Prepared quarterly by Bernadette Raspante '17, Alumni Coordinator. Questions or updates? Email Bernadette at braspante@ctu.edu.
Alum ni Spotlight This quar ter we ar e shar ing a r eflection by Kathy Kelleher '0 2 entitled, "Why I Went to Char lottesville." Kathy, a Ber nar din Scholar, is bivocational these days ser ving both as a hospital chaplain at Beth I sr ael Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and as a community development pr actitioner for a planning fir m in easter n Massachusetts. Kathy still has many ties to Chicago fr om her nine year s living in the city and wor king for the Clar etian Missionar y Father s to build affor dable housing in South Chicago. A gr eat memor y for Kathy was in 2 0 12 when she and her par ents wer e for tunate enough to j oin Rev. Donald Senior, CP on a tr ip to I sr ael and Jor dan. r eached at kelleher kathy@hotmail.com.
Kathy can be
Kathleen Kelleher '02 Hospital Chaplain, Quincy MA Why I Went to Charlottesville God works in mysterious ways. At an Advent retreat last December I listened to an older woman struggle to make sense of the U.S. Presidential election. She said, "I don't want to be a good person who does nothing." I nodded, wondering what I would do with my own disbelief and foreboding. Fast forward to Lent; I was invited to offer a reflection at a Good Friday service. My station of the cross was Jesus is crucified. I began by singing the refrain from the African- American spiritual, "Were You There When They Crucified My Lord?" I then gave the following reflection: I wonder where I would have been? Would I have stayed to witness Jesus' last moments of being one of us? Could I have functioned through the shock and trauma to comfort anyone else, or would fear and survival have ruled me? I am grateful that I have not been tested, or, are we all called to witness the crucifixions of today? Can I still tremble or am I numb to new atrocities? Some ask, "How can a loving and merciful God allow it all"? But I do not blame God, then or now. I ask myself how am I crucifying Jesus today? When I reject another and turn away, when I judge and don't make room in my heart or home, when I'm too tired to make an effort? When will my love and courage rise, when and where will I stand for something? I tell myself that small gestures matter, that practicing small gestures will prepare me for when a larger action is demanded. (April 2017 excerpt) Fast forward again to the end of July. A colleague forwarded an email to me from a resident of Charlottesville; the city's faith community was calling for 1,000 clergy, Catholics in particular, to come stand against a planned Alt- Right/white supremacist rally. At first I thought the best use of my time would be to pass the information and request along to faith and social justice networks I know in Washington, D.C. However, as the days moved closer to the rally, the information coming out of Charlottesville was sobering if not frightening; violence was not only threatened but promised. I backed off organizing others to go, and I discerned that I needed to go myself. My resolve grew as I considered the logistics and meaning of making the trip south. My courage was bolstered by a friend in faith who is no stranger to putting right faith into right action. We would journey together and, in word and deed, join with the Body of Christ that is once again being crucified by the coalescing of hearts and minds that have turned away from God. As the Irish political philosopher Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." So we two Catholic women went to be a prayerful presence, witness, and opposition to free speech that is hateful, false, and inciting. We carried signs that read, "The Body of Christ is present" and "Who is my sister, my brother?" We went because we were asked, because we could, and because it was important to say, "This is not who we are." We went for those who could not go, for those told to stay home or to go back home for their own safety. For those who fought this fight in the 1860s, 1940s, 1960s, and for those who never stopped fighting because racism and anti- Semitism never
stopped. For all people who are hated for who they are, for where they come from, for whom they love, and how they worship. For the Jewish woman who hasn't gone home since July when her Charlottesville address was chanted outside her place of work. We went because nooses are being left in public places, because black men, innocent or not, are being shot dead in American streets. We went for my friend Harry from South Chicago, whose mother was on the bridge at Selma, for the memory of my friend Dave who labored on a chain- gang for registering blacks to vote. For friends and co- workers who could still be lynched, shot, fired, not hired, or denied housing because they do not look like me. For my father who believed this country's freedoms were worth fighting for. For the University of Virginia student who screamed in panic, "Where are you, America?" while tiki- torch bearing white supremacists marched through his campus. For Heather Heyer, whose last public posting read, "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention." We went because it was the right stand to take at this time of national confusion, rage, false narratives, and empty promises. We were told that it was not smart to go, but we did not go because it was smart. We went because silence is the softer side of racism and implicitly gives a nod to "know your place" thinking. Is this a new moment in our American experiment? Can we be outraged and pay attention long enough to finally debride the wounds of racism and anti- Semitism, which only survive as long as they are taught and learned? America seems broken at this moment in time, and it is up to all who call her home to stand up and heal her.
