Arts and Humanities Commons^™

My Last Concussion, Shannon Valkr

Department of English: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

MY LAST CONCUSSION is a thesis consisting of a critical introduction, a number of poetic influences, and a collection of poems. The introduction touches on the themes of the collection, my personal history with my subject, my changing approach to poetry, and a brief evaluation of the work as a whole. It details my approach to Catholicism, paganism, transgender identity, and oppression. My work grapples with both my current understanding of myself and my inability to enunciate my reality in the past. I aim to view divinity and personal history through a lens of queerness.

Advisor: Kwame Dawes

Religious And Spiritual Communities Must Adapt Or Die: Surviving And Thriving During Challenging Contemporary Times, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

Current trends within both religious and secular communities suggest that contemporary times mean that people spend more time alone than with others. Community engagement in general has been declining, while religious and spiritual community engagement in particular has dropped off significantly in recent decades, and most especially following the COVID-19 global pandemic. Although humans are social beings and benefit from community engagement, we tend to avoid or minimize our affiliations and associations, including our religious and spiritual ones today. Religious and spiritual communities must adapt to changing times or risk becoming irrelevant, diminishing further, and losing their sustainability to continue …

Communal Lament In Jeremiah, Phoebe C. Chetsas

Theology Graduate Theses

No abstract provided.

Inciting Peace From The Inside Out, Stephen G. Adubato, Ebere Bosco Amakwe, Katherine Hinic, Sarita Maldjian, Forrest Pritchett, Jon Radwan, Nicholas Sooy, Chad Thralls

Conferences

Violence and war can be incited, and so can peace. This volume shares select addresses and responses from Seton Hall University’s 2/7/23 conference “Inciting Peace From The Inside Out.” A multi-disciplinary range of scholars each addresses how reconciliation processes grow from spiritual dynamics. Multiple religious traditions teach contemplative praxes that prioritize and nurture personal reflection oriented toward peace. Social conflicts divide, so engaging them with a partisan orientation only serves to escalate harmful rifts. In contrast, bringing personal awareness and sensitivity, spiritual balance, and holistic integral perspective to conflict can transcend divisions and work toward unity. This volume is supported …

Catholic Studies Newsletter 2024, Sacred Heart University

Catholic Studies Newsletter

Highlights: CS Minor Attends Summer Seminar on Integral Ecology -- Faculty Profile: Anna Ramirez -- The Center for Catholic Studies: Spring Speaker Series and Bergoglio Lectures -- Center for Catholic Studies Awarded $30K Grant for Social Justice Seminar.

The Divine Comedy: A Work Of Medieval Mythology, Jamie Alexander

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Prior to The Divine Comedy (1308-1321), ideas about Purgatory were in the early stages of development. Purgatory had loose rituals surrounding its existence and it lacked depiction in written works. Yet in the following centuries, the fear of Purgatory and the practices of penance and indulgences reached a fever pitch, ultimately leading to the Protestant Reformation. Purgatory as a celestial location, and not just the “purgatorial fires” of the Bible, only began to develop in the twelfth century, but its fearful description and imagery in The Divine Comedy not only solidified previously nebulous understandings of Purgatory, but also increased anxiety …

The Framing Of Authority In The Acrl Framework On Information Literacy: Multidisciplinary Perspectives On Truth, Authority, Expertise And Belief., Lisa M. Rose-Wiles

Praxis Publications

Purpose This paper engages multidisciplinary perspectives on truth, authority, expertise and belief to unpack and better understand the underlying epistemology and implications of the ACRL frame “authority is constructed and contextual”.' Design/Methodology/Approach Following an overview of the issues confronting us in a “post-truth world”, the paper reviews critiques of the ACRL frame “authority is constructed and contextual” and examines the related concepts of truth, authority, expertise and belief from multidisciplinary perspectives. Findings While the frame acknowledges the limitations and biases of current scholarly publishing and implicitly supports social justice, it runs the danger of promoting relativism and is ambiguous regarding …

