By CatholicPhilly Staff Report • Posted September 16, 2026

The 2026-2027 lecture series of the American Catholic Historical Society will feature a range of topics that explore the rich history of Catholicism in the United States.

As part of the society’s commitment to promoting scholarship and advancing appreciation for Catholic history, all lectures in the series are free and open to the public.

The lectures will be held at the ACHS historic house at 263 South Fourth Street in Old City, Philadelphia, directly across the street from Old St. Mary’s Church. Those who cannot attend in person have the option of joining the livestream via Zoom.

Although the events are free, advanced registration is requested. More details and registration links can be found on the ACHS website at https://amchs.org.

The first lecture for the season will be held Sunday, Sept. 20 at 2 p.m. Dr. Thomas Rzeznik, professor of history at Seton Hall University, will speak about his new book, “A Monument of Charity: St. Vincent’s Hospital and Catholic Health Care in New York City.”

It calls attention to the remarkable contributions of Catholic sisters to the development of health care in the United States.

The lecture series continues on Tuesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. with a talk by Dr. Michelle Nickerson of Loyola University Chicago based on her book, “Spiritual Criminals: How the Camden 28 Put the Vietnam War on Trial.”

It captures the story of the group of grassroots religious activists who broke into the government draft board in Camden, N.J., in 1971. Their action helped draw attention to the spiritual commitments that helped fuel the antiwar movement.

The lecture series will continue in the spring with four additional talks. On Sunday, Jan. 17, Dr. Ines Murzaku will speak on Mother Teresa and her theological ideals.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, John Dougherty will share the history of the motion picture production code in his lecture, “When Catholics Ruled Hollywood.”

Continuing on Tuesday, April 20, Dr. Carol Loeb Schloss will share her work on noted Catholic author Flannery O’Connor and her relationship with her mother, Regina.

The series will conclude on Tuesday, May 11 with a profile of Philadelphia’s “pioneering Catholic printer,” Mathew Carey, by Robert O’Sullivan.

Founded in 1884, the American Catholic Historical Society is the oldest Catholic historical society in the United States, dedicated to collecting, researching, and preserving the history of the Catholic Church’s contributions to American society and culture.

It is an independent, voluntary organization open to all those with an interest in the history of Catholicism in the United States.

In addition to the lecture series, the ACHS hosts regular social events and publishes the award-winning quarterly journal, “American Catholic Studies,” which features articles and reviews on American Catholic history and related disciplines.