Alum ni O ffice Updates Alumni Association is now Alumni Access
We are excited to announce a change in the way you can access alumni resources through CTU! As a school of theology and ministry, we recognize that our alumni's resources are often stretched to the max for the given ministries we all work in, and that it is hard to add other membership fees or dues to the ever- growing list of organizations and people that need aid. By providing fr ee access to research tools like EBSCO, JSTOR, and MUSE through the Paul Bechtold Library, it is our hope that CTU will continue to serve you, our alumni, in the locations where you are serving. By offering a 25% discount on Summer Institute Courses it is our hope that CTU continues to be a source of community and learning for our ever growing alumni network. These resources are now available to all CTU Alumni, without membership dues. We invite everyone to support CTU as you are able. Look for information on an Alumni Appeal in the next few weeks. To activate your Alumni Access , email me at alumni@ctu.edu and you will be provided with a password to use for the Library resources.
Upcoming Events at CTU
Click here for our shareable Event Calendar.
Ongoing Events Monday Evenings Sept. 11 through Dec. 4 7 PM
Fall Lecture Series: Religious Life for the 21st Century: Creating Communities of Hope on a Global Presented by Sr. Maria Cimperman, RSCJ
Wednesday Evenings Sept. 6 through Dec. 16 7 PM
Fall Lecture Series: The Theological Vision of Paul, the Apostle Presented by Rev. Don Senior, CP
Sept 17- Jan 1
"Word and Image: Chicago Artists Interpret American Literature" in the Bill and Mary Frances Veeck Gallery
Event Information and Registration
Event Information and Registration
October 17 7:30 PM
31 12 and 6PM
Paul Wattson Lecture October 32 delivered by Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton on 500 Years of Ecumenism.
Event Information and RSVP
Gaudeamus, Celebration of Faculty Scholarship and Publication. All are welcome!
Event Information
12 3 PM
Br. Ton Sison, CPPS presents Sacred Foodways at Sundays at CTU
Event Information and RSVP
13 4 PM
Jon Levenson will deliver the annual Shapiro Lecture titled The Binding of Isaac and the Crucifixion of Jesus.
16 7 PM
Mark's Gospel Liveperformed by Rev. Joseph Morris.
November
Event Information and RSVP
Event Information
December 6 4 PM
Carolyn Manosevitz will lecture on the topic Suffering, Healing, Art, and the Holocaust
Event Information
For questions on the above events, please email us at devoffice@ctu.edu.
Help CTU Recruit New Students Enrollment Management Representatives will be visiting the following cities. If you are near these events, stop by to say hello. Encourage people you know that might be interested in enrolling at CTU to attend and learn more about our programs. October 24, 2017 Diocese of Green Bay Leadership Conference in Green Bay, WI October 25, 2017 Open House at CTU
November 1-4, 2017 National Conference on Faith Based Service (CVN) in St. Louis, MO November 16-18, 2017 RFC Convocation in Milwaukee, WI December 2, 2017 Information Session at CTU January 15, 2018 Open House at CTU February 3-6, 2018 USCCB Catholic Social Ministry Conference in Washington D.C. March 16-18, 2018 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress (LAREC) in Anaheim, CA May 29-June 1, 2018 National Convention for Catholic Campus Ministers in Minneapolis, MN
New I s s ue of Logos
Click here to view or download the latest issue of Logos.
Save the Date Last spring the alumni office asked you to take a survey regarding your experience and connection to CTU. One of the most common threads was the request for an Alumni Retreat and Reunion. While details are still being finalized, I wanted to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to put this date on the calendar if they would like to attend. The event will take place at CTU and feature a faculty presenter as well as some alumni presenters. Please contact me at braspante@ctu.edu if you are interested in being a part of the planning committee. I look forward to sharing more information with you soon, and meeting everyone there!
