'Gift of Holy Spirit' is First Friday topic

Charles E. Bouchard O.P., president of Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO, where he also teaches moral theology, will speak on “The gift of the Holy Spirit: New Energey for an Old Idea” at the August 7 luncheon of the First Friday Club at the Martin Center on the University of Akron campus.

Father Bouchard received his B.A. from St. John's University in Collegeville, MN, and joined the Dominican Order in 1975. He continued his education with an M.A. at Aquinas Institute of Theology at Dubuque, Iowa, and his S.T.D. in Moral Theology from Catholic University of America in 1987. He has taught at Catholic University of America, Aquinas Institute of Theology and Center for Heath Care Ethics at Saint Louis University. Father Bouchard held the position of President of Aquinas Institute of Theology from 1989 to 2007 and was appointed Vice President of Theology Education at Ascension Health in 2008. He was instrumental in developing Aquinas Institute's Master of Arts in Health care Mission and Aquinas' collaborative leadership education Program with Ascension Health.

Father Bouchard's current interest is how to prepare a new generation of leaders for Catholic Institutions - leaders with business acumen who also have theological and spiritual sophistication necessary to revitalize their mission in a pluralistic world.

For luncheon reservations, call 330-535-7668 or send a check to First Friday Club of Greater Akron, 795 Russell Ave., Akron, OH 44307.