Signs of Hope are coming to New York City. Specifically, to the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture on 18 Bleecker Street, one block away from where the legendary punk rock club CBGB once stood.
Most visitors do not know it is named after archbishop Fulton J. Sheen. In the words of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, that “is the genius of the Sheen Center.” It brings in people from all walks of life —people you would not find in the pews, clearly interested in art and culture, who might end up inspired “by the faith that has also inspired much of the arts,” as John Burger puts it. The Sheen Center understands this is their mission: “to focus on the true, the good and the beautiful, as they have been expressed throughout the ages” and, by so doing, to reach people on the fence.
Their coming event, Signs of Hope for a Better World, Portraits of Grace, brings together leaders from the worlds of faith, healthcare, and media to celebrate the shared humanity that united New Yorkers throughout the Covid-19 crisis. It is, in a way, an expansion of their celebrated reopening exhibition, Portraits of Grace, a multi-platform event that captured “the human and the divine present in the pandemic experience in photographic images and video testimonials.” While portraying the heroic efforts of first responders, the exhibition focused on the other heroes of the pandemic: “priests, consecrated women and men, and dedicated lay people who have journeyed with their fellow New Yorkers in countless ways, bringing consolation at a time of apparent desolation and above all bringing the Gospel’s message of hope and, over time, the spirit of joyful resilience.”
In 2020, New York City went through the deadliest disaster in its history. To put it in perspective, the pandemic was (by then) responsible for seventeen times more deaths than those caused by the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Sponsored by SOMOS Community Care and Aleteia, Signs of Hope for a Better World, Portraits of Grace, offers a platform for dialogue about the many lessons learned over the past two years, with an eye toward inspiring positive change not only in the city, but in the world. Most importantly, the event is designed to encourage participants to shift their gaze from looking back into this painful past, to focusing on a hopeful future.
The event will take place this coming May 5, and panelists include His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York; Dr. Ramon Tallaj, Founder and Chairman of SOMOS Community Care; Scott La Rue, CEO of Archcare, and David Begnaud, lead national correspondent for “CBS Mornings.” Elaine Quijano, anchor of CBS News’ new 24-hour streaming network will moderate.
While this is a free event, reservations are required. You can reserve your seat here.
