Chicago Cardinal George to address Religious Freedom in Cincinnati Wed. April 24

...At Mount Saint Mary's Seminary, delivering the annual Garner lecture on moral theology.

Who: Cardinal Francis George, OFM, Archbishop of Chicago.
Day: Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Time: 7:30 pm-8:30 pm
Where: The Bartlett Center, on the campus of Mount Saint Mary Seminary, 6616 Beechmont Avenue
Topic: "Human Rights and Religious Freedom."

Given the growing threats to religious freedom in the United States--and Cardinal George's outspokenness on this subject--this should be a provocative discussion. Don't miss it!

Mariological Society to meet at Athenaeum in May

I just got this word today:

The Mariological Society of America will have its annual conference at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary of the West in Cincinnati this year. If you click on the name of the society above, you will go to it's website.

Topic: Mary and the New Evangelization

Dates: May 21-24, AD 2013

Some of the talks:

-- "Mary’s Spiritual Motherhood: Lumen Gentium and the New Evangelization"

-- “Mary as the Sacrament of the Sacrament of Salvation: A Study of the Marian Doctrine of Lumen Gentium and Henri de Lubac”

-- “Making the New Evangelization Credible: Mary in the Ecumenical Movement”

-- “Our Lady of the Unbelievers: Mary and Modern Atheism”

The conference isn't free, but it is open to all.  There are various costs involved, which are described in the brochure. (Note: for priests of the Archdiocese, my office will reimburse for the "tuition." Let me know.)

You can contact the society secretary at: (937) 229-4294. If no answer, leave message on Voice Mail.

Bogus Science for 'Gay Marriage'

In case you were dismayed to hear the American Academy of Pediatricians say that children don't actually need both a mother and a father, you may want to see this article.

Cultivating Priestly Identity

Here's an interview at the National Catholic Register (that's the Catholic one) with Father Lawrence Porter about his new book, The Assault on Priesthood: A Biblical and Theological Rejoinder. It's an encouraging discussion.

Biblical Scholar coming to Cinti April 6

As reported at Catholic Beat:

Dr. Mary Healy, STD, will be the featured speaker at a day-long Year of Faith conference about women (though men are welcome as well) at The Athenaeum of Ohio/Mount St. Mary’s Seminary on April 6. “Women and the New Evangelization” was organized by the Athenaeum’s St. James Project, an initiative to renew Catholic culture among the laity through faith, work, and reason. It will feature Dr. Healy, who teaches sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, and Msgr. Frank Lane. Archbishop Dennis Schnurr will celebrate Mass.

Schedule:
•9:30 am: “Women of Holiness in Scripture,” Dr. Healy
•10:45 am: “Women of Holiness Today,” Dr. Healy
•Noon: Lunch on your own
•1:30: ““Women and the Crisis of Modern Society,” Msgr. Lane
•2:15: Discussion session with Dr. Healy and Msgr. Lane
•3:00: Mass with Archbishop Schnurr

Dr. Healy is author of Men and Women Are from Eden: A Study Guide to John Paul II’s Theology of the Body, and co-editor of three books on biblical interpretation. She is general editor, with Dr. Peter Williamson, of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture and is the author of the first volume, The Gospel of Mark. Msgr. Lane, former Vice Rector of the Pontifical College Josephenum in Columbus, is Spiritual Director to the staff at The Athenaeum of Ohio. He is a popular speaker at Deep in History and other conferences, and is a frequent guest on EWTN radio. The conference is free and reservations are not required. To reserve a lunch at the seminary dining hall ($7) call (513) 231-2223 before March 22.

FYI: Dr. Healy is scheduled to present the Gospel Workshops in the Fall of 2014 on the Gospel of Mark. Also note, brother priests, that this counts toward continuing education days!

12th Annual Symposium on Priestly Spirituality: here in Cincinnati!

Topic: "Beloved Son: Living Christ's Own Filial Obedience

Dates: February 28-March 3, AD 2013

Location: Mount Saint Mary's Seminary of the West

This event is cosponsored by the Institute for Priestly Formation, based at Creighton University, and our own seminary.

Here are some great talks and guests:

-- "Sonship and Intimacy with the Father," by Msgr. Robert Panke, Rector Blessed John Paul II Seminary, Washington, DC.

-- "Scriptural Foundations for the Priest as Beloved Son," by Dr. Peter Williamson, Sacred Heart Seminary.

-- "Priests Receiving Sonship": a panel discussion.

-- "The Virtues of Sonship," Father Earl Fernandes, of our own seminary.

The schedule also includes downtime, including a side trip to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Cincinnati Museum Center.

Cost: $175--but remember, my office pays for it!

Thomistic Institute July 2013 program

One of our priests passed this along--and I'm sharing it with you.

The Thomistic Institute will be having a summer program in Nashville, Tennessee: "The Priest as teacher of the Faith."

Dates: July 16-18, AD 2013 (Tuesday-Thursday)

Speakers and topics include:

-- Most. Rev. David Choby, Bishop of Nashville, will offer the Holy Mass with and for the participants.

-- Father Paul Scalia, my counterpart in the Diocese of Arlington, will introduce the topic.

-- Father Romanus Cessario, OP, will talk about the sacraments. Father Cessario is Professor of Systematic Theology at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass.; Senior Editor of Magnificat, Associate Editor of The Thomist, author of many articles and several notable books in moral and sacramental theology. His most recent work is The Seven Last Words of Jesus.

-- Fr. Jeremy Driscoll, O.S.B. Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, Professor of Theology at Mount Angel Seminary and at the Pontifical Athenaeum Sant’Anselmo in Rome, consultor to the Congregation for Divine Worship. He has written widely on Catholic liturgy and spirituality. Father Driscoll will talk about prayer.

(I'm seeing good things on the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, by the way...)

Take a look at these discussion topics:

"Teaching the Faith: Parish Do's and Don'ts" (with Fr. Scalia)
"Common Mistakes in Teaching about the Sacraments" (with Fr. Cessario)
"Common Mistakes in Preaching about Christ" (with Fr. Weinandy)
"Becoming a Better Confessor: Dealing with the Vice of Lust" (with Fr. Cessario )
"Spiritual Direction and Questions about Prayer" (with Fr. Driscoll)

There will be time for priests to offer Mass on their own if they wish, either in the newer or older form; as well as scheduled Lauds and Vespers.

The schedule includes a good amount of open times, for a leisurely lunch, a nap, or maybe a tour of the reconstructed Parthenon (yes, really!), the Grand Old Opry, or Jack Daniels Distillery? (That's actually in Lynchburg, but you could drive there!)

Cost? Why worry? My office pays for it. (Travel and lodging is between you and your assignment.)