Demystifying Mysticism, Matthew Alexander Rae

Religious Studies Student Scholarship

The title of my 2024 Academic Conference student presentation is “Demystifying Mysticism.” My work is based on my “Christian Mysticism” tutorial with Fr. John Gavin, S.J., in the Religious Studies Department. I studied Carmelite Mysticism in the Roman Catholic Christian tradition, and how it can be applied to the prayer life of every Catholic. The Carmelites are a Contemplative order of religious sisters and brothers who live lives devoted to active prayer to God, following the Blessed Virgin as the model of faith. My thesis is that the Carmelite tradition provides vocabulary and images in order to share the inexpressible, …

Perceptions About Catholic High School Athletics, Kevin J. Calkins

Journal of Catholic Education Pre-Prints

In the largest survey to date on Catholic school identity in athletics (49 U.S. States, n = 2273), administrators, counselors, and teachers responded to a survey about the perceived value of interscholastic athletics, school support of athletics, the contribution of coaches to school mission, Catholic identity in athletics, and the importance of the school’s athletic director and coaches to have a mission orientation. The results of the study indicate that administrators, counselors, and teachers have positive perceptions of Catholic high school athletics. Teacher perceptions differed more than administrators and counselors based on their age, gender, and religion. At least one …

Resistencia Artística Bajo Dictaduras En Argentina Y España A Través De La Lente De Las Teorías De Comunicación, Adrian Self, Adrian Self

World Languages and Cultures Student Papers and Posters

Under dictatorships in Spain and Argentina, artists used their mediums to criticize the actions of the Catholic church and oppressive conditions enforced by the government, using allegories, metaphors, and symbolism in their art. While many artists tried to create works that fell within authoritarian guidelines, others intentionally created cinema and literature criticizing the Argentine and Spanish governments, values, and practices, knowing the works would be banned. This investigation uses examples of cinema and literature created and published deliberately to be prohibited or censored under the regimen of Francisco Franco from 1939-1975 in Spain or the last civil-military dictatorship from 1976-1983 …

Silent Holy Spirit, April-June 2024

Silent Holy Spirit

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in St. Louis, MO.

Silent Holy Spirit Finding Aid

Mary In Catholic Education: Reflections From The Community, University Of Dayton. Marian Library

Marian Library Exhibit Summaries

The Society of Mary opened its first school in 1819 in Bordeaux, France, and education continues to be a key element of the Marianist mission. For the Mary in Catholic Education exhibit, held March 4 through June 28, 2024, teacher education students at the University of Dayton collected materials from the Marian Library to explore how Catholic ideals have been shared with different audiences through various media from an 18th-century primer to Marianist manga.

Catholic educators, exhibit visitors, and members of the campus community also shared reflections on Mary’s presence in their educational experience. Those reflections are provided in this …

Beyond Borders: Towards A Theology Of ‘Synodality’, Rica Delos Reyes Ancheta

Theology Department Faculty Publications

Pope Francis’ call to pave the way for a synodal Church is revolutionary. While ‘synodality’ has long been a promising Church trajectory, it disrupts and challenges the current status quo in local churches. Moreover, the process of ‘synodality’ is transformative and enriching as it fosters greater engagement of the people at the peripheries of the Church’s life and mission.

People in the margins are often perceived as passive participants in the life of the Church and, as it were, on the receiving end. However, the Church’s plans, thrusts, and decisions, whether on a personal level or socio-political and economic affairs, …

1986 Ncod Pastoral Week Appeal

National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD) Conferences

Documents from the 1986 NCOD Pastoral Week held in Orlando, FL in 1986

• Deaf Catholic Archives appeal for materials

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1986 Ncod Pastoral Week Program

National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD) Conferences

Documents from the 1986 NCOD Pastoral Week held in Orlando, FL in 1986

• Schedule
• Invitation

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1986 Ncod Pastoral Week Document

National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD) Conferences

Documents from the 1986 NCOD Pastoral Week held in Orlando, FL in 1986

• Workshop by Karen & Richard McGann: Ministering with Deaf/Blind
Workshop: Hispanic Deaf People and Their Families
• Celebration of Welcome and Beginning
• Workshops: Managing Conflict
• Ideas for Reflection and Discussion During the Pastoral Week
• Letter regarding "Special Interest" meeting

