Volume 27, Fall 2007
JESUIT SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY at BERKELEY
Rev. Joseph Daoust, S.J. Endowed Scholarship Fund Meredith MacDonald (M.Div. 2008) In celebration of the Golden
Jubilee of Rev. Joseph Daoust, S.J., the Board of Trustees announced the creation of an endowed scholarship fund in his name. He has served as president of the Jesuit School of Theology for almost 10 years. In that time, he successfully planned and completed the Partners for Tomorrow’s Church Campaign, guiding the School to becoming a financially secure institution, and led students, faculty, and staff through many transitions including the renovation of the Academic Center, and the creation of the Gesù chapel. He has provided intellectual and spiritual guidance for the community, and worked to develop the school as a leading theological center, deeply rooted in its commitment to preparing well-trained ordained and lay leaders for the Church. This scholarship fund will benefit Board Chairman John E. Kerrigan, Jr. presents Rev. Joseph P. Daoust, S.J., with the resolution announcing students from Africa requiring financial the endowed scholarship in his name. assistance to attend the Jesuit School of Theology, in honor of Joe’s special dedication to and love of Africa. Joe has engaged firsthand some of what he has learned in ministry all over the world over the past through his cross-cultural experience. 50 years, from academic appointments The Board of Trustees presented Joe to attorney services at Michigan Legal with a proclamation announcing the Services for the Poor. A foundational and scholarship at a reception on September formative element of Joe’s ministry is his 28, 2007. Several members of his family experience in Africa. Prior to becoming attended and shared their memories of Joe president of the Jesuit School of Theology, through photos and stories. The Board of Joe was a Fulbright Professor of International Trustees conceived of the scholarship as a Law at Makerere University in Kampala, surprise for Joe, and by specifying that the Uganda, and a United States State gift be used for African students, honored Department Lecturer on Constitutional a place dear to Joe’s heart. This scholarship Law in Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda. is a fitting memento of Joe’s experiences, Joe comments, “The faith and hope of and a gift to future ministries in Africa. the people of Africa, often in spite of dire circumstances, touched my heart immeasurably. I will always carry them To join this initiative and make a contribution in my heart.” Joe has facilitated making in honor of Father Daoust, please contact connections between members of the Catherine Kelly at ckelly@jstb.edu or Jesuit School of Theology community (510) 549-5051. and Africa, so that others can appreciate
Partners for Tomorrow’s Church Campaign Tops $20 Million Meredith MacDonald (M.Div. 2008) The Board of Trustees announced
the conclusion of the Partners for Tomorrow’s Church Campaign as of September 30, 2007, after raising over $20 Million. The successful completion of this initiative brings exciting resources to the Jesuit School of Theology and celebrates more than 70 years of history as a seminary. One highlight of the campaign is the creation of two endowed faculty chairs. Jim Redington, S.J., holds the Dwan Family Chair in Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue. Dr. Mia Mochizuki holds the Bertelsen Chair in Art History and Religion. Obtaining two endowed faculty chairs assists the Jesuit School of Theology in its goals of recruiting and retaining top academics …continued on page 12
President’s Message
The Bridge is the bi-annual newsletter of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley.
The Jesuit School of Theology is a theological school faithful to the intellectual tradition and the apostolic priority of the Society of Jesus: reverent and critical service of the faith that does justice. The School achieves its mission through the academic, pastoral and personal formation of Jesuits and other candidates for ministry, ordained and lay, in the Roman Catholic Church. The Development Department produces the Bridge.
Rev. Joseph P. Daoust, S.J. Cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound throughout all the land. Hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubilee for you. — Leviticus 25:9-10 Fifty years ago I certainly did not
know what I was getting myself into when I entered the Jesuit novitiate. The Church and the world seemed calmer, more certain then than they have in the decades since. Marches for peace and civil rights have mingled with warmongering and genocidal hatreds. Many now find ‘politics’ a dirty word and all institutions — including the Church — sullied. Pollution of air, earth, thought and desire seems all too rife. Yet for all that, as Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, there lives the dearest freshness deep down things…because the Holy Ghost over the bent world broods with warm breast, and with ah! bright wings. I rejoice that I have lived in a time when the Church, conflicted and sinful though it can be, has been so literally inspired in and after the Vatican Council. I have watched so many followers of Christ make their own “the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the men and women of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted.” With Marlowe’s Faust, I have seen Christ’s blood streaming in the firmament as young women and men catch fire to lead lives of ministry. I have been so nourished as
we Jesuits reinvigorated our roots in the springs of spirituality which St. Ignatius bequeathed to us. It has been a wild ride down through the decades, tossed about by the currents of the times in ways which were at times fearful and misleading. But always people came into my life and brought me back by their gifts of faith and love. It has been a wonderful life, these fifty years in ministry as a Jesuit, and I am so grateful that God somehow seduced me into throwing myself in with this lot! And as I watch others here at the Jesuit School of Theology just setting off on their life’s pilgimages of ministry in the Church, I rejoice for them as well. Jesuit and lay, American and international, men and women of such courage and commitment — I know they will have lives of toil and trouble, but also filled with grace and great meaning as they journey through the decades towards their own jubilee in the fields of the Lord. They give me great hope for the future of the Church, and of Christ’s mission in our world. They are, for me, the greatest gift of Jubilee.
Editor: Catherine M. Kelly Associate Editor: Meredith MacDonald Photography: Students & Staff Board of Trustees Joseph P. Daoust, S.J., President John E. Kerrigan, Jr., Chair William J. Barkett Thomas E. Bertelsen, Jr. Betsy Bliss Louis M. Castruccio Marx Cazenave Bishop John S. Cummins Rev. Virgilio P. Elizondo Sr. Maureen Fay, O.P. Thomas H. Feely, S.J. John D. Feerick Loretta Holstein Paul L. Locatelli, S.J. John P. McGarry, S.J. Rev. Walter Modrys, S.J. Stanley Raggio D. Paul Regan John D. Schubert Tony Sholander, S.J. Thomas Smolich, S.J. John D. Whitney, S.J.
Jesuit School of Theology 1735 Le Roy Avenue Berkeley, CA 94709 Tel: (510) 549-5000 www.jstb.edu
Welcome, New Trustees. Farewell, Departing Trustees.
W
ith the close of the Partners for Tomorrow’s Church Campaign, the Jesuit School of Theology welcomes four new members to the Board of Trustees: Marx Cazenave; Sr. Maureen Fay, O.P.; Loretta Holstein; and Rev. Walter Modrys, S.J. Marx is the retired Chairman & CEO of Cazenave & Co., Inc., a registered broker/dealer with the NASD where he advised asset management firms, public and corporate pension funds, foundations and endowments. He volunteers in prison ministry at San Quentin. Maureen is the President Emeritus of University of Detroit
Mercy and the Executive Director of the Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities Leadership Seminar. Loretta is an active community leader and philanthropist. She is a member of the National Board of Directors for the Pacific Institute for Community Organizing (PICO) and President of the Advisory Board for Vision of Hope. Walter is the Treasurer for the New York Province of the Society of Jesus and has many years of experience in parish ministry, retreat ministry and teaching mathematics. Each new trustee will serve
for a three-year renewable term, from 2007–2010. Thank you, Marx, Maureen, Loretta, and Walter, for joining the board and offering your knowledge, resources and experiences to our school. The School also wishes to express its deepest gratitude for the generosity, wisdom and years of dedicated service of those trustees who have completed their terms in the past 18 months: Don Bruzzone (7/2003–9/2007), Cecilia Delury (5/2002–9/2007), Sal Gutierrez (7/2004– 9/2007), and Judy Smith (2/99–7/2006).
