Holy Ones, Called to Be Holy: St. Paul and “Life in the Spirit” Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. March 13, 2015 Presenter: Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. Of all the New Testament writers, St. Paul offers the most extensive teaching about the gift and empowerment of God's Spirit. This workshop sets forth Paul's rich and inspiring portrayal of life in the Spirit. In…

Holy Ones, Called to Be Holy: St. Paul and “Life in the Spirit” Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. March 13, 2015 Presenter: Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. Of all the New Testament writers, St. Paul offers the most extensive teaching about the gift and empowerment of God's Spirit. This workshop sets forth Paul's rich and inspiring portrayal of life in the Spirit. In…

Parishes in Transition: Learning to Live in Tabernacles April 24, 2015 Presenters: Nancy T. Ammerman and Hosffman Ospino Transitions come in all shapes and sizes, and every parish is faced with the necessity of responding to population shifts that are unlikely to stop anytime soon. Dr. Ammerman explores the ongoing reality of change and the challen…

Parishes in Transition: Learning to Live in Tabernacles April 24, 2015 Presenters: Nancy T. Ammerman and Hosffman Ospino Transitions come in all shapes and sizes, and every parish is faced with the necessity of responding to population shifts that are unlikely to stop anytime soon. Dr. Ammerman explores the ongoing reality of change and the challen…

What the Outsider Sees: Teresa of Avila and the Contemplative Vision July 11, 2015 Presenter: Rt. Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams St. Teresa’s thoughts on encountering and living with God are much shaped by her position as an outsider to the hierarchical world of her day—a woman, and someone from a Jewish background. With rich references to Teresa's use of…

July 22, 2015 Presenter: M. Catherine Hilkert, O.P. In Evangelii Gaudium, all members of the Church are called to be missionary disciples. Yet the testimony of faithful women, including that of Mary Magdalene who bears the title “Apostle of the Apostles,” frequently has been dismissed or relegated to the category of “unofficial” witness. In her lec…

FIRST ANNUAL STM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LECTURE October 22, 2015 Presenter: Thomas H. Groome The Church often repeats that the family is the primary religious educator. Parents can well hear this as a daunting task and the Church does precious little to support them in their evangelizing and catechizing responsibilities—to sow and grow the seeds of fa…

FIRST ANNUAL STM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LECTURE October 22, 2015 Presenter: Thomas H. Groome The Church often repeats that the family is the primary religious educator. Parents can well hear this as a daunting task and the Church does precious little to support them in their evangelizing and catechizing responsibilities—to sow and grow the seeds of fa…

Rereading the Roman Tea Leaves: The Francis Effect in the Synods on the Family LECTURE November 4, 2015 Presenter: James Bretzke, S.J. Response by: Susan Reynolds “Mercy, and not sacrifice,” are among the chief fundamental values of the Francis Effect in the Church which the pope envisions as a missionary field hospital that re-focuses its attentio…

Loss, Change, and Resilience in Communities of Faith ANNUAL MINISTRY RENEWAL DAY November 6, 2015 Presenter: Melissa Kelley Loss and change touch every individual, community, and organization. Responding to loss and change with resilience is a critical challenge for us all. This day invites participants to reflect on the role of resilience in our p…

Loss, Change, and Resilience in Communities of Faith ANNUAL MINISTRY RENEWAL DAY November 6, 2015 Presenter: Melissa Kelley Loss and change touch every individual, community, and organization. Responding to loss and change with resilience is a critical challenge for us all. This day invites participants to reflect on the role of resilience in our p…

A Liberating Spirituality for a Suffering World LECTURE November 19, 2015Presenter: O. Ernesto Valiente This presentation builds on the work of Latin American liberation theologians to propose a Christian discipleship—a following of Jesus—that responds to our conflicted world. It identifies the “path” that we are to follow and the “Spirit” that emp…

A Rebellious Son? Jesus and His Mother at the Wedding in Cana (John 2) LECTURE March 2, 2016Presenter: Adele Reinhartz In the Gospel of John, chapter 2, Jesus, his mother, his brothers, and the disciples are at a wedding in Cana, in the Galilee. Inexplicably, the wine runs out early, while the celebrations are in full swing. When Jesus's mother poi…

Thy Will Be Done: The Function of Prayer in Mark's Gospel LECTURE IN HONOR OF RICHARD J. CLIFFORD, S.J. March 15, 2016Presenter: Thomas D. Stegman, S.J. While Luke's Gospel is known as the "Gospel of prayer," prayer also plays an important role in Mark's Gospel. Not only does Mark present Jesus as the model of someone who prays, he also emphasizes …

