Upcoming Events

In the decades directly following Vatican II, Catholic social teaching increasingly emphasized the centrality of the “preferential option for the for the poor.”  But what, exactly, does this phrase mean? How did it gain traction, both within and beyond official church teaching?  What were some initial criticisms against it?  And how is it recognized now as a central tenet of the faith?  This workshop will broach these questions, inviting participants to consider its relevance for the world today.

About our speaker: Christopher Tirres, Ph.D., is the Michael J. Buckley, S.J. Endowed Chair at Santa Clara University. Within the College of Arts and Sciences, he also serves as Strategic Advisor to the Dean for Mission Integration. A native of El Paso, Texas, he holds degrees from Princeton University, Harvard Divinity School, and Harvard University.

Through his writing and teaching, Tirres explores how liberating spiritualities in the Americas can emerge not only through prophetic articulations of organized religion, but also as organic expressions of human creativity and everyday forms of knowing. He pursues these lines of inquiry through multiple disciplinary lenses, including philosophical pragmatism, Latin American liberation theology, US Latine theology, ritual studies, decolonial thought, women of color feminism, and critical pedagogy.

Tirres currently serves as president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians of the U.S. (ACHTUS).

Interested in Attending? Register here.

This session is part of the Markey Center's monthly workship series: Faith Meets World: The Radical Call of Catholic Social Teaching. Workshops are interactive and include opportunities for conversation and reflection. All are welcome!

In Magnifica Humanitas, Pope Leo XIV offers a compelling vision of what it means to educate and form young people in a world increasingly shaped by technology. His words invite us to consider not only how young people use technology, but who they are becoming and the role our schools, classrooms, and ministries play in that formation. Designed for educators and ministers, this workshop explores what we can learn from Magnifica Humanitas about formation in the digital age and what that vision might mean for the experiences we create for young people. Together, we will consider how the design of our academic and pastoral spaces can foster the deeply human capacities young people need to flourish in a technological world.

About our speaker: Meaghan Crowley-Sullivan, M.Ed., M.A., is a long-time educator, creative instructional designer, and collaborative thought partner to schools and organizations. A three-time graduate of the University of Notre Dame, she serves as the Curriculum and Professional Learning Developer at the iDEAL Institute at Loyola Marymount University, where she designs and delivers interactive workshops for educators and teaches graduate courses in educational innovation, entrepreneurial leadership, and technology integration. Her work helps educators translate emerging ideas and research-based practices into everyday, mission-aligned teaching and learning.

Interested in Attending? Register here.

Descriptions of individual sessions, along with speaker bios and registration links will be made available below (on the Markey Center Upcoming Programs page).