Talk by the Rev. Kempf explores grief

The Rev. Joe Kempf will tackle the question “;Where is God to be found in the midst of loss and suffering?”; in a Sept. 27 talk at Chaminade University.

“;Seeing God Through Tears: No One Cries the Wrong Way”; is the topic of the annual free Mackey Lecture. It will begin at 4 p.m. at Mystical Rose Oratory on the campus at 3140 Waialae Ave.

The Catholic priest is the author of several books and is the creator of a DVD series for children, “;Big Al Live—Gospel Values for Children.”; The Aquinas Institute of Theology selected him for its Great Preacher Award.

Kempf will conduct a retreat on “;Reconciliation & Eucharist”; from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 26 at Mystical Rose Oratory. It will explore what forgiveness is, and the experience of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The cost is $15 in advance or $20 at the door. Registration by Sept. 21 is required for a box lunch. For information, call Brother Dennis Schmitz at 735-4801 or e-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Chaminade to install new president

A free concert Friday will kick off a two-day celebration at Chaminade University, where Marianist Brother Bernard Ploeger will be installed as president next Saturday.

The 7 p.m. concert in Mamiya Theatre on the Kaimuki campus will feature the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble directed by Timothy Carney, associate professor of music at the Catholic university.

A Mass of Thanksgiving at 2 p.m. next Saturday will precede the formal investiture. Catholic Bishop Larry Silva will preside at the Mass at St. Patrick Church, 1124 7th Ave.

Ploeger, 61, will be installed as ninth president of the university in a 4 p.m. Saturday ceremony at Mamiya Theatre. All three events are open to the public.

Ploeger was named by the university board of regents to succeed Sue Wesselkamper, who died in January. He was Chaminade executive vice president and provost since 2001 and served as acting president during Wesselkamper's battle with cancer.

A member of the Society of Mary religious order for 42 years, Ploeger was vice president for administration at the University of Dayton in Ohio. He taught mathematics at Dayton and at Wilberforce University in Ohio. He earned a master's and a doctorate from Ohio State University in Columbus. He has served on the Provincial Council, the leadership group of the Marianist order's western province.

Among the dignitaries expected are the presidents of the two other U.S. universities operated by the Marianists: Charles Cotrell, president of St. Mary's University, San Antonio; and Daniel Curran, president of the University of Dayton.