Keynotes
Rev. Carter Griffin
Tuesday, August 29th at 2:00 p.m.
Three Blessings of Celibacy
Priestly celibacy is a gift to the world, the Church as Bride, and the people of God. Reflection on those blessings gives shape to the way celibacy is lived in the life of a celibate priest.
Father Carter Griffin is a priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC. Raised Presbyterian, he converted to Catholicism while attending Princeton University. After graduating in 1994, he served for four years as a line officer in the United States Navy prior to entering the seminary. He attended Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland for two years of philosophy followed by the North American College in Rome for five years of theology. Father Griffin was ordained to the priesthood in 2004 and served as priest-secretary for three years before beginning doctoral studies in Rome in 2008. After completing his doctorate and serving as the parochial vicar of St. Peter’s parish on Capitol Hill, in 2011 he was appointed Director of Priest Vocations for the Archdiocese of Washington and Vice-Rector of St. John Paul II Seminary, where he now serves as Rector. He is the author of Why Celibacy: Reclaiming the Fatherhood of the Priest, Cross-Examined: Catholic Responses to the World’s Questions, and Forming Fathers: Seminary Wisdom for Every Priest all published by Emmaus Road Publishing.
Rev. Patrick Mary Briscoe, O.P.
The Chain of Contemplation
A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Father Patrick Briscoe joined the Order of Preachers in 2010. He completed his initial studies in theology at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, where he earned a licentiate in moral theology. Following his ordination to the priesthood, he was assigned in Providence, Rhode Island. Father Patrick served as a parish priest at St. Pius V Church, and as a chaplain and instructor of theology at Providence College. He was formerly the Editor-in-Chief of the English edition of Aleteia.org, the global Catholic news and spirituality website and currently serves as the editor of Our Sunday Visitor.
Father Patrick is a Eucharistic Preacher, a work he has undertaken to support the USCCB-led Eucharistic Revival. Along with his Dominican brothers, he is host of the podcast Godsplaining and a co-author of Saint Dominic’s Way of Life: A Path to Knowing and Loving God. He is also the author of the OSV seasonal devotional, My Daily Visitor.