Ignatian Family Teach-in
Rebuilding Communities: Facing Racism and Poverty Annie Selak (M.Div. 2009) There was a sense of hope in the
humid air of the cafeteria at Jesuit High School New Orleans as 500 students from Jesuit colleges and high schools gathered for the beginning of the Ignatian Family Teach-in entitled, “Rebuilding Communities: Facing Racism and Poverty.” Half of the crowd had just completed a week of service in New Orleans and along the Gulf Coast while the others were preparing to begin their experiences. Amanda Carrillo (M.Div. 2009), Jessica Mueller (M.Div. 2009), Annie Selak (M.Div. 2009), and Rev. Ted Arroyo, S.J., from the Jesuit School of Theology joined other members of the Ignatian Family to learn about the effects of racism in our culture and reflect on our call to serve one another. More importantly, as one Loyola Marymount student shared, “We are here to give one another hope.” The three days of the conference were filled with discussions on economic injustice and racial discrimination, yet there was a sense of optimism throughout the weekend. Bill Quigley, professor at Loyola New Orleans Law School, reminded us, “Wherever there is injustice, there is inspiration.” My experience in New Orleans and the shared wisdom of those at the Teach-In confirmed this sentiment. Few places in our country face more injustice than New Orleans. Though Hurricane Katrina was a force of nature that could not be controlled, the flooding and 19-month-and-counting aftermath are results of failed infrastructure and institutional racism. Housing, criminal justice, health care, and education are just a sampling of the institutions that are broken and slowly being rebuilt. In the midst of this injustice were inspiring accounts of communities joining together to overcome obstacles and rebuild their homes. Residents of New Orleans and the surrounding areas invited the Ignatian Family into their experiences, sharing their stories of hope and devastation. Over 280,000 people are still displaced from New Orleans alone, yet the resurgence of the city is contagious and inspiring.
M.Div. classmates Annie Selak and Jessica Mueller in New Orleans, LA.
The Ignatian Family served as a source of hope throughout the weekend. The mobilization of 500 students, most giving up their spring breaks for an immersion trip, was a sign of the strength and generosity of the Jesuit community. Reunions among students from Loyola New Orleans who were welcomed into the communities of other Jesuit colleges and universities in the wake of Hurricane Katrina with their former classmates were a common sight throughout the weekend. It was clear that the Jesuit family not only responded to the needs of the community immediately after Hurricane Katrina, but it continues to do so today. Much of the weekend we reimagined the question, “Who is my neighbor?” Though the parable of the Good Samaritan is not a new story for a seminary student, the Teach-In brought this question to a new level. Dr. Shawn Copeland, professor at Boston College, continually reminded the community, “We are here to stand in solidarity with and recognize our neighbors.” Throughout the Teach-In, we reflected on exactly what solidarity means in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and our proper response. Solidarity is more than just a concept that
we discuss as Jesuit institutions. We find solidarity in students gutting houses and rebuilding homes; in the frank discussions about racism in our culture and our call to end injustice. We find solidarity in Paul, a student from Jesuit High School New Orleans who was welcomed into another Jesuit school and supported by his new community as he became the first person in his family to earn his high school diploma. Most importantly, solidarity is something larger than attending a conference. It requires hope and fidelity. It is bringing the spirit of New Orleans back to our communities and spreading it throughout the Ignatian Family. A student at Jesuit High School New Orleans encouraged us to return to our communities and share our hope. He said, “Tell them about New Orleans. Tell them we need your help and we would love to have you.” The residents of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast are our brothers and sisters, our neighbors. We, as the Ignatian Family and Jesuit School of Theology community, are called to stand in solidarity with them as they rebuild their community, actively combating injustice and opening our hearts.
Africa Symposium Victor Adangba, S.J. (S.T.D. student) & Pius Ojara, S.J. (M.Div. 2006) The African voice and imagination
expressed themselves at the Symposium on Africa entitled, “The Theological Response of the Church to Globalization in Africa,” which the Jesuit School of Theology hosted on March 16–17, 2007. The symposium itself was a response to an inquiry from then-Associate Dean, Ted Arroyo, S.J., “What could the School do to implement its strategic plan towards Africa?” which he posed to African Jesuit, Victor Adangba, S.J., on one of Don Gelpi, S.J.’s hiking trips. The School’s 2006–2010 strategic plan seeks, in part, “to foster opportunities to study and learn from cultures beyond our national borders… and to continue faculty and student involvements with cultures beyond those represented by these two centers [Manila and Mexico City], especially Africa.” Over the past five years, several African students have attended the Jesuit School of Theology. Currently, over 10% of the student body is from Africa. In April 2006, representatives from various parts of Africa formed a committee to explore the question: South Africa, Shaun Carls, S.J. (Th.M. 2007); Malawi: Peter Mulomole (S.T.D. student); Zambia: Kapyunga Nyirenda, S.J. (S.T.L. student); Kenya: Margaret Aringo, F.S.J. (S.T.D. student); Nigeria: Niku Ekom, S.J. (S.T.L. student); and Ivory Coast: Victor Adangba,
Left to right, Sr. Margaret Aringo, F.S.J., Rev. Martin Claude Domfang, S.J. & Sr. Anne Itotia, R.S.M.
S.J. (S.T.D. student). Ted, Paulina Espinosa, and Professor Bill O’Neill, S.J. joined the students on the committee, which discerned that the School should host a symposium to let the African voice and reality be known. The African continent is the home of 700 million people living in 52 countries on land four times wider than the US. It is a continent characterized by its diversity of languages, racial origins and tribal groupings. However, there exists commonality within large parts of Africa, especially the SubSaharan Africans who share a common painful history of slavery and colonization. Today, the whole continent is affected by political, economic, social and health calamities. Voices in the media within and outside of Africa have called on Africans to take responsibility for their own future. Many have examined areas of the continent’s plight. For years, theologians have attempted to give a theological response. Continuing in the same line as our predecessors in the theological field, we sought to draw avenues that can sustain life in Africa from the standpoint of the Church. We believe that the African church can play a prophetic role Rev. Jean Nyembo, S.J.
