Wisdom From The Rock FFCP

First Friday Club Preview For December with Miguel Chavez

Deacon Jim Armstrong’s guest is Miguel Chavez, Senior Vice President of Mission & Ministry for the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine. Miguel oversees the integration of the philosophy and values of the Sisters of Charity of St. Augustine into the daily operations of the Sisters of Charity Health System. His Thursday, January 8^th, 2026, address to the First Friday Club is "Theology: Called to Mission."

First Friday Club Preview For December with Sister Laura Bregar, OSU

Deacon Jim Armstrong’s guest is Sister Laura Bregar, OSU, President of 
the Ursuline Sisters of Cleveland.  She will be discussing the rich, remarkable 175 Year history of the Ursuline Sisters in Northeast Ohio.

First Friday Club Preview For November with Bishop Neal Buckon

Deacon Jim Armstrong’s guest is Bishop Neal Buckon, who serves as Auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese for the Military Services of the United States.  Bishop Buckon will be addressing the First Friday Club of Cleveland on Thursday, November 6 at their regular monthly luncheon gathering.  He will discuss: The Military Chaplaincy and the Soldiers Served with Highlights of Military Chaplain Heros currently being considered for canonization, Fr. Emil Kapaun and Fr. Vincent Capodanno.

First Friday Club Preview For October is Dr. Nicolle McGowan

Deacon Jim Armstrong’s guest is Dr. Nicolle McGowan,  a local physician who will discuss one of the oldest institutions of western and Christian civilization, the Order of Malta, American Association, and its newest affiliate, right here in Cleveland.  Dr. McGowan has the title of Dame in the organization, and she is the Area Chair for Northeast Ohio. Dr. McGowan will be addressing the October 2^nd luncheon meeting of the First Friday of Cleveland to discuss the Order of Malta.

First Friday Club Preview For September with Mike Winsor

Deacon Jim Armstrong's guest is Mike Winsor, President of Incarnate Word Academy, Parma Hts., OH.  Mr. Winsor will be Modarating a Panel discussing Classical Catholic Education at the First Friday Club Luncheon on September, 4th.

First Friday Club Preview For August, Fr. Joseph Koopman

Deacon Jim Armstrong's guest for July is Fr. Joseph Koopman. Fr. Koopman is professor of moral theology at St. Mary Seminary and an advisor in moral theology and ethics for the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland and the Ohio Catholic Conference of Bishops. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cleveland in 2001. Fr. Koopman will be speaking on "The Moral Law:  A Burden or a Key to Our Happiness?"

First Friday Club Preview For July, Dr. Tom Fielding

Deacon Jim Armstrong's guest is Dr. Tom Fielding the Music Director at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.  Dr. Fielding is an organist and composer, and a graduate of the Indiana University Jacobs’ School of Music where his principal teacher was Christopher Young. He has received many awards for his work, and he has played recitals throughout England and the Netherlands including two appearances at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. His scholarly work is voluminous and has been featured in The American Organist Magazine.

First Friday Club Preview For June 2025, Dean John Czarnetzky

Deacon Jim Armstrong's guest is John Czarnetzky, who is the Dean and CEO of Ave Maria School of Law located in Naples, Florida.  The topic of Dean Czarnetzky's talk will be "American Legal Education – The Catholic Solution"  He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Virginia.  Before law school, Dean Czarnetzky was an officer in the United States Army, where he served as an intelligence analyst.  After law school, he practiced bankruptcy and commercial law.  Dean Czarnetzky also serves as a legal adviser to the Holy See's Mission to the United Nations