Catholic Theological
Society of America

At the upcoming convention's CUERG luncheon, Dr. C. Vanessa White  (Assoc. Prof. of Spirituality and Practice at Catholic Theological Union, and Director of the Certificate In Black Theology and Ministry) will be the recipient of the inaugural CUERG Distinguished Scholar-Leader award!

We will highlight her significant contributions to the Church, academy and wider society; and Dr. White will offer an address to the gathering at the 2024 CUERG Luncheon.

The CUERG leadership committee found it fitting to create the award at this time for two reasons:

First, CUERG has now existed for several decades as a consultatory advisory committee to the CTSA Board and as a network of intellectual and professional support for CTSA members from underrepresented or under-recognized ethnic and racial backgrounds. In the early years, the committee strove mainly to create possibilities of presence and thriving for minoritized scholars in the Catholic theological community. While this remains a key priority, CUERG is no longer new nor simply trying to find a place at the discursive table. Over time and through the concerted efforts of past leaders, CUERG has developed into both an institution within the convention (for instance, the annual CUERG Luncheon) and a professional community with a deepening sense of its particular history, struggles, and contributions to the Society as a whole. As CUERG continues to mature, it is valuable for CUERG to take stock and recognize all that has and is still unfolding in the Society’s efforts to theologize en conjunto (together), in a truly inclusive way.

Second, the CUERG committee desired to joyfully highlight the contributions of under-recognized teacher-scholars, noting their work as a gift to the wider academy and Church. Theologians working at the ethnic and racial margins of theological discourse have often tackled sobering and lamentable topics (for instance, the horrors of slavery, colonial campaigns, forced migration, systemic racism, etc.) and wrestled with the legacies of such structural inequities in the history of our own Church and academic discipline. Nonetheless, these and other myriad scholarly reflections should not be perceived as an encumbrance on the theological enterprise, but rather an aide and gift to Catholic theological thinking. Insofar as Church and academy can holistically address the realities that facing racially and ethnically minoritized Catholics, we are able to theologize better. This unfolding honesty and proficiency is a gift to treasure and celebrate!

David Hollenbach has published a new book: Human Rights in a Divided World: Catholicism as a Living Tradition.  It offers a comprehensive analysis of the challenges to human rights, suggesting that today’s global realities call for important developments rooted in Catholic ethics. This work of theological social ethics draws on a range of disciplines to address the question of whether human rights remain valid as universal standards for action in a multicultural, religiously pluralistic, and economically unequal world. It applies the proposed understanding of human rights to debated issues of today, including religious freedom, the rights of refugees, economic rights in the face of significant inequality, and the rights of women. Human Rights in a Divided World offers a clear path forward for the church and for all who are working to advance human rights.

Available through Amazon.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati is pleased to announce the upcoming "Seeking for a City" Symposium on Fr. Clarence Rivers and “What We Have Seen and Heard" November 22-24 at the University of Dayton's Curran place. 

In-person presenters are sought for the Symposium at University of Dayton who will:

• Thoughtfully synthesize our two guiding themes of the event—the impact of “What We Have Seen and Heard” and the life and legacy of Fr. Rivers—from their areas of expertise such as theology, liturgy, music, history, art, literature, catechetics, etc.; 
• Engage Symposium participants in active learning and reflection on these themes (workshops or presentations are sought, rather than papers); 
• Craft and deliver an in-person presentation offering innovative perspectives and scholarship on these themes, demonstrating their continued relevance; 
• Be a present and active participant in all Symposium events (Friday-Sunday morning) as possible. (Funds will be provided for travel; see below.)

Please submit a 300-500 word proposal for an interactive Workshop or Breakout session of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes in length, along with a 100-word biographical statement, via email to Emily Strand emilykcstrand@gmail.com and Dr. Cecilia Moore cmoore1@udayton.edu.

Resources: Access to Fr. Rivers’ written works can be made available upon request.

Funding: Those selected for Workshops or Breakout presentations will receive funds for travel, paid accommodations, airport transportation and travel to the Mass in Cincinnati, as well as a modest honorarium.

Key dates: 

Deadline for submissions: Monday, July 1, 2024

Notification of selected presenters: by Monday, July 29, 2024

For more information visit: https://catholicaoc.org/offices/african-american-pastoral-ministries

Several representatives from INSeCT met with Pope Francis in early May. The following letter from Francis dated May 10 expounds his support for and encouragement of theology in our global society. His recognition of the important work of theologians is strong but that more work still needs to be done. He restated three points that theologians need to consider: a creative fidelity to tradition, a cross-disciplinary approach and collegiality.  You can read more of his letter here: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/speeches/2024/may/documents/20240510-insect.html

The attention given to INSeCT by Pope Francis is a start of a fresh relationship between INSeCT and the Holy See. There will be another meeting with the Education Dicastery in December 2024. This will build on the current energy of INSeCT to engage and to strengthen its relationship with the Holy See.

