Scranton Conference Draws Experts from Local Catholic Universities

Apr 23, 2015
Fr. Joseph A. Komonchak, Ph.D., widely considered the dean of American ecclesiologists, will deliver the keynote address for the “World, Church, World: Vatican II Fifty Years On” conference on Friday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.
Fr. Joseph A. Komonchak, Ph.D., widely considered the dean of American ecclesiologists, will deliver the keynote address for the “World, Church, World: Vatican II Fifty Years On” conference on Friday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center.

Representatives of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s Catholic universities will congregate at The University of Scranton for a conference titled “World, Church, World: Vatican II Fifty Years On” Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2. The conference is free of charge.

Spanning the years between 1962 and 1965, the Second Vatican Council (also known as Vatican II) assembled the world’s Roman Catholic religious leaders in order to chart the Church’s course in the modern world. Conference participants will explore the effects upon the world, the Church and the diocese of Scranton of the last documents promulgated at Vatican II: Dei Verbum, Gaudium et Spes, and Nostra Aetate.

On Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the McIlhenny Ballroom of the DeNaples Center, the keynote address, “Vatican II As Event,” will be delivered by Fr. Joseph A. Komonchak, Ph.D., professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America.

A retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York, Fr. Komonchak is widely considered the dean of American ecclesiologists. A specialist in the history and theology of the Second Vatican Council, he is chief editor of “The New Dictionary of Theology” and editor of the English edition of the five-volume “History of Vatican II.” Author of the book, “Foundations in Ecclesiology,” Fr. Komonchak has published well over 100 articles in theological journals.

Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, will deliver the invocation Friday evening.

A full day of sessions, moderated by University of Scranton professors, is scheduled for Saturday in the PNC Auditorium of the Loyola Science Center. At 9 a.m., Mary Ann Zimmer, N.D., Ph.D., Marywood University, and Bernard Prusak, Ph.D., King’s College, will discuss “Gaudium et Spes.” At 10:45 a.m., Anna Moreland, Ph.D., Villanova University, and James Redington, S.J., Ph.D., The University of Scranton, will conduct a session on “Nostra Aetate.”  At 1 p.m. Brent Kruger, C.S.C., Ph.D., King’s College, and Mahri Leonard-Fleckman, Ph.D., The University of Scranton, will discuss “Dei Verbum.” At 2:30 p.m., two members of the Diocese of Scranton, Msgr. John Louis, J.C.L., and Bernadette Rudolph, M.A., will discuss “Scranton after the Council: Shared Experiences.” The conference will conclude at 3:45 p.m. with prayer and reception for attendees.

“World, Church, World: Vatican II Fifty Years On” is free of charge. Lunch will be provided on Saturday for those who have pre-registered in advance.

For additional information, visit the website of the Department of  Theology/Religious Studies at The University of Scranton: http://www.scranton.edu/academics/cas/theology/ or contact the department secretary, Linda Smith, at 570-941-6309 or linda.smith@scranton.edu.

 

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