Aquinas Institute Princeton
by zswantek
Welcome to the podcast of The Aquinas Institute: Princeton University’s Catholic Campus Ministry. Here you’ll find weekly Sunday homilies from our University Chapel Masses, monthly guest lectures engaging faith and reason, and other special talks and reflections from our vibrant Catholic community. Whether you’re a student, alum, or friend of Princeton, join us as we seek to grow in holiness, deepen our understanding of the faith, and follow Christ in the heart of the University.
Episodes
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From Holy Obligations to Holy Desires: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 25, 2026, at the end of Fall Break. Read the full homily at fatherzack.com
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The Sun Also Rises - 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on 10/11/26 for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time, connecting the 100th Anniversary of the publication of Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises with today's readings. Read the full homily at fatherzack.com
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Embracing God’s Greater Dream: Lessons from St. Francis of Assisi
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time & the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi on the 800th Anniversary of his death. Read the homily text at fatherzack.com
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Yes, Father!
A song by Fr. Zack Swantek based on his Sunday homily for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, about the parable of a Father inviting his two sons to work in his vineyard. You can read his homily here: fatherzack.com Music created by AI. Written just for fun, but if it helps you grow deeper in your...
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Prayer: An Invitation to Intimacy with God - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily preached by Fr. Zack Swantek on Prayer on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Read the full homily at fatherzack.com
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Generosity & Entitlement: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily preached by Fr. Zack on the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time on September 20, 2026. Read the full homily at fatherzack.com
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Anger, Forgiveness & Healing - 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time before our annual Eucharistic Procession for the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Read the full homily at fatherzack.com
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Win Your Brother: 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily preached by Fr. Zack Swantek after the 1st week of classes on the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Read the homily at fatherzack.com
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Mass of the Holy Spirit 2026-2027
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek at the Mass of the Holy Spirit, asking God's blessing on the students for the 2026-2027 academic year. Read the full homily at fatherzack.com
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Be Transformed by the Renewal of Your Mind - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily preached by Fr. Zack Swantek at the first Mass of the 2026-2027 academic year in the Princeton University Chapel on the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time -- August 30, 2026. Read the full homily at fatherzack.com
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Orientation Mass: Brand New Day
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek for the Orientation Mass for the Class of 2030 on Sunday, August 23, 2026 -- the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. Read the full homily text
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Corpus Christi: Biblical Roots of the Eucharist
In the Fall of 2026, our chaplain Fr. Zack will be offering a seminar on the Jewish and Biblical Roots of the Eucharist. In today's homily for Corpus Christi, Fr. Zack preached on some of those Biblical roots. Full text of homily: fatherzack.com
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Baccalaureate Mass 2026: Pentecost
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek for our graduates at the Baccalaureate Mass celebrated in the Princeton University Chapel on Pentecost: May 24, 2026. Read the full text here: fatherzack.com
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Reunions Mass -- Pentecost
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek to our alumni during Reunions at the Vigil Mass for Pentecost: May 23, 2026. Read the full homily text: fatherzack.com
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You Are Not Orphans: Divine Life, Vocation & Mission - 6th Sunday of Easter
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on the last Sunday Mass of the academic year: 6th Sunday of Easter and Mother's Day - May 10, 2026. Read the full homily text: fatherzack.com
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I Am the Way: 5th Sunday of Easter
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Read the full homily text at fatherzack.com
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Discerning & Living Your Vocation - 4th Sunday of Easter
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on the 4th Sunday of Easter, April 26, 2026. Read the full homily text at fatherzack.com
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3rd Sunday of Easter - Road to Emmaus
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on the 3rd Sunday of Easter, April 19, 2026. Read the full text at fatherzack.com
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Divine Mercy Sunday 2026
Homily for Divine Mercy -- Sunday, April 12, 2026 -- by Fr. Zack Swantek. Full homily text: fatherzack.com
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Easter Vigil 2026
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek at the Easter Vigil: April 4, 2026. Full homily text: fatherzack.com
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Good Friday: He Takes Away the Sins of the World
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Good Friday - April 3, 2026. Full homily text: fatherzack.com
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Holy Thursday 2026: From Grasping to Gift
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Holy Thursday, April 2, 2026. Full homily text at fatherzack.com
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Palm Sunday - Two Cries: One Heart
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Palm Sunday - March 29, 2026. Full homily text: fatherzack.com
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Come Out: From Grief to New Life - 5th Sunday of Lent
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek in the Princeton University Chapel on the 5th Sunday of Lent. Full homily text. Summary: Sunday’s Gospel of the raising of Lazarus invited us to reflect on the mystery of grief, suffering, and hope. Drawing from his own experience of losing his father, Fr. Zack...
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Light in the Midst of Darkness: On Suffering - 4th Sunday of Lent
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, March 15, 2026 -- Laetare Sunday (4th Sunday of Lent). Read full text.
