COMMENTARY

“Shaping American Catholicism” was a two-day symposium (April 13-15) that explored major themes in the life and work of David J. O'Brien, Loyola Professor of Roman Catholic Studies College of the Holy Cross. To see the entire program, click here. David O’Brien is a trustee of VOTF. Former VOTF president Jim Post and also a VOTF trustee, wrote the following thoughts on someone who has contributed a great deal to Catholicism.

Called to Action: David O’Brien

Sometimes we do not know of, or appreciate, the greatness of our friends and colleagues. This weekend was a reminder of how fortunate we are for David O'Brien's service as a trustee of Voice of the Faithful.

David has retired as Loyola Professor Catholic History at the College of the Holy Cross, and his academic friends and admirers convened a conference at Holy Cross to discuss David's contributions to education and to the Catholic Church. A special issue of a "U.S. Catholic Historian" --an academic journal--has been published with the special theme, "Reform and Renewal: Essays in Honor of David J. O'Brien." Contributors include some of the foremost Catholic historians of our age, including Jay Dolan, Philip Gleason, Paula Kane, Rodger Van Allen and more.

Sr.Alica Gallin, OSU, provided an apt title to her opening essay, "Called to Action: The Historian as Participant." David's life has been a blend of scholarship and action, from his early days in the Catholic Worker Movement through innumerable committees, councils, and initiatives, all intended to help the Church live her commitments to social justice and those in need. The speakers emphasized how David's life has been a seamless tapestry of action to reform the institutional Church coupled with faith in the institution and her people to be the People of God. Reform and renewal.

I hope you will join me in congratulating David on the occasion of his retirement and the admiration of his friends and colleagues. Most importantly, I hope you will remind him that there is another chapter yet to be written in this story of reform and renewal in the Church, and that we are writing it together.




In the Vineyard
April 19, 2007
Volume 6, Issue 8 Printer Friendly Version (PDF)


Page One

VOTF National Representative Council Update

DIOCESE/State Watch

AFFILIATE Highlight

Commentary - former VOTF president and current VOTF trustee Jim Post comments on the recent recognition paid to David O’Brien by Holy Cross College. See “Called to Action: David O’Brien”

LITURGICAL Reading: Stan and Eileen Doherty offer a liturgical reading plus.

BOOK Review: VOTF’s Anne Southwood reviews Dr. Mary Gail Frawley-O’Dea’s book Perversion Of Power: Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church. Vanderbilt University Press, Nashville TN, 2007.

 


Structural Change Working Group

Voice of Renewal/Lay Education

Prayerful Voice

Goal 2 - Priest Support


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