The Dialogue Of Spiritual Experience In Buddhist-Christian Encounter,
2026
Yale University
The Dialogue Of Spiritual Experience In Buddhist-Christian Encounter, S Mark Heim
Journal of Global Catholicism
Can one learn more about one’s own religion through the practices of another? My positive answer to this question is illustrated in this paper by reflection on aspects of the Buddhist practice of emptiness, in specific connection with Christian under-standing of our lives as creatures. The Buddhist meditative practices I have in mind have several things in common. They are introspective (activated in one person’s inner consciousness) and premised on the Buddhist understanding of emptiness (specifically “no self ” teachings). Buddhist introspective practice takes at least three broad forms. One of these is a meditative analytical awareness of the contents …
Hindu Poetry And The Project Of An Inter-Spiritual Catholic Theology,
2026
Harvard University
Hindu Poetry And The Project Of An Inter-Spiritual Catholic Theology, Francis X. Clooney
Journal of Global Catholicism
This article engages the work of the Indian south Indian Tamil-language Vaiṣṇava poet saints known as the Alvārs. The article specifically focuses the First HundredHoly Linked verses of Poykai Ālvār to argue for inter-spiritual learning between Catholics and Hindus. The article concludes with personal reflections on this encounter within the context of the global Catholic Church
Overview And Acknowledgments,
2026
College of the Holy Cross
Overview And Acknowledgments, Mathew Schmalz
Journal of Global Catholicism
An overview and introduction to the present issue on Inter-Spiritual Dialogue.
The Virtue Of Hope In Sports Through Spe Salvi And Its Role In Faith, Resilience, And Character Formation In Student-Athletes,
2026
University of Santo Tomas- Graduate School, University of Santo Tomas-Institute of Religion
The Virtue Of Hope In Sports Through Spe Salvi And Its Role In Faith, Resilience, And Character Formation In Student-Athletes, Hansson G. Labisig, Arvin D. Eballo
Movement and Being: The Journal of the Christian Society for Kinesiology, Leisure and Sports Studies
Pope Benedict XVI, in Spe Salvi, presents hope as a transformative and redemptive virtue that enables believers to live and suffer differently, rooted in faith in God. He writes, “The one who has hope lives differently.” This study develops a theological-pastoral framework for integrating the virtue of hope into the faith formation of student-athletes within Catholic educational institutions, positioning sport as a genuine locus theologicus for Religious Education and evangelization. Employing the See–Judge–Act methodology, it draws from Spe Salvi, Aquinas’s Summa Theologiae, and the Vatican document Giving the Best of Yourself, in dialogue with C. R. Snyder’s psychological theory …
Review Of Effective Intercultural Evangelism: Good News In A Diverse World, Authored By Moon And Simon,
2026
Asbury Theological Seminary
Review Of Effective Intercultural Evangelism: Good News In A Diverse World, Authored By Moon And Simon, Terri Champion
Witness
No abstract provided.
Review Of Evangelism: Learning From The Past, Authored By Green,
2026
Gordon College
Review Of Evangelism: Learning From The Past, Authored By Green, Jeffrey Stevenson
Witness
No abstract provided.
Alumni Spotlight: Ezekiel Prophet Of Hope Address,
2026
Catholic Diocese of El Paso
Alumni Spotlight: Ezekiel Prophet Of Hope Address, Mark J. Seitz
Obsculta
This lecture was delivered by Bishop Mark J. Seitz upon receipt of the Ezekiel Prophet of Hope Award from Saint John’s University in August of 2025. The Ezekiel Prophet of Hope Award seeks to lift up alumni or alumnae of Saint John’s School of Theology and Seminary who have dynamically lived out the principles of collaboration and ecumenism that are at the heart of the mission and the Benedictine heritage of Saint John’s. Just as Ezekiel saw a splendid vision of the new and everlasting temple, modern prophets off er us new and sustainable visions for the church.
