Sister Marianne Farina, CSC, to Offer 31st Annual Madeleva Lecture

Marianne Farina

April 4, 2016 (Notre Dame, Ind.) — The Saint Mary’s College Center for Spirituality is proud to announce that Sister Marianne Farina, CSC, professor of philosophy and theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, California will offer the College’s 31st Annual Madeleva Lecture. It will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 in Carroll Auditorium, Madeleva Hall. The event is free and open to the public.

Farina’s teaching and research interests include interfaith dialogue, the Catholic Church’s social justice teaching, and cross-cultural communications. She earned a master’s degree in pastoral theology from Santa Clara University and a PhD in theological ethics from Boston College.

Farina’s lecture is titled “Sacred Conversations and the Evolution of Dialogue”. She will address the importance of dialogue in the execution of the mission of the Sisters of the Holy Cross (her congregation) and in Holy Cross education with particular attention to Catholic-Muslim dialogue. This year marks the 175th anniversary of the Women of Holy Cross, which includes the Sisters of the Holy Cross, the founders of Saint Mary’s.

Michelle Egan, associate director of the Center for Spirituality is pleased that Farina accepted the invitation to speak at Saint Mary's College. “Professor Farina's work focuses on promoting dialogue between various groups and having conversations on the critical topics facing today's communities. This topic is so timely given the issues we currently face as global citizens. We look forward to hearing her insights.”

Asma Afsaruddin, a professor in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures at Indiana University Bloomington, will offer a response to Farina’s talk. Sister Eva Mary Hooker, CSC, will read original poetry composed in honor of the anniversary of the founding of the Women of Holy Cross. She is a writer-in-residence and professor of English at Saint Mary's College. 

For more information about the Madeleva Lecture, please call the Center for Spirituality at (574) 284-4636.

About the Madeleva Lecture Series: The Madeleva Lecture is named for Sister Madeleva Wolff, CSC, who served as President of the College from 1934-1961.  Her many accomplishments include the establishment in 1943 of the School of Sacred Theology, the first institution in the United States to provide graduate education in theology to women.  Although the school closed in 1971, the lecture series named in her honor has for over three decades given voice to women scholars in the discipline of theology.  In 2000, the sixteen past Madeleva lecturers created the Madeleva Manifesto, a document of hope and courage to women in the church. The document is just as timely today as when it was originally written.

About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women’s liberal arts college offering five bachelor’s degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. Saint Mary’s College also offers two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary’s College seeks, according to its mission statement, to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary’s College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2016 published by U.S. News & World Report. Follow Saint Mary's College on Twitter @saintmarys and @saintmarysnews

Contact for News Media: Gwen O’Brien, director of media relations, Saint Mary’s College, gobrien@saintmarys.edu (574) 284-4579.

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