Teresa of Avila and Peacemaking in a Nuclear Age

How can a 16th century mystic help people in the 21st century in making peace? Inspired by the work of Vilma Seelaus, O.C.D. who believed that Teresa’s spirituality could be a resource for creating peace today, this four-day seminar explores this question through presentations on Teresa of Avila’s life, communal conversation on Teresa’s writing, time for contemplative prayer and ritual. Teresa walked a way of peacemaking amid the patriarchal oppression of her time and offers a way to embody peace for human transformation in the urgency our times.

Conference Registration Costs

Event Registration: $200 per person (covers meals and events July 15-18)  [Click Here For Registration]

Campus Housing: $198 per person (covers room in campus residence hall for three nights, July 15-18)

Registration closes: July 1, 2024

In addition to campus housing, there are two hotels on the campus of Saint Mary's College — The Inn at Saint Mary's and the Hilton Garden Inn — conference attendees traveling from out of town can elect to stay at one of those hotels if they so choose. Reservations can be made directly through the hotel website and staff.

Conference Format

To take up Teresa’s wisdom we will engage in communal lectio divina.  The presentations, time for prayer and group reflection are to enable contemporary appropriation of Teresa’s classic texts for being peace in our time. During these four days, we will meet in small groups to discuss these materials in greater depth, in a contemplative rhythm of personal and communal reflection. 

We recommend participants engage with Teresa’s writings as well as the work of Sr. Vilma Seelaus, O.C.D. in advance of the gathering. Upon confirmation of registration, each participant will receive access to these materials in preparation for the seminar.

Dear friends,  this is an invitation to a "book launch" via zoom on May 17th at 15:00 Rome time and 16:00 Nairobi time.  Stan Chu Ilo is one of  the editors .  Partners in the launch are DePaul University, Universitat Wien and Orbis Books.   

Meeting Link: www.shorturl.at/dtHVS

Meeting ID: 876 4141 8506;   Passcode: 963127

For the official flyer, you can contact Fr. Joe Healey,MM:  joehealey@jghealey.com or Fr. Ikenna Okafor:  ugo_divine@yahoo.com.

   

The Distance Learning programmes in Catholic Theology, led by Durham University’s Centre for Catholic Studies (CCS) in the UK, 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. 

NEW for 2024-25: In addition to the Postgraduate Certificate, the Postgraduate Diploma, and the MA, students can now enrol for a single module. Students with a BA or BSc who have not studied Theology or a related discipline before, are now free to apply to enrol for the core module, ‘Catholic Theology: A Preliminary Tour’ and proceed to the MA following its successful completion. The single module is also a standalone option for Continual Professional Development and general interest.

Further details are available at Distance Learning - Durham University

The CCS are offering a Bursary Fund specifically to support students on these distance learning programmes. The deadline for applications has been extended to 7 July 2024.

If you have any questions about the Distance Learning programmes, please do not hesitate to contact theresa.phillips@durham.ac.uk

Please do share details of this opportunity to those looking to do further study.

The CTSA remembers and prayers for member Mary L. Collins, OSB who died on May 2, 2024.

May Mary's soul and the souls
of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God,
rest in peace. Amen.

Read Sr. Mary Collin's Obituary

Boxed and ready to go are sets of resources for beginning theology professors to plan their own courses in the following areas:

Introduction to Theology 

Doctrine of God

Ecclesiology

Mariology

Christ and World Religions

Foundations of Spirituality

Each set includes:

Sample Syllabus

Required Readings (hard copies)

Recommended Readings (hard copies)

Reference articles

Actual Course Textbooks

I'm in touch with several institutions, so first come, first served. I ask that you let me know which resources you would like sent to you, your mailing address, and how you plan to cover the cost of the mailing. An offering for the resources is voluntary. I ask only that the postage be covered.

Carla Mae Streeter, OP
Emerita
Aquinas Institute of Theology
23 South Spring Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
streeter@slu.edu
314-249-4499

Cristina L. H. Traina, Finitude, Feminism, and Flourishing: On Being Mortal Like Everyone Else, Paulist Press (March 2024).