The Owensboro Area World Affairs Council (OAWAC) will host its second fall program with a presentation by Fr. Pat Cooney titled “Ministering in a Multifaith World.”
The event is scheduled for November 19 at 6:30 p.m. in Duffy Auditorium at Brescia University’s C.E. Field Center for Professional Studies, located at 717 Frederica Street.
The program is co-sponsored by OAWAC, the Owensboro-Daviess County Ministerial Association, and Brescia University’s Campus Ministry. A remote viewing option will also be available via Zoom at this link (Meeting ID: 843 8384 5323; Passcode: 350701).
According to OAWAC, Cooney is a distinguished scholar and former U.S. Air Force chaplain who has spent much of his career involved in interreligious dialogue. Early in his ministry, he worked with Buddhist monks and nuns through the Monastic Interreligious Dialogue, serving on its board and participating in events such as Gethsemani Encounters and the Benedict’s Dharma Conference.
OAWAC officials said Cooney later returned to the United States and joined the Air Force as a chaplain in the Kentucky Air National Guard, eventually becoming Wing Chaplain to the 123rd Airlift Wing. He retired in 2014 following 21 years of service. He now serves as Judicial Vicar for the Diocese of Owensboro and as president of the Canon Law Society of America, while also serving as an editor for its publication Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions.
OAWAC is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and said it remains dedicated to promoting global understanding through community dialogue and education. As part of the milestone, the organization has launched its 2025-2026 membership drive.
Membership benefits include notifications of upcoming programs, opportunities to serve on committees and the board, and access to information about international political, economic, and social issues.
Annual memberships are $25 for individuals and $40 for families, with sponsorship levels ranging from $100 to $500.
For more information, contact OAWAC at [email protected] or visit the organization’s Facebook page.
