Catholic Theological
Society of America

Sarah and Hagar in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic Traditions

From their first appearances in the Hebrew Bible through innumerable (re)interpretations in subsequent millennia, the figures of Sarah and Hagar have provoked reflection on the life cycle, fertility, conception, and childbirth; resource allocation, inheritance, and enslavement; sustaining life in precarious environments; group solidarity and partition; sex, gender, and ethnicity; and imagined relations between human and non-human entities, gods, angels, and demons. Across historical epochs and geographic regions, Sarah and Hagar have been like mirrors in which individuals and communities have found meaning and support.

The project comprises an ongoing series of lectures and discussions, and is expected to culminate in the publication of an edited volume to complement previous work in Claudia D. Bergmann and Thomas R. Blanton IV., eds, Imitating Abraham: Ritual and Exemplarity in Jewish and Christian Contexts (Brill, 2025).

Thomas R. Blanton and Claudia D. Bergmann welcome participation in and contributions to the ongoing lecture series, and proposals for articles to be included in the planned volume. All those interested in the myriad ways in which the legacies of Sarah and/or Hagar are drawn upon in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and in literature, poetry, art, music, and media from antiquity to the present are welcome to participate in the project. To propose a lecture or article contribution for the project, please contact Claudia D. Bergmann (cdb@mail.uni-paderborn.de) or Thomas R. Blanton IV (tblanton@jcu.edu). More information (including Zoom links to upcoming sessions) available at tinyurl.com/sarahagar

UPCOMING SEMINARS:

Hagar in Biblical Texts

April 23, 2025, 1:30-2:30pm ET, Zoom

Papers by Claudia Bergmann and Thomas R. Blanton IV

Hagar in Islam

May 7, 2025, 1:30-2:30 ET, Zoom

Papers by Zishan Ghaffar and Semiha Topal

The Institute for Black Catholic Studies (IBCS) is a school of ministry that meets summers on the campus of Xavier University of Louisiana.  Established in 1980 as an immersion learning experience, the Institute offers a 3-week Graduate Theological Program and Continuing Education/Enrichment Programs with offerings in three 1-week modules. 

The  multicultural and intergenerational student body consists of laypersons, religious and clergy, pastoral ministers and scholars. Faculty members are experienced, experts in their respective fields of ministry or scholarship. 

The 2025 dates are June 29-July 18.  For more information, visit www.xula.edu/ibcs.

Consider a Jubilee Year investment in the IBCS - graduate or continuing education studies supported by a rich community life of prayer, worship and cultural activities!

Members Spring Publications (Orbis Books)  ~ Congratulations!

Ilia Delio and Andrew Davis, ed., Whitehead and Teilhard: From Organism to Omega

https://orbisbooks.com/products/whitehead-and-teilhard-from-organism-to-omega?_pos=3&_sid=59224ed89&_ss=r

Roberto Goizueta, Caminemos con Jésus: Toward a Hispanic/Latino Theology of Accompaniment 30^th anniversary edition

https://orbisbooks.com/products/caminemos-con-jesus-reprint?_pos=1&_sid=bffd165c3&_ss=r

Daniel Horan, A White Catholic's Guide to Racism and White Privilege

https://orbisbooks.com/products/a-white-catholic-guide-to-racism-and-white-priviledge?_pos=1&_sid=7b681cfe3&_ss=r

Christian Krokus and Habib Zanzana, eds. Christian de Chergé : Spiritual Writings

https://orbisbooks.com/products/christian-de-cherge?_pos=1&_sid=98a1d4b67&_ss=r

Christina Lledo Gomez, and John Sheveland, eds. Vulnerability and Flourishing 

https://orbisbooks.com/products/vulnerability-and-flourishing-cts70?_pos=3&_sid=65f130e97&_ss=r

Paul Schutz, A Theology of Flourishing: The Fullness of Life for All Creation

https://orbisbooks.com/products/creaturely-flourishing-a-new-theology-of-creation?_pos=2&_sid=4199b75d4&_ss=r&variant=49699836920109

Ashley Theuring,  Sacrifice Lost: The Dark Legacy of the Cross

https://orbisbooks.com/products/sacrifice-lost-the-dark-legacy-of-the-cross?_pos=1&_sid=12eb0b61f&_ss=r

Register and see the details for this webinar series at: www.CatholicChurchReformIntl.org.  Feedback welcome!

