Office of Faith Formation

“Fides Quaerens Intellectum” is Latin for Faith Seeking Understanding. This year’s Pastoral Ministry Days will feature Dr. Zena Hitz, who brings a rich background in the philosophical intellectual, and spiritual dimensions of pastoral work, in her keynote addresses. Participants can expect thought-provoking presentations that invite deeper reflection on how faith and reason intersect in ministry and how, as Catholic leaders, we can grow in our inner lives while serving others more effectively.

Hitz grew up in a reading family that often discussed the facts they read. Her parents enjoyed reading and reflecting. She and her brother became avid readers. Her brother became a scientist, and she became a philosopher.

She found herself in a crisis and wanted to know where ethics, morality, and our sense of right and wrong came from. She chose Saint John College. Attending school there met her need at the time to read, converse, and think.

Hitz currently serves as a professor in the Great Books program at Saint John College in Annapolis, Maryland. However, she said that there the term “professor” is not used; instead, the word “tutor” is used. The term tutor has a slightly different meaning from the word professor: a tutor communicates that their teaching is not the transmission of expertise, but the leading of fellow travelers on a path to their own learning. As Hitz explains on her online forum, “The pinnacle of intellectual life, so far as I am concerned, is to sit around a table talking about the deep questions, inspired by excellent books. We are drawn to that table by a desire to understand and to learn, with and from one another. We read, speak, and listen, not to draw a boundary between ourselves and others, but to uncover bonds of human unity.”

She sees her experience at St. John College as aligning with the way she understands learning. The staff of the Office of Faith Formation is grateful that Hitz is bringing that vision to Pastoral Ministry Days, March 15-17, at the Terra Sancta Retreat Center.

Her biography shows she has pursued an extensive academic formation, studying at Saint John’s College, Cambridge University, and the University of Chicago, and earning her Ph.D. in ancient philosophy from Princeton University. In addition to these accomplishments, readers might be interested in her online community dubbed the Catherine Project. The Catherine Project is an open online community for readers to read and discuss books. Hitz founded this in 2020, and since then, the project has offered over 700 courses, serving nearly 4500 readers in more than fifty countries.

She is the author of several acclaimed works that explore the life of the mind, faith, and human flourishing. Her book, “Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life,” reflects on the intrinsic value of learning and intellectual curiosity, echoing themes that resonate widely across secular and religious circles. The book discussions have highlighted how thoughtful engagement with learning can deepen one’s life and faith.

Her most recent work, “A Philosopher Looks at the Religious Life,” examines faith, sacrifice, asceticism, and happiness through a philosophical lens, offering readers a rich bridge between intellectual reflection and spiritual practice. These themes will be central to her presentations at Pastoral Ministry Days, where she will challenge participants to consider how their own formation — intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral — equips them for ministry in today’s world.

Pastoral Ministry Days is a cornerstone event for the Diocese of Rapid City’s formation efforts, drawing ministers from across western South Dakota to learn, pray, and grow together. Hitz’s presence promises to enrich this year’s gathering with profound insight into the harmony between faith and reason, and the deep joy that comes from seeking truth in the service of Christ and his Church. Please visit the Diocese of Rapid City’s website under Faith Formation to register for Pastoral Ministry Days. The cost is $115; however, an early bird discount of $10 is available if you register before February 8. Click here to register!