About the Fourth Watch

The Fourth Watch is a twice-monthly Catholic newsletter written by James F. Keating and supported by First Things and the John Templeton Foundation. Keating teaches theology at Providence College and is the director of its Humanities Program. He works in the area of fundamental theology as well as the future of Catholic higher education. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and her two dogs.

The title of this newsletter references the time of night in which the Lord made himself known to his disciples by walking on water on the Sea of Galilee (Mark 6:48). The Fourth Watch seeks to alert its readers to the various issues of the moment, including the tempests that threaten St. Peter’s Barque to the point of sinking. It will not, however, provide yet another occasion for doomscrolling. Just as there are dark things happening in our world, there are also signs of impending dawn. The accent will be on the hope the God revealed in Jesus Christ provides. Readers will be pointed to commentary from First Things and elsewhere that offers acute analysis of our present storms and, whenever possible, a path through them.

Thank you for joining the Fourth Watch.