|
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.
|