to the rest of the world by proclaiming the message of life and hope. Indeed, it has a message about globalization to its own people and to the world in a clear “postmodern” African voice. In addition, the African church can move beyond missionary and maintenance phases to self sustaining, self-transformation, and eventually to creative imagination in order to have a Church that will promote hope. This hope inspired us to organize a symposium on Africa. We envisioned it as an eye-opener for African and non-African participants to the kind of real problems with which the African church is faced today. We selected a keynote speaker, Bishop Patrick Kalilombe, MAfr. from Malawi, who is an African living presently in Africa — someone in touch with the realities of being in Africa in the light of globalization. Bishop Kalilombe, a retired bishop of Lilongwe Diocese, obtained his Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. As a leading prophetic figure in African missiology and ecclesiology, he is known for doing theology at the grassroots level. We invited guests from the Diocese of Oakland and other parts of the Bay Area. The vibrant, provocative, and humorous
Mercy Amba Oduyoye Addresses Jesuit School of Theology
O
n October 4, 2007, Mercy Amba Oduyoye addressed the students and faculty at the Jesuit School of Theology. We were honored to hear the life story of the first female theologian of Africa. A gifted storyteller, she shared with us the challenges she overcame to pursue theology studies, publish her research as an African woman and create the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. Auntie Mercy, as she is respectfully known to Africans, developed a theology of liberation for African women. A Ghanaian married to a Nigerian, she is an advocate for the unique contribution of African women to the development of Christian theologies. The students and faculty benefited from the wisdom and inspiration she shared as well as her commitment to engaging in ministry with the Christian people, the body of Christ, which gives her hope.
Welcome to Rev. Robert McChesney, S.J. Meredith MacDonald (M.Div. 2008)
Left to right, Sr. Caroline Mbonu, H.H.C.J., Mercy Amba Oduyoye, and Sr. Agnes Cato, H.D.R.
keynote address of Bishop Kalilombe on The Theological Response of the Church to Globalization in Africa attracted 95 people. The following day was devoted to panel discussions and exchanges with contributors from University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and the Diocese of Oakland. The symposium featured an African art exhibit; an African meal of Egusi and yam fufu from Nigeria, catfish Ugandan style, chicken with a Burkinabè flavor, Ndole from Cameroon, a Congolese mushroom sauce, Ugali from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malgasi white rice, and Aloko from the Ivory Coast; and African music
and humor. Earlier in the week, we celebrated an African liturgy in the Zairean rite and showed Sarafina, a South African film which narrates the struggles of young black South Africans in their educational system. We would like to extend our gratitude to the Jesuit School of Theology and the University of San Francisco for their substantial financial assistance, resources and collaboration. We also would like to thank all those who made this event possible: the staff at the School, members of the Jesuit community, the African students at the Graduate Theological Union, the participants and contributors, and many other friends.
Joining the staff of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley is Rev. Rob McChesney, S.J. as Coordinator of CrossCultural Initiatives. Rob is a Maryland Province Jesuit, but no stranger to West Coast living. He previously spent six years in Los Angeles as the founding director of the Jesuit Immigration Detention Services, providing pastoral care to detained persons of undocumented status, including minors. In addition, Rob worked for over five years in the Jesuit Refugee Services. Most recently, Rob was the Assistant to the Provincial in Pastoral Ministries and Special Projects for the Maryland Province. As part of that position, he served as a founding board member for a new Cristo Rey school, which opened in September in Baltimore, Maryland. Rob spends 75% of his time at the Jesuit School, administering grants for the immersion trips and work on sustaining the international programs. He is assisting the Spanish-speaking population at St. Patrick’s parish in West Oakland for the other 25% of his time. Sustaining the relationship between the Jesuit School and the local parishes, especially of West Oakland, is a priority for him. Rob is excited to join “a very dynamic community with good morale, and a sense of purpose and enthusiasm about the Jesuit School of Theology’s mission.” He looks forward to helping the School sustain, grow, and strengthen theological immersions and service to the local church.
A Prophet’s Call in Guatemala Neela Kale (M.Div. 2008) Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth; and the Lord said to me, “Now I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.” — (Jeremiah 1:9-10) These dramatic words, part of the
call of the prophet Jeremiah, have inspired many. But at the first class of “Prophets: Foundation for Ministry in a Global Context,” Dr. Gina Hens-Piazza quickly disabused us of the notion that a prophet was something anyone longed to be. We aren’t here because we want to be prophets, she asserted, but because they have something to teach us about ministry in an ever-changing world. Rather than serving as mere mouthpieces for God or as diviners of the future, the biblical prophets played a complex intermediary role as they deeply engaged both the divine and the world around them. They show us how important it is to grasp not only what our tradition offers us about God but also what is happening in our culture. Serious cultural analysis is essential for ministry. Thus she challenged us to embark on a semester of study that would prepare us to do cultural analysis all the time as ministers in a global context. Because we cannot truly grasp what it means to talk about culture until we step outside our own, her challenge took 14 students all the way to San Lucas Tolimán, a town nestled in the hills surrounding the Lake of Atitlán in Guatemala. For a week we sought to experience life in this one small Guatemalan town, home primarily to Mayan indigenous people whose language is Cakchiquel. Though similar to hundreds of other small towns in the Guatemalan highlands that survive by
Theresa Vela (M. Div. 2008) and Neela Kale (M. Div. 2008) learning a new trade.
growing coffee and catering to tourists who flock to the lake, in some ways its story is different. Served for four decades by Fr. Greg Schaeffer, a diocesan priest from New Ulm, Minnesota, the local Catholic parish has an extensive network of projects and services, including land redistribution, education and coffee production. The parish graciously hosted us as we endeavored to learn something about the town and its people. Gina challenged us to learn by doing, sinking our hands and feet into the culture around us. Only through participation could we begin to understand. And so, in the company of new friends, we scattered throughout the town to experience all that we could. Matt Schaeffer (M.A.B.L. student) found himself in the middle of the lake on a fishing boat late at night; Mike Beckman (M.Div. 2008) zipped up and down the narrow streets with the driver of a three-wheeled taxi; Linda Kim (M.Div. 2008) wrapped herself in the intricate straps and threads of a traditional loom as she tried her hand at weaving. Other students baked bread, prayed for the sick, learned about traditional herbs and tried carving wood. Sharing our stories, we began to piece together a sense of what life was like
in San Lucas, a sense that was richer after rubbing our fingertips raw sorting coffee or singeing them on a hot griddle turning tortillas. Throughout the week the people of San Lucas Tolimán opened their lives to us with warmth and hospitality. It was a privilege to walk among them for even a short time. Our stay in San Lucas was painfully short; we bid tearful goodbyes to people we were only beginning to know. Yet the experience left us with a challenge for the future. No one wants to be a prophet, Gina reminded us — rather a community calls her to it. As we seek to know a culture and a community deeply and passionately, we open ourselves to that call. It is a terrible, grace-filled risk. Back in Berkeley, we learned that dramatic calls like the one recounted by Jeremiah are often among the latest texts in the prophet’s work. Only years later the prophet understands how God was working and calling over the course of a lifetime. Years from now we, too, will look back on our lives and our ministry, stretching all the way back to our experiences in Guatemala and before. Perhaps some of us will discover there, in the midst of joys and struggles, something that looks like a prophetic call.
