The Rev. James Martin, S.J., to Give Talk, Answer
Audience Questions, and Sign Books
SAN
FRANCISCO — (January 31, 2012) The Rev. James Martin, S.J., known best as the chaplain
of Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report” and the author of such best-sellers as
“My Life with the Saints,” “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything,” and
“Between Heaven and Mirth,” will give a public lecture at the University of San
Francisco (USF) on Monday, Feb. 6, at 4 p.m. in the McLaren Conference Center
on USF’s main campus. The event is free and open to the public.
The
joke-wielding Fr. Martin, who is as at ease conversing about pop culture as
Biblical verse, says his talk, “Between Heaven and Mirth: Why Joy, Humor
and Laughter are at the Heart of the Spiritual Life,” will focus on “how faith leads to joy, how the
saints used humor in their lives, and how laughter is a gift from God.” After his talk, Martin will take questions from
the audience.
Copies
of “Between Heaven and Mirth” will
be available for purchase at the event. Fr. Martin will sign books in the
McLaren Conference Center both before and after the lecture.
“Father
Martin is an engaging speaker who weaves spirituality and humor into everyday
life in a way that rings true with a variety of audiences,” said USF President
Stephen A. Privett, S.J. “He is a talented storyteller with a compelling
message of joy, and we are fortunate to welcome him to campus.”
Complimentary
parking for those attending Fr. Martin’s talk is available in the Koret parking
lot (upper and lower levels) located at the corner of Turk Boulevard and Parker
Avenue.
James
Martin, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, author, culture editor of America magazine, and
the official chaplain of “The Colbert Report” with Stephen Colbert on Comedy
Central. Fr. Martin has written and commented on religion and spirituality for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Chicago Tribune, The Philadelphia Inquirer, NPR, CNN,
and many other national and international outlets. In 1982, he graduated from
the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, where he received
a bachelor’s degree in finance. After working for six years in corporate
finance with General Electric Co., he entered the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits)
in 1988.
About the University of San Francisco
The University of San Francisco is located in the heart of one of the
most innovative and diverse cities in the world and features a vibrant
community of students and faculty who achieve excellence in their fields while
building a more humane and just world. University of San Francisco students,
faculty, and alumni are involved in the entrepreneurial city of San Francisco
and work in all industries, from technology to the nonprofit sector. With
dedicated professors and exceptional academic programs to choose from, the
university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional students the
knowledge and skills needed to develop into ethical leaders who are sought
after in their professions. USF’s diverse student body benefits from direct
access to faculty, small class sizes, and a broad array of programs and
co-curricular opportunities. Informed by the university’s 156-year-old Jesuit
Catholic mission, the USF community ignites students’ passion for social justice
and the pursuit of the common good. For more information about the University
of San Francisco, please visit www.usfca.edu.
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