What's New With the Faculty?
MOSAIC, Fall 2011



Dr. Philip Blosser, professor of philosophy, reviewed The Origins of Feasts, Fasts and Seasons in Early Christianity, by Paul F. Bradshaw and Maxwell E. Johnson (Liturgical Press, 2011), and Protestants: A History from Wittenberg to Pennsylvania, 1517-1740, by C. Scott Dixon (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010), in CHOICE Current Review for Academic Libraries (April 2011 and June 2011, respectively). As secretary of the Max Scheler Society of North America and web master for the society’s website, he coordinated English-language publicity for the conference of the Max Scheler Gesellschaft, Erfurt, Germany, June 15-18.

Dr. Patricia Cooney Hathaway, professor of systematic theology and spirituality, had her book Weaving Faith and Experience: A Woman’s Perspective honored by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada with an award in the Gender Issues category of the 2011 Catholic Book Awards competition. She attended a conference “Hot Button Issues: Stem Cell Research & Reproductive Technologies,” sponsored by the annual Fr. Gerald Martin Pastoral Ministry Conference, August 1-3. She was selected formation resource participant for the upcoming Catholic Health Association of the USA’s “Sponsor Preparation and Formation Gathering,” Chicago, Illinois, August 31-September 2.

Dr. Robert Fastiggi, professor of systematic theology, is executive editor of the 2011 New Catholic Encyclopedia Supplement published in June 2011 by Gale Cengage Learning in cooperation with the Catholic University of America Press. The supplement concentrates on Catholic contributions to literature, music and the arts. On April 20, he participated in an editorial board meeting at Catholic University, Washington, D.C., to begin planning the next supplement to the New Catholic Encyclopedia, which will focus on philosophy and ethics. On May 14, Dr. Fastiggi presented “Raising Your Children for Chastity,” Theology of the Body Conference, Madonna University, Livonia, Michigan. He attended the conference of the Mariological Society of America, May 17-20, Scottsdale, Arizona, and participated in the board meeting of the Society. On Friday afternoons in April and May, he led classes on the Catholic moral theology for young men discerning a vocation with the Miles Christi Institute, South Lyon, Michigan.

Fr. Edward Fride, part-time instructor of theology, was awarded the Master of Arts in Philosophy, magna cum laude, from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut, May 6.

Dr. Mary Healy, associate professor of Sacred Scripture, gave a four-day workshop on “Acts and the New Evangelization,” Augustine Institute, Denver, Colorado, June 27-30. She presented
“The Hermeneutic of Jesus,” Woodward Theological Society, Detroit, May 7; “Sex, Celibacy and Seminary Formation in Light of the Theology of the Body,” 2011 Conference for Priest Formators and Vocation Directors, Religious Sisters of Mercy, Alma, Michigan, June 8; and “Verbum Domini and the Renewal of Biblical Preaching,” Quinn Conference for Catholic Seminary Professors of Sacred Scripture, St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, June 10. She gave these talks: “St. Paul’s Mysticism” and “St. Paul’s Mission,” Cathedral of St. Paul, St. Paul, April 2; “The Eucharist and the Christian Life,” St. Aidan Parish, Livonia, May 12; “Reclaiming Eden: The Only Cure For A Lovesick World,” Why the Fig Leaf? Conference, Madonna University, May 14; “Men and Women Are From Eden: God’s Great Plan for Life and Love,” Theology on Tap, Northville, Michigan, May 19; “A New Pentecost for a New Evangelization,” Eastern Catholic Re-evangelization Center, Bloomfield, Michigan, May 20; “The Holy Spirit’s Charisms,” Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 22; “The Call to Be Prophets,” Catholic Biblical School of Michigan banquet, May 26; “The Eucharist and the Christian Life,” Resurrection Parish, Canton, Michigan, June 3; “Stepping Out of the Boat: Discipleship in Scripture” and “How to Discover and Use Your Charisms,” Holy Trinity Vicariate Conference, SHMS, June 18; “The Theology of the Body,” Legatus Detroit chapter, June 23; “‘Here I Am, Lord’: What We Can Learn from the Biblical Call Stories” and “Women in Scripture Inspiring Women Today,” National Catholic Bible Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, July 22-23; “Acts and the New Evangelization,” Defending the Faith Conference, Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio, July 29-31; “The Feminine Genius,” Christ the King Parish, Ann Arbor, July 25. She was interviewed on EWTN’s Catholic Answers Live on “Who Wrote the Gospels?” June 22. She published “Christ’s Priesthood and Christian Priesthood in the Letter to the Hebrews,” Nova et Vetera, spring 2011, and “St. Paul, Ephesians 5 and Same- Sex Marriage,” Homiletic and Pastoral Review, May 2011.

Fr. Daniel Jones, director of graduate seminarians, presented “Introduction to the Ministry of Lector: Why We Need to Immerse Ourselves in God’s Word” to firstyear theologians, April 9, and published “Scripture-Based Human Formation,” Homiletic and Pastoral Review, August/September 2011.

Dr. Daniel Keating, associate professor of theology, presented: “Climbing the Path of Virtue (2 Pet 1:5-11),” Lansing Catholic Men’s Conference, April 2; “Being a Christian Student,” Lithuanian Catholic Student retreat, April 2; and “Being Brothers and Sisters in Christ,” University Christian Outreach University of Michigan, April 5. He also led a retreat in Ann Arbor for the Word of Life community men on “Stewardship,” April 8-9; led a 5-part bible study on Paul’s Letter to the Philippians for the UCO-UM summer program, May-June; did a television interview with Total Television Network in Saginaw on ecumenism and Christian unity, May 19; attended the Academy of Catholic Theology annual conference, Washington, D.C., May 24-26; participated in a working-group on Messianic Judaism and the Church, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas, June 12-14; gave four lectures on Christology, Pastoral Teaching Institute, St. Paul, July 7-9; spoke on “The Crisis of Manhood Today” to “Men on a Mission,” St. Paul, July 8; and gave two lectures on “Charismatic Worship,” Krakow, Poland, July 29-30.

