Catholic Theological
Society of America

As part of the mission of Concilium: International Journal of Theology to "provide a meeting place for a global conversation inviting diverse perspectives on important theological issues," we are pleased to share our latest issue on "Pain and Solace: A Theological Investigation" edited by Geraldo Luiz De Mori, Margareta Gruber, Silvia Martínez-Cano, Cesar Kuzma, Stan Chu Ilo, Jonas Hagedorn. 

We hope this issue contributes meaningfully to ongoing theological discussions and fosters deeper engagement across our international scholarly communities. We are also grateful for the editors and contributors of this issue, some of which are members of the society.

CONTRIBUTIONS

Part 1. Theological-interdisciplinary Reading of Pain and Solace

Pains and Suffering – When Compassion and Consolation get Serious
JEAN-PIERRE WILS

Pain and Consolation in the Old Testament
RIVALDAVE PAZ TORQUATO

Pain and Consolation from the Perspective of John
ESTELA ALDAVE MEDRANO

Pain and Suffering: Finding Solace in a Vital Church
STAN CHU ILO

Part 2. Religious practices

Pain can bring Healing
CLEMENS SEDMAK

To Live “in Favour of the Human Being” (Saint Irenaeus AH IV 8:2)
ROSA RUIZ ARAGONESES

Pain and Consolation in Ignatian Spirituality
EDUARD LÓPEZ HORTELANO

Part 3. Pain and Solace from an Ethical-pastoral Perspective ‘Injustice that cries out to Heaven.’

Suffering – Complaint – Hope in existential ethical Perspective
HANS-JOACHIM HÖHN

To Defeat Pain. The Lightness of the Posthumanist Dream
JAVIER DE LA TORRE

Pain and Consolation
MARTA LÓPEZ ALONSO

Talamak na Pananakit: Exploring the Connections Between Chronic Pain, Environmental Activism, and Inspiring Stories of Solidarity
JEANE C. PERACULLO

Accompanying Victims Through Art. A Strategy for Reconstructing Connections
DAFNE AÍDA ZAPATA PRATTO

Theological Forum

Dicastery of Culture and Education’s International Congress on The Future of Theology: Legacy and Imagination’
MAEVE LOUISE HEANEY

Read the Editorial here.

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Concilium is available in English, German, Italian, Spanish, and publishes five issues annually.

As a peer-reviewed journal, Concilium is indexed in ATLA DB (English, German), Index Theologicus (German), and Index Religiosus Brepolis (German).

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The CTSA remembers and prays for member Bernard P. Prusak who died on January 18, 2026.

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

CTSA Proceedings Contribution

Theology of the Local Church in Historical Development (Seminar Paper), CTSA Proceedings, Vol. 35 (1980).  

Obituary (click here)

Mass of Christian Burial

Saturday, January 24, 2026
11:00 AM

St. Thomas of Villanova Church
800 Lancaster Ave.
Villanova, PA 19085

Burial of Cremains

Saturday, January 24, 2026
12:30 PM

Calvary Cemetery
235 Matsonford Rd.
West Conshohocken, PA 19428

The CTSA remembers and prays for Walter E. Conn who died on February 2, 2026.  

Eternal rest grant unto Walter, 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.

Walt taught at Villanova University and served as the editor of Horizons, the journal of the College Theology Society.  The CTSA remembers him for his contributions to theology and the Society.

Joann Wolski Conn, Walter E. Conn, Developmental Psychology: From Moral Theology to Spirituality, CTSA Proceedings Vol. 40, 1985.

Walter E. Conn, The Role of Women in Theology: Two-handed Theology, CTSA Proceedings Vol. 38, 1983.

Obituary - click here to read

Funeral - February 12, 2026 
St. Anastasia Church
3301 West Chester Pike
Newtown Square, PA  19073
Visitation 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Mass 10:30 a.m.

Condolences may be sent to Dr. Joann Wolski Conn, in care of the
Donahue Funeral Home, 3300 West Chester Pike, Newtown, PA 19073

The Rule of Law and the Common Good:
An Emerging Synergy between
Legal Theory and Catholic Social Thought
March 12 - 13, 2026
Boston College

The rule of law is under stress, both in the United States and around the globe. What can we do to support it? We invite you to attend a conference designed to address this question.

The “Rule of Law and the Common Good: An Emerging Synergy between Legal Theory and Catholic Social Thought” will be held in Gasson 100 on March 12-13, 2026.

Legal scholars and CST experts will be in constant conversation about threats to and necessary protections for the rule of law. Theologians speaking include Patrick Reardon, SJ (Campion Hall), Michelle Becka (Würzburg), and Anna Rowlands (Durham). Legal scholars include Jed Purdy (Duke), David Luban (Georgetown), and Mary Ellen O’Connell (Notre Dame).

Please register through the Eventbrite website for the sessions you wish to attend. In addition, please consider assigning your students to attend one or more sessions! Space is limited, so act quickly! We would love to welcome you to the conversation!

All the best,

Gregory Kalscheur, SJ
Dean, Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences

Cathleen Kaveny
Libby Professor, Law School and Theology Department

CTSA member, Meghan J. Clark, is quoted as an expert in this US Catholic article, “Sisters use corporate investments to push for reform.”

