Called to Friendship: Nostra Aetate at 60 The Spiritual Heart of Catholic-Jewish

Location: Saint John Paul II National Shrine, Washington, D.C. This program will be offered both in-person and virtually through a YouTube livestream.
Date: October 28, 2025 Anniversary of Nostra Aetate
Time: 8:30-4:00 PM

In a moment of historic convergence—the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate, the 25th anniversary of John Paul II’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land, the election of a new Pope Leo, and the Jubilee Year of Hope—we gather for a day of reflection on the heart of Catholic-Jewish relations.

Called to Friendship invites Catholic and Jewish leaders, scholars, and the faithful to move beyond dialogue and rediscover the sacred bonds of covenant, conscience, and communion. Rooted in Scripture and history, this friendship is urgently needed in our divided age.

The day concludes with a spiritual reflection from Sr. Maris Stella, S.V., on the legacy of Cardinal John O’Connor: “We are spiritual Semites. If we forget our Jewish brothers and sisters, we forget who we are.”

Conference Agenda:

8:30 AM – 9:15 AM: Opening Mass

9:15 AM – 9:45 AM: Coffee & Light Breakfast Reception: Welcome & Introductions by Kathryn Jean Lopez

9:45 AM – 10:15 AM: Session I: Keynote Address: Come, Holy Spirit: From Jerusalem to Rome and Back Again – The Theological Heart of Catholic-Jewish Relations

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM: Session II – Consecrate the World: Leo XIII, the Sacred Heart, and the Lay Mission to Restore All Things in Christ

11:00 AM-12:00 PM- Session III: The Gifts and the Calling Are Irrevocable: Toward a Catholic Zionism (Romans 11:29)

12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch (on-site catered) – Blessing of the Meal by Rabbi Joshua Stanton

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM: Session III – Panel Discussion “Why Should I Care About Jewish-Catholic Relations?”

2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Afternoon Break

2:45 PM – 3:45 PM: Session IV – Closing Lecture: We Are Spiritual Semites: The Witness of Cardinal John O’Connor

• A biographical and theological reflection on O’Connor’s legacy and what it means for the Church today. Cardinal John O’Connor, Archbishop of New York from 1984 to 2000, was one of the most courageous and compassionate voices for Catholic-Jewish reconciliation in the post–Nostra Aetate era. A Navy chaplain turned prince of the Church, O’Connor combined pastoral sensitivity with moral clarity, publicly condemning antisemitism and forging deep relationships with Jewish leaders in New York and beyond. In his own words, “We are spiritual Semites. If we forget our Jewish brothers and sisters, we forget who we are.” This talk traces his powerful legacy—marked by humility, justice, and friendship—and its urgent relevance for the Church today.

Speaker: Sr. Maris Stella, SV, Vicar General, Sisters of Life

3:45 PM – 4:00 PM: Final Reflections & Closing Prayer by Mary Eberstadt, Founding Member of the Coalition of Catholics Against Antisemitism