The dates are April 9, 23 and May 7, 21.   

Thank you to the Virtual Events Committee members MaryKate Holman, Eli McCarthy and SimonMary Aihiokhai for coordinating last evening's event Sanctuary and Solidarity: Catholic Theology in the Face of Mass Deportation.  Panelists were Leo Guardado, Tisha Rajendra, and Brett Hoover.  We are grateful for their witness and wisdom. Thank you.

Precis:  Catholic Social Teaching strongly defends migration as a human right, a right which is under acute and heightened threat in our present political context. Our panelists will consider how Catholics can apply the principles of CST into actionable practice. In other words, how can we shift from theoretical to practical sanctuary and solidarity? 

Resources from the Chat and Additional Resources

• ACLU Know Your Rights: Immigrants' Rights
• Colorado Rapid Response Network  Home | CORRN
  
• CTSA Proposing New Interest Group
• Catholic Church Reform International
• Corpeno, Xiomara. Immigrant Rights: How to Support Immigrant Communities During ICE Raids, (Convergence, January 22, 2025). 
• Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the Bishops of the United States of America (February 10, 2025).
• Mass Deportation and the Teaching of the Church (Provided by B. Hoover)
• McDonald, Matthew. Mass Deportations 'Incompatible With Catholic Docrtine,' Cardinal McElroy Says at His DC Debut (National Catholic Register, 2025)
• National Immigrant Justice Center, Know Your Rights: If You Encounter ICE

Note: The event was not recorded.

Three Webinars of interest:

1. March 17^th: Spotlight on HIV/AIDS & Global Health: Understanding Foreign Aid & What is at Stake 

Register link:

https://sju.webex.com/weblink/register/r4a97692e4433045f6e27c7ecbb834a83

• 2. Thursday March 27, 2-3:15pm (EST)
  From the Field: Global Challenges to Religious Freedom: 
  A Conversation with Dr. Steve Schneck, Chair, US Commission on International Religious Freedom  (speaking in his personal capacity)  

• Register link:

  https://sju.webex.com/weblink/register/r1cc4b2ee6c1a082a9dc008088244e692

   

  • 3. Friday April 11^th 12:15-1:30 pm (EST)
    What’s Going On:  South Africa, Global Refugee Crisis, and US Politics

  Panelists: Fr. Peter Knox, SJ, Jesuit Institute of South Africa  
  Dr. Anna Floerke Scheid, Duquesne University
  Joan Rosenhauer, Executive Director (retired), Jesuit Refugee Service

• Register link:
• https://sju.webex.com/weblink/register/r474e79692ab3b197e31212d0ff1dc044

 

The Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice Summer Certificate Program builds on seminary and graduate students’ theological education to equip them with the moral vision and practical skills to engage their faith in civic life. Combining formative content such as workshops, expert panels, congressional meetings on Capitol Hill, and other experiences in the D.C. area, and integrating academic learning with practical application, the certificate program constitutes a transformative immersive experience that contributes to the formation of faith leaders. Credit options available.

The CTSA remembers and prays for Lawrence Cunningham who died on February 20, 2025.

Eternal rest grant unto Larry, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon him.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

Memorial Reflection

Obituary

Amir Hussain has published a new book with Fortress Press, One God and Two Religions: Christians and Muslims as Neighbors. With a foreword by Jack Miles, the book is an introduction to Islam and Muslims for a Christian audience, and is suitable as a text for university students.

For those interested, please use promo code ONEGOD20 to get a 20% discount. Books must be purchased at from the press at the link above, using the code ONEGOD20 at checkout. Does not include eBooks and is limited to the continental U.S.A.

Christopher Reilly is pleased to announce the publication of his book AI and Sin: How Today's Technologies Motivate Evil as well as an online webinar in which he will will introduce the arguments and content of the book. The webinar (click here) is hosted by ITEST, the Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology, and will be held on Saturday, April 5 at 10:00 am (eastern). Prof. Jordan Joseph Wales will also speak on "Medieval Robots and the Theology of Technology."