Wisdom From The Rock FFCP

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

First Friday Club Preview For May 2025, Fr. Andrij Hlabse

Deacon Jim Armstrong's guest is Fr. Andrij Hlabse, S.J.  Fr. Hlabse is the son of former Cleveland newscaster Dick Russ.  He was ordained to the priesthood in the Ukrainian Byzantine Rite in 2018.  Fr. Hlabse is engaged in Ph.D. studies on the development and relations of the Latin and Greek theological traditions and how the Church’s prayer expresses her theological belief.  He will be speaking at the First Friday Club luncheon on May 1st on the topic of The Council of Nicaea’s 1,700^th Anniversary: An Occasion to Get to Know Eastern Christianity.

First Friday Club Preview For April 2025, Sr. Susan Durkin

Deacon Jim Armstrong's guest is Sr. Susan Durkin, OSU who is Executive Director and Co-Founder of the Women Religious Archives Collaborative.  The Collaborative is constructing a Heritage Center in Cleveland, one of only four such centers in the United States, to preserve Religious Order's histories and legacies and make them available to researchers and the general public.  Come and hear some of the inspiring stories we hope to preserve.

First Friday Club Preview For March 2025, Peter Burak

Deacon Jim Armstrong's guest is Peter Burak.  Peter is the vice president of Renewal Ministries, a ministry dedicated to Catholic renewal and evangelization.  He is a graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville and has a master’s degree in theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary.  Pete is a frequent speaker on discipleship and evangelization and co-director of Pine Hills Boys’ Camp.  He is a monthly columnist for Faith Magazine and the host of two podcasts:  Spirit-filled Leadership and The Hour.  Pete and his wife, Cait, have five children.