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1986 Ncod Pastoral Week Report

National Catholic Office for the Deaf (NCOD) Conferences

Documents from the 1986 NCOD Pastoral Week held in Orlando, FL in 1986

• Report for Region 5: the Northeast
• Report to the NCOD Board of Directors
• NCOD Region I report
• Region III, NCOD Midwest Region report
• Great Lakes Region report
• Director Report
• Proposal to the Board of National Catholic Office of the Deaf

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Yoga’S Journey From East To West: A Tale Of Adaptation, Wellness, And Healing The Balancing Act, Christine D. Walck

Publications

Prepare for a unique journey through the world of yoga with an opinionated, funny twist. Join a devout Catholic, a PhD-toting engineering professor, and an extreme athlete as they navigate the intriguing yet mysterious realm of yoga. Their initial skepticism, rooted in Eastern philosophy, quickly dissolves as yoga seamlessly melds with their Catholic faith, offering a universal path to physical and mental well-being. Buckle up for a humorous takedown of common misconceptions about yoga’s compatibility with Western religious beliefs. It’s all about respecting the body, which conveniently aligns with their active (with a dash of clumsy adventures thrown in). Yoga …

“These Are Our Saints:” A Lourdes Shrine, The St. Coletta School For Exceptional Children, And The Catholic Remaking Of Cognitive Disability, Andrew Walker-Cornetta

Religion

This chapter appears from the book American Patroness: Marian Shrines and the Making of US Catholicism by Katherine Dugan and Karen E. Park, Editors.

"'These Are Our Saints:' A Lourdes Shrine, the St. Coletta School for Exceptional Children, and the Catholic Remaking of Cognitive Disability" focuses on a Lourdes shrine on the campus of what was once perhaps the most celebrated institution in the United States for persons with cognitive disabilities. It takes this site as a window onto mid-twentieth century Catholic efforts to re-imagine cognitive difference and highlights the importance of Marian devotional grammars to those efforts.

Providing Specialized Preparation For Counselors In Catholic Schools, Timothy J. Cook, Jan Powers, Jiwon Kim

Journal of Catholic Education Pre-Prints

School counselors are needed now more than ever. Providing Catholic school counselors the specialized formation they need to be effective in the Catholic school context is essential. This study addressed two research questions in this regard: (1) What competencies (e.g., understanding, incorporating) and topics do Catholic school principals and school counselors believe are important for school counselors to fully contribute to the educational and faith-based mission of Catholic schools; and (2) How might the research findings inform pre-service education and/or continuing education and formation of school counselors for the Catholic school context? Online surveys were developed using the “Defining Characteristics …

Silent Holy Spirit, January-March 2024

Silent Holy Spirit

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in St. Louis, MO.

Silent Holy Spirit Finding Aid

Predictors Of Occupational Distress Of Catholic Priests On The Eastern Seaboard Of The United States, Michael D. Kostick, Xihe Zhu, Justin A. Haegele, Pete Baker

Human Movement Studies & Special Education Faculty Publications

With ever-increasing demands placed upon active priests in the United States, insight into protecting their mental health may help strengthen vocational resilience for individual priests. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of individual variables, workplace characteristics, and physical activity participation with occupational distress levels among Catholic priests. A 22-question survey consisting of a demographic questionnaire, the Clergy Occupational Distress Index, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was employed to collect individual variables, workplace characteristics, physical activity participation, and occupational distress levels of Catholic priests from the Eastern seaboard of the United States. Regression analyses showed that …

Ethical Considerations In Working With Roman Catholic Seminarians And Men And Women In Religious Formation, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

There are many ethical challenges when mental health professionals work clinically with Roman Catholic seminarians as well as with men and women in religious formation. This article highlights several of the most prominent ethical issues and challenges confronted by mental health professionals working with these clients. These topics include issues of competence in evaluating, treating, and consulting with seminarians, those in religious life, or those applying to enter religious life. Issues of informed consent must also be considered so that seminarians, religious life clients, applicants, and their religious superiors have clarity about the limits of confidentiality and who maintains the …

Music Of The Divine: Interweaving Threads Connecting Contemporary Chant-Based Piano Repertoire, Jeremy D. Duck

Glenn Korff School of Music: Dissertations, Theses, Student Creative Work, and Performance

The purpose of this document is to prove chant remains an important source of inspiration among living composers, and, despite the number of piano works already incorporating chant, composers today are still finding unique ways to include chant in their music. To achieve this objective, representative works have been selected for research and analysis for four of the major chant traditions. Connor Chee’s The Navajo Piano, Victoria Bond’s Illuminations on Byzantine Chant, and Hayes Biggs’ E.M. am Flügel: Poem-Étude for Piano Solo, though the chants from which they are inspired are diverse in concept and style, they …

Japanese-English Translation: Nishida Kitarō––“Self-Determination Of The Eternal Now” 「永遠の今の自己限定」、西田幾多郎著（昭和六年七月） (July 1931) §1 Of 4; Complete Draft (Supersedes Draft Of 2 Jan 19); Translated By Christopher Southward; Revision And Expansion Underway, Christopher Southward

Comparative Literature Faculty Scholarship

Japanese-English Translation: Nishida Kitarō––“Self-Determination of the Eternal Now” (July 1931) 「永遠の今の自己限定」、西田幾多郎著（昭和六年七月）

§1 of 4; Complete Draft (Supersedes Draft of 2 Jan 2019)

Translated from the Japanese by Christopher Southward; Revision and Expansion Underway, October 2023

Silent Holy Spirit, October-December 2023

Silent Holy Spirit

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in St. Louis, MO.

Silent Holy Spirit Finding Aid

The Effects Of Centering Prayer On Well-Being In A Sample Of Undergraduate Students: A Pilot Study, Alejandro Eros, Thomas G. Plante

Psychology

Contemplative practices have likely been used for self-awareness, concentration, creativity, and well-being since the dawn of time. While practices such as yoga and Buddhist meditation have been extensively studied in recent decades, Christian contemplative practices have received less attention in empirical research. This study aims to investigate the effects of centering prayer, a Christian contemplative practice, on mental health and well-being. The research focuses on college students enrolled in a religious studies course that incorporates centering prayer into the curriculum. It is a pilot study because it is the first to explore centering prayer in an undergraduate setting. Using a …

Silent Holy Spirit, July-September 2023

Silent Holy Spirit

A newsletter published for Deaf Catholics in St. Louis, MO.

Silent Holy Spirit Finding Aid

On The Roads: Catholic And Buddhist Pilgrimage, Madera Allan, Constance Kassor

Convocations

Madera Allan, associate professor of Spanish, called her visit last summer to the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal stunning and beautiful, a glimpse into a way of life “infused with a frenetic, spiritual energy.”

Constance Kassor, associate professor of religious studies, called her visit to Camino de Santiago in northwestern Spain last summer an incredible journey—a 100-kilometer pilgrimage leading to the awe-inspiring cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

The two Lawrence University professors made those journeys together, and on Friday afternoon they shared the experience in Memorial Chapel at Lawrence’s Honors Convocation, the third and final Convocation of the 2022-23 academic year. …

Catholic Studies Newsletter 2023, Catholic Studies Department

Catholic Studies Newsletter

Highlights: Message from the Chair, Michelle Loris -- "Integral Ecology": CS Minor Emma Grady Wins Stipend for Prestigious Summer Seminar -- New Faculty Profile: Dr. Callie Tabor -- Charles A. Gillespie, Pioneer Journey director -- Chelsea King, chair of the Laudato Si Action Platform -- Fall 2022 Conference: Vatican II and Catholic Higher Education: Leading Forward -- Center for Catholic Studies Spring Speaker Series -- The Bergoglio Lectures: Perspectives on Pope Francis and the Synodal Path -- In memory of our sister Joan Kelly.