Above: Students listen to author Chris Lowney.

Author Chris Lowney Visits Xavier

More than 100 students and faculty members filled Keenan Commons on May 10 as bestselling author Chris Lowney discussed his latest book, Everyone Leads: How to Revitalize the Catholic Church.

Lowney, a one-time Jesuit and former managing director at J.P. Morgan & Co., began by asking the crowd a question: “What does the church need most at this moment?” Guests offered their own views and heard the words of Pope Francis, who once said, “The thing the church needs most today is the ability to heal wounds and to warm the hearts of the faithful; it needs nearness, proximity.”

Lowney went on to share statistics that seem to bode poorly for the Church. Fifty percent of Catholic teenagers, for instance, no longer identify as Catholic a decade later; and of adults who change religion, Catholicism attracts one convert for every six who leave.

"The book argues that the Catholic Church is enduring its worst crisis in five centuries, including, for example, the very low levels of interest among young adults in the Church or organized religion. But the Xavier students confirmed for me that there are big reasons to be hopeful: they were a whip-smart, funny, engaged audience who had lots of good ideas that the Church could benefit from tomorrow,” Lowney said. “We just need to give these great young guys a platform to show their leadership."

Students and faculty welcomed the discussion. "Mr. Lowney's visit was productive because it shed light on important issues surrounding church attendance," said Jonathan Kaufmann '17. "It made me think about what I can do to make my own parish more appealing to outsiders."

“I think Chris Lowney's visit and his discussion with those present was incredibly valuable as he immediately honed in on the themes of co-responsibility and accountability. For myself, it was a refreshing and challenging conversation about how we identify with the Church and how we are all called to support and reach out to one another,” said Director of Ignatian Service Programs Greg Stelzer ’11. “I think Chris's visit was particularly meaningful for our Xavier students, who in many ways are in a special time of growth before they dive into an even bigger world after high school, when their faith will continue to be challenged and deepened."

Lowney will return to Xavier on June 6 to discuss his new book with alumni, parents, and parishioners of the Church of St. Francis Xavier. All in attendance will receive a copy of Everyone Leads as a gift from Xavier. To register for the event, click here.