Celebrating Gifts of the Spirit:
Lay Ecclesial Ministers Sending Forth Meredith MacDonald (M.Div. 2008)
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. —1 Corinthians 12:4-6
For the first time, the Jesuit School
of Theology commencement celebrations included a sending forth ceremony for lay ecclesial ministers. The ceremony, held in the Gesù Chapel on the Friday morning preceding the Saturday graduation, offered the community a chance to acknowledge the extensive training and scholarship of the graduating lay students. Kurt Denk, S.J. (M.Div. 2007), Patti Keteltas (M.Div. 2007), Kyle Lierk (M.Div. 2007), Amanda Pelle (M.Div. 2008), and Sara Schulte (M.Div. 2007), and staff members Paul Kircher and Jill Marshall all collaborated in planning the liturgy. As part of the preparation process, the team determined what they wanted and what a “sending forth” meant to them. Sara Schulte noted that the committee, comprised of M.Div. students and staff members, realized the ceremony needed to include M.A. students as well, many of whom study theology as part of their plan to be ministers. The question of what the committee hoped the celebration would achieve was broad-ranging, and Sara articulated that “what we wanted was the affirmation of the community that formed us to say we are ready for ministry and to send us out into that… Ideally, you would have some kind of blessing or acceptance of your gifts in the community in which you would be working, but that may or may not be a reality for many of us, and that makes the blessing from this community even more crucial.” She cited an example from her home diocese, Grand Island, Nebraska, which offers a commissioning from the bishop for lay ministers who have completed appropriate training and will be serving in that diocese. The first reading, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, quoted in part above, set the tone for the liturgy, and met the goal of recognizing and accepting the diverse gifts and the commitment offered by lay ecclesial ministers who do not take permanent vows. The Gospel of John’s narrative of Jesus washing the feet of the apostles emphasized “the servant leadership model which we feel is very
Graduating students about to recite their ministerial vows, led by Rev. George Murphy, S.J. and Dean Jill Marshall. Left to Right, Sara Schulte, Alanna Ryan, Brian O’Keefe, Kyle Lierk, George Murphy, S.J., Jill Marshall, Laura Becke, Michael Downs, Anne Ellsworth, Meredith Johnson, and Patti Keteltas.
significant with lay ecclesial ministry. We don’t want to create another hierarchy. We wanted a delicate balance — we don’t want to elevate ourselves, but we need the support of the community to do the work that we have been called to do,” Sara commented. In recognition of the collaborative model of ministry that Jesuit, religious, and lay students learn and engage in at the Jesuit School and beyond, the planners asked fellow classmate, Deacon Kurt Denk, S.J., to preach. Kurt preached on “taking up the service of Jesus — a service that is compassionate, tender, and just.” Paul Kircher offered his gift of music and recruited volunteers to provide vibrant, inspiring songs for the festive occasion. Presiders, Rev. George Murphy, S.J., and Jill Marshall, recited students’ specific gifts for ministry which members of the school community and supervisors from students’ field education experiences wrote. Proud families, professors and classmates looked on, as each student received a towel illustrated with a picture of Jesus and the
apostles at the foot-washing. The entire community renewed baptismal vows, and the graduating lay students professed a series of ministerial promises to reflect their commitment to building the kingdom of God. Students selected representatives of the community to stand with them at the final blessing, echoing the many times in a Christian’s life when one or two people represent the support of the entire community. Everyone in the chapel extended his/her hands for a final blessing. The planning committee hoped that this celebration would be the first of many similar services for the Jesuit School, and Sara remarked that dedicating the time to create the ceremony was as much for future students as it was for the class of 2007 graduating lay students. Honoring the ministerial gifts and training of the students in a liturgical setting seemed the only natural choice. Sara commented, “We know as Catholic people that liturgy is an essential part of our life, and we need the support of liturgical actions for us to be empowered in our work. Recognizing the community support and an individual’s gifts are vital. We know from our experience and education that liturgy is a big part of that empowerment.” Many graces of Catholic liturgy flowed from the music, tears, laughter, and joy of all who enthusiastically embraced this opportunity to show community support and recognition of the graduating lay students’ ministerial gifts.
The members of the Verbum Dei Missionary Fraternity (“V.D.M.F.”) are passionate about sharing the Word of God with others and work in campus ministry, giving retreats, and in forming prayer groups and Christian base communities, especially among low income and immigrant populations, as ways to draw others towards an encounter with God through scripture. The V.D.M.F. is a mendicant order and survives on the generosity of the people it serves and on donations. In the last six years, our school has had at least nine V.D.M.F. sisters take classes here. Most of the members of V.D.M.F. who attend our school are from developing countries. The V.D.M.F. sisters are dedicated to their
studies and to their ministries which they perform while they study at the Jesuit School of Theology and beyond. One of the sisters described their order as “a response to the signs of the times of today — meeting the need for spirituality, the thirst for encounter with God, translating religion into the modern language and times.” The V.D.M.F. sisters play an important role at the Jesuit School of Theology, contributing their real-life ministry experiences as well as their passion for the Word of God to their classes and our community. We are pleased to publish Sr. Karla Felix-Rivera, V.D.M.F.’s following reflection which she gave at the perpetual vows ceremony for her and four of her V.D.M.F. sisters last spring.
Fan into Flame the Gift of God Karla Felix-Rivera, V.D.M.F. (M.Div. 2007) I will never forget the first time I
encountered the Verbum Dei Missionaries 12 years ago. My mother actually forced me to go to a retreat — we fought the whole way to the Verbum Dei house! When I met the Verbum Dei sisters, I was perplexed that young women would consecrate their lives and find so much fullness and life in giving their lives to God. I personally had always considered religious life a foreign, strange and unattractive state of life which was, of course, not for me.
My puzzlement in seeing young people dedicating their lives to “Prayer and Ministry of the Word” (Verbum Dei’s charism) led me to ask one of the missionaries perhaps one of the most dangerous questions ever: “What do you do?” Her answer was spontaneous: “We make time and space to dialogue with God and to provide space and means for others to grow in their friendship with God!” As anyone could imagine, my reaction was: “…Ohh, great for you! Keep up the good work!!”