Sisters use corporate investments to push for reform

Shareholders advocacy enables Catholic sisters to hold companies accountable and leverage real change in a way that supports the common good.

By e Pews 

Renée Roden

Published January 27, 2026

Read Article Here (click here)

January 31st, 2026: Online Book Launch and Discussion:
JRAT Supplementa Volume 5

„Modernity values human dignity and autonomy, but its commitment to self-realization is unsustainable and neglects the common good, which is lost in the ›anonymity‹ of technology and economics. Lost are both truly creative individuality and productive social relationships. Sequeri examines contradictions in our ›common humanity‹: the power of desire, the excesses of tragedy, modalities of cooperation, and the manifestations of diversity […].“ (excerpt from the book cover)

The Research Centre RaT and the Catholic Theological Society of America cordially invite all interested parties to the presentation of the latest volume in the JRAT Supplementa series, published in open access: “Human. A Reality Put to the Test” (Brill/Schöningh 2025) by Pierangelo Sequeri, translated by James M. Crowley.

• When: January 31st, 2026, 4–5:30 pm CET (10–11:30 am EST)
• Where: Online via zoom: https://univienna.zoom.us/j/69001859213?pwd=auJME6vLBjfIVvOdxNQgqYgzvcdgWI.1

Starting with a presentation of the book by the author (Istituto di Giovanni Paolo II, Rome), the event also includes a response by Prof. emeritus Anthony J. Godzieba (Villanova University, Pennsylvania), followed by a discussion with the audience.

Moderated by: Kurt Appel and Noemi Call.

Organized in cooperation with the Catholic Theological Society of America.

Link to the publication (Open Access): https://brill.com/display/title/62121

African Political Theology Webinars: Statecraft

Thursday, January 22, Noon (Eastern US / 5pm UK / 6pm Nigeria)

A dialogue between Dr. Isaac Kekemeke (Vice-Chair, All Progressives Congress) and Dr. Chammah J. Kaunda (Academic Dean, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies).

To Register: bit.ly/PTNjan22

Dr. Kekemeke is a leader of Nigeria’s governing party, board chair of the Nigerian Postal Service, and an attorney. Dr. Kaunda, a Zambian scholar, is the author and editor of several scholarly books on Christianity in Africa. This event will be moderated by Father Fidelis Olokunboro, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theology at Villanova University.

The first in a series of dialogue webinars on African political theology organized by the Political Theology Network in partnership with Villanova’s Center for Political Theology.

--------------------------

Rev. Fidelis A. Olokunboro, Ph.D.

Visiting Assistant Professor, 

Theology and Religious Studies, 

Villanova University

CTSA remembers and prays for member John R. Wilcox (d. 1-1-26).

Eternal rest grant unto John, 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.

A Memorial Mass honoring Dr. Wilcox's life will be held:

Saturday, May 9th, 11:00 a.m.

St. Gregory the Great Church
85 Great Plain Road
Danbury, CT  06811

Obituary

Stan Chu Ilo, Where Is God? An African Theology of Suffering and Smiling

https://orbisbooks.com/products/where-is-god-in-africa-a-theology-of-suffering-and-smiling?_pos=2&_sid=dd188a33c&_ss=r

Mary Boys, Blessing of a New Dawn: Reorienting Christianity's Relationship to Judaism

https://orbisbooks.com/products/blessing-of-a-new-dawn-reorienting-christianitys-relationship-to-judaism?_pos=1&_sid=6807cfd4c&_ss=r

David Turnbloom et al., (IS HE A MEMBER?): Liturgy in the Shadow of Trauma: Reckoning with the Roman Catholic Sex Abuse Crisis

https://orbisbooks.com/products/liturgy-in-the-shadow-of-trauma-reckoning-with-the-roman-catholic-sex-abuse-crisis?_pos=2&_sid=7493eed71&_ss=r

A.E. Orobator, SJ, editor, African Synodal Theology: A  Tall Tree is as Strong as its Roots

https://orbisbooks.com/products/african-synodal-theology-a-tall-tree-is-as-strong-as-its-roots?_pos=1&_sid=ac45735e2&_ss=r

Explore Catholic Theology at one of the world’s leading departments

The Distance Learning programmes in Catholic Theology, led by Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS), are designed so that participants can work through material at their own pace, studying equally well in any time zone and in many different life situations, alongside work, ministry, family or caring obligations. 

In addition to the Postgraduate Certificate , the Postgraduate Diploma , and the MA , students can enrol for a single module: ‘Catholic Theology: A Preliminary Tour’ , and NEW FOR 2026/27 single modules in Catholic Social Thought and Practice and High Medieval Franciscan Theology .

Further details are available at Distance Learning - Durham University  including videos from current students .

The CCS offers scholarships to support students on these distance learning programmes. Full information can be found at Funding - Durham University.

If you have any questions about these Distance Learning programmes, please contact the CCS Manager - theresa.phillips@durham.ac.uk

Please do share details of this opportunity with those who may be interested, both near and far.