Theology at Marquette Newsletter
Welcome to the first of Theology at Marquette, the newsletter of the Theology Department
There is a reason why every student at Marquette takes at least a theology class. Theology is at the heart of a Catholic, Jesuit university, serving as a key discipline in educating new generations of “men and women for others.” It plays a central role in Marquette’s mission to continue “the tradition of Catholic, Jesuit education by inviting students to grow in mind, heart and spirit,” supporting the university’s goal “to graduate students who are transformed by their education and who will transform the world in which they live — who will, in a phrase, become women and men for and with others.” MU Theology Department is essential in advancing this mission.
The Theology Department also contributes to theology as a dynamic academic discipline. As articulated in the department’s mission statement: “It aims to help educate undergraduates by bringing them to an understanding of their respective faith commitments and traditions in harmony with their overall intellectual, critical, and cultural development. It prepares graduate students for future research work, participation in professional theological activity, and teaching theology on the college and university level.” Theology, as a discipline, is not self-contained and self-serving but open to dialogue. In his letter to the Pontifical Academy of Theology, Pope Francis remarks: “Theology cannot but develop into a culture of dialogue and encounter between different traditions and different knowledge, between different Christian denominations and different religions, openly confronting everyone, believers and non-believers alike” (Ad theologiam promovendam, no. 4).
With this newsletter, we aim to enhance communication about theology at Marquette, highlight the outstanding work of our theology students, and faculty, and engage with a broad community on campus and beyond.
Conversations at the Table: Theology as Vocation and Mission
In the Theology Department, we understand theology as both a vocation and a mission, guided by a community of theological faculty and students dedicated to dialogical, critical engagement, and commitment. Please join us for Conversations at the Table: Theology as Vocation and Mission, where we’ll gather over food and drinks to discuss the vocational journeys of our guests: Fr. Joe Simmons will share insights from his time as a theology major at Marquette and his discernment as a Jesuit and a theologian, and Dr. Alexandre Martins will speak about his work in global health as a theologian and nursing.
November 21, 2024, at 4 pm - Marquette Hall 105
This will be the first meeting of several that the Theology Department will promote throughout the academic year. These meetings will be a moment of conversation between undergraduate students, led by a theology faculty and a guest who could be another theology faculty from MU or another institution, or a graduate student. The main objective of these meetings is to foster a sense of community, participation, and theological reflection and discernment. It will be a semi-informal gathering in which all will be sharing food, experiences, and fellowship, while also listening to an experienced theologian or an advanced theology doctoral student about their theological work and vocation. The next Conversations at the Table will be on Feb. 13, 2025.
Faculty Publications
MU Theology faculty has impressive academic productivity, with some faculty members being national and international leaders in their area. We highlight some recent publications:
The Moral Vision of Pope Francis: Expanding the US Reception of the First Jesuit Pope (Georgetown University Press, 2024) co-edited by Conor M. Kelly and Kristin E. Heyer
Philo of Alexandria and Philosophical Discourse (Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2024) co-edited by Michael Cover and Lutz Doering
Theology of Horror: The Hidden Depths of Popular Films (University of Notre Dame Press (Oct. 15, 2024) by Fr. Ryan Duns
Bothering to Love: James F. Keenan's Retrieval and Reinvention of Catholic Ethics (Orbis Books, 2024), co-edited by Kate Ward and Christopher P. Vogt
Abraham Among Golems: The Imago Dei Traditions in the Jewish Pseudepigrapha (Mohr Siebeck, 2024) by Andrei Orlov
The Master Builder: Demetrios Koutroubis and The Renewal of Theology In Modern Greece (Denise Harvey, 2024) by Marcus Plested
Neanderthal Religion? Theology in Dialogue with Archaeology (Pickwick Publications, 2024) by Thomas Hughson
Neonazismo, Manipulação Moral e Resistências:Um Grito Profético diante dos Distintos Rostos da Violência da América Latina (Editora Santuário, 2024) edited by Alexandre A. Martins at al.
Theology Major/Minor and Our Community
If you are a Marquette student who is currently enrolled in or has completed THEO 1001, and you haven’t yet joined our theological community, we invite you to connect with us! Whether you love theology and are considering a major or minor, or are simply curious, our community is open to you. Join us at an upcoming gathering to engage with our faculty and students in a welcoming setting.
A great way to start is by having coffee, tea, or even just water with our Director of Undergraduate Studies – just send him an email to set up a time.
If you’re thinking about deepening your study in theology, our major and minor programs are both flexible and enriching. We believe they make excellent complementary programs alongside any primary major, and we’d love to share the many reasons why! Email our Director of Undergraduate Studies and learn more about how a theology major or a minor can fit into your academic journey at Marquette.
Undergraduate Theological Conference
On April 24, 2025, the Theology Department will host a one-day conference where undergraduate students will present their theological papers to peers, faculty, and a broader Marquette community.
This conference will feature an experienced theologian as the keynote speaker, delivering a talk on the vocation and mission of the theologian within the context of a Catholic, Jesuit university. We will also celebrate the achievements of the academic year for theology students, including induction into the Theology Honors Society Theta Alpha Kappa, and the presentation of the Doherty Award for the best undergraduate theological essay of the year.
Stay tuned for the call for papers!
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Alexandre A. Martins
alexandre.martins@marquette.edu