While I tried to keep my distance from her words, they penetrated and struck me so deeply that the idea that God caused someone who was young and “normal” to leave everything behind to pursue this vocation broke something of my previous image of God. It was obvious that these women showed me that God was someone real in their lives. Suddenly, I began to question God. Does God still communicate with humanity? Is God really knowable? Is God still alive? Somehow these lives told me that God still called and revolutionized
Left to right, V.D.M.F. sisters Rosalia Meza (M.Div. 2006), Roselle Ruperto (M.Div. 2008), and Karla Felix-Rivera (M.Div. 2007).
lives in a way that I had never known was possible. I suddenly realized that God still cared about humanity, about each individual and that God sought my friendship. Today five women will make their perpetual vows in this Eucharistic celebration. It is a day to celebrate not only how alive God has been in our five lives, but how our call to preach the Gospel is God reaching out to today’s world through us. The title of this celebration comes from today’s second reading, “Fan into flame the gift of God!” God says these words not only to the five of us but to each one of us in this church! It’s as if God is fixing his gaze straight at each one of us and in seeing our personalities, our gifts, talents, and sensitivities, God believes in each one to the extent that he says: “Fan into flame all that you have received from me.” What is the gift we need to fan into flame? The gift of our lives — this one life that often seems so poor and fragile. This imperfect life that has been created in the image and likeness of God is called to love, to dream of a different world of justice and peace. It is through our lives that God wants to reach out to others. The gift of our faith — God saying do not hold back with your experience of a living God. Do not stay quiet in proclaiming the experience of freedom, love and peace you have found through my Word. Do not hesitate to give your knowledge of God’s love and fidelity to so many in this world that are broken and despairing in situations of violence, depression, poverty and addictions; and are seeking an answer to get them out. Today, let us all listen to God’s invitation that we each fan into flame all that we have received as gifts. It is a day of allowing God’s Spirit to mold us and empower us to be a sign of God’s justice and tenderness in today’s world. Let us rejoice that God calls us and counts on each one of our lives to rebuild this world!
Announcing the Advanced Studies of the Hispanic Institute The Jesuit School of Theology is pleased to announce a new summer program, the Advanced Studies of the Hispanic Institute (“Advanced Institute”), for Hispanic Institute alumni and for others interested in pursuing theological coursework from a Latino-Hispanic perspective for graduate credit through intensive summer classes. The credits may be transferred to a graduate degree program at the Jesuit School of Theology or elsewhere. The School created this program in response to the great demand of the alumni of the Hispanic Institute who have expressed a strong desire for further theological education. Others involved in Hispanic ministry at the diocesan or other professional level have also requested an advanced program in which academic credits could be earned, perhaps ultimately leading to an academic degree in Latino theology and ministry. The Advanced Institute responds to these expressed needs of students who, due to work and family commitments, have limited time yet who are willing to study during the summer to earn credits towards a degree in theology to give themselves a recognizable credential in their ministries. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops states in Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord: a Resource for Guiding the Development of Lay Ecclesial Ministry (November 2005, 44), “Lay ecclesial ministers engage in theological study for the sake of a broadened and deepened faith and a better-grounded and informed ministry.” The Advanced Institute provides mentoring in good study skills and theological reflection; and teaches students how to write in American academic (i.e., linear logic) style. The opportunity to earn credits towards a
degree offers Hispanics empowerment and the ability to lift up themselves, their families and their communities socio-economically, politically, spiritually, and otherwise. This past July, Rev. Virgilio Elizondo taught “Christology and the Borderlands: Jesùs de Galilea — El Cristo” and Dr. Alex Garcia-Rivera taught, “Built of Living Stones,” a course in fundamental theology. One of Father Elizondo’s students remarked on learning that “Returning to Jesus of Nazareth, the Galilean, can inspire us to welcome and embrace the gifts of our brothers and sisters of every culture, race and religious tradition….Jesus did not exclude but included everyone.” One of Dr. Garcia-Rivera’s students commented, “I learned that there is a lot of theological information in religious art. Religious art connects us with the mystery of God in ways that words cannot.” The courses under consideration for the Summer 2008 curriculum include: Ecclesiology, Pastoral Theology, History of the Christian Church, or a Scripture course. The administration is exploring ways to improve the program going forward. One student wrote, “Thank you to the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley for risking this opportunity. It is very important to include Latinos in their pursuit of graduate work in theology. This is a rare opportunity. I sincerely hope that you continue to make the program available.” For more information on, or to contribute scholarship funding for, the Advanced Institute, please contact its Administrator, Paulina Espinosa, at (510) 549-5028 or pespinosa@jstb.edu.
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St. Joseph, Patron of the Jesuit School of Theology
Rev. Joseph P. Daoust, S.J., President
In the main foyer of our renovated
Academic Center is a painting of St. Joseph with the Child Jesus in his arms. A gift of the Paul dePedraza Family, this anonymous 17th-century painting obtained in El Salvador honors St. Joseph as the Patron of the Jesuit School of Theology. Here are some notes on how the Jesuit School of Theology came to be under the Patronage of St. Joseph:
April 18, 1934 Letter to the California Province from the Jesuit Provincial Zacheus J. Maher: At the beginning of
From Minutes of Province Consultors meeting, May 24, 1934: “Following the
practice elsewhere of calling our institutions after the place in which they are located, the name adopted was: Alma College , Alma, Calif. The patron: St. Joseph, because of his patent help in securing the Tevis Estate, and because of the promise made to Joseph Giroux to name the chapel after his patron.”
From Letter of the Provincial to the Jesuit Superior General, May 29, 1934:
“In consultatione provinciali habita heri discussum est nomen pro novo nostro the Month of March, the province, placing theologatu. Statutum est ut vocetur ‘Alma full confidence in St. Joseph, begged him College.’ Alma est nomen ‘post office’ etc. to do the impossible: begged him to find Sed nobis altiorem significationem continet, Painting of St. Joseph with the Child Jesus in his arms. us a theologate. Today, on the Feast of his scilicet Matris nostrae quae a nobis salutatur Patronage, he has justified our confidence, he has done the impossible, uti Alma Redemptoris Mater. Patronus tamen principalis theologatus, he has found the scholasticate. The Province has purchased the secundum voluntatem nostram, erit S. Joseph cujus sub patrocinio magnificent Tevis estate of over 1,000 acres at Alma at an extremely cujusque cum auxilio fundus iste obtentus est.” low cost , and will begin theology there next September….May St. Joseph continue to protect us and may there come forth from this the only begotten Son of God born of the Virgin Mary, so also may these (priests) have the new house of studies generations of priests “qui sicut Beatus Joseph privilege of serving at God’s holy altars with cleanliness of heart and innocence in deeds, unigenitum Filium Dei, natum ex Maria Virgine, suis manibus and in the future merit an eternal reward.” reverenter tractare meruit et portare, ita et ipsi, cum cordis munditia Alma College was legally incorporated Nov. 9, 1934, and accredited as the divinity school of Santa Clara University until 1971. et operis innocentia Dei sanctis altaribus deservire, et in futuro “In the province consultation held yesterday, the name for our new theologate was discussed. saeculo praemium habere mereantur aeternum.” It was decided to call it ‘Alma College.’ Alma is the name of the post office (there). From other records: the price was $75,000; in 1932 the estate appraisal was $185,763. “just as Blessed Joseph had the privilege of touching and carrying with his own hands
Diaconate Ordination On Saturday, October 20, 2007, Archbishop Emeritus John Quinn ordained 16 Jesuit deacons at St. Augustine Church in Oakland, CA. Front row: Richard Anthonysamy, S.J., Hanh-Duc Pham, S.J., Charles Mnubi, S.J., Deacon Simon Nsielanga Tukumu, S.J., Archbishop Emeritus John Quinn, Glen Chung, S.J., Thao Nguyen, S.J., Paul Grubb, S.J. Second row: Johann Lee, S.J., Phil Hurley, S.J., Frank Buckley, S.J., Greg Schenden, S.J., Bill Sheahan, S.J. Back row: Niku Ekom, S.J., Phil Cooke, S.J., Matt Walsh, S.J., Charles Barnes, S.J., Sean Dempsey, S.J., and Rector Tony Sholander, S.J.