F aculty Happenings Pr omotions Sr . Mar y Fr ohlich, RSCJ , has been promoted to Professor of Spirituality and Dr . Malka Zeiger Simkovich has been appointed the Director of Catholic- Jewish Studies and the holder of the Crown- Ryan Chair in Jewish Studies. Publications Michel Andr aos published "Christian Communities of the Middle East: Persecuted Minorities or Indigenous Peoples?" in Concilium 17/3. Br . John Bar ker , OFM wrote "Scriptural Reflections." in Emmanuel Magazine 123 (2017): 33345. Rev. Steve Bevans, SV D published an article in the French and Latin American editions of the journal Spiritus: "Influences protestantes sur la conception catholique de la mission," Spiritus 227 (Juin, 2017): 171- 84; and "Influencias protestantes en el concepto catรณlico de la mission," Spiritus (Ediciรณn hispanoamericana) 227 (Junio de 2017):23- 38. Rev. Mar k Fr ancis, CSV published "Toward a Symphonic Roman Rite" in the July edition ofWorship Magazine. Rev. Dan Hor an, OFM published "Our Mission Statement," in Give Us This Day (September 2017). Rev. V anThanh N guyen, SV D published a chapter in Contemporary Mission Theology: Engaging the Nations. Chapter 11: "Missionary Churches in Acts: A Model of Intercultural
Engagement with the Nations." The text is edited by Robert L. Gallagher and Paul Hertig. Rev. Steve Bevans, SV D and Rev. Roger Schr oeder , SV D co- contributed Chapter 4 in the same text: Chapter 4, "Missionary Ecclesiology: Evangelical, Ecumenical, and Catholic Developments in 'Engaging the Nations.'" Sr . Bar bar a Reid, OP published "Maria di Betania modello di ascolto" in Osservatore Romano, July 2017. Two more books of the Wisdom Commentary Series, edited by Sr . Reid , have been published: Lamentations by Gina Hens- Piazza, and Ruth by Alice L. Laffey and Mahri Leonard- Flechman. Rev. Rober t Schr eiter , CPPS and Rev. Roger Schr oeder , SV D each have a chapter in Evangelizing in Time, proceedings from a conference in Ethiopia. Rev. Roger Schr oeder , SV D wrote a book review: Wittberg, Patricia. Catholic Cultures: How Parishes Can Respond to the Changing Face of Catholicism. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2016, in Worship 91 (September 2017): 474- 475. Malka Simkovich has an article in The Bible Today, May/June 2017: "A Family's Witness to Faith (2 Maccabees 7)", and there are several other articles by CTU faculty: Rev. Leslie Hoppe, OFM , Sr . Bar bar a Reid, OP , and former faculty member, Car olyn Osiek , and reviews by Br . John Bar ker , OFM and Rev. Donald Senior , CP ; Sr . Laur ie Br ink, OP was the editor for the volume. Br . Antonio Sison, CPPS published another article for his ongoing column in the National Catholic Reporter (August 1- 24), "Okja is a romping tale with a social conscience." C. V anessa White recently gave the following presentations: August 16, 2017. "Intercultural Ministry" Critical Skills for Pastoral Leadership. Co- facilitator Rev. Eddie DeLeรณn . Catholic Theological Union - Chicago; August 26, 2017. "Don't Be Weary" presentation for Vicariate 6 (Archdiocese of Chicago) Women's Tea Gathering. St. Jude Catholic Church. South Holland, IL. On the web: August 20, 2017. 20th Sunday of Ordinary Time. Preached reflection. Catholic Women Preach (catholicwomenpreach.org). Gina Wolfe presented at CTSA June 8- 11, 2017 Albuquerque, NM, a Special Session: Panel on the Question of Divestment from Fossil Fuel- Producing Companies, "Responsible Investments: A Business Ethics Approach;" Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary July 13, 2017 Dubuque, IA, Community Day Workshop, "Radical Hospitality: In the Footsteps of Nano Nagle," CTU August 14- 18, 2017, Critical Skills For Pastoral Leadership Workshop, "Mission Integration and Organizational Ethics;" Old St. Patrick's September 11, 2017, Offsite Insight Program, "Death A Part of Living - Responding in Faith to Contemporary Challenges."
