‘Rock star’ poet Billy Collins
Called “the most popular poet in America” by the New York Times, Billy Collins has published eight collections of poetry, including his most recent, Horoscopes for the Dead. His poetry has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review and The American Scholar. He served as U.S. Poet Laureate for 2001-2003. He is a winner of the Mark Twain Award from Poetry Foundation, which recognizes a poet’s contributions to humor in American poetry, among many other awards. He will speak at Gasson Hall, room 100 at 7 p.m. on Mar.1. Sponsor: Lowell Humanities Series.
Why be baptized?
Liturgical scholar John Baldovin, S.J., a professor in the School of Theology and Ministry, will discuss “Why Be Baptized in the Catholic Church?” on Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. in the Heights Room of Corcoran Commons. Fr. Baldovin is the author of the award-winning book Reforming the Liturgy: A Response to the Critics and Bread of Life, Cup of Salvation: Understanding the Mass. Sponsor: Church in the 21st Century Center.
Posted in Boston College Authors
Tagged Catholic, Church in the 21st Century Center, sacraments
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Book review: Over the Waterfall
Founders Professor of Theology James F. Keenan, S.J., has written a book review in America magazine of Over the Waterfall by fellow moral theologian Marilyn Martone, which details her journey caring and advocating for her brain-injured daughter. “The wisdom in these pages is not, however, the fruit of academic research alone; it is rather born from the reflective and sustained experience of a mother nursing and protecting her daughter with love, unwavering fidelity and hope,” he writes. “Over the Waterfall is unlike anything else Martone has written or I have ever read…filled with rich insights about the gift of a child and spiritual strength, about brain injury, brain development and health care advocacy.”
Posted in Boston College Book Reviewer
Tagged brain injury, health care, mothers and daughters
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Boomers in the Peace Corps
In 2008, Boston College alumnus Dr. Christopher Doran (Class of 1968) and his wife left behind the comforts of America to volunteer for the Peace Corps. They spent two years in Botswana, which has the second highest incidence of HIV in the world. In his book, Africa Lite? Boomers in Botswana, he tells the inspiring tale of their work in Botswana and his humorous and witty observations of both American and African culture. Dr. Doran is an internationally acclaimed author whose books on mental health and parenting have been published on three continents. He is an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Wondrous life
Pulitzer Prize winner Junot Díaz, author of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, will speak on Feb. 15 in the Yawkey Center’s Murray Function at 7 p.m. In addition to the Pulitzer, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao earned Diaz the John Sargent Sr. First Novel Prize, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Diaz’s fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, African Voices, Best American Short Stories (1996, 1997, 1999, 2000), Pushcart Prize XXII, and The O. Henry Prize Stories 2009. He also is the author of Drown. Sponsor: Lowell Humanities Series
Vocation in Autismland
Author James T. Fisher will discuss “A ‘Fallen-Away’ Catholic’s Monastic Vocation in Autismland” on Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in Devlin 101. Fisher is a professor of theology at Fordham University and an autism advocate. His research interests include the cultural history of religion and ethnicity in the United States as well as American Catholic studies. His most recent book, On the Irish Waterfront: The Crusader, the Movie, and the Soul of the Port of New York, not only offers a fresh reading of the famous film but also gives a detailed social history of the New York/New Jersey waterfront. Sponsor: Lowell Humanities Series
A story of three American cardinals
Rabbi James Rudin, one of the world’s leading authorities on interfaith relations, will discuss his new book Cushing, Spellman, O’Connor: The Surprising Story of How Three American Cardinals Transformed Catholic-Jewish Relations, on Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the Yawkey Center’s Murray Function Room. In his book, Rabbi Rudin demonstrates how Cardinals Richard Cushing and Francis Spellman influenced the Second Vatican Council to adopt Nostra Aetate—a statement against anti-Semitism—and how Cardinal John O’Connor transformed that document’s sentiments into practical results a generation later. Rabbi Rudin is a distinguished visiting professor of religion and Judaica at Saint Leo University, where he founded the Center for Catholic-Jewish Studies. He serves as senior interreligious advisor for the American Jewish Committee and is a recipient of the Eternal Light Award, presented to individuals who make outstanding contributions to interfaith relations and human rights. RSVPs are requested at cjlearning@bc.edu. Sponsors: The Boston College Center for Christian-Jewish Learning and School of Theology and Ministry Continuing Education
Posted in Guest Authors
Tagged Catholic, Christian-Jewish Learning, interfaith, Jewish
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