But for us it holds a higher significance, namely our Mother whom we hail as the Dear (Alma) Mother of our Redeemer. But the principal patron of the theologate we wish to be St. Joseph, under whose patronage and with whose help the estate was obtained.”
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A Spiritual Journey to Turkey Meredith MacDonald (M.Div. 2008)
E
xperience firsthand the richness of early Christian life, art, and history on a journey through Turkey with faculty of the Jesuit School of Theology. Professor of Sacred Scripture, Rev. John Endres, S.J.; Professor of American Religious History, Rev. Thomas Buckley, S.J.; and Assistant Professor of Art History and Religion, Dr. Mia Mochizuki, are leading “A Spiritual Journey to Turkey,” from May 28 through June 14, 2008. The trip will follow “the footsteps of St. Paul and the early Christian community,” through many places of historical and spiritual interest, incorporating some inter-religious learning experiences of Judaism and Islam. The itinerary includes visits to many of the sites connected with St. Paul in Asia Minor (e.g. Tarsus, Antioch, Ephesus, Miletus, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia). The group will travel to Cappadocia and its beautiful cave churches; Nicea; Myra (the birthplace of St. Nicholas); several cities mentioned in the Book of Revelation and important to the early Church; and the exotic city of Constantinople (Istanbul). This unique opportunity blends the spiritual, cultural and academic into one inspiring trip. John Endres, S.J. comments, “The great experience of the hospitality of Turkey and the Turkish people will be a gift to those who join us on this journey.” He adds, “It is an opportunity to learn a tremendous amount about the Bible and the early church.” Physical proximity to where the church fathers lived and ministered offers a new perspective for understanding the Bible and appreciating the growth of the early church. The trip is limited to 30 travelers. For further information and to reserve your spot on this adventure, please visit www. TurkeyJourney2008.com.
Exterior view of the Hagia Sophia, in Istanbul, Turkey.
The leaders may be reached via email at: tbuckley@jstb.edu; jendres@jstb.edu; or mmochizuki@jstb.edu.
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…continued from page 1 in the field. Mia writes, “Endowed faculty chairs recognize the historic commitment of the Jesuits to areas such as interfaith dialogue and art history and ensure a future where students and faculty will continue to contribute to these fields.” The benefits of the campaign which are most immediately visible include the extensive Academic Center renovations, the creation of the Gesù Chapel, and the newly-dedicated Don Sullivan Meditation Garden. These gifts especially will influence the spiritual growth in the day-to-day life of the students and faculty, by offering so many beautiful spaces for study, liturgy, prayer and reflection. Current members of the school community as well as those in the future will be able to prepare for lives of ministry in this wonderful environment. The campaign established 21 endowed scholarships for students, including one named in honor of the school’s president, Rev. Joseph Daoust, S.J. (Please see related article on the cover page). The others honor Thomas and Dorothy Leavey, Carl and Celia Gellert, Rev. John Huesman, S.J., Robert Holstein, Jr., Job and Gertrude Tamaki, Eleanor and Michael Buckley, Elisabeth Tetlow, the California Province Jesuits, and Katherine Tunney. This com mitment to scholarships assists students
who arrive at the Jesuit School of Theology from over 40 different countries. Many students come from the non-profit sector or from volunteer programs, intend to re-enter those fields upon graduation, and simply would not be able to attend the Jesuit School of Theology without this financial support. Several foundations contributed grant support to the Partner’s for Tomorrow’s Church Campaign, providing seed money for the Advanced Hispanic Institute, and funding an international theological aesthetics conference, the immersion programs to Mexico, India, Indonesia, and Guatemala, and partial funding for a Christ and Cultures chair. The Advanced Hispanic Institute offers graduate credit for summer coursework for people who are involved in ministry in the Hispanic community. (Please see related article on page 9). The immersion programs provide a unique opportunity for students to study theology, dialogue about culture and religion, and practice ministry with their counterparts in other countries. All of these programs distinguish the Jesuit School of Theology from many other seminaries, and they represent well the ideals of the campaign as Partners for Tomorrow’s Church.
Faculty
News
Ted Arroyo, S.J., made a Theology in the City presentation to about 30 lobbyists and others in Sacramento, based on his book, The Ethics of Lobbying: Organized Interests, Political Power and the Common Good. After completing three years as Associate Academic Dean for Cross-Cultural Initiatives, Ted moved to New Orleans to be part of the team (including recent Jesuit School ordinand and graduate, Tom Greene, S.J. (M.Div.2007)) of the Jesuit Social Research Institute at Loyola University New Orleans. Thomas Buckley, S.J., gave a paper
on “Thomas Jefferson and Religion” for a conference entitled, “Thomas Jefferson in His Time and Ours” at Rice University in Houston, Texas. In March he spoke on Patrick Henry and the importance of virtue in the early republic for a conference on “The Forgotten Founders on Church and State” at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon. This summer, he celebrated his 50th Jubilee as a Jesuit with a Mass and reception with 150 family members who gathered to share in the joy of the occasion. Kevin Burke, S.J., offered the inaugural
Theology in the City lecture in Honolulu entitled, “Many Faces in One Church: The Reality, Gift and Challenge of Cultural Diversity.” He also presented the Theology in the City lecture in New York City entitled “The Nature of Christology: Reflections on the ‘Notification on the Theology of Father Jon Sobrino, S.J.’” He was a featured speaker (along with Sr. Helen Prejean) at the “Come and See Conference on Catholic Social Teaching” sponsored by the Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming, presenting a keynote talk entitled, “Justice and Peace as Signs of the Resurrection.” He gave a featured address entitled, “The Gift of Cultural Diversity: A Sign of the Times” at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles institute called, “Building Inclusive Communities through Mindful Cross-Cultural Interaction” in late July. He recently joined the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities planning team for Don Sullivan Meditation Garden donated by his colleagues in the stonework industry.
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the Ignatian Leadership Program. Finally, he joined the board of directors of Theological Studies in May, 2007. John Endres, S.J., has led two workshops
on “Praying with Psalms.” In early January, he led a two-day workshop at the Jesuit Novitiate in Syracuse, New York. Participants were the first-year Jesuit novices from the New York, Maryland, New England, Chicago and Detroit provinces, who gathered just before beginning their experience of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. In late February, he led a similar workshop at the Center for Spiritual Development of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, California. At the regional meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature, he presented a paper on the topic of “Eschatological Impulses in the Book of Jubilees.” Eduardo Fernández, S.J., completed
his tertianship in Manila, Phillippines, and traveled to several eastern Asian countries. Rowman and Littlefield published Eddie’s book, La Vida Sacra: A Contemporary Hispanic Sacramental Theology, co-authored with James Empereur, S.J. (November, 2007). Additionally, he lectured on art and inculturation in Thailand, and offered the keynote address at the Jesuits in Hispanic Ministry Conference in Lake Dallas, Texas. Don Gelpi, S.J., participated this summer
as he does every summer in a post-doctoral research seminar in inculturation for the United States. The group calls itself the John Courtney Murray Group. Alex GarciaRivera, Ph.D., is also a participating member.