The Spirit at Work: St. Teresa of Avila in Life LECTURE March 31, 2016Presenter: André Brouillette, S.J. A doctor of the Church, St. Teresa of Avila's spiritual writings and efforts to renew the Church are widely recognized as divinely inspired. What can the life and works of Teresa teach us regarding the action of the Holy Spirit, whose presence i…

Managing Connections or Building Relationships? Teens and Digital Technology WORKSHOP April 22, 2016Presenter: Theresa A. O’Keefe This workshop focuses on recent research on teens and social media, with particular attention on the uses of digital technology and how those can both support and undermine relationships. Attendees are invited to reflect…

Managing Connections or Building Relationships? Teens and Digital Technology WORKSHOP April 22, 2016Presenter: Theresa A. O’Keefe This workshop focuses on recent research on teens and social media, with particular attention on the uses of digital technology and how those can both support and undermine relationships. Attendees are invited to reflect…

The Catholic Voter and the Signs of Our Times LECTURE October 19, 2016Presenter: Kenneth Himes, O.F.M. Vatican II's "Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World" encouraged believers to read the "signs of the times" in order to discern where God is to be found in the world and how we are to respond. This electoral season can be read as …

Where Two or Three Are Gathered: Transforming the Parish through Communities of Practice SECOND ANNUAL STM RELIGIOUS EDUCATION LECTURE October 27, 2016Presenter: Jane E. Regan Ministers in today’s parishes face a variety of challenges as they strive to create a context within which the faith is proclaimed, preached, taught, celebrated, and lived. F…

Tending Your Own Garden: A Spirituality for Active Ministry ANNUAL MINISTRY RENEWAL DAY November 4, 2016Presenter: Colleen M. Griffith The demands of ministry often seem overwhelming. What are the core elements of a spirituality that is oriented towards ministry? What insights can figures from the Christian tradition offer us about the role of spir…

The Francis Pontificate: Historical Anomaly or the Beginning of a Postmodern Papacy? November 10, 2016 Presenter: Richard Gaillardetz Both supporters and critics have recognized the distinctive character of the pontificate of our first Jesuit and South American pope. Some have been skeptical, however, as to whether the “newness” is a matter of styl…

The Psalms: Jewish-Catholic Dialogue through Shared Praise LECTURE March 2, 2017 Presenter: Andrew R. Davis This lecture explores the Psalter as a valuable resource for Jewish-Christian dialogue. Christian readers of Scripture have long been enlightened and inspired by Jewish exegesis, and today we have more opportunities than ever to read Scriptur…

Deepening Catholic Citizenship Today: Drawing from Scripture and Tradition LECTURE March 9, 2017 Presenters: Richard J. Clifford, S.J. and Thomas Massaro, S.J. In the wake of the 2016 campaign season and election, a number of concerns have surfaced regarding the dual identify of Catholics as committed believers and citizens. This presentation addre…

Hope in a Time of Climate Change: A Conversation between Religion and Science ANNUAL LECTURE IN HONOR OF RICHARD J. CLIFFORD, S.J. Thursday, April 6, 2017 Presenter: Carol A. Newsom Human induced climate change is the most serious problem confronting the ecology of our planet. Was this an inevitable consequence of the appearance of humans in the ec…

The Treasure of Hispanic American Catholicism PANEL DISCUSSION February 11, 2016 Panelists: Marilú Del Toro and Hosffman Ospino Moderator: Thomas H. Groome American Catholicism in the 21st century is in the midst of a major demographic and cultural transformation driven. It is driven largely by the fast-growing presence of Hispanics, who currently …

Evolution and the Primacy of Love ANNUAL EVELYN UNDERHILL LECTURE IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY July 16, 2016Presenter: Ilia Delio, O.S.F. According to Teilhard de Chardin, evolution ushered in a new understanding of reality based on love-energy. This year's annual lecture explores Teilhard's philosophy of love and the import of conscious love for the …

Who are the "Nones"? LECTURE February 25, 2016 Presenter: Nancy T. Ammerman Roughly one-third of younger adults now say they have no religious affiliation; but who are they and why aren’t they in church? What do they mean when they protest that they are “spiritual”? This presentation examines the demographic, political, and cultural trends that hav…