Fr. Todd Lajiness, dean of studies, published “A Passion for Christ:
Formation in Intelligence of Heart,” Homiletic and Pastoral Review, July 2011, and “The Habitus and Content of the Seminary Curriculum,” Fellowship of Catholic Scholars Quarterly, summer 2011.

Dr. Mark Latkovic, professor of moral and systematic theology, published “A Tale of Two Australians: John Finnis & Peter Singer Debate the ‘Moral Status’ of the ‘Fetus,’” The Human Life Review, fall 2010, and “Development in Moral Teaching: The Case of Organ Transplants,” Ethics & Medics, July 2010. He reviewed William E. May’s Catholic Sexual Ethics, third edition, Our Sunday Visitor Press, and an article on Pope Benedict XVI’s Caritas in Veritate, Markets & Morality. He taught a new course in the spring term, “The Moral Philosophy of John Finnis,” and served as a director for two MA theses.

Dr. Ralph Martin, assistant professor of theology, presented: Retreat for Maria Community, Rome, Italy, April 15; “Doctrinal Issues and the New Evangelization,” Symposium for Presidents of Catholic Renewal Communities in Europe, Rome, April 21; “Persevering in Discipleship,” Italian National Conference for Renewal in the Holy Spirit,” Rimini, Italy, June 4; “Theology of the Laity and the Exercise of Charisms,” International Symposium of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal,” Assisi, Italy, June 9; and “The Gift of the Holy Spirit,” Pentecost Vigil, San Lorenzo Youth Center, Rome, June 11. He gave a radio interview, “The Culture of Universalism and the Teaching of Vatican II,” WDEO, July 19, and published “A New Pentecost? Catholic Theology and Baptism in the Spirit,” Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture, summer 2011. He successfully defended his doctoral dissertation for the STD at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (The Angelicum), Rome.

Fr. John McDermott, SJ, participated by phone in the meeting of the USCCB Doctrine Committee, June 14. He published: “Benedict XVI and the Faith-Reason Relation,” The Thought of Joseph Ratzinger Pope Benedict XVI, (University of Scranton Press, 2009); “The Mystery of Matter,” Angelicum 87 (2010); and “‘The Holy’ in Twentieth Century Studies of Comparative Religions,” Theologia Testimonium Dicere et Nuntiare: Festschrift Tomislav Ivancic (Zagreb: Krscanska Sadasnjost, 2010). He accompanied seminarians on their pilgrimage to the Holy Land and presented “The Christian Meaning of Suffering,” Our Lady of Sorrows Parish, Farmington, Michigan, August 4.

Dr. Edward Peters, Edmund Cardinal Szoka Chair, published: a study of the impugnation of marriage by the promoter of justice in Periodica; an alternative analysis of the papal remission of the Lefebvrite excommunications in Studia Canonica; and an examination of canonical crimes in the context of confession, Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He collaborated with experts in religious law to produce an amicus curiae brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on a major “Free Exercise of Religion” case now pending before the high court. The brief has been recognized for outstanding merit by the National Law Journal. He gave interviews on canonical topics to LifeSite News, Our Sunday Visitor, Erie Times-News and Relevant Radio.

Gerry Rauch, part-time instructor of pastoral counseling, presented a conference for seminary formators, “The Theological and Cardinal Virtues in Seminary Formation,” SHMS, June 6, 8 and 9. He gave eight presentations on “Christian Virtue and Self-Knowledge,” as part of a summer institute for seminarians on Catholic Ministry to the Sick and Suffering, St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, June 21-24.

Dr. Janet E. Smith, Fr. Michael J. McGivney Chair of Life Ethics, attended the meeting for Anglican Roman Catholic International Commission III for the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Bose Monastery, Italy, May 16-26. She published: “Organ Transplants: A Study on Bioethics and the Ordinary Magisterium,” The Ethics of Organ Transplantation (Catholic University Press of America, 2011); “Are all Falsehoods Lies?” National Catholic Register, July 13; and “Figleaves and Falsehoods,” First Things, June/ July 2011. She addressed: Bioethics Conference, Christendom College, Front Royal, Virginia, June 9; John Bosco School, Rochester, New York, June 16; Catholic Urban Project, St. John the Baptist Parish, Ypsilanti, Michigan, June 10; Theology of the Body Conference, St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, England, June 3-5; class on “Love and Responsibility,” Boar’s Head Monastery, Oxford, England, May 28-30; Theology of the Body Conference, Madonna University, May 14; Pro-life Dinner, St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Livonia, May 10; 40 Days for Life, Ann Arbor, April 17; and Catholic Federation of Catholic Physicians’ Guild, Toronto, California, April 8-10. She gave radio interviews: Across the Nation, Sacramento, California, July 25; Catholic Answers
Live, July 15; The Stations of the Cross, Catholic Radio, Rochester, New York, June 15; WPYR AM 1380 Baton Rouge, Louisiana, June 15; and WDEO, April 26 and May 10.

Fr. Daniel Trapp, graduate spiritual director, directed private retreats for seminarians and seminary faculty members at the Institute for Priestly Formation, Omaha, Nebraska, June 3-10.