Sarlo Excellence in Teaching Award Goes to Hens-Piazza Gina Hens-Piazza is the 2007 recipient of the Sarlo Excellence in Teaching Award, which recognizes the values of “interreligious sensitivity and commitment,” “interdisciplinary approach and content in teaching,” “sensitivity to ethnic and cultural diversity,” and “creative and effective classroom pedagogical methods and performance.” Hens-Piazza, who is a core doctoral faculty member and professor of biblical studies at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, sees the award as “a challenge to keep being better at what I do.” Hens-Piazza teaches Old Testament with a contextual edge — whether “I strive to enable my students she’s teaching a doctoral seminar, or to discover that they are key “Prophets: Foundation for Ministry resources for each other in this in a Global Context” — where stulearning enterprise. And they dents travel to Guatemala to study culture, or “Teaching the Bible in the are significant partners for me Community” — where students teach as well. The questions I ask in classes in local sites. “What I aim for,” my research are inevitably tied she says, “is understanding, where stuto the ones my students ask dents ‘stand under’ new material so me. I am deeply honored to that it sheds light on them, their world, and others, provoking insight be recognized with the Sarlo and empathy in the process. How we Award by our students, whom read a cultural icon like the Bible has a great deal to do with how we ‘read’ the I hold in such high regard.” cultural texts of our world. “Dr. Hens-Piazza is a brilliant lecturer, stunningly prepared and creative in all she teaches. She’s compassionate, involved, demanding, practical and available. She is just the sort of professor, advisor, and mentor I hope to be with my future students.” — Courtney Gulden, Ph.D. student “Dr. Hens-Piazza knows how to help students be their very best, and that is a wonderful feeling. Even at times when you are not at your best, don’t worry! She is so gracious and caring.” — Chesung Justin Ryu, Ph.D. student Article reprinted with permission of the Graduate Theological Union’s Currents magazine, Spring 2007.
Bruce Lescher, Ph.D., and Clare Ronzani team-taught a class on Thomas
Merton at St. Michael’s College, Burlington, Vermont, in June. The Festschrift honoring Sandra Schneiders, Exploring Christian Spirituality, edited by Bruce Lescher and Beth Liebert, received Honorable Mention from the Catholic Press Association for softcover books in Spirituality. Mia M. Mochizuki, Ph.D., offered a
lecture, “A Life with and without Images” for Professor William A. Christian, Jr.’s Image, Devotion and Religious Spaces in Early Modern Europe and the Contemporary Scripture professors, Gina Hens-Piazza, Ph.D. and Sandra Schneiders, I.H.M.
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Americas seminar at UC Berkeley. Additionally, she took the Graduate Theological Union (“GTU”) “Arts Ministry in New York” Intersession class to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in January. She received The Historians of Netherlandish Art Award and the College Art Association Publication Award in support of her forthcoming book, The Netherlandish Image after Iconoclasm, 1566–1672 (Ashgate, 2007). At the GTU, she became a Core Doctoral Faculty Member and joined the Board of the Center for the Arts, Religion and Education (CARE) in March. Also, she lectured on “Rembrandt’s Passion” on March 15, 2007 for Professor Doug Adams’ Crucifixion/Resurrection class, presented some of her recent research on iconoclasm at the Jesuit School Faculty Colloquium in April, and presented “New Narratives in Art and Theology” to the New Directions Sabbatical Workshop.
three lectures, “Role of the Imagination in the Spiritual Life: Therapy of the Past, Meaning in the Present, Hope for the Future”; “Imagining God and Self: The Dynamics of the Imagination in the Spiritual Life”; and “Imagining the World: The Future of Religious Life as an Alternate World Based on the Resurrection,” at the Carmelite Communities Associated 24th National Meeting in Weston, MA. In June, she served as the Spirituality Topic Area coordinator for the Catholic Theological Society of America meeting. Also in June, she presented six lectures for the Trappist formation personnel. In July, she taught a course entitled, “Spirituality, Religion, Theology: Conflict or Conversation?” at the Fordham University Annual Summer Institute, Bronx, NY. In August, she served as a consultor on the Executive Board of the Catholic Biblical Association.
George Murphy, S.J., gave a workshop for
Gina Hens-Piazza, Ph.D., received the
spiritual directors at Notre Dame University in March. In June, he gave a workshop/ retreat on Ignatian spirituality for faculty and staff at Bellarmine High School in San Jose. This summer, he and Jane Ferdon, O.P. offered their 17th Spiritual Direction Practicum during June and July. They also conducted a workshop for experienced directors in Portland, Oregon in July. Bill O’Neill, S.J. offered a paper on “Ethics
and Genocide: Imagining Evil — The Ethics of Social Reconciliation,” at an Interdisciplinary Conference on Genocide, “Arts in the One World,” California Institute of the Arts, Jan. 25–28th, 2007; the keynote address, “Reflections on the Narrative (Performative) Use of Rights in Testimony,” at the Sixth Annual Graduate Student Symposium, Florida State University, March 23–25, 2007; and “Extending the Moral Domain: Theological Implications,” a Response to Professor Celia Dean-Drummond’s “Shadow Sophia in Christological Perspective: the Evolution of Sin and the Redemption of Nature,” Science/Religion Symposium, March 31, 2007, Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences.
Sandra M. Schneiders, I.H.M., presented
2007 Sarlo Excellence in Teaching Award from the Graduate Theological Union, honoring her commitment to contextualized study of theology, her interdisciplinary approach to education, and her dedication to culturally diverse perspectives. (See inset article on previous page.)
ALUMNI
Updates
Joseph Oduor Afulo, S.J. (S.T.L. 2001)
received an appointment as the principal of Hekima College in Nairobi in May 2007, taking office on July 31, 2007.
Sharon Casey, O.P. (I.S.W. 1992) writes, “After 13 years as Director of Campus Ministry at Holy Names University, Oakland, I have been elected president of the Tacoma Dominicans. I miss California and the Bay Area but do enjoy working directly with my religious community.” Dennis Cleary, M.M. (New Directions,
Spring 2004), is the new publisher of two magazines: Maryknoll and Revista and is also the Director of Mission Education & Promotion for Maryknoll. His ministry began as a young man who learned about social justice from his teachers at Bishop Turner High School in Buffalo, NY. After his ordination in 1977, he served for 17 years in Venezuela, and then for two years in China.
