First Thursday Reflections

Rev. Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi, our Society Chaplain, gives theological reflections on the first Thursday of most months. The talks are free and open to the public.

The themes of the reflections in past years have been:

  • 2023-24: "Prayer: The Perennial Challenge of Listening and Speaking to God"
  • 2022-23: "The Seven Sacraments Revisited"
  • 2021-22: "The Pandemic Challenge: A Renewed Appreciation of the Eucharist"
  • 2020-21: "The Eternal Word in a COVID-19 World"
  • 2019-20: "Back to the Basics of the Faith”
  • 2018-19: "The Devout Life: An Ongoing Gift”
  • 2017-18: "The Devout Life: A Snapshot”
  • 2016-17: "Life in Christ"
  • 2015-16: "The Upper Room"
  • 2014-15: "Encountering Jesus in the Sacraments"
  • 2013-14: "Catholic Social Teaching"
  • 2012-13: "Encountering Jesus in Works of Charity" and "Vatican Council II"
  • 2011-12: "Encountering Jesus in His Word"
  • 2010-11: "Authentic Lay Spirituality"

The talks take place at the following location:

  • First Thursday at the Church of the Little Flower, Bethesda, MD; 7:15 am (following the 6:30 am Mass), in the Rectory Meeting Room.

If you cannot make the talks, podcasts of the reflections are available in the Chaplain's Corner of this website.


Msgr. Peter Vaghi at the 2011 Fall Lecture