Com m onweal and CTU Partner with Weal@CTU Commonweal Magazine and Catholic Theological Union are partnering to form a new group specifically "aimed at cultivating a social network of young, literary-minded, politically engaged, and religiously curious friends of Commonweal" here in Hyde Park. The "weal at CTU" will have monthly discussions of shared readings at CTU and group members will coordinate for other activities. For more information contact Communications Manager Zach Czaia at zcazai@ctu.edu or "weal at CTU" student representative Rachelle Kramer at rkramer@student.ctu.edu.
Alum ni Updates Kristi Del Vecchio, MA '17 has been working as the editorial assistant for a text called Toward a Field of Interfaith/Interreligious Studies edited by Eboo Patel, Jennifer Howe Peace, and Noah J. Silverman. Kristi co-wrote the chapter "From the Field of Interreligious/Interfaith Studies: Six Themes Found Across Courses and Programs." The text will be published in Fall 2018 by Beacon Press. Sharon Schmidt, MAPS '15 was granted certification with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in July 2017. Sharon completed her first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood and three units of CPE as Chaplain Resident at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital soon after graduation in 2015. Sharon ministers full time as Staff Chaplain at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Lakeview on Chicago's north side.
Dr. Mary Amore, MAPS '99, MDiv '04 filmed a 12 part series for ShalomWorld tv entitled, "A Willing Spirit." This half-hour weekly show
offers spiritual insights on ways to live the Good News of the Gospel, if our spirits are willing. Download the ShalomWorld app to view all episodes.
Mark Plaiss, MA '06 published his fourth book, No End to the Search: A Monastic Experience, in September 2017. The text was published by Cistercian Publications, an imprint of Liturgical Press, Collegeville, MN. Mark teaches in the Department of Religious Studies at Carmel Catholic High School in north suburban Mundelein, and serves as a deacon in the Archdiocese of Chicago assigned to St. Gilbert's in Grayslake. Susan Abraham, MA '95 has been installed as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA. Sharon Mathis Schmidt, '15 was granted certification with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in July 2017. Sharon completed her first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood and three units of CPE as Chaplain Resident at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in 2016. Sharon ministers full time as Staff Chaplain at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Lakeview on the north side of Chicago. Stephanie Cherpak Clary, will graduate this coming December but has been promoted and publishing all year. In January of 2017, Stephanie was promoted to Assistant Editor of Vermont Catholic Magazine. June 2017 brought a second place award at the 2017 CPA Press Awards for "Best Reporting on a Social Justice Issue: Care for God's Creation" for my article "Cry of the Earth; Cry of the Poor" in the Winter 2016 issue of Vermont Catholic Magazine. The award was quickly followed by a promotion in July to Manager of Mission Outreach and Communication for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. Stephanie's most recent publication can be found in Millennial Journal, "Noah the Environmentalist: The Great Flood and Ecological Justice Today." Rev. Don Blaeser, OFM was very excited to share that he shot a hole-in-one on Sept. 6th, at the Knights of Columbus Course in Quincy, IL, on the 3rd hole which was playi ng 112 yards, using a 7-iron. "Fun! For a 76 year-old, I thought that's not bad." Thanks, Fr. Don Blaeser!
Deaths Rev. Frederico Ablog, SSS, MDiv '89 died Sunday, September 17, in Houston,Texas due to injuries suffered in an automobile accident that occurred on Thursday, September 14.
Barbara Blaine, founder of SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) died on Sunday, September 24, at the age of 61.
If you have personal or professional news for the Alum eNews, please take a moment and go to the following site. Allow us to share your accomplishments with fellow alums! And please, be in touch with us about ways you can get involved, spread the news of all CTU has to offer, and create a larger alumni network. To send us your news item, please click
here or email Bernadette Raspante at braspante@ctu.edu.