Ask the Beasts: Spirituality and the Evolving Earth EVELYN UNDERHILL LECTURE IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY July 13, 2013Presenter: Elizabeth A. Johnson, C.S.J. “Ask the beasts and they will teach you; the birds of the air, and they will tell you; ask the plants of the earth and they will instruct you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you ... “ (…

Thomas Merton: A Prophet for Our Time LECTURE October 29, 2015 Presenter: Colleen M. Griffith In an age of unrest and distraction, Thomas Merton poses many challenges to contemporary culture, inviting a deeper sense of the human, a broadened grasp of catholicity, and a way of communal solidarity. Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Merton's birth,…

The Practical Theology of Jean Vanier: Faith in a Vulnerable Community ANNUAL PYNE MEMORIAL PRESENTATION October 13, 2016 Presenter: David O. Jenkins The theology of Jean Vanier, founder of L’Arche and Faith and Light, continues to be formed within intentional communities of adults with intellectual disabilities and those who share community with t…

Islam for Catholics 101 LECTURE March 5, 2015 Presenter: Natana J. DeLong-Bas This presentation covers major themes in Islam, including the role of the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad, the 5 Pillars, and common beliefs and scriptural ties between Islam and Christianity. Specific attention is given to the status of Jesus and where Muslims and Christ…

Lament and Hope: The Contributions of the Biblical Lament Psalms LECTURE IN HONOR OF RICHARD J. CLIFFORD, S.J. October 6, 2010 Presenter: Daniel J. Harrington, S.J., STM professor of New Testament Fr. Harrington offers reflections on the key elements of the biblical laments, including Psalms 3, 5, and 22, and their message for those who suffer toda…

Politics, Faith, and Prophetic Witness EVELYN UNDERHILL LECTURE IN CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY July 12, 2014 Presenter: Simone Campbell, S.S.S. Too often the intersection of faith and politics becomes a crossroad of judgment and certitude; but trying to follow Christ requires a different approach. This lecture explores the call to touch the pain of the …

The Gospel of John and the "Parting of the Ways" LECTURE April 8, 2014 Presenter: Adele Reinhartz The question of when and how the Jesus movement—one first-century Jewish group among many—became a separate and distinct set of institutions, communities, beliefs, and practices, is perhaps the most contentious issue in the study of early Christianity.…

The Practices of Discipleship LECTURE October 18, 2011 Presenter: Terrence W. Tilley, Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Professor of Catholic Theology and chair,Theology Department, Fordham University This presentation explores the Gospels and the Creed to understand, in part, how disciples embody and transmit the faith through Christian practices. Spon…

Hope in a Wintry Season Lecture October 14, 2010. Rev. Michael J. Himes, professor of theology, Boston College Theology Department Hope, which should never be confused with optimism, is much more about the present than the future. This lecture discusses how it is not a matter of keeping one's fingers crossed about tomorrow, but rather of remaining …

Telling Stories about Women EIGHTH ANNUAL MARY OF MAGDALA CELEBRATION July 22, 2016 Presenter: Amy-Jill Levine A woman hides yeast; a widow threatens a judge; a woman seeks a coin; wise and foolish virgins await a bridegroom…. These parables can be read as universal teachings about theology or salvation. They should also correct erroneous stereotyp…

Mission, Evangelization, and Discipleship PLENARY ADDRESS "THE NEW EVANGELIZATION: RENEWING THE CHURCH," 2013 Presenter: Anthony Gittins, C.S.Sp., professor emeritus of mission and culture, Catholic Theological Union With more than 80 definitions of "evangelization" presently circulating, we should perhaps recall that the word applies, first and fo…

Women and Interreligious Dialogue LECTURE September 20, 2012 Presenter: Rosemary Radford Ruether Respondents: Nelly van Doorn-Harder and Marianne Moyaert This lecture takes stock of the contributions of women to interreligious dialogue and of interreligious dialogue to feminist thinking within particular religions, while also critically reflecting …

Jesus: A Pilgrimage LECTURE September 25, 2014 Presenter: James Martin, S.J. Encounter Jesus in a new way. Father Martin offers fascinating details about the "historical Jesus," the real-life man who walked the earth in first-century Palestine, and also invites you to meditate on the "Christ of faith," the one risen from the dead. As he does in his…

The Power of Boundless Compassion: An Evening with Fr. Greg Boyle LECTURE October 25, 2012 Presenter: Gregory Boyle, S.J. In this presentation, Fr. Greg shares his reflections on community and the sacredness of life through the lens of Ignatian spirituality, drawn from more than 20 years of work with formerly gang-involved and recently incarcerated…