If you want to explore life's meaning; if you want to be challenged and inspired to change a world wounded by inequality, hatred, and ecological degradation; if you want to grow spiritually by drawing on the riches of the Christian tradition in open dialogue with others, come join us.
- Dr. Kristine Suna-Koro, Chair of the Department of Theology
Summer 2024 Course Highlights
- THEO 257: Franciscan Spirituality: This course provides an understanding of the life and message of Francis and Claire and their spiritual legacy for today. Taught on the site of Assisi, Italy, students gain an appreciation of the theological, spiritual and ethical challenges brought about by medieval urbanization and the increasing institutionalization of the church. The Franciscan response of voluntary poverty, solidarity with the suffering Christ, and apostolic preaching by word and example comes alive in the context in which Francis and Claire faced such challenges. Students will also explore the implications of Franciscan insights and values to today's world.
- THEO 285: The Historical Jesus: A critical investigation to determine the authentic voice and profile of Jesus from sources of the first three centuries and a consideration of the consequences of such a search.
- THEO 311: Faith and Justice: Relationship between Christian faith and social justice viewed in Christian tradition and recent thought and documents of the Church.
- THEO 315: Contemporary Ethical Issues: Explores various contemporary ethical issues from a theological perspective. Recent topics include issues in the areas of ecological ethics and the ethics of emerging biotechnologies.
Recent News
THEOLOGY DEPARTMENT 2024 STUDENT AWARDEES
We are happy to announce our student award winners. They are: Nieporte award - Cedar M. Earlywine; Snyder award – Tyrae J. Walker and Elijah R. Mayse; Topmoeller award – Micah C. McCabe; and Gudorf award– Tess C. Dankoski. Congratulations!
Kristine Suna-Koro, Elijah Mayse and Tyrae Walker
DR. MARTIN MADAR PRESENTED A PAPER AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
In March, 2023, Dr. Martin Madar presented a paper “How Pope Francis Has Rehabilitated the ‘Spirit of Vatican II’” at an international conference at St. Mark’s College (Vancouver, Canada) commemorating 10 years of Pope Francis’s pontificate.
DR. MARCUS MESCHER AND DR. ASHLEY THEURING MEASURE THE MORAL INJURY CAUSED BY CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE
Dr. Ashley Theuring and Dr. Marcus Mescher were among four Xavier University faculty awarded a $40,000 grant from Fordham University to create a new instrument to measure the psychological, spiritual, moral, and social fallout caused by clergy sexual abuse and its concealment. They joined a network of scholars at Jesuit universities across the country to help better understand the root causes of this crisis, its effects, and how to bring about greater transparency, accountability, healing, and prevention. The grant was sponsored by Fordham's Taking Responsibility project. Xavier University's research project report on moral injury. It garnered national coverage from NCR and local coverage from the Enquirer.
DR. O'NEIL VAN HORN PRESENTS AT A CONFERENCE OF THE CENTER FOR PROCESS STUDIES FEBRUARY 2023
Dr. O’neil Van Horn is an invited presenter at the international “50th Anniversary Conference of the Center for Process Studies.” Part of “a new generation of process thinkers” invited by the organizers, Dr. Van Horn’s work will be featured in a panel on “New Materialism, Poststructuralism, and Process Philosophy.”
DR. MARTIN MADAR PRESENTING AT AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON SYNODALITY
Dr. Madar will be presenting a paper at an international conference on synodality in Slovakia on March 10, 2022. He is also a co-organizer of the conference. The conference will be live streamed on YouTube. All presentations in the afternoon will be translated into English simultaneously. The times on the program are in Central European Time (six hours ahead of EST). Feel free to join in.
DR. MARCUS MESCHER ON BUILDING THE "CULTURE OF ENCOUNTER"
In November 2021, Dr. Mescher contributed to a forum at Georgetown University, highlighting how Pope Francis' vision of encounter is shaped by his experience of Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises.
DR. WALKER GOLLAR REPORTS ON SLAVERY FOR THE XAVIER NEWSWIRE
Dr. Gollar was recently interviewed on Xavier's historical ties to slavery for the November 10, 2021 edition of the Newswire.