The Phi Beta Kappa Society named Alex García-Rivera, Ph.D., Professor of
Systematic Theology, as a Visiting Scholar for 2007–2008. Visiting Scholars travel to universities and colleges, and share their expertise in the form of community-wide lectures, small group discussions, and seminars. This program supports the educational ideals of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, which is the oldest honor society in the United States. Alex García-Rivera, Ph.D. and Tom Scirghi, S.J. Congratulations to Alex
García-Rivera, Ph.D., and Rev. Tom Scirghi, S.J., on the new release of their book, Living Beauty: The Art of Liturgy, published by Rowan & Littlefield Press (November, 2007).
Dennis Cleary, M.M. (Photo by Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers
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Francene Evans, P.B.V.M. (New Directions,
Spring 2005) writes from South Dakota, “All is going well for me. I am still working at our college’s library in Aberdeen, SD, and am teaching/leading study groups each semester. This fall I have three groups of sisters and one of lay employees. The book I will have most fun with is Elizabeth Johnson’s Truly Our Sister.” Jacqueline Heinrich, C.P.P. (New
Directions, Spring 2005) reflected from France on how her experience at the Jesuit School led her to join prison chaplaincy. “Last week-end we had a very good session in Paris for new chaplains in prisons. We were a good group of lay, religious and priests from all over France. In this kind of ‘work’ you have to face yourself and be true before God and others.” Bill McNamara (M.Div. 2003) recently
accepted a new position as campus minister for liturgical music at Seattle University. Alberto Mingo Kaminouchi, C.S.s.R.
(S.T.D. 2000) The Salamanca-based publishing house Sigueme has just published his second book, Simbolos de Salvacion (Symbols of Salvation). Continuum published his first book, But It Is Not So Among You, his S.T.D. thesis at the Jesuit School of Theology, in 2003. He works as director of the Instituto Superior de Ciencias Morales, a graduate school of Moral Theology aggregated to the Jesuit University of Comillas in Madrid, Spain. Maria Felix Mwikali, A.S.N. (New
Directions, Spring 2006) has begun a new ministry in Kenya which occupies much of her time. She is an administrator at St. Mary’s Education Centre in Langata. This year, the center serves about one hundred orphans from extremely poor parts of Kibera. Many of them have HIV and lack food, clothing, or books. She commented, “My studies in the New Directions program surely prepared me to be able to face the challenges of life.” Ann Naffziger (M.Div. 2002, M.A.B.L.
2003) and her husband, Paul Canavese (an FST graduate,) welcomed their first child, Madeleine Grace, into the world last July. They live in Alameda where they raise
chickens and bees. Besides being a full-time mom, Ann continues her work as the RCIA Director at a local parish.
(Arizona: Selah Publishing Group, 2007). The book is available on Amazon.com and through Selah Publishing Group.
Clare Ronzani (C.T.S. 1978) has
John Wandless (M.Div. 1997) recently
accepted a position as Director of Spiritual Formation for the Franciscan School of Theology. SoHee Shin, R.C.S.J. (M.T.S. 2007) is
fully occupied in directed retreat work in Seoul, Korea. Dung Tran (M.T.S. 2007) accepted a
position as Part-Time Faculty, Communication Studies Department, and Interim Resident Director for Hannon, Tenderich and the International and Service and Action houses at his alma mater, Loyola Marymount University. He plans to pursue a Ph.D. at Gonzaga starting in the fall of 2008. Roger VanDerWerken (Th.M. 2005) is
a chaplain in the U.S. Navy. “The education [I] received at the Jesuit School of Theology has been very helpful to my ministry on board ship.” He published his Master’s project, a practical tool, Captain’s on the Bridge: the Book of Revelation from a Military Perspective
retired as pastor of St. Louis Catholic Church, a central city parish in Kansas City, Missouri. He now serves as President of the Urban Rangers Corps on a volunteer basis. The Urban Rangers, which Fr. John founded, completed its third Summer Work Experience Program, training central city teenagers in repair and house painting skills, and providing a 9-week, wage-earning experience repairing and painting the homes of central city residents living in the vicinity of St. Louis Parish. Inna Reddy Yeruva, S.J. (New Directions,
Spring 2004) writes about his experience starting a new Loyola College of Education in India and this school passing government inspections: “By God’s grace both inspecting teams from the state and centre were satisfied about the structure and arrangements… There are two hundred boys in the hostel … Kindly pray for our students that they may do well on the exams.”
I am delighted to announce that the spring edition of the Bridge will be a new magazine format. We have had requests from our readership for more stories on the current ministries of our alumni. If you are interested in submitting an article on your experiences, please contact me. Please continue to send your news (e.g., new ministry, publication, promotion, celebration of marriage or significant anniversary of ordination, vows or entering religious life, birth of child, retirement, travels, etc.) for publication in the Bridge to me. Finally, we would like to publish one edition of the Bridge each year electronically. If you would like to receive the magazine electronically, please send me your email address. Please send news, articles and email addresses to Catherine Kelly, Associate Director of Development, Jesuit School of Theology, 1735 LeRoy Ave, Berkeley, CA 94709 or ckelly@jstb.edu. Thank you!
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Theology in the City Jeanne Anderson-West, Sacramento Theology in the City Host Committee Member The contribution of the Theology in the City program for Sacramento has
helped to bring to the forefront the many issues and concerns facing today’s Catholic faithful. The beauty of this program is in its wide range of topics, discussed and presented in an open and engaging fashion. From politics to spirituality and all things in between, this series gives a much needed opportunity for new and thought-provoking dynamics to surface within a scholastic atmosphere. The presenters are well studied in their respective fields and can draw upon their skills to lay out and clearly explain complicated and controversial topics. It is often the case that only a one-sided account of our more prominent issues is given voice. A particular source of concern lies within the fact that many issues of our day have been reduced to an either/or option. Complicated topics often are presented as “talking points” and the challenges and nuances of life are given little opportunity to enter the debate. And, this is where the Theology in the City program can and does challenge the status quo. The world does not exist in black and white — the grey areas matter. In short, the Theology in the City program offers an opportunity to learn and grow. Challenging and timely, this series brings the academic excellence of the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley to the wider Catholic community. For more information on the Theology in the City lecture program in your area, please contact Corry Dodson at cdodson@jstb.edu or (510) 549-5042.
Development Department Jesuit School of Theology 1735 LeRoy Avenue Berkeley, CA 94709 510-549-5000 www.jstb.edu
In This Issue Daoust Scholarship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Partners for Tomorrow’s Church Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1, 12 President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Ignatian Family Teach-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Africa Symposium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5 A Prophet’s Call IN Guatemala . . . . . . . . 6 Lay Ecclesial MINISTERS Sending Forth . 7 Fan into Flame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-9 Advanced Hispanic Institute . . . . . . . . . . 9 St. Joseph, Patron Saint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Diaconate Ordination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 A Spiritual Journey to Turkey . . . . . . . . 11 Faculty News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-14 Alumni Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-15
Save the Date The Jesuit School of Theology, in collaboration with the Graduate Theological Union Aesthetics Committee, and the Center for Arts, Religion and Education, will host the Third International Theological Aesthetics Conference, from May 29– June 1, 2008. For more information, please contact Dr. Alex Garcia-Rivera at agarcia@jstb.edu or (510) 549-5020.
May 29–June 1
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