an event hosted by Grammy and Tony award-winning actress and singer Vanessa Williams.
Williams, who considers herself a practicing Catholic, said she was “happy” to be a part of the evening’s event.
“I believe in telling what the Sheen Center has to offer, because people don’t even know it’s a gem down here,” she said.
For Williams, it was an honor to announce artists like award-winning Broadway actor Ken Jennings, who will present their “thought provoking” and faith-inspired work at the center this fall.
The season’s performances will also feature Jennings reciting the Gospel of John onstage, which the Sheen Center aniticaptes will be the “theatrical piece of the season.”
“I’m really excited about this one, I’m more excited about this than any other show I’ve ever done because I love the Gospel of John,” Jennings said. “I memorized it for prayer really, not as a theatrical piece. Then I was doing it for free at some churches.”
The Sheen Center also has their fall line-up packed with events and shows such as American Slavery Project’s ‘Unheard Voices,’ and a talk back series on the acclaimed film ROMERO, inspired by the recently canonized Saint Oscar Romero.
Also included in the fall program are events with distinguished authors Mary Eberstadt, Fr. Wilson Miscamble, Randy Boyagada and Tim Carney, who will discuss their new books.
The Justice Film Festival will also be returning to the Sheen Center from November 12-16 with new films depicting real-life stories on the fight for justice.
William Spencer Reilly, Executive Director of the Sheen Center, says he is looking forward to having visitors come to the center to be challenged and educated on the Catholic faith.
“I love people who are sitting on the fence about their faith, who come in here and suddenly say ‘Wow, I haven’t thought of it that way,’ and are giving Catholicism another look,” he said.
Reilly sees the Sheen Center as a hub for the “Catholic Voice.” He believes this combination of faith and art is needed because of an excess exposure to negativity that consumers are getting.
“Nowadays, more than ever it’s important, because so many people are bombarded to watch and do things. And a lot of it pushes people to the dark side,” said Reilly. “We don’t do that. I think we are a beacon of light in what sometimes is a dark landscape.”