By
“Intimacy and Relationships in Catholic Life” is the focus of The Church in the 21st Century Center’s programming this semester, through a series of campus events that began earlier this week with Lonergan Institute Associate Director Kerry Cronin’s lecture “Making the Move: Navigating Dating Transitions.”
Cronin, who is a faculty fellow in the Center for Student Formation, also served as co-editor with Monan Professor of Theology Lisa Sowle Cahill of the spring 2014 edition of C21 Resources, another outlet for the “Intimacy and Relationships” theme.
Among this semester’s highlights is an April 30 talk by novelist Alice McDermott on “Astonished by Love: Storytelling and the Sacramental Imagination.” McDermott is the author of Charming Billy, a National Book Award winner, and most recently, Someone. Her lecture will take place in Cadigan Alumni Center at 6 p.m.
On Feb. 20, Boston College doctoral student Daniel P. Horan, OFM, an America magazine columnist and author, will present “Dating God: Intimacy, Prayer, and Franciscan Spirituality,” in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons at 5:30 p.m.
A panel discussion on “Pope Francis and the Future of the Global Church” will be held on Feb. 25, with Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology Richard Gaillardetz, Assumption College President Francesco Cesareo and Mar Muñoz-Visoso, executive director of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Cultural Diversity in the Church. Theology Professor M. Shawn Copeland will serve as moderator. The Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life is the lead sponsor of this event.
Archbishop of Indianapolis Joseph W. Tobin, CSsR will deliver a lecture on March 24 in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons at 4:30 p.m. The archbishop previously served as secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. Archbishop Emeritus of Canterbury Rowan Williams, a professor of theology at Cambridge University, will give a lecture on “Revelation and Interreligious Dialogue” on April 7 in the Heights Room at 5 p.m. The lead sponsor of this event is the Theology Department.
On May 1, Cardinal Walter Kasper will present “The Message of Mercy and its Importance Today” in the Heights Room at 4:30 p.m. The cardinal is president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity. The School of Theology and Ministry is the lead sponsor of this event.
Co-sponsors for C21 events include the Theology Department, Center for Student Formation, Alumni Association, and English Department. For more information on C21 events, see www.bc.edu/church21.