The Rochester NY Chesterton Society
About Us
Lively discussion, good fellowship, and a deeper appreciation of the work of GKC.
A society of readers
The Rochester NY Chesterton Society is a circle of friends who read, discuss and enjoy the writings of Gilbert Keith Chesterton. We are students and retirees, priests and parents, lifelong readers of Father Brown and people who first heard Chesterton’s name last week.
We meet the third Thursday of the month, September–December and March–June. Each meeting takes up an essay, a short story, a poem or a chapter from one of Chesterton’s books. Someone introduces it, everyone argues about it, and nobody leaves without having laughed at least once — which is exactly how Chesterton would have wanted it.
Every year since 2004 we have also organised the Fr. Leo Hetzler Conference, a one-day gathering that has brought authors and scholars including Joseph Pearce, Dale Ahlquist, Kevin O’Brien, Tom Howard and Dr. Tom Martin to Rochester.
The Fr. Leo Hetzler Conference
The conference is named in honour of Fr. Leo Hetzler of St. John Fisher College, whose love of Chesterton and generosity to this Society shaped it from the beginning. Fr. Hetzler himself spoke at the 2014 conference, Tremendous Trifles — a recording you can still watch.
The conference has been funded by the Basilian Fathers of St. John Fisher College, with support from members of the Rochester NY Chesterton Society and from St. Irenaeus Ministries. Most years it has been held in Coleman Chapel in Murphy Hall and, in 2022, in Basil Hall on the St. John Fisher campus; in 2021 St. John the Evangelist Church on Humboldt Street was our host.
Admission has always been by modest donation, and free to students, because we believe that good books and good conversation should be open to everyone.
What we hope for
- To read Chesterton well. Not just the famous quotations but the essays, the novels, the poems and the long arguments behind them.
- To talk honestly. Chesterton loved a good argument and kept his friendships with the people he argued against. We try to do the same.
- To share him freely. Our conference recordings are free to watch, and our meetings are open to anyone who is curious.
- To serve the wider community. Our 2017 conference book sale supported St. John Bosco Schools and Chesterton Academy; members visit parishes and schools on request.
Friends who have spoken in Rochester
Our most frequent conference speakers since 2007.
- JPJoseph PearceSpoke at 15 conferences · 2007–2022
- DADale AhlquistSpoke at 15 conferences · 2007–2022
- KOKevin O’BrienSpoke at 5 conferences · 2011–2019
- DHDavid HigbeeSpoke at 3 conferences · 2007–2012
- TMDr. Tom MartinSpoke at 3 conferences · 2011–2016
- TJTed JaniszewskiSpoke at 3 conferences · 2018–2022
- RSDr. RJ StansburySpoke at 2 conferences · 2007–2016
- DCFr. Derek CrossSpoke in 2007
With thanks
The Society is grateful to the Basilian Fathers of St. John Fisher College, who have funded the conference; to St. Irenaeus Ministries, a center of orthodox Catholic mission and renewal in Rochester, whose volunteers maintain this website; and to every member who has stacked chairs, poured coffee, or carried a box of books.
“The world will never starve for want of wonders…”
Come to a meeting, bring a friend, or simply write to us. Newcomers are always welcome at the Rochester NY Chesterton Society.