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2nd Sunday of Lent - Transfiguration: Learning to See God's Glory
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on March 1, 2026, the Second Sunday of Lent. Homily Full Text.
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1st Sunday of Lent: Rejecting the Lies of the Devil
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on February 22, 2026 - the First Sunday of Lent. Homily Full Text.
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Ash Wednesday - Identity
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026. Full Homily Text.
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Love Fulfills the Law: 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on February 15, 2025. This is week 3 of 3 on the Sermon on the Mount. Today's topic: freedom from anger and lust. Full homily text.
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Sanctifying the World from Within: 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on February 8, 2026. This is week 2 of 3 on the Sermon on the Mount. Today's topic: Sanctifying the World from Within: Salt and Light. Full homily text.
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The Beatitudes: 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on February 1, 2026. This was the first Sunday Mass on campus after Winter Break (campus was closed due to snow last Sunday). Today Fr. Zack began 3 weeks of preaching on the Sermon on the Mount. Today's topic: the Beatitudes. Full homily text.
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“Do Not Be Afraid to Take Mary into Your Home” - 4th Sunday of Advent
Campus is closed for Christmas break. Although there was no Mass on campus today, here is Fr. Zack Swantek's homily for the 4th Sunday of Advent: “Do Not Be Afraid to Take Mary into Your Home”. Read the full text here.
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Rejoice! (Even During Exams): Gaudete Sunday - 3rd Sunday of Advent
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on December 14, 2025, Gaudete Sunday -- the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Full homily text.
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Immaculate Conception: Patroness of the U.S.
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Mary on December 8, 2025. Full homily text.
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2nd Sunday of Advent: Hope Takes Root--Advent and the Stump of Jesse
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, December 7, 2025, the Second Sunday of Advent. Homily full text
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1st Sunday of Advent: Emmanuel and the Advent of Hope
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, November 30, 2025, the First Sunday of Advent. Full homily text. In this First Sunday of Advent homily, Fr. Zack reflects on Advent as a season of awakening—when God draws near, calls us out of spiritual complacency, and invites us to return from exile…
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Homily: Anchored in Eternity: Witnesses of Hope in a Passing World
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek in the Princeton University Chapel on the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Full text: fatherzack.com
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Dedication of the Lateran Basilica: The Mother of All Churches
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on November 11, 2025, the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica. Full homily text at fatherzack.com
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All Souls' Day: Hope that Purifies
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on All Souls day - Sunday, November 2, 2025. Full Homily Text.
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All Saints Day: Holiness & Happiness
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Saturday, November 1, 2025 for All Saints Day.
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Homily: Humility in Prayer - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, October 26, 2025. Full homily text at fatherzack.com
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Homily: Persistence in Prayer - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek at the end of Fall Break, on Sunday, October 19, 2025. Full homily text and links to prayer resources.
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Homily: Increase Our Faith - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek the week of midterms, on Sunday, October 5, 2025. Full homily text.
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Homily: Throwaway Culture vs. a Civilization of Love: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, September 28, 2025. Full homily text.
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Homily: Be Like the Dishonest Steward? 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Full homily text.
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Homily: Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, September 14, 2025, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Mass concluded with our annual Eucharistic Procession on campus. Full text of the homily
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Fr. Brandon O'Brien - The Great Gatsby at 100
Fr. Brandon O'Brien spoke at Princeton University as part of our Aquinas Institute Lecture series on February 27, 2025. His talk was titled: "The Great Gatsby at 100: Understanding Catholic Literature through the Lens of F. Scott Fitzgerald and His Greatest Novel." Watch the Video here. This talk...
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Bronwen McShea - Catholic Women in the Arts and Sciences: An Underappreciated Tradition
Dr. Bronwen McSchea spoke at Princeton University as part of our Aquinas Institute Lecture Series on December 2, 2024. Her talk was titled: "Catholic Women in the Arts and Sciences: An Underappreciated Tradition." Watch the video here. While many people are aware of the important intellectual and...
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Homily: Syllabus for Discipleship - 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily given by Fr. Zack Swantek on Sunday, September 7, 2025, the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time and the day of the Canonization of St. Pier Giorgio Frassati and St. Carlo Acutis. Full text of the homiily
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Bishop Erik Varden - The Monastery as SCHOLA DEI
On October 26, 2024, the Aquinas Institute hosted a special conference on Princeton University's campus, Beyond the Impasse: Theological Perspectives on DEI. Among the featured speakers was our closing address from Bishop Erik Varden, the Norwegian Catholic prelate, spiritual writer, and Trappist...
About this show
Welcome to the podcast of The Aquinas Institute: Princeton University’s Catholic Campus Ministry. Here you’ll find weekly Sunday homilies from our University Chapel Masses, monthly guest lectures engaging faith and reason, and other special talks and reflections from our vibrant Catholic community. Whether you’re a student, alum, or friend of Princeton, join us as we seek to grow in holiness, deepen our understanding of the faith, and follow Christ in the heart of the University.
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