Angela Kim Harkins, associate professor of New Testament, published “Berekhot,” “Hodayot,” and a short article on the “Self-Glorification Hymn” in the T&T Clark Encyclopedia of Second Temple Judaism. Harkins, who also contributed a book review of Raith (ed.), The Gospel of John: Theological-Ecumenical Readings, participated in two book review sessions of the Society of Biblical Literature in November 2019. In December, she learned she had been granted the status of Professor Ordinaria in the Ecclesiastical Faculty.

Richard Lennan, professor of systematic theology, published a chapter titled “Moving the Church: A Theology of Possibility” in Health and Integrity in Church and Ministry, as well as the article “Beyond Scandal and Shame? Ecclesiology and the Longing for a Transformed Church” in Theological Studies. In October and November, he presented four lectures: “The Future of the Ordained Priesthood” at the national conference of the Voice of the Faithful; “Seeking the Right Side of History: Theology and the Sexual Abuse Crisis” at Villanova University; “A Theology of Hope” at the Ignatian Family Teach-In in Washington, D.C.; and “Contrast, Conversion, and Hope: Being Attentive to the Church’s Present” at the Synod of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle (Australia).

Rafael Luciani, associate professor of the practice, organized several international conferences on Synodality and the Reform of the Church as part of the Ibero-American Theology Group, sponsored by STM. The first was held in Puebla, Mexico, at the Universidad Iberoamericana de Puebla; the second in Madrid, Spain, with the Fundación Pablo VI; and the third in Caracas, Venezuela, with the Jesuits’ Universidad Católica Andrés Bello. Luciani also presented at conferences in the U.S., including Pastoral Conversion and Synodality at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts. In addition, he was appointed Expert and Advisor to the Pan-Amazonian Ecclesial Network to participate and work in the Pan-Amazonian Synod in Rome. He continues his work as Theological Expert to the Latin American Bishops Council and the Latin American Religious Conference.

Theresa A. O’Keefe, associate professor of the practice of youth and young adult faith and STM doctoral degree candidate Emily Jendzejec, presented a paper, “By What Authority: Reading Research on Disaffiliation through the Lens of Constructive-Developmental Psychology,” at the Religious Education Association annual meeting in Toronto in October.

On November 15, O’Keefe also gave the STM Annual Ministry Day workshop “Building Bridges: Conversation in a Time of Division,” now available on the STM Encore page. On that same day, O’Keefe also took part in a panel with Drs. Henry Braun and Larry Ludlow at the Formative Education Conference, sponsored by the Lynch School of Education and Human Development.

Hosffman Ospino, associate professor of Hispanic ministry and religious education, published the book chapter “La gran ciudad requiere evangelizadores con Espíritu” (The city requires evangelizers filled with the Spirit) in Spain. Ospino also delivered an address titled “Pastoral and Formative Methods: North American Perspectives” at the Inter-American Symposium of Theology, which took place at the Pontifical University of Rio in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil last October. He delivered “From Our Own (Hispanic) Wells: Spirituality in a Time of Change,” the Cardinal Newman Lecture, at the Center for Spirituality at the Rock Hill Oratory in South Carolina. And he presented a paper on the methodology of the V National Encuentro of Hispanic/Latino Ministry during the annual meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. Ospino also received a $70,000 grant from an anonymous donor to study for a year how Catholic universities with graduate programs in ministry are welcoming and supporting Hispanic/Latino students.

Dean and Professor of New Testament Thomas D. Stegman, S.J., has written a new book, Being Formed in Loving Service: Saint Paul Speaks to Seminarians (published by the Institute for Priestly Formation). He presented copies to several bishops and seminary rectors who attended the Boston College Conference “To Serve the People of God: Renewing the Conversation on Priesthood and Ministry” on January 2–3 in Dover, Massachusetts. In December, he led the Jesuit novices of the U.S.A. Midwest Province on their Advent triduum in Buffalo, Minnesota. More recently, he directed a retreat for the Trappistine Sisters of Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, Mass., where Mother Sofia Millican, MTS ’07, is abbess.