Crucibles: An Afternoon with Author Dr. Ben Baran

Join us at St. Mary Catholic Church for a presentation by Dr. Benjamin E. Baran on his new book, Crucibles: How Faith and Science Help Us Navigate Suffering.

Crucibles grew out of questions we all eventually face. How do we endure the unendurable? What purpose, if any, can suffering serve? Can faith and science together help us navigate life’s hardest moments? Drawing on social science, Catholic wisdom, and lived experience, the book offers an honest and hopeful framework for understanding suffering not as something to merely survive, but as something that can transform us.

In this talk, Dr. Baran will share the compelling story behind how the book came to life and deliver key insights for managing life’s adversity, uncovering how the Catholic faith and social science together provide practical wisdom for fortitude amid life’s unavoidable trials.

About the author

Dr. Benjamin E. Baran is an industrial and organizational psychologist, an associate professor of management at Cleveland State University, and a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy Reserve. He is also a researcher, consultant, and Northeast Ohio community leader.

Event details

Sunday, October 4, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.
St. Mary Catholic Church, Hudson, Ohio
Free and open to the public. Registration is requested to reserve your seat.