"They Will Put You Out Of The Synagogues”: An Exegesis Of John 16:1-4a And Its Application To The Persecuted Christians In Northern Nigeria,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
"They Will Put You Out Of The Synagogues”: An Exegesis Of John 16:1-4a And Its Application To The Persecuted Christians In Northern Nigeria, Chiemeka Iwuagwu
Obsculta
This paper offers an exegesis of John 16:1-4a, a pivotal passage in Jesus' Farewell Discourse that warns the disciples of impending persecution, including expulsion from synagogues. Situating the text within the historical and literary context of the Johannine community, it explores how this forewarning reframes suffering as an integral aspect of faithful witness rather than divine abandonment. Drawing on key scholarly works, the analysis engages literary structure, historical reconstruction of community experiences, and theological motifs such as dualism and Christology. The paper then applies these insights to the plight of Christians in northern Nigeria, a region marked by violent persecution, …
Developing Robust Human Formation For Ministerial Training,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Developing Robust Human Formation For Ministerial Training, Mary L. Parks
Obsculta
The Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis recognizes that effective ministerial formation is holistic, attending to all aspects of a minister’s being. The document therefore outlines four pillars of formation: human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral. In Co-Workers In the Vineyard of the Lord, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) extends the same four pillars of formation to the development of lay ecclesial ministers. The USCCB also applies these pillars to diaconal formation in The National Directory for the Formation, Ministry, and Life of Permanent Deacons in the United States of America.
Loose The Bonds Of Injustice: The True Fast Of Lent,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Loose The Bonds Of Injustice: The True Fast Of Lent, Bella Brinkman
Obsculta
This reflection was written for and delivered to the community of the Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary on February 19, 2026. It reflects on Isaiah 58:6–8 and the theme of Lenten fasting, as part of the Midday Prayer Service during the first week of Lent. The reflection was composed and offered in the context of the ongoing immigration enforcement raids carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis. It invites the community into a deeper consideration of the Christian response to injustice during the Lenten season.
I Cry At Night Before You: Theologies Of Depression In The Psalms,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University
I Cry At Night Before You: Theologies Of Depression In The Psalms, Travis Spillum Osb
Obsculta
This work looks to the Psalms to discover theologies that resonate with experiences of depression. If one struggling with depression feels as if God is angry with them, that their condition is oppressing them, that loved ones have abandoned them, or that God's love for them is wavering, they can utilize the psalmist's words to voice their feelings and express their anguish in prayer to a God who is seemingly deaf to their groaning.
Fulfilled In Your Hearing: What Has Been Fulfilled; What Remains To Be Heard,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Fulfilled In Your Hearing: What Has Been Fulfilled; What Remains To Be Heard, William Skudlarek Osb
Obsculta
This article reflects on the enduring legacy and contemporary relevance of Fulfilled in Your Hearing, the 1982 U.S. bishops’ official statement on the Sunday homily. Written by the document’s principal drafter, the piece explores the text’s revolutionary methodological shift: moving the starting point of preaching away from the preacher or the isolated text and toward the assembly gathered for Eucharist. The author argues that the homily is not an exegetical lecture or a discourse on morality but a sacramental interpretation of human existence through the lens of Scripture that calls the assembled worshippers to conversion, thanksgiving, and service. Central to …
Theology As A Form Of Prayer,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Theology As A Form Of Prayer, Melissa Tovar-Guerrero
Obsculta
This piece reflects on the essential tasks of theology to foster practical expressions of prayer, to establish a fruitful and transformative dialogue with the Trinity through Christian meditation.
Human Freedom And God’S Image In Undocumented People,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Human Freedom And God’S Image In Undocumented People, An Nguyen
Obsculta
This article explores the relationship of human freedom in the theological perspective and undocumented immigrants in the United States: how immigrants embody the divine image, Imago Dei, despite legal and social constraints. I will begin with the theological foundation—freedom as a distinguishing characteristic of God’s image in humanity—and analyze the complex nature of freedom as both a divine gift and a human responsibility. Additionally, I will demonstrate that the Church has a special responsibility to recognize and affirm the inherent dignity of undocumented people by drawing from Catholic social teaching, migration studies, and theological anthropology, ultimately calling for pastoral practices …
Called From Within The Community: The Vocation Of Undocumented Hispanic Men To The Diaconate,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Called From Within The Community: The Vocation Of Undocumented Hispanic Men To The Diaconate, Anisabel Palma
Obsculta
This paper examines the discernment of undocumented Hispanic men to the diaconate within a diocese facing growing Hispanic populations and a shortage of Spanish-speaking clergy. Using ethnographic research, theological reflection, and historical analysis, it argues that this reality should be discerned not as a pastoral problem but as a response to concrete community needs. Interpreted through four theological perspectives (sacred vocation, divine initiative, unconventional divine choice, and the community-oriented nature of diaconal ministry) the study proposes that welcoming undocumented men into formal discernment and formation for the diaconate constitutes a faithful and ecclesial response to the Church’s mission.
Schillebeeckx And Homilies: Why Should Sermons Be More Than Words?,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Schillebeeckx And Homilies: Why Should Sermons Be More Than Words?, Paulinus Daeli
Obsculta
This article highlights the importance of good preaching by exploring the relationship between theology, rhetoric, and spirituality through the theology of Edward Schillebeeckx. It argues that preaching must go beyond words to create a deep experience for the congregation. By exploring Schillebeeckx's theological foundations, the article also discusses the conflict between the liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist in Holy Mass, and suggests a comprehensive approach to preaching. The article emphasizes that both aspects of the Mass must work in harmony to provide spiritual nourishment. Finally, it concludes by emphasizing the importance of preaching as a communal act, which …
Assessing The Needs Of A Church’S Older Adults To Promote Their Flourishing,
2026
Lipscomb University
Assessing The Needs Of A Church’S Older Adults To Promote Their Flourishing, Royston Terrell Booker Iii
DMin Project Theses
The purpose of this project was to lay the groundwork for creating a holistic Senior Adult Ministry to support the flourishing of older adults through the activities of God’s people, the church. This approach to help older adults’ well-being is best accomplished through holistic support to enhance well-being, but many churches have not considered a holistic approach or developed a supportive capability. To create a holistic Senior Adult Ministry, I assessed the needs of senior adults in the Brentwood Hills Church of Christ (BHCC) in Nashville, Tennessee, within the United States. The findings and conclusions of this dissertation provide a …
Missional Hermeneutics And The Lukan Version Of The Great Commission (Luke 24:44-49): The Dual Hermeneutical Key,
2026
Liberty University
Missional Hermeneutics And The Lukan Version Of The Great Commission (Luke 24:44-49): The Dual Hermeneutical Key, Israel Martin Lemos
Doctoral Dissertations and Projects
This dissertation examines the relationship between Christological fulfillment and the mission of God within the framework of biblical interpretation, with special emphasis on Luke 24:44-49. In recent decades, missional hermeneutics has moved from the margins of theological discussion to a more visible place within biblical studies, although the field remains conceptually diverse and methodologically underdefined. On one hand, a growing body of scholarship has argued that Scripture must be read within the horizons of the missio Dei, understood as God's redemptive purpose for creation and the nations. On the other hand, mainstream biblical scholarship has often continued to privilege either …
Caring For Our Neighbors: Public Prayer As A Pastoral Tool For Multicultural Communities,
2026
College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University
Caring For Our Neighbors: Public Prayer As A Pastoral Tool For Multicultural Communities, Gilbert Perez
School of Theology and Seminary Graduate Papers/Theses
Throughout 2025 and in the first few months of 2026 there has been an increased presence of immigration law enforcement in the state of Minnesota, which has extended into the central Minnesotan diocese of St. Cloud.
Minimizing The Gap Between Church And Disability In Churches Of Christ,
2026
Abilene Christian University
Minimizing The Gap Between Church And Disability In Churches Of Christ, Paris Freeman
Discernment: Theology and the Practice of Ministry
Church members with intellectual and developmental disabilities often experience disconnection from their churches. This qualitative study examined this disconnect in three suburban Church of Christ congregations within the North Texas area. Using an ethnographic approach, data was collected through interviews with ministry leaders, participatory observation, and a literature review. The analysis of the data, in conjunction with family systems theory, was utilized to construct a model for disability ministry which validates personhood and promotes awareness of self and others. The impact of the church growth movement on disability was also examined, but no definitive correlation could be determined. Further research …
