http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/RSS/SiteRSSFeed.ashxThe latest news from Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women5 Feast of the Presentation of Mary"...Mary Immaculate,Merely a woman, yetWhose presence, power isGreat as no goddess’sWas deemèd, dreamèd; whoThis one work had to do--Let all God’s glory through,God’s glory, which would go Thro’ her and from her flowOff, and no way but so...."Gerard Manley Hopkins, SJ http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=1784 2008-11-21 Irene T. Morin has published her book, Dancing With Distance, A Mother’s Memoir of Aids in the Early Years. Based on journals and letters, this account brings the reader close to the struggles of a family used to dealing with crisis by “distancing.”  Irene spearheads an effort to reverse that trend, and, for herself, to learn what she can about and from this 20th century “plague.” Irene is a member of the Writing Women of Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women. We congratulate her on this memorable and valuable publication. http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=2044 2008-11-19 In collaboration with the Institute for Christian and Jewish Studies, Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women is co-sponsoring a year-long text study. ICJS regularly offers opportunities for such study to its participants, insuring that Scriptural and Talmudic texts are read from the Jewish and Christian points of view.  In the current effort, with the help of Mary Aquin O’Neill, RSM, and Diane M. Caplin, the designers of the text study have added the aspect of male and female.  This means that each text under consideration is examined for what it says to and about women and men, as well as what it says to and about Jews and Christians. The first text studied was the story of King Ahab and Jezebel in I Kings 21.  In the course of the two hour session, participants came to see how a polemic against foreign women became, in popular culture and in all too many sermons, a judgment about women, especially women in power.  Questions about land, about the legal limits on the power of the king, about corruption in government, about women as the power behind the throne, and about how to teach this story in the context of so many mixed marriages in both communities surfaced in the lively and far ranging discussion.  ICJS texts studies are provided for invited liturgical and educational leaders of the synagogues, temples, and churches of Baltimore and surrounding areas.  http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=1996 2008-11-11 As of November 10, 2008, the following books have been added to the Center's holdings:Jean Zaru, Occupied with Nonviolence. Fortress Press, 2008.George M. Smiga, The Gospel of John Set Free, Preaching Without Anti-Judaism. Paulist Press, 2008.James M. Childs Jr., The Way of Peace, Christian Life in Face of Discord. Fortress Press, 2008.Joseph A. Marchal, The Politics of Heaven, Women, Gender, and Empire in the Study of Paul. Fortress Press, 2008.Davina C. Lopez, Apostle to the Conquered, Reimagining Paul's Mission. Fortress Press, 2008.Raquel A. St. Clair, Call and Consequences, A Womanist Reading of Mark.  Fortress Press, 2008.Macrina Wiederkehr, Seven Sacred Pauses, Living Mindfully through the Hours of the Day. Sorin Books, 2008Joy A. Schroeder, Dinah's Lament, The Biblical Legacy of Sexual Violence in Christian Interpretation. Fortress Press, 2007. http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=1892 2008-11-10 The Walters Art Museum will be presenting The Christmas Story in art on Sunday, December 7th  and Sunday, December 14th from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m.  The art depicted takes the participant from the Annunciation through the Resurrection of Christ.  For more information visit the Walters Art Museum website.  http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=1982 2008-11-07 The Synod of Bishops on the Word of God in the Life of the Church produced a list of proposals that will now go to the Pope. The most disputed propositon was number 17--a suggestion that the "ministry of Lector be open also to women."  Though forty-five bishops voted against it, that was not enough to prevent passage.While it is now common practice to allow women to "function" as readers at Mass, what is at issue is whether the "institution of Lector" can be officially "conferred" on women.  Canon Law (number 230) says "lay men" can be installed "in the ministries of lector and acolyte." "Lay persons" (including women) can fulfill the fuction of lector only by "temporary deputation."  Acceptance of the proposal from the Synod by the Pope would change this legislation.We are indebted to The Tablet for this information. http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=1976 2008-11-06 Our friend, John Donahue, SJ, has published an article in America Magazine.  The title is "Model of Persuasion," and it is about St. Paul.  Fr. Donahue has given permission to post it for our readers.   This celebrated scripture scholar will teach a course on the parables at Mount Saint Agnes Theological Center for Women in the Spring of 2009.  Dates and times to be announced. http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=1964 2008-11-01 The following excerpt is from Provoke Radio:By now it is abundantly clear, a morality tale of epic proportions is unfolding across the land. The protagonist… is Us. You and me. The antagonist? The formidable army of The Seven Deadly Sins – the SDS - led into battle by its bold and brazen, insatiable and rapacious commander… Greed. His deputy, Wrath, sits on the sideline, chomping at the bit, ready and eager to burst on the scene and make heads roll. Meanwhile, Greed and his legions set up headquarters on Wall Street and Main Street. They are cloaked in Willful Ignorance and Blind Self Interest and armed with weapons of mass destruction called “Sub Prime Mortgages”, “Arcane Financial Instruments” and “Exotic Derivatives”. They calculate their next move from high atop their mountain of gold, behind the walls of their impenetrable Fortress of Financial Security, far removed from the daily battle below and immune to the defeat, despair and destruction they have caused. They promise wealth and glory for all but the only thing that trickles down from this mountaintop is More Want and Desire. And they laugh at our pathetic gullibility as they go skydiving with golden parachutes. So the battle rages on. What’s at stake are our very hearts and souls, our sense of right and wrong, of what’s important, good, and true. Yes, a morality tale is unfolding across the land. How it all ends is anyone’s guess, but the lessons are as clear as the opening bell for anyone paying attention. Listen in as Provoke asks: is this a crisis of ethics? If so, who is responsible? What would justice look like? And what message does the Cross offer at a time like this? There is something here for everyone. Don’t miss it.Guests: Reverend Mark Bozzuti-Jones, pastor of Trinity Wall Street Episcopal Church, New York City; Reverend James Martin, Associate Editor of America Magazine and author of My Life with the Saints; and Mr. Michael Sean Williams, regular contributor to America MagazineHost: Fr. Stephen Spahn, SJWhere to find us: On the internet 24/7: www.provokeradio.com  WBAL - 1090 AM; Sundays at 10 A.M. EST and Mondays; 12:30 P.M. EST. WHFC - 91.1 FM; Sundays at 9:30 A.M. EST WLOY - Loyola College; Sundays at 12 Noon EST* Occasionally, a station may choose to run a different show. Please check local listings to be sure.     http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=1954 2008-10-31 Learn about our Community Outreach Involvement  http://www.mountsaintagnes.org/Musings/News/Detail.aspx?id=1914 2008-10-15