Published December 15, 2021 at 1:12 PM PST
Now the Work of Christmas Begins
By Rev. Howard Thurman
When the song of the
angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and
princes are home,
when the shepherds are back
with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among
the people,
to make music in the heart.
Published December 6, 2021 at 1:12 PM PST
Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed by most Christians as a time of expectant waiting and preparation. It calls us to prepare our hearts and our minds in such a way that the mystery and the beauty of the incarnation can live within us and manifest among us. Divine love is all inclusive and during the season we are invited to open ourselves in such a way to encounter Christ in particular in unexpected people and in unexpected places.
Published November 5, 2021 at 2:11 PM PDT
As ICTC's fall programs wrap up, we are grateful for your engagement and participation this quarter! Below you can find video links for the fall Catholic Heritage Series lecture and discussion panel.
We are thrilled to announce that Bishop McElroy of San Diego will be at SU in person on January 25 to open our winter quarter theme on Synodality and Spirituality (save-the-date below, registration will open in December). On October 10, Pope Francis officially launched the Vatican's two-year synod process, and he states: "Everything changes once we are capable of genuine encounters with [Jesus] and with one another, without formalism or pretense, but simply as we are." Read more here (NCR, 10/10/21). Synodality, the "art of encounter," will provide a framework for ICTC programs during winter quarter, with more event announcements coming in December.
Published October 21, 2021 at 2:10 PM PDT
Signs of the Times
In recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day, on October 12 ICTC hosted an interactive session with Maka Black Elk (Oglala Lakota), Executive Director for Truth and Healing at the Red Cloud Indian School. Maka led participants through the history of Indian residential schools in the U.S., with specific examples from the Red Cloud Indian School, where Maka attended as a student and now teaches. Both indigenous and Catholic, Maka speaks with wisdom and compassion as he explores the response to "is healing possible?" The presentation section of Maka's event is available to watch on the ICTC Vimeo page for those not able to join us!
Published October 5, 2021 at 2:10 PM PDT
Signs of the Times
On October 11 we celebrate the anniversary of the beginning of Vatican II and the feast day of Pope John XXIII, who opened the council. This past January, Pope Francis clearly stated that to be Catholic was to embrace the teachings of Vatican II: "You can be with the church and therefore follow the council, or you can not follow the council or interpret it in your own way, as you want, and you are not with the church" (NCR, 2/1/21). As we head into the 60th anniversary of Vatican II in 2022, and given this powerful statement by Pope Francis, it behooves us to reexamine the content and ethos that emerged from this historical council.
Published September 27, 2021 at 2:09 PM PDT
2021-22 Theme: Globalization, Spirituality and Justice
The spirit of our God is upon me; anointing me and sending me to bring glad tidings for the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners. To announce a year of favor from our God. -- Luke 4:18
When Jesus spoke these words, he identified himself within the tradition of the great Hebrew prophets whose twofold task was to both denounce (injustice) and to announce (a new way of being in the world). This movement that we trace back to Jesus is echoed throughout the tradition and in the documents of Vatican II as well as other reform movements. All of which speaks to us of new ways of relating, expanding our epistemological postures, and offering new understandings of power. The Catholic Church's social justice teachings are rooted in the life of Jesus and in this prophetic tradition of denouncing and announcing.
Published September 16, 2021 at 2:09 PM PDT
The Institute for Catholic Thought and Culture would like to extend a warm welcome to SU faculty, staff, students and the broader community as we begin the new academic year. We are excited to share our programming and hope that you can join us!
The ICTC will continue the theme of "Globalization, Spirituality and Justice" this year, and fall quarter the Patrick Howell, SJ, Catholic Heritage Series has two events scheduled responding to the topic of "Vatican II at 60" - a main lecture by Dr. Massimo Faggioli on October 21 and a panel discussion with Dr. Catherine Clifford and Dr. Orlando Espin on October 28. See below for the full event descriptions. In addition to the programs on Vatican II, we enter this autumn season with a full calendar of events and celebrations: