The Catholic University of America

STRS Alumni

 

Dear STRS Alumni,

Warmest greetings from the School of Theology and Religious Studies! You have recently received a copy of our Christmas newsletter, and this e-mail is our next installment. Our Easter newsletter, the final installment for the 2008-2009 academic year, will arrive at your doorstep in a few months. We hope you have enjoyed and will enjoy reading about all that has happened recently here at STRS and in the lives of your fellow alumni beyond the walls of Caldwell Hall.

If you have not already done so, please remember to contact us to let us know about the noteworthy activities in your professional life as alumni news will be a major feature of future newsletters (both printed and e-mailed versions). We look forward to hearing from you!

In the Lord,

Monsignor Kevin W. Irwin, S.T.D.

Dean

In Memoriam

As many of you already know, Cardinal Avery Dulles, S.J, professor emeritus at STRS and the Laurence J. McGinley Professor of Religion and Society at Fordham University, died at the age of 90 on Dec. 12, 2008, at Murray-Weigel Hall, the Jesuit infirmary at Fordham University, Bronx, NY. A memorial Mass was held on Jan. 15, 2009, at CUA in the Caldwell Chapel with Monsignor Irwin presiding and preaching. It was followed by a reception honoring Rev. Patrick Granfield and Rev. Joseph Komonchak in the Monsignor Happel Room.

Cardinal Dulles' works include, among many others, Models of The Church, The Theology of the Church (written with Rev. Patrick Granfield), and most recently Church and Society: The Laurence J. McGinley Lectures. 1988-2007. All of us at STRS keep Cardinal Dulles in our prayers, and he will be remembered fondly.

Alumni News

We are proud to share news with you about the following STRS alumni accomplishments:

  • Prof. Sherri Brown (Ph.D. 2007) joined the faculty at the Niagara University Department of Religious Studies last fall. She specializes in Biblical narrative and in 2005 published "The Dialectic of Relationship: Paul and the Veiling of Women in 1 Corinthians 11: 2-16" in Salesianum.
  • Prof. Anthony Cirelli (Ph. D. 2007) recently joined the theology faculty at St. John's University in New York.
  • Prof. Kathleen Flake (M.A. 1995) is an associate professor of American religious history at Vanderbilt. In 2004, she published The Politics of Religious Identity: The Seating of Senator Reed Smoot, Mormon Apostle. Recently several news outlets (including National Public Radio) have sought her out to comment on Mormon beliefs, practices and personalities.
  • Rev. Raul Gomez-Ruiz (Ph.D. 2001), author of Mozarabs, Hispanics, and the Cross, recently published an article in Perspectivas: "Ritual and the Construction of Cultural Identity: An Example from Hispanic Liturgy," which was followed by two articles in response to it by Peter Casarella and Alberto Hernandez.
  • Rev. Raphael Goo Chao Reng was recently appointed to She Shan Seminary, in Shanghai.
  • Prof. Nathan Lefler (Ph.D. 2008) recently joined the theology faculty at the University of Scranton.
  • Mr. Thomas Stehle (M.A. 1991), music director for the Church of Our Lady of Mercy Church in Potomac, MD., planned and executed the music for the Eucharist celebrated by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at Nationals Stadium on April 17, 2008, in Washington, D.C.
  • Rev. Peter Williams (M.A. 1997) of the Diocese of Paramatta, Australia, was appointed director of liturgy for World Youth Day 2008.

Alumni Support

The School of Theology and Religious Studies appreciates the financial support of our alumni community, which strengthens the school's programs and provides assistance to our students. For more information, go to http://giving.cuatoday.com where you will notice a red "Make a Gift" button on the left side of the page. Click that and be directed to the "giving" page, where you may complete the giving form and designate your gift to STRS via the drop-down menu that you can see adjacent to "I would like to designate my gift to." Checks may also be mailed to the address below, sent to the attention of Christopher